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Summary: Great book for Aztec history enthusiasts
Review: I have read a number of books on Aztec history, and although it is a passion, it can get a bit dry. When I stumbled upon Gary Jennings "Aztec" I was quite surprised. This novel really takes your mind into the soul of the Aztec culture and for once I really fely close to all those events that I had read so much about. The main character is wonderfully colourful and his adventures make for a stunning plot. I could not put this book down.
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Summary: Aztec-History, Adventure, Sadness and Hope
Review: Aztec is a great novel, I began reading the book one day when I had some spare time, and after that day I MADE spare time to read the book. It draws you in and keeps you wanting to know what happens next, I admit some parts are rather bloody but you cant teach history without explaining what actually happened. There were times that I was very sad or angry at the situations that happen all through Mixtli's life. The story is engrossing, at times I cried, and other times I laughed. This book is perfectly written, and much worth the cost, it will give you a new way of looking at the events around you, and realize how much time you have wasted. Thank you for reading my review and I hope you email to me any questions you have, VP
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Summary: Great Book
Review: Very carefully researched and entertaining book that put me under the spell of ancient Aztec culture. Highly recommend it to everyone!
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Summary: Mesmirizing and mystifying masterpiece
Review: This jewel is NOT to be read by the weak-hearted. This is really a man's book because so much of what the characters think, say, and do make you ask yourself, "Did this guy read my mind?!" Jennings is the Michaelangelo of storytellers. His attention to details, even the most bloody and gory ones, make this book a must read for anyone interested in the history of Mexico and the indigenous indians that populated it. Parts of it are very humorous, parts are gruesome, parts are appalling, parts will make you cry, many parts will make you angry, parts are very sensual and sexually graphic and all of it is the utmost of entertaining. Like it or not, Jennigs tells it like it is. My favorite characters were Beu Rebe and Armed Scorpion. I just loved Zyana. The most despised were Hernan Cortez, Mocteczuma, and the dispicable Zumarraga. This book is loaded with "good stuff" so what ever you do, don't try to speed read it. Slowly savor each exciting part. Don't try to figure any character out. Laugh at "Offal of the God's". Wretch at "Jaded Princess". Marvel at "Armed Scorpion". Sympathize with Beu Rebe. You will fall in love with this book. It will occupy your mind and make you pledge to ourself that a visit to Mexico is something you must do before you die. The magnificence of that civilization is impossible to comprehend. Then pick up a copy of the sequel "Aztec Autumn". That jewel I will review another time! Until then . . . happy reading and I kiss the earth to you!!!!
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Summary: Aztec - a return to an older style of the novel
Review: First, let it be understood that *Aztec* is a Picaresque novel. It is properly compared with the likes of *Tom Jones*, *Anthony Adverse*, *Barry Lyndon*, and *The Egyptian*. A note to remember is that this is told from the point of view of first person personal, not third person omniscient as in *Barry Lyndon* nor that of a character-narrator, as in the Sherlock Holmes stuff. Comparisons with the horror novels of Stephen King are ludicrous. Style compares well with that of Mika Waltari. All the actions and primary interpretations thereof are those of Mixtli, the male protagonist. His views are, of necessity, juxtaposed with the Spanish interpretations of his history and his behavior, with the predestined consequences of what happens to the conquered by a non-understanding conqueror. Basically a good person, Mixtli testifies to the best of his memory about himself and of his people to a Spanish Court of Inquiry, but all he says is filtered through the minds of Spanish priests. This conflict of world-views is made obvious by Jennings, although he allows Mixtli to be somewhat oblivious to the fact that he says *this*, but they hear *that*. A tale of cultural conflict, told reluctantly by the victors, but in the words of the vanquished. Brilliantly researched and well written without much in the way of pedantic speed-bumps. Jennings leads the reader gently through Aztec naming systems, the calendar, their religion, and some popular customs of the time, as well as we understand them today. Through all of this, he meets the ultimate challenge of any writer of a Picaresque novel.... that is, he preserves the humanity of the participants while keeping our interest with a damned good story. We identify with and understand Mixtli, but also with the Bishop, the artist Chimali, the slave Cozcatl, and old Blood-Glutton the soldier. Jennings presents their value systems fairly, as *they* might have understood them rather then how the conquerers viewed them from the standpoint of Old World Catholicism. I would have rated this 4.5 but this provides no venue so to do. A good read for anyone who loves historical and anhropological or ethnographic novels.
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Summary: If you enjoy well written historical fiction,,,
Review: Insightful,engaging,bold and bawdy.Jennings immerses the willing reader in the life and times of an acerbic ancient Aztec more surely than a time machine.Rich in both historical detail and compelling narration,Aztec informs as it entertains with equal ease. One is drawn to identify strongly with the novel's central character Mixtli, to the point where his vastly different cultural imperatives seem more reasonable than those of his Spanish overlords. As my wife put it, Mixtli seems like an" old friend" by the novels end and you just know you're going to miss him. Maybe that's why this is one of a handful of books worth reading a second time instead of the sequel.D'ya think?
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Summary: A grand account of the Aztecs, but disturbingly flawed
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Aztec culture and civilization in this lengthy and detailed novel, but the author's tendency towards writing as graphically as possible is pretty disturbing. Of course I expected to read about the human sacrifices well-documented by historians, but the author includes detailed accounts of fictional massacres and perverse tortures (especially of women) that are on the same literary level as a horror novel. While in one passage, he writes poetically and in a respectable literary style, in the next he sounds more like Stephen King, perhaps trying to be as gross as possible to add shock-value to the novel. The author also probes deeper into the main character's sex life than is necessary in an historical fiction novel, including such perversions as sex with a boy and with small children, which almost made me stop reading the novel. Surely such offensive acts were/are, unfortunately, a shameful part of even the most advanced civilizations' secret lives, but their inclusion added little of substance to the novel, and instead detracts greatly from the enjoyment of it. If the author had focused more on getting facts correct about the Aztecs, and less on disgusting his readers, this would have been a more engaging novel to read.
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Summary: aztec
Review: I first read this book years ago when I was in college. The book takes you to mexico prior to the Spanish invasion. I fell in love with "Aztec" it does what you wish all books did. It sweeps you along with the story, you feel you know the people in the book as if they were your friends, or enemies. I have reread this book many times and also all of Mr. Jennings other books. I have judged all the historical novels that I have read since, by this book; all have fallen short . This is the best book I have ever read.
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Summary: Wow! Another great historic epic!
Review: This book is tremendous.... Don't let the size fool you. There is plenty of action to keep the story alive. The sheer adventure of this time in history is amazing. A couple of hundred Spaniards conquoring several million Aztecs! But, it's more than that. I feel I received a history lesson of this place and time. The descriptions are great. Jennings did a lot of research to get this one right. I plan on reading the sequel very soon.
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Summary: Note about the Inquisition
Review: Disfruté de este libro enormemente. Sólo una nota de advertencia (no lea lo que sigue si planea leer el libro): ningún inquisidor o autoridad eclesiástica en general habría ejecutado JAMÁS a un prisionero en el cual nada menos que el Empreador español hubiera mostrado interés. Me sorprende que Mr Jennings, tan detallista en otros aspectos, se haya plegado tan acríticamente al recurso facilista de la "leyenda negra". In enjoyed this book enormously. A warning note only (don't read this if you plan to read the book): no Inquisitor, no clerical authority would EVER have executed a prisoner on whom no less than the emperor had showed interest. I am disappointed that Mr Jennings, so detailed on other aspects, adheres so uncritically to the easy and unaccurate "black legend" Protestant cliché.
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