This book is amazing, not like any other I have read. It deals with an archaeological discovery in Cambodia, where an extraordinary book is found, sort of the equivalent of the diary of Alfred the Great being found in England. The book is promptly stolen and the archaeologist who found it is kidnapped. The race to find them, guns and motorbikes in Modern Cambodia, is pure thriller but there is much more. We are given some translated pages from the book which is a great work of philosophy by a famous ancient king, but also we are told his story, growing up in the royal palace with slaves and elephants, vying for power and attention. These parts are pure historical novel. This book crosses many genres and has a wide appeal. Highly recommended.

Similar this month: None.
Comparison: Amitav Ghosh, Tash Aw, Vikram Chandra.

Synopsis

The glory of ancient Angkor Wat, the beauty and tragedy of Cambodia today…

In the shadow of Angkor Wat archaeologists make an astonishing discovery: the memoir of Cambodia's greatest king, preserved on leaves of gold for centuries. When the treasure is stolen, two ordinary Cambodians, a young moto-boy and a middle-aged ex-Khmer Rouge, join forces to recover it. But the spectre of Cambodia's violent past threatens both their fragile relationship and the success of their quest.

Reviews

‘Inordinately readable … brilliant … this intricate double-sided tapestry is woven with ambiguities that mesmerise … its leavening of invention with compassion is as good as it gets.’ Justin Wintle, Independent

‘Sweeping and beautiful … the complex story tears the veil from a hidden world.’ Times

‘A marvellous book about the making of souls.’ Time Out

‘A mesmerising, modern quest novel that subtly and shiningly evokes ancient and modern clashes of Eastern and Western culture.’ Saga Magazine

‘Geoff Ryman has the true novelist's gift – he takes the reader inside other lives and other cultures, and makes them live with the utmost vividness. In this case we experience Cambodia in all its beauty and conflict, both past and present. Another masterpiece by one of the greatest fiction writers of our time.’ Kim Stanley Robinson

About the Author

Geoff Ryman was born in Canada, to a journalist mother and a father in science. It was through his mother that Geoff, when he was eight, had a short story published in the local paper. But it was his father who inspired Geoff with stories of lasers – it was a fascination which was to last. His father was also an artist, a talent which has been passed down to his son. Geoff’s apprenticeship to writing was long and hard. It was not the writing that was the problem but the imagination. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1963 and perhaps influenced by this city, he wanted to become an actor. In the mid 1970s when he had moved to London he realised that he really wanted to take his writing seriously, and his first short story was sold to New Worlds Ten in 1976. Geoff Ryman is the award winning author of 253 the world’s first internet novel, and the cult classics WAS and LUST. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation