Me and Atrocity

Amgalant #2.1

by Bryn Hammond

‘Jamuqa had witnessed, aged fifteen, his tribe strung up on trees. Perhaps you have to go one further.’ Jamuqa is mad, and commits an atrocity in challenge of Temujin.

His actions – that might have more to do with how he feels about his oath-brother – plunge the Mongols into intertribal war. Temujin’s lack of an election, too, has caused controversy and a split into camps. The anti-Tchingis set find his ideas newfangled, while his followers almost worship him. Even Temujin, sad in private, dedicated instead to his public self, fears Tchingis has gotten out of hand.

This isn’t what Galut Queen had in mind when she put an honest Mongol in government to save the Mongols’ traditions.

213 pages, ebook

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Bryn Hammond lives in a coastal town in Australia, where she likes to write while walking in the sea. She grew up on ancient and medieval epics, the Arthur cycle original and modern, nineteenth-century novelists, particularly Russian and French, and out-of-fashion poets, namely Algernon Swinburne.

Always a writer – to the neglect of other paths in life that might have been more sensible – she found the perfect story in The Secret History of the Mongols, a thirteenth-century prose and verse account of Chinggis Khan. Her Amgalant series is a version and interpretation of this original. Voices from the Twelfth-Century Steppe is her craft essay, a case study of creative engagement with a primary source.

Other work in The Knot Wound Round Your Finger (Bell Press), Ergot., Queer Weird West Tales (LIBRAtiger), New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine.

Reviews

[Linda]

I read this book very slowly, and what a difference that made! This author paints a personal portrait of Genghis Khan through her excellent research and wordsmith.

Readers, don't expect big battle scenes or unification of tribes through brute force. Do expect to get into the mind of Genghis Khan and see the 'why' of his actions. Of course there were battles, but the author treated them differently than other authors. Readers, don't skim over transition passages or you will be tripped. Like Faulkner, there are golden nuggets in those slow and boring passages. There is much unexpected humor in this book, mostly in the author's turn of phrase. Many times I wondered if the author really said that! Finally, think about the enemy army sleeping at night and being aroused by a lose camel with live firecrackers tied to its tail! Now, that is a funny picture if ever there was one!

Thank you, dear author, for a good read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 3 of this epic story of Temujin / Chingis Khan. The author’s beautiful, skilful and sometimes surprisingly funny use of language transported me to the world of the 13th century Mongol steppe.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Apple Goodreads