Slaves of the Shinar: An Epic Fantasy of the Ancient World

by Justin Allen

Book Overview

The storied land of Shinar can be both brutal and forgiving. For two men making their way under its harsh sun, it is a land of fate, blood, and strife. Uruk is a nomadic thief from the jungles of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158567916X
• ISBN13: 9781585679164
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Overlook Press
• Length: 429 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great Read

I picked up a copy of this book off a friend's recommendation and ended up enjoying it quite a bit. Normally, I'm a little wary of the fantasy genre, but I was happily surprised to see Allen's book transcends genre and reads much more like a historical epic (i.e. there's no magic or supernatural foes). The novel is fast paced, has plenty of adventure, and follows compelling characters. More impressive, however, is Allen's lyrical prose, which walks the line between literature and page-turner with notable skill. An impressive debut to say the least; I'll be looking for his next book.

A rare find!

I just finished Slaves of the Shinar for the second time, and it's still one of my top books in a long while. As a scholar of the Middle East, I am always looking out for books that will shed enlightenment on this fascinating, tumultuous region. Slaves of the Shinar definitely does the trick. Not only is it exhaustively researched, but the story is so well-paced that the reader is easily carried from one thrilling plot point to another. Allen's skillful writing perfectly encapsulates diverse settings, from jungle to desert to mountain. He also masterfully depicts marketplace bazaars and the inner sanctums of temples. If you are seeking a great read about a time and place that are rarely addressed in popular fiction, this is the book for you

Far beyond genre

Justin Allen's first novel bears the same relation to fantasy as Robert Heinlein's books do to science fiction. While there's plenty of adventure and imagination to satisfy fantasy lovers, the prose, plotting and theme development add depth comparable to any literary fiction. Unlike many a popular genre novel, Allen's book is devoid of cliches. Every simile and metaphor adds relevant color and meaning to the story. A dust cloud "black as barley smut" tells us about agriculture in Allen's imginary world. Darkness falling like "a sheet of sackcloth" reminds us that death is near. Allen masterfully controls allusion as well. The slums of his city are called simply "dust," the dust from which the city had come before "to dust it would return." Allen's writing reveals a sensibility far beyond his skill with words. This young American writer knows somehow that camp followers "tended wounds no priest could ever reach." His book can be read as an epic battle between good and evil, and happily the good prevails. But Allen's conclusion, like every page of his book, is never that simple. Shortly before dying in the final battle, one of the heroes warns us not to oversimplify: "No one deserves anything," he says. "Whenever possible, we can try to be good neighbors and friends--good fathers and mothers. Of all things, these are the most important." This despite the fact that "Nothing in this world is fair." "Slaves of the Shinar" offers values to live by. It's rich enough for readers to find parallels with contemporary history among the allusions to ancient myth. Read it.

Adventure and characters you'll love

This is a great first effort. I'm usually pretty leary of trying new authors but was very glad I picked up this one. There is a touch of history, a touch of fantasy, a smattering of war and battle and blood. Most importantly though are the vivid characterizations; people you'll care about and a dog you'll love. I strongly incourage readers of Gemmel and Cromwell to give this a try. I found it in the new releases area of Sci-fi but it does not really conform to that genre. It's a tale of heroes and anti-heroes. I was hoping it would be the first in a series - maybe it still will be. You'll hope for the same.