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Land of Hope and Glory #1
Land of Hope and Glory
A world where the Indian Mutiny takes place in a very different England . . .
Where magic is a weapon controlled by the oppressors . . .
Where the only hope for the future is the Holy Grail.
It is 1852. The Indian empire of Rajthana has ruled Europe for more than a hundred years. With their vast armies, steam-and-sorcery technology and mastery of the mysterious power of sattva, the Rajthanans appear invincible. But a bloody rebellion has broken out in a remote corner of the empire, in a poor and backward region known as England.
At first Jack Casey, retired soldier, wants nothing to do with the uprising, but then he learns his daughter, Elizabeth, is due to be hanged for helping the rebels. The Rajthanans will spare her, but only if Jack hunts down and captures his best friend and former army comrade, who is now a rebel leader. Jack is torn between saving his daughter and protecting his friend. And he struggles just to stay alive as the rebellion pushes England into all-out war.
Where magic is a weapon controlled by the oppressors . . .
Where the only hope for the future is the Holy Grail.
It is 1852. The Indian empire of Rajthana has ruled Europe for more than a hundred years. With their vast armies, steam-and-sorcery technology and mastery of the mysterious power of sattva, the Rajthanans appear invincible. But a bloody rebellion has broken out in a remote corner of the empire, in a poor and backward region known as England.
At first Jack Casey, retired soldier, wants nothing to do with the uprising, but then he learns his daughter, Elizabeth, is due to be hanged for helping the rebels. The Rajthanans will spare her, but only if Jack hunts down and captures his best friend and former army comrade, who is now a rebel leader. Jack is torn between saving his daughter and protecting his friend. And he struggles just to stay alive as the rebellion pushes England into all-out war.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2011
3 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Wilson
3 books12 followersGeoffrey Wilson was born in South Africa, grew up in New Zealand and then backpacked around the world before eventually settling in the United Kingdom.
He studied Hinduism and Buddhism at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and has been fascinated by India since travelling there in the early 1990s.
He worked in IT for several years, eventually starting a web development business with three friends.
He studied Hinduism and Buddhism at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and has been fascinated by India since travelling there in the early 1990s.
He worked in IT for several years, eventually starting a web development business with three friends.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 17, 2012
I received a copy from the author.
Land of Hope and Glory is THE REFRESHING ALTERNATE HISTORY SETTING with THE ULTIMATE MIX OF STEAM, MAGIC, ACTION, MYTHS, and LEGENDS!
Read my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse
In case you do not want to visit my blog, I added the main part of the review here:
My Expectations
Based on the blurb and on the cover I expected an intriguing minumum two layer story: A man forced to make a barbarous decision, the gripping story of a rebellion in fascinating set up of alternate history. And I wanted to know if the two insects in the foreground of the cover will be mentioned in the book.
The Delivery
To warm up let me start on the formal level. The 376 pages of the story are divided into a prologue and two parts. These two parts are divided into 21 consecutively numbered chapters.
That makes it easier to set break points while reading if you need it. I read the book in just two sessions. I think you know this just one more chapter syndrome. That means the gripping factor is high.
India rules Europe! The conquest of India by the British Empire never happened. Instead Europe and other parts of the world have been conquested by the Rajthana Empire from the Asian continent. Whole Europe? No. Ireland and Scotland are independent. And after more than 100 years under the rule of Rajthana Empire the fire of rebellion has been inflamed in England.
Beside their vast armies there are two more things which make the Rajthana Empire superior.
Land of Hope and Glory is not headmost a steampunk book. It is common in the Rajthana Empire to use steam driven technology in form of trains, mills and more. But there is more behind these machines. There are beings called avatars from a spirit realm which are bound to the machines and these avatars are commanded by siddhas.
That is where the magic comes into play in Land of Hope and Glory. There is sattva. It flows in streams along the land like water in rivers.
Sattva is for magic what fuel is for engines. But it is not that easy to use sattva. Before one can use sattva you need to master yantras. Each yantra is related to a certain ability like commanding avatars, healing, casting fireballs and more. The Rajthanans guard their sattva knowledge very well. Be sure that the mastery of sattva plays a role in Land of Hope and Glory which should not be underestimated.
The story is told in first person and we see most of the events through eyes of the main character: Jack Casey.
Jack Casey, retired soldier from Rajthanan army with an extraordinary tracking talent.
Jack Casey, an ex soldier who does not sympathize with the rebellion.
Jack Casey, responsible for the security of an Rajthanan property in England.
Jack Casey, proud father of his beloved 5 year old daughter Elizabeth.
Jack Casey, a man who can neither read nor write like so many other inhabitants of England.
Jack Casey, a man with principles.
How can you force such a man to work again for the Rajthanan army?
Just take what he loves most - his daughter.
In order to save her life he has to whistle-blow the rebellion in the shape of his best friend in the army who is now a rebel.
Jack Casey impressed me deeply with his consisteny of action which reminded me of Rorschach from the Watchmen. I must say that at a certain point of the story, his consistency raised to a point which hurt me emotionally.
So Land of Hope and Glory is the story of Jack Casey and it is so much more. It is a story of rebellion which refers to ancient times in form of the search for the Holy Grail as the ultimate weapon against the Rajthanan Empire. It is the story of ruthless officers which you find in nearly every army of the world. It is the story of the fight between David and Goliath. And after more than 100 years it is still a clash of cultures.
As I said before the story is told through the eyes of Jack Casey.
He is the secret weapon of author Geoffrey Wilson to bait his readers.
Jack is the anchor, the key, the memory, the engine, the discoverer, the chronist, the fighter, the lover, the emotional pulse of Land of Hope and Glory.
Jack is the reader's EYES, EARS, BRAIN and HEART in the Land of Hope and Glory. With every thought and action he reveals us more about himself, the country and most important about the Rajthanan Empire and sattva.
That may sound dry but Geoffrey Wilson shows an extraordinary talent in dosing the time he spent for his characters, his alternate world and his battle scenes in a nearly perfect mix. His descriptions of the insight of the Rajthanan army, the sattva secret, the battle scenes and Jack's inner fight are just gorgeous and fabulous.
The end is a kind of end but leaves enough open questions which will hopefully answered in the following books. I'm happy that Jack Casey survived the emotional rollercoaster on last the pages of Land of Hope and Glory without a heart attack. I'm totally nosey how the story will continue with The Place of Dead Kings in October 2012.
Now it is time to come back to my expectations.
A man forced to make a barbarous decision ==> CHECKED
the gripping story of a rebellion in fascinating set up of alternate history ==> CHECKED
I wanted to know if the two insects in the foreground of the cover will be mentioned in the book - They do ==> CHECKED
So my expectations have been fulfilled 100 per cent.
But beyond my expections I got so much more which I did not expect in a debut novel.
Land of Hope and Glory is THE REFRESHING ALTERNATE HISTORY SETTING with THE ULTIMATE MIX OF STEAM, MAGIC, ACTION, MYTHS, and LEGENDS!
Land of Hope and Glory is THE REFRESHING ALTERNATE HISTORY SETTING with THE ULTIMATE MIX OF STEAM, MAGIC, ACTION, MYTHS, and LEGENDS!
Read my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse
In case you do not want to visit my blog, I added the main part of the review here:
My Expectations
Based on the blurb and on the cover I expected an intriguing minumum two layer story: A man forced to make a barbarous decision, the gripping story of a rebellion in fascinating set up of alternate history. And I wanted to know if the two insects in the foreground of the cover will be mentioned in the book.
The Delivery
To warm up let me start on the formal level. The 376 pages of the story are divided into a prologue and two parts. These two parts are divided into 21 consecutively numbered chapters.
That makes it easier to set break points while reading if you need it. I read the book in just two sessions. I think you know this just one more chapter syndrome. That means the gripping factor is high.
India rules Europe! The conquest of India by the British Empire never happened. Instead Europe and other parts of the world have been conquested by the Rajthana Empire from the Asian continent. Whole Europe? No. Ireland and Scotland are independent. And after more than 100 years under the rule of Rajthana Empire the fire of rebellion has been inflamed in England.
Beside their vast armies there are two more things which make the Rajthana Empire superior.
Land of Hope and Glory is not headmost a steampunk book. It is common in the Rajthana Empire to use steam driven technology in form of trains, mills and more. But there is more behind these machines. There are beings called avatars from a spirit realm which are bound to the machines and these avatars are commanded by siddhas.
That is where the magic comes into play in Land of Hope and Glory. There is sattva. It flows in streams along the land like water in rivers.
Sattva is for magic what fuel is for engines. But it is not that easy to use sattva. Before one can use sattva you need to master yantras. Each yantra is related to a certain ability like commanding avatars, healing, casting fireballs and more. The Rajthanans guard their sattva knowledge very well. Be sure that the mastery of sattva plays a role in Land of Hope and Glory which should not be underestimated.
The story is told in first person and we see most of the events through eyes of the main character: Jack Casey.
Jack Casey, retired soldier from Rajthanan army with an extraordinary tracking talent.
Jack Casey, an ex soldier who does not sympathize with the rebellion.
Jack Casey, responsible for the security of an Rajthanan property in England.
Jack Casey, proud father of his beloved 5 year old daughter Elizabeth.
Jack Casey, a man who can neither read nor write like so many other inhabitants of England.
Jack Casey, a man with principles.
How can you force such a man to work again for the Rajthanan army?
Just take what he loves most - his daughter.
In order to save her life he has to whistle-blow the rebellion in the shape of his best friend in the army who is now a rebel.
Jack Casey impressed me deeply with his consisteny of action which reminded me of Rorschach from the Watchmen. I must say that at a certain point of the story, his consistency raised to a point which hurt me emotionally.
So Land of Hope and Glory is the story of Jack Casey and it is so much more. It is a story of rebellion which refers to ancient times in form of the search for the Holy Grail as the ultimate weapon against the Rajthanan Empire. It is the story of ruthless officers which you find in nearly every army of the world. It is the story of the fight between David and Goliath. And after more than 100 years it is still a clash of cultures.
As I said before the story is told through the eyes of Jack Casey.
He is the secret weapon of author Geoffrey Wilson to bait his readers.
Jack is the anchor, the key, the memory, the engine, the discoverer, the chronist, the fighter, the lover, the emotional pulse of Land of Hope and Glory.
Jack is the reader's EYES, EARS, BRAIN and HEART in the Land of Hope and Glory. With every thought and action he reveals us more about himself, the country and most important about the Rajthanan Empire and sattva.
That may sound dry but Geoffrey Wilson shows an extraordinary talent in dosing the time he spent for his characters, his alternate world and his battle scenes in a nearly perfect mix. His descriptions of the insight of the Rajthanan army, the sattva secret, the battle scenes and Jack's inner fight are just gorgeous and fabulous.
The end is a kind of end but leaves enough open questions which will hopefully answered in the following books. I'm happy that Jack Casey survived the emotional rollercoaster on last the pages of Land of Hope and Glory without a heart attack. I'm totally nosey how the story will continue with The Place of Dead Kings in October 2012.
Now it is time to come back to my expectations.
A man forced to make a barbarous decision ==> CHECKED
the gripping story of a rebellion in fascinating set up of alternate history ==> CHECKED
I wanted to know if the two insects in the foreground of the cover will be mentioned in the book - They do ==> CHECKED
So my expectations have been fulfilled 100 per cent.
But beyond my expections I got so much more which I did not expect in a debut novel.
Land of Hope and Glory is THE REFRESHING ALTERNATE HISTORY SETTING with THE ULTIMATE MIX OF STEAM, MAGIC, ACTION, MYTHS, and LEGENDS!
July 18, 2012
Land of Hope and Glory is, from what I understand, the first book in a series. It lays an impressive foundation for what will come next. This is an example of what an incredible idea can become in the hands of an author who has the thought and ability to execute it, and all of its tiny details, nearly perfectly. Land of Hope and Glory will dazzle your imagination, and fascinate you with Wilson’s spin on a volatile, poignant period of history.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/07/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/07/...
July 27, 2012
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book critic
Overall Rating = 4 & 1/2 stars
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When I first heard of this book via a review request, I was a bit surprised that I had missed out on this book when it was released last year. Being an Indian, I was utterly fascinated to read about the uprising premise of the plot with the positions being reversed for the English and Indians. A bit of background is required for those not so well averse with Indian history. This event was a big one in the history of India and marked a turning point in its occupation by England. Firstly it marked the general unrest in the country and showed a united effort by soldiers of the Indian army irrespective of caste, creed and religion to overthrow their masters; the English East India Company, secondly it showed the English aristocracy that they would have to be more involved in the ruling of this country.
The revolt was primarily caused by a particular insistence of the British army superiors to their Indian soldiers that they had to chew out their cartridges in the loading of their rifles. The biggest anathema to both the Hindu and Muslim soldiers was that the cartridge was covered with grease from either cows or pigs, the former considered holy by Hindus and the latter being considered gross by Muslims. The officer’s insistence and the soldiers’ refusal to follow their superior’s orders compiled with the overall anti-British feelings lead to a revolt in major parts of north and central India. The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful however it showed the British that they had to tread carefully with the religious feelings of their subjects.
The bones of this story are then taken by Geoffrey Wilson and rather carefully constructed to give us a world wherein the Rajthanan Empire from India has conquered many parts of the world and like the Roman Empire previously, has now colonized England. The Rajthanan Empire is most likely a synonym for the area known as Rajputana or as it’s currently known as Rajasthan. They have discovered the means to a power called Sattva nearly eight hundred years ago and since then have managed to overthrow the Mughal Empire in India. Since then they have also taken over many parts of the known world and now are exploring the new world.
Amidst all their explorations they have also conquered England and Wales nearly a hundred years ago. The rest of the continental Europe previously was under Muslim Caliphate rule and England was the only country to rebuff their advances under the rule of King Edward. It is not clear how much of continental Europe is under the rule of the Rajthanan Empire but its safe to presume that majority of the area would be under their rule. Currently there have been small mutterings against the Rajthanans and their rule over the English people and a person called the Ghost has been leading a group of soldiers all over the countryside looting army posts and generally calling for the overthrow of the Rajthanan rule.
Jack Casey is the protagonist of the story and an ex-soldier who has seen one too many wars and now wants nothing to do it. He leads a decent lifestyle and supports his young daughter by serving as a man Friday for Shri Goyanor in Dorsetshire. He is competent and is looked upon favorably by his employer, destiny however has other plans for him as he is soon lead back to the thick of things in regards to the uprisings when his previous military superior and the person who taught him the ways to utilize Sattva, asks him for a favor. Captain Jhala needs Jack because of his tracking skills and his past ties however Jack is reluctant to go back. Jack’s hand is forced as his daughter Elizabeth has been captured assisting the rebels and now is due to be executed unless he helps them against the rebels. Thus begins Jack’s dilemma as he is torn between the love for his progeny and his duty towards his friends and comrades. What ultimately follows will be a test for Jack as well as the English in their fight to determine their destiny.
I have to say I was very very impressed by Geoffrey Wilson’s debut effort. Often in alternate history books, authors don’t give enough explanations for the change in history and the world however in this book the author has neatly created a world wherein a province of India has become a superpower through the power of the mind, yoga and Sattva. It has lead to the creation of machines called sattva avatars and the plot very well showcases sattva-punk and its ramifications. The author's imagination takes some wild jumps in regards to sattva-punk and it was fascinating to see the author's creations. The story begins with the reader not knowing much about the world but the author skillfully inserts information without overt info-dumping. The story has quite some pace to it, not in the first part though which is used to build up the character and world situation but in the second part of the story wherein everything is set against the clock and Jack Casey has to finish his tasks to save his daughter.
Characterization is something which always helps make or mar a book, in this one we get a strong sense of who Jack Casey is and what he is capable of. Jack is an honorable man forced to do dishonorable things however the readers gets a keen insight into his thought process and the mental turmoil he undergoes in trying to save his daughter and do his dharma to his country. The book’s pace and action filled climax add to the book's excellence but the icing on the cake is its very twisted climax and kudos to the author for giving the reader such an enjoyable but unpredictable read. This is the first book of a series and the way it ends I’m very curious to see where the author takes the story next as he’s contracted for two more books set in this world.
However amid all the rosy parts, there were a couple of places where I thought that the author could have done better namely in the usage of certain Indian/Hindi words such as “Purusha” and “Prakriti” which mean male and nature respectively but were used in the context of spirit and matter which doesn’t translate precisely. Secondly I would loved to read a timeline of the events preceding the contents of the story recording the spread of the Rajthanan Empire and this is just me but I’m a sucker for maps so I would have loved to see Europe and Asia in the context of this world. These small things however will not detract anything from the overall read and for most readers it depends on their individual preferences.
CONCLUSION: Land of Hope and Glory is an exciting debut featuring a protagonist that struggles to do the right thing. Amidst the many alternate history books published so far, its the only one that brings to the fore a crucial incident in the history of the Indian subcontinent. Reversing the details and setting it in a new country makes the story completely unpredictable and marks this debut as a gem to watch out for. Geoffrey Wilson has to be lauded for his imagination and storytelling skills; do check out this book to know more about the travails of the people from the Land of Hope and Glory.
February 9, 2012
I first came across this as a hardback, it looked interesting, but when I looked it up for some reviews, they were sadly lacking. So I made a note and waited for the paperback, and I am amazed that it looks like I am writing the first review.
Author Geoffrey Wilson must be very frustrated because what he has delivered here is rather good. It’s an alternative history, with a bit of magic thrown in so it does border on fantasy.
Set in 1852 it is the Indian Empire that has expanded into Europe and through use of magic, power and technology pretty much rule everywhere. This is true in what we know as England, although there is rebellion brewing. Retired (and wounded) soldier Jack Casey is forced to help track down the rebels (or his daughter will hang). And Casey has a bit of magic too, it may help him or it may kill him….
Loads of interesting ideas in here but a story that does not rely on heroic individuals or fantastic magical powers, Jack is a bit of an everyman trying to survive in order to save his daughter. The politics and rebellion happen around him as we come to understand the alternative world the author has placed us in. The book is rich in detail which hints at how this history has changed things (peasants in the pub drinking ale and using hookah pipes) without trying to be too clever or in your face. This subtle approach works really well to help us enjoy the revised framework within which the story is placed. The story itself is well structured, fast paced and very enjoyable.
I hope more people discover this book because it is very much worth it.
Author Geoffrey Wilson must be very frustrated because what he has delivered here is rather good. It’s an alternative history, with a bit of magic thrown in so it does border on fantasy.
Set in 1852 it is the Indian Empire that has expanded into Europe and through use of magic, power and technology pretty much rule everywhere. This is true in what we know as England, although there is rebellion brewing. Retired (and wounded) soldier Jack Casey is forced to help track down the rebels (or his daughter will hang). And Casey has a bit of magic too, it may help him or it may kill him….
Loads of interesting ideas in here but a story that does not rely on heroic individuals or fantastic magical powers, Jack is a bit of an everyman trying to survive in order to save his daughter. The politics and rebellion happen around him as we come to understand the alternative world the author has placed us in. The book is rich in detail which hints at how this history has changed things (peasants in the pub drinking ale and using hookah pipes) without trying to be too clever or in your face. This subtle approach works really well to help us enjoy the revised framework within which the story is placed. The story itself is well structured, fast paced and very enjoyable.
I hope more people discover this book because it is very much worth it.
October 12, 2011
enjoyed this book a mixture of sci-fantasy with myths and legends of an 1852 england occuiped by an indian tribe who use magic to oppress the natives until rebellion breaks and the main character has to save his daughter from the noose by killing or capturing his former army buddy william, felt the ending was a bit rushed and felt a sequel coming on as the ending part was left open.
October 4, 2012
I had never read any steampunk themed book until the Land of Hope and Glory. I must admin, I have always interested about these genre, but never had any oportunity to read any of them.
What will can be happen if you mix an alternative history, with magic and steam technology? Anything!
We're in England in the middle of the 19th century, when whole Europe ruled and controlled by India for a while. The proud nations like France and England are the subject of the Indians. The Asians have great (war)machines and talented magicians who can use power of the mysterious sattva.
Jack Casey was an officer in the army of the opressors, but retired because of a serious injury he had. Unfortunatelly his daughter had joined to the mutiny and after she arrested. Jack got an strange opportunity to save Elizabeth life, the cost of capturing of his good friend.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't reveal anything more, but you'll run into great suprise.
The story is great! We get anything we expect and more. But I must admit there were a little slowdown at the middle of the book, but it's still acceptable.
I give Geoffrey Wilson's book 4.7 out of 5.0 stars.
I can hardly wait for the sequel of the Land of Hope and Glory!
What will can be happen if you mix an alternative history, with magic and steam technology? Anything!
We're in England in the middle of the 19th century, when whole Europe ruled and controlled by India for a while. The proud nations like France and England are the subject of the Indians. The Asians have great (war)machines and talented magicians who can use power of the mysterious sattva.
Jack Casey was an officer in the army of the opressors, but retired because of a serious injury he had. Unfortunatelly his daughter had joined to the mutiny and after she arrested. Jack got an strange opportunity to save Elizabeth life, the cost of capturing of his good friend.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't reveal anything more, but you'll run into great suprise.
The story is great! We get anything we expect and more. But I must admit there were a little slowdown at the middle of the book, but it's still acceptable.
I give Geoffrey Wilson's book 4.7 out of 5.0 stars.
I can hardly wait for the sequel of the Land of Hope and Glory!
July 18, 2016
The Indian Empire rules most of Europe, but in England a rebellion has started. A conflicted, but brave englishman have to follow the demands of the ever so evil indians and track down his old friend, who is now a leader of the rebellion.
This is obviously an incredibly problematic story. The poor, opressed englishmen who fight the pretty damn evil Indians is a pretty tasteless premisse. That the only thing they agree about is the dislike of muslims doesnt really help.
Aside from the deeply problematic colonialism and plain odd english patriotism the story is extremely repetitive.
There are some things, like the avatars, that shows that there is something in this worldbuilding that could have carried the book for me, but now I just see the flag waving, blind patriotism and the pretty damn racist overtones.
This is obviously an incredibly problematic story. The poor, opressed englishmen who fight the pretty damn evil Indians is a pretty tasteless premisse. That the only thing they agree about is the dislike of muslims doesnt really help.
Aside from the deeply problematic colonialism and plain odd english patriotism the story is extremely repetitive.
There are some things, like the avatars, that shows that there is something in this worldbuilding that could have carried the book for me, but now I just see the flag waving, blind patriotism and the pretty damn racist overtones.
December 8, 2012
Really enjoyed this book, great idea very interesting premise looking forward to the next book.
Please give it ago.
Please give it ago.
April 14, 2020
Some of these reviews are pretty annoying. This is not a racist book, and to say it is shows you haven't actually read it or attempted to understand it. The story is exposing British colonialism, not supporting it.
November 12, 2012
Land of Hope and Glory is an alternate history fantasy novel, in which the tables are turned on the British Empire. Instead of the Brits colonising India and a large part of the rest of the world, the Rajthanans, a people from the Indian sub-continent, conquer large parts of the world, including England and Wales. It is an intriguing premise: what would a world look like where Christianity and Western culture as we know it aren't the focal point of world development? Added to this is an extra element of differentiation: What if these conquerors had magic? While the switch is expertly done and the story quite interesting, I had issues with the book, mostly concerning its pacing and the amount of the world that is revealed.
To start with the first point, I found that the narrative dragged in several places, especially in the chapters after Jack is given his mission to capture the Ghost, his former army comrade turned rebel leader. He sets off to chase The Ghost and his men and that chase just seemed to go on and on. Similarly, there comes a point when Jack is in London trying to get to The Ghost that the story almost crawls to a halt and I just felt impatient to get on with it. As for the amount of the world that is revealed, that might not be a flaw as much as me wanting more than the author was ready to give. I would have liked a bit more of a world view: How large is the empire; did they get overseas territories, if so which ones; did they takeover all of Europe; are there any other superpowers? Instead world building is kept to a minimum, that is to say we only learn about the world in as much as Jack encounters or remembers it and that is largely constrained to England. The world building that is there is intricate and well-done, I was just left with a lot questions.
On the other hand, the development of the steam-and-sorcery based industrialisation and mechanisation of warfare is fascinating, as is the magic system based on sattva, yantra and the influences of ancient Hindu philosophies. I loved that Wilson goes against the more common take that if a society has magic, industrialisation is superfluous in a sense and thus less likely to happen. The integration of magic and machinery into an almost organic, living whole was fabulous and completely creepy. The avatars in all their guises freaked me out, not in the least as they all take the forms of insects and crustaceans, which I think are creepy critters anyway. The scenes in the mill, where we learn more about the avatars, were some of the strongest in the book and I really liked this aspect of Wilson's magic.
The book's protagonist, Jack, is a sympathetic character, even if he annoyed me at times. I hated his resignation to the situation at times; instead of deciding to do things his own way, he tries to play by the rules and expects the others to do the same, which of course they never do. His unwanted-but-unavoidable companions Saleem and Charles actually served to make him think about the Rajthanans and their actions, which I really liked. Over the course of the novel Jack's character moves from being disillusioned with the army's rigidity and adherence to unfair rules, thinking them inherent to the institution rather than instituted by the Rajthanans, to being disillusioned with the Rajthanans and their worldview. I loved the little details Wilson slipped into his characters, such as Saleem looking pretty much Irish, even though he is a Mohammedan, and the French calling Jack Ros Porc instead of Ros Beef, as, having been captured and converted by the Moors, the French are Mohammedans and do not eat pork.
Land of Hope and Glory may have some slow-moving parts, but the action scenes – like those in the mills and later the siege – were superb, frightening and disorienting, leaving the reader in no doubt that warfare in this alternate continuity is just as inglorious as it is in ours. The ending held promise and despite my issues with this first instalment, I enjoyed my time spent within its pages. I'm interested in seeing where Wilson will take Jack next in the second book of this series, The Place of Dead Kings, which was published in October. Land of Hope and Glory is a solid debut with appeal for both historical fiction readers and fantasy readers alike.
This book was provided for review by the author.
To start with the first point, I found that the narrative dragged in several places, especially in the chapters after Jack is given his mission to capture the Ghost, his former army comrade turned rebel leader. He sets off to chase The Ghost and his men and that chase just seemed to go on and on. Similarly, there comes a point when Jack is in London trying to get to The Ghost that the story almost crawls to a halt and I just felt impatient to get on with it. As for the amount of the world that is revealed, that might not be a flaw as much as me wanting more than the author was ready to give. I would have liked a bit more of a world view: How large is the empire; did they get overseas territories, if so which ones; did they takeover all of Europe; are there any other superpowers? Instead world building is kept to a minimum, that is to say we only learn about the world in as much as Jack encounters or remembers it and that is largely constrained to England. The world building that is there is intricate and well-done, I was just left with a lot questions.
On the other hand, the development of the steam-and-sorcery based industrialisation and mechanisation of warfare is fascinating, as is the magic system based on sattva, yantra and the influences of ancient Hindu philosophies. I loved that Wilson goes against the more common take that if a society has magic, industrialisation is superfluous in a sense and thus less likely to happen. The integration of magic and machinery into an almost organic, living whole was fabulous and completely creepy. The avatars in all their guises freaked me out, not in the least as they all take the forms of insects and crustaceans, which I think are creepy critters anyway. The scenes in the mill, where we learn more about the avatars, were some of the strongest in the book and I really liked this aspect of Wilson's magic.
The book's protagonist, Jack, is a sympathetic character, even if he annoyed me at times. I hated his resignation to the situation at times; instead of deciding to do things his own way, he tries to play by the rules and expects the others to do the same, which of course they never do. His unwanted-but-unavoidable companions Saleem and Charles actually served to make him think about the Rajthanans and their actions, which I really liked. Over the course of the novel Jack's character moves from being disillusioned with the army's rigidity and adherence to unfair rules, thinking them inherent to the institution rather than instituted by the Rajthanans, to being disillusioned with the Rajthanans and their worldview. I loved the little details Wilson slipped into his characters, such as Saleem looking pretty much Irish, even though he is a Mohammedan, and the French calling Jack Ros Porc instead of Ros Beef, as, having been captured and converted by the Moors, the French are Mohammedans and do not eat pork.
Land of Hope and Glory may have some slow-moving parts, but the action scenes – like those in the mills and later the siege – were superb, frightening and disorienting, leaving the reader in no doubt that warfare in this alternate continuity is just as inglorious as it is in ours. The ending held promise and despite my issues with this first instalment, I enjoyed my time spent within its pages. I'm interested in seeing where Wilson will take Jack next in the second book of this series, The Place of Dead Kings, which was published in October. Land of Hope and Glory is a solid debut with appeal for both historical fiction readers and fantasy readers alike.
This book was provided for review by the author.
January 27, 2013
What I enjoy most about reading is that sometimes you stumble upon a book that really draws you in. Time becomes meaningless and you put aside the real world just to finish the story. Land of Hope and Glory by Geoffrey Wilson was one those books for me.
The story is set in 1852 in a timeline where the Indian empire of Rajthana rules England and Wales. The exact POD is uncertain, but the timeline appears to diverge in the 8th century. Islam spread further into Europe than in OTL. One character states that England was the only Christian nation left, but this might be a popular misconception since the Pope resides in Dublin and the religious affiliation of various other European peoples is never mentioned. Nevertheless, England for 200 years was ruled by a Caliph and many English families in the southeast converted to Islam until the English rebelled and deposed the last Caliph.
A period of civil strife follows, which kept the English from uniting against Rajthana when they expanded into Europe. Like the spread of Islam in this timeline, the scope of the Rajthana empire is never mapped out. Muslims from France, Andalusia and Naples serve in their European Army, but Ireland and Scotland remain independent. Scotland is actually a parallel for Afghanistan in this timeline, being a primitive land full of bandit tribes that raid across the border every so often. There is mention of colonies across the Atlantic and wars against the Inca and the Slavs of the Balkans (probably those bloody Serbs up to no good...again).
Did I mention there is magic? Plausibility hounds may already be howling, but I like a good ASB story and the magic system is more original than the usual wave your wand and a deus ex machina appears. Magic comes from an element called sattva and can only be tapped into by the study of yantras, meditation and yoga. Once you master a yantra you can use it to control sattva for whatever purpose the yantra was intended, such as shooting a fireball into an enemy troop formation. There is a catch though, called the law of karma, which states that once you use a power you can never learn another power. It is thanks to their mastery of sattva that Rajthana has managed to build a vast empire across the world. With their magical abilities and steam powered machines, known as avatars, the Rajthanans appear invincible.
Until the jewel of their empire, with its large deposits of sattva, rebels against them, mirroring the 1857 Indian Mutiny. The English soldiers have mutinied and now seek to free their nation from foreign occupation. Our hero, retired solider Jack Casey, has no intention of joining the rebels feeling that it is foolhardy to challenge the Rajthanans. Turns out, however, that the Rajthanans don't really care what he thinks. They want him to use his tracking ability, enhanced by sattva, to track down his friend William who is now an important leader with the rebels. To motivate him, the Rajthanans offer to pardon his daughter, who is accused of helping the rebels and will soon be executed unless her father helps them. With no choice, Jack sets off with a sadistic Rajthanan officer to find his old comrade while he wrestles with his growing desire to help the rebels despite the insurmountable odds.
As I said before I could not put down Land of Hope and Glory. I truly felt for Jack as he raced against time to save his daughter, knowing that it could end with the death of his friend and perhaps England's last chance for freedom. The story tells a familiar tragedy that is found in our history, a proud people fed up with foreign rule, yet doomed before the first fires of independence are lit. Western culture has had it pretty easy, rarely experiencing the boot heel of oppression on their face, but ignoring or sanitizing it when they do it to other cultures. There is a dark side to imperialism, no matter how glorious our own histories try to make it.
The story is set in 1852 in a timeline where the Indian empire of Rajthana rules England and Wales. The exact POD is uncertain, but the timeline appears to diverge in the 8th century. Islam spread further into Europe than in OTL. One character states that England was the only Christian nation left, but this might be a popular misconception since the Pope resides in Dublin and the religious affiliation of various other European peoples is never mentioned. Nevertheless, England for 200 years was ruled by a Caliph and many English families in the southeast converted to Islam until the English rebelled and deposed the last Caliph.
A period of civil strife follows, which kept the English from uniting against Rajthana when they expanded into Europe. Like the spread of Islam in this timeline, the scope of the Rajthana empire is never mapped out. Muslims from France, Andalusia and Naples serve in their European Army, but Ireland and Scotland remain independent. Scotland is actually a parallel for Afghanistan in this timeline, being a primitive land full of bandit tribes that raid across the border every so often. There is mention of colonies across the Atlantic and wars against the Inca and the Slavs of the Balkans (probably those bloody Serbs up to no good...again).
Did I mention there is magic? Plausibility hounds may already be howling, but I like a good ASB story and the magic system is more original than the usual wave your wand and a deus ex machina appears. Magic comes from an element called sattva and can only be tapped into by the study of yantras, meditation and yoga. Once you master a yantra you can use it to control sattva for whatever purpose the yantra was intended, such as shooting a fireball into an enemy troop formation. There is a catch though, called the law of karma, which states that once you use a power you can never learn another power. It is thanks to their mastery of sattva that Rajthana has managed to build a vast empire across the world. With their magical abilities and steam powered machines, known as avatars, the Rajthanans appear invincible.
Until the jewel of their empire, with its large deposits of sattva, rebels against them, mirroring the 1857 Indian Mutiny. The English soldiers have mutinied and now seek to free their nation from foreign occupation. Our hero, retired solider Jack Casey, has no intention of joining the rebels feeling that it is foolhardy to challenge the Rajthanans. Turns out, however, that the Rajthanans don't really care what he thinks. They want him to use his tracking ability, enhanced by sattva, to track down his friend William who is now an important leader with the rebels. To motivate him, the Rajthanans offer to pardon his daughter, who is accused of helping the rebels and will soon be executed unless her father helps them. With no choice, Jack sets off with a sadistic Rajthanan officer to find his old comrade while he wrestles with his growing desire to help the rebels despite the insurmountable odds.
As I said before I could not put down Land of Hope and Glory. I truly felt for Jack as he raced against time to save his daughter, knowing that it could end with the death of his friend and perhaps England's last chance for freedom. The story tells a familiar tragedy that is found in our history, a proud people fed up with foreign rule, yet doomed before the first fires of independence are lit. Western culture has had it pretty easy, rarely experiencing the boot heel of oppression on their face, but ignoring or sanitizing it when they do it to other cultures. There is a dark side to imperialism, no matter how glorious our own histories try to make it.
August 9, 2014
I bought this awhile ago as the cover grabbed my attention and I quite like alternative history, However, I wasn't quite sure about the "magic" element and I saw a few mediocre reviews, so I just sort of let it lay there in my to-read pile. Eventually, I reached out for it....
Any misgivings were misplaced. The alternative history element is well handled and believable, and the "magic" element is more steampunk than fantasy. This works well within the context of Indian mysticism and English industrialisation.
More to the point, Wilson can write. The character of Jack Casey is well drawn and his struggle over where his loyalties lie is totally believable. The plot moves along nicely, and its good to see characters dying GoT like - this brings real believability and drama to the situations.
So we have the well drawn alternative realities of Turtledove, the cross genre approach of Simmons, the plotting of Cornwell and the drama of Martin. I believe there are 2 follow ups and I shall search them out - recommended.
Any misgivings were misplaced. The alternative history element is well handled and believable, and the "magic" element is more steampunk than fantasy. This works well within the context of Indian mysticism and English industrialisation.
More to the point, Wilson can write. The character of Jack Casey is well drawn and his struggle over where his loyalties lie is totally believable. The plot moves along nicely, and its good to see characters dying GoT like - this brings real believability and drama to the situations.
So we have the well drawn alternative realities of Turtledove, the cross genre approach of Simmons, the plotting of Cornwell and the drama of Martin. I believe there are 2 follow ups and I shall search them out - recommended.
June 17, 2013
Bit of a curate's egg, this one...
The story is set in an alternate world, where India is the dominant global power, in what would appear to be the 18th century. England is a far-flung outpost of Empire, but rebellion is stirring....
Jack Casey, the story's focal point, is a retired soldier: however, when his daughter is imprisoned as a rebel, & sentenced to be hanged, he has no choice but to rejoin the Imperial army & use his magical tracking skills to find "The ghost"- who happens to be his old friend & colleague....
Good points: the tale is well-told, & Jack Casey comes across as an interesting character. However, some parts of the book are painfully slow, & the other characters are, frankly, cardboard. There is talk of King Arthur & the grail, but nothing seems to come of this.
Not sure I'll bother with the next book, unless it's in the library....
The story is set in an alternate world, where India is the dominant global power, in what would appear to be the 18th century. England is a far-flung outpost of Empire, but rebellion is stirring....
Jack Casey, the story's focal point, is a retired soldier: however, when his daughter is imprisoned as a rebel, & sentenced to be hanged, he has no choice but to rejoin the Imperial army & use his magical tracking skills to find "The ghost"- who happens to be his old friend & colleague....
Good points: the tale is well-told, & Jack Casey comes across as an interesting character. However, some parts of the book are painfully slow, & the other characters are, frankly, cardboard. There is talk of King Arthur & the grail, but nothing seems to come of this.
Not sure I'll bother with the next book, unless it's in the library....
May 22, 2015
It's 1850"," and England has been part of the Rajthanan empire for more than a century. Rebels aim to change that. Jack Casey's been retired from the Army for several years"," due to a magical wound which still endangers his life. Elizabeth"," Jack's daughter"," has joined the rebels"," and is due to be executed. Jack has only one chance to save her: he must track down and capture one of the rebel leaders. But the mysterious “Ghost” is one of Jack's best friends from his army days. Will Jack betray his friend"," his country"," or lose his only remaining relative?This is an interesting tale of conflicted morality"," set in a world where magic has tilted the balance of history against Christianity in favor of the religions of India and Islam.
July 19, 2014
Shades of Bernard Cornwell all around. Geoffrey Wilson does a great job in thus series opener of blending in the metaphysical element of sattva into a starkly historical setting. This book was made even more enjoyable by seeing a colonial Empire, turned Topsy-Turvy into a colony itself, and getting a taste of its own medicine. The main character, Jack, has the rough and courageous, I pretend not to be patriotic qualities of Cornwells's Richard Sharpe, but it a more realistic, less heroic way. My only gripe of those novel is the final climax seems a bit rushed, and so far the Grail story has yet to develop beyond a sentence or two. Hopefully book number two solves this. A great read!
January 8, 2014
Interesting premise. I am torn between the narrative that left you not really knowing how the story would pan out, and it leading to some slow elements in the last third of the book. Definitely has drawn me in, though, so I will look forward to finding the next installment.
January 16, 2021
DNFed at 30 pages. The premise was problematic to begin with, but I tried to read it anyway and just...nope. I think this book is extremely tone-deaf - turning historically subjugated people into the villains? Yikes.
July 10, 2012
Interesting to see how differently England was portrayed and the alternative history. Likeable but human hero with torn between protecting his daughter and betraying his friend.
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