- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Orbit (7 April 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0143033484
- ISBN-13: 978-0143033486
- ASIN: 1841493295
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 776,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Praise for Ashok K. Banker's Ramayana: "A refreshing change from generic fantasyland" Starburst; "In a word, Wow!" The Alien Online; "Extravagantly, grippingly, wholly appealing" BSFA Journal; "An intelligent revival, rarely seen in fantasy literature" Dreamwatch; "Stunning, impressive, entertaining Indian myth" Enigma; "Huge in concept" John Jarrold, SFX; "Wonderful, almost Matrix-like, highly entertaining" SFCrowsnest; "Banker's creation will become a classic" January Magazine; "Fast-paced and impressive" Kitabkhana; "As globally relevant as Gilgamesh, Cuchullain and Beowulf" Historical Novels Review; "A ripping good yarn" Publisher's Weekly
Product Description
The original Ramayana was written three thousand years ago. Now, with breathtaking imagination and brilliant storytelling, Indian writer Ashok K. Banker has recreated this epic tale for modern readers everywhere. For thirteen long years, Rama and his companions in exile have defended themselves against the brutal incursions of the rakshasas of the wilderness. Finally, in the bitter battle of Janasthana, he achieves the long-sought victory, and retires to the sun-dappled glades of Panchvati to wait out the last months of his exile. But unknown to Rama, the demoness Supanakha has survived and escaped - back to the hellish island-kingdom of Lanka. There, she provides the key to resurrect her stricken cousin Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. And the resurrected Ravana seeks only one thing: vengeance against Rama ...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
I had the pleasure of reading a very early copy of this book...okay, okay, so it was a proof copy in fact, which I got from a 'friend' at the publisher's office. After reading the first three books, I was sure that Banker could not get any better. But he blew me away. Not only does this book fulfil all the expectations raised by the previous three, it goes beyond. The action gets spectacular, starting with the battle of Janasthana at the beginning, from the first page itself, and is almost non-stop. He creates the world of the vanars beautifully, showing us what a completely different civilization of that time might really have been like. And the 'new' Lanka is also a stroke a genius. Ravana's character, as originally hinted at, finally begins to show a side hitherto unseen by us, and grows into a more convincing 'grey' character with many more shades and subtleties. It's clear that Banker will clear up many questions in the remaining books, and as any book in a series must do, Armies raises as many new possibilities as it resolves old ones, but this is a gripping, nail-biting addition to the series. And for those of us who like our fantasy intelligent and with emotional and yes, even moral, depth, this is a truly fantastic read.
I can't recommend it enough.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Rama, Lakshman and Sita are pursued by the remnants of a 14,000 strong rakshaa army. Rama is at all times confronted with challenges from his companions, perhaps even attempts to desert or betray. Rama responds with One Word, dharma. Maddeningly, Rama will stand by his dharma and his plighted troth unto the very limit of his exile, even in face of insurmountable odds. You will squirm in your seat as the armies approach and Rama declaims on his one word, dharma. At the footprint of Vanama, the battle of Janmastama commences, with the rebels lead by Bearface, choosing to stand with Rama and follow dharma.
Hanuman observes Rama and his battles from the trees, and wonders about the valour, strength and courage of this strange mortal from distant Ayodhya. Ravana continues to be held prisoner in a mysterious Brahman spell unleashed by Rama and Lakshman at Mithila - a spell his brother Vibhisena has been unable to break. Meanwhile, the transformation of Lanka into a White City has been completed by Ravana's wife, Mandodhari. The resurrection of Ravana from the Brahman spell occurs; Ravana and his ten heads converse among themselves, argue, speak in foreign languages, flit with evil and beguile with uncustomary kindness. Is it all a subterfuge, a craftily created illusion to put all around him at rest while he continues his evil ways? Ravana's character is fleshed out with convincing dialogue, deception and mastery of Brahman.
The abduction of Sita, daughter of Priviti, Mother Earth, is told with cunning deception and thrilling interventions from Ma Prakriti, Mother Nature. Central to Ravana's machinations is the use of the Pushpak, the aerial vessel of Brahmin which shapes itself according to the wishes of the mind of its agent.
Hanuman first appears as an observer with many unanswered questions about Rama and his companions. Rama sneaks up on Hanuman unawares, and demands a telling of his presence. The filling out of Hanuman's character and this meeting with Rama is verily a shastra devoted entirely to dharma. You will thrill with the nobility and integrity of these two as they converse.
One word. One arrow. One wife. One Truth. So Rama Chandra is delineated.
A fast, thrilling read, Rama is a yodha, champion of champions yet, a slow metamorphosis of Hanuman into yodha is somewhat discernible. Illuminated by a strong grasp of dharma.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
f you are reading my Ramayana series, then I gently urge and request you to please not buy the UK or US editions, even if they're available at bargain prices. Which they probably are, since the publishers there have more or less put the books out of print, due to a lack of interest by non-Indian readers.
The Indian editions are the definitive editions of my work, containing a lengthy Introduction by me titled 'Retelling the Ramayana', which provides an essential perspective on the work, the final versions of all the books--including some small but significant changes, particularly in some book endings--no glossary, thank God, and are generally the best-edited, designed and published versions, in my opinion at least. In short, they're the Author's Preferred Edition, particularly the new hardcover omnibus editions, which represent the story in the way I had originally intended and are truly sumptuous to hold (and behold). Also, significantly, they aren't packaged as 'Fantasy' or 'SF' like the firang ones, which is a ridiculously transparent attempt at cashing in on the commercial success of the fantasy genre a la LoTR and Harry Potter. Please, people, my Ramayana series is a retelling of an epic, and that's exactly what it should be called, 'Epic'. I'd venture to call it 'Itihasa', but even Mythology, which is the label Penguin uses for the books here in India, is acceptable. But certainly not Fantasy as in one of the ubiquitous Tolkien rip-offs that are churned out in droves by western publishers, or even SF, both genres that can sometimes be wonderful in their own right, but are totally inappropriate in the context of an epic that pre-dates Tolkien by some thousands of years, and the entire tradition of western literature as well!
Frankly, I feel so strongly about this that I'd even go so far as to say, if you can't get the Indian editions, then don't read the books! That's why I'm currently in the process of re-acquiring the rights to the US and UK editions and they will soon be out of print everywhere but India. Which is how it ought to be: this is a quintessentially Indian story, written by a contemporary Indian for other contemporary Indians to read. And the Indian editions are really the only way to go.
Ashok K. Banker
www.ashokbanker.com
The Indian editions are the definitive editions of my work, containing a lengthy Introduction by me titled 'Retelling the Ramayana', which provides an essential perspective on the work, the final versions of all the books--including some small but significant changes, particularly in some book endings--no glossary, thank God, and are generally the best-edited, designed and published versions, in my opinion at least. In short, they're the Author's Preferred Edition, particularly the new hardcover omnibus editions, which represent the story in the way I had originally intended and are truly sumptuous to hold (and behold). Also, significantly, they aren't packaged as 'Fantasy' or 'SF' like the firang ones, which is a ridiculously transparent attempt at cashing in on the commercial success of the fantasy genre a la LoTR and Harry Potter. Please, people, my Ramayana series is a retelling of an epic, and that's exactly what it should be called, 'Epic'. I'd venture to call it 'Itihasa', but even Mythology, which is the label Penguin uses for the books here in India, is acceptable. But certainly not Fantasy as in one of the ubiquitous Tolkien rip-offs that are churned out in droves by western publishers, or even SF, both genres that can sometimes be wonderful in their own right, but are totally inappropriate in the context of an epic that pre-dates Tolkien by some thousands of years, and the entire tradition of western literature as well!
Frankly, I feel so strongly about this that I'd even go so far as to say, if you can't get the Indian editions, then don't read the books! That's why I'm currently in the process of re-acquiring the rights to the US and UK editions and they will soon be out of print everywhere but India. Which is how it ought to be: this is a quintessentially Indian story, written by a contemporary Indian for other contemporary Indians to read. And the Indian editions are really the only way to go.
Ashok K. Banker
www.ashokbanker.com
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
breathtakingly beautiful
I was again the first person to buy this book in Pondicherry. Finished the book in about five hours. I was left speechless after reading it... Read more
Published on 24 April 2006 by kanjisheik
A great re-telling - just read it and see
I haven't read any of the Ramayana stories in many, many years and the last time I read them was in comic-strip form about 15 years ago. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2005
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