Rating: Summary: Is there another Aztec book after this one? Can't wait Review: Aztec was so good I bought Aztec Autumn before I had finished it. It helps if you read Aztec but you can easily understand it and enjoy this one as much as the first one even if you did not read the first book. I just want to know if there is going to be another one???????
Rating: Summary: A complete let-down! Review: Anyone who loved Aztec as much as I did will only be dissapointed in AZTEC AUTUMN. The charachters are shallow and familiar, the story rushed and not nearly as impressive or believable as AZTEC. I had to re-read AZTEC to renew my feelings about Jennings lost after reading this book.
Rating: Summary: Sketchy, repetitive and sex-obsessed Review: Jennings reached his peak with The Journeyer, and started declining with Raptor. This last work, Aztec Autumn, is kind of something done to while time away, or to warn readers that he's still alive.Another consideration that is difficult to understand is the necessity of depicting all kinds of raw and disgusting sexual practices. Does that help to sell books? The book is definitively below the standards set by his previous work.
Rating: Summary: A totally different experience... Review: Gary takes you through the life of Tenamaxtli, from being the son of a renowned governor, to the invasion of the Spaniards, to the uprising he led and his massive army of people from all over The One World. It's truely riveting, and captures the imagination. You live with Tenamaxtli through all his trials and tribulations. Also, the plots are well formed. Everything fits together at the end. Really amazing book, I could not put it down! I highly recommend it
Rating: Summary: exciting, thrilling, informative Review: Perhaps it took to much time to write another chapter in the ancient Aztec's life, but I think this book and the original one: Aztec, are a very good way to learn more about the Aztec history. This book provides a lot of information of the culture, traditions, religion, behavior, strengths and weakness of the ancient Aztecs in a very understandable way. Also, it let the reader understand the reasons why any culture would try to stop a foreigner attack, even if that means loosing their own life. Written simply and in a novel way, it's easier to read than a History Book.
Rating: Summary: Not great. But not a total waste of time, either. Review: Despite it's drawbacks, this is still a good book for those who have read Aztec and want more. If you have not read that book, don't bother with this one. First the bad news. It isn't written in the same lush detail as the first book. This is probably due mainly to the fact that it is a memior of a person written while he was in the middle of directing a revolution. Obviously he is not going to take the time explaining stuff we should already know. Also, the author insists on putting in the same incestuous/homosexual explorations that were in the other book. These ideas are by no means repugnant to me morally (I favor them), but it's a bit boring to sit through the same type of things in two differnt books. It also tends toward political correctness. Now the good news. The first shocking revelation was satisfying to me (although I probably should have expected it). It is entertaining to see how the Indians learn about the technology of the Europeans. It has some interesting battle scenes. And we learn more interesting day-to-day stuff.
Rating: Summary: Interesting historical novel Review: The story is continuation of The Aztec by the same author. The style and content are also similar to the previous novel. Those interested in the Spanish incasion of the Americas will find this novel interesting and full of information which may be new to them. Although presumably told from the point of the vanquished Aztecs, there is some balance and objectivity in the novel in telling the views of all sides involved. There is enough violence and sexual escapades to keep the story moving quickly and interestingly.
Rating: Summary: Where is the character build-up? Review: If you read "Aztec", then you know how brilliantly Jennings wrote his story, which was interwoven beautifully with extensive character background. This applies not only to the protagonist, but to many other individuals floating in and out of his life. "Aztec Autumn" has only a smattering of this, as well as the technique involving a "what goes around comes around" motif, with characters and events coming back to bite Mixtli in the, well, you know. It's probably due to the brevity of the book itself that disallowed it, but I would think a writing style as successful as the one used in it's predecessor was greatly missed, and was sorely needed. I, too, enjoyed "Aztec" and "Journeyer" (haven't gotten to "Raptor" yet), and I was looking forward to diving into "Aztec Autumn". The "5" rating says that it had the right elements, but it needed more of the right elements (character development, length, intertwined storyline, etc.)
Rating: Summary: What's the point?... Review: After reading Aztec, The Journier and Raptor, I eagerly awaited the next blast of historic splendor. And then came Aztec Autumn. How terribly disappointing... What's the point? A money maker? Probably. Aztec sold well so Aztec Autum should sell even better ... Nay, Sir Jennins. Give your readers what they want. We want the details. The wonderful horrible details, the friends the enemies...this book lacked. To Mr. Jennings, next book, take your time. Your readers love and respect your style and eagerly await your next real book.
Rating: Summary: Aztec Autumn - Uneven, yes! But still fun! Review:
The jaded professionals pick this book to pieces,
yet miss the point Jennings is trying to convey,
both in the text and intertextually. Aztec Autumn is short for a Jennings novel, but it IS a summer book, easy to start and finish in a reasonable time; not a daunting challenge!
Sure, it's a bumpy ride, as an ill-fated revolution should be. Sure, it is interwoven with Nahuatl language, and Spanish and Pore and Yaki -- Mexico, both pre- and post-Conquest was and still is a colorful patchwork of languages and cultures. Jennings plunks you right down in the middle, semi-confused and awash in the action at hand.
It is not Jennings' best book. Hard to top The Journeyer and Aztec. The ending is a bit rushed and abrupt. But it IS pure Jennings - the rich color, the sex and violence and emotion...all there. It is not so 'multi-dimensional' that one is disturbed greatly by it or is shaken in one's own beliefs. It is entertainment, escapism -- and you learn a thing or two.
Worth a spin!
Kurt W. Wagner
kwagner@gti.net
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