Written by: Alex Rutherford
Submitted By: David M. Dunaj
Raiders from the North is the first book of five in the Empire of the Moghul series (the fifth novel is being released on July 3, 2012). It's a really fine read in the tradition of Conn Iggulden's Genghis Khan/Mongol Empire series. In fact, Babur as founder of the Moghul empire has both Genghis Khan and Timur the Lame (Tamburlaine) in his ancestry. But Babur's rise is fraught with danger and uncertainty. It is no longer the 13th or 14th Century but the end of the 15th. Timur's heirs are no longer supreme as they stand divided and surrounded by enemies. Babur is only the heir to the small Timurid kingdon of Ferghana. And yet he pledges to attain a destiny in honor of his ancestor Timur. From Timur's legend he will eventually look to the legendary wealth of Hindustan for his empire. Though the world has changed and the heirs of Timur are now Sunni Muslim and find powerful enemies in the Uzbeks and the Sh'ite Shah of Persia. But then his friend Baburi will bring him new
weapons from the Turkish Empire. Weapons not seen in that part of the world and destined to change the nature of warfare.
What I like about this novel is the pacing (it moves briskly) combined with good character portrayal. Babur for instance, is not in Genghis Khan's or even Timur's league when it comes to ruthlessness. He is a man of conscience and restraint who can be brutal but prefers not to be except when necessity dictates. One does after all have to consider the times and places of the story. While his grandmother Esan Dawlat as a direct decendant of Genghis Khan seems to share that iron will and gives Babur her strength and council. In addition, I enjoyed the details of the novel. The specifics of geography and locations are excellent. One can tell a bit of traveling and research went into this. Well fleshed out indeed.
Interestingly enough, Alex Rutherford is a pen name for the married writing team of Diana and Michael Preston out of London. Their non-fiction work has garnered them awards and worldwide acclaim in the science and technology field. While in fiction, they've published other works such as Cleopatra, Taj Mahal and Before the Fallout.
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