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Arabesk #2
Effendi
Masterfully blending speculative fiction and hard-boiled mystery, Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s acclaimed Arabesk series plunges readers into a world eerily familiar and shockingly unpredictable. Here a troubled detective follows a trail of clues through a city where innocence itself may be a thing of the past. . . .
It’s the twenty-first century and El Iskandryia—an alluring metropolis built on seduction, corruption, and lies—is the double-dealing heart of an Ottoman Empire that still rules the world. But these days a sense of dread hangs over El Isk—and over Ashraf Bey, the city’s new Chief of Detectives. A trial is set to take place, and it’s up to Raf to decide the case. There’s only one the suspect is the billionaire father of the woman Raf should have married.
Industrialist Hamzah Effendi is accused of crimes so horrible that even El Iskandryia wants him eliminated. But Raf finds that protecting the sensual and impetuous Zara Quitrimala from the secrets of her father’s past may be even more dangerous. For Raf must now solve a series of brutal murders that are somehow connected to the case—and to Zara. And the closer Raf gets to the truth, the more elusive the answers become—and the closer he comes to his own demise.…
Praise for the Arabesk series and Effendi
“ Raymond Chandler for the 21st century.” —Esquire
“All brilliant light and scorching heat . . . Grimwood has successfully mingled fantasy with reality to make an unusual, believable, and absorbing mystery." — Sunday Telegraph (London)
“If you’re not reading Jon Courtenay Grimwood, then you don’t know how subtle and daring fiction can be.” —Michael Marshall Smith, author of Spares and One of Us
“Fast, furious, fun and elegant, the Arabesk trilogy is one of the best things to hit the bookstores in a while.” — SFRevu
It’s the twenty-first century and El Iskandryia—an alluring metropolis built on seduction, corruption, and lies—is the double-dealing heart of an Ottoman Empire that still rules the world. But these days a sense of dread hangs over El Isk—and over Ashraf Bey, the city’s new Chief of Detectives. A trial is set to take place, and it’s up to Raf to decide the case. There’s only one the suspect is the billionaire father of the woman Raf should have married.
Industrialist Hamzah Effendi is accused of crimes so horrible that even El Iskandryia wants him eliminated. But Raf finds that protecting the sensual and impetuous Zara Quitrimala from the secrets of her father’s past may be even more dangerous. For Raf must now solve a series of brutal murders that are somehow connected to the case—and to Zara. And the closer Raf gets to the truth, the more elusive the answers become—and the closer he comes to his own demise.…
Praise for the Arabesk series and Effendi
“ Raymond Chandler for the 21st century.” —Esquire
“All brilliant light and scorching heat . . . Grimwood has successfully mingled fantasy with reality to make an unusual, believable, and absorbing mystery." — Sunday Telegraph (London)
“If you’re not reading Jon Courtenay Grimwood, then you don’t know how subtle and daring fiction can be.” —Michael Marshall Smith, author of Spares and One of Us
“Fast, furious, fun and elegant, the Arabesk trilogy is one of the best things to hit the bookstores in a while.” — SFRevu
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Jon Courtenay Grimwood
55 books203 followers'Tough, sexy and brutal, but leavened with sharp humour... Grimwood is a name to watch.' The Times
Jon Courtenay Grimwood was born in Malta and christened in the upturned bell of a ship. He grew up in the Far East, Britain and Scandinavia. Apart from novels he writes for magazines and newspapers. He travels extensively and undertakes a certain amount of consulting. Until recently he wrote a monthly review column for the Guardian.
Felaheen, the third of his novels featuring Asraf Bey, a half-Berber detective, won the BSFA Award for Best Novel. So did his last book, End of the World Blues, about a British sniper on the run from Iraq and running an Irish bar in Tokyo. He has just delivered the Fallen Blade, the first of three novels set in an alternate 15th-century Venice
His work is published in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Turkish, Japanese, Finnish and American, among others
He is married to the journalist and novelist Sam Baker, currently editor-in-chief of Red magazine. They divide their time between London and Winchester...
Jon Courtenay Grimwood was born in Malta and christened in the upturned bell of a ship. He grew up in the Far East, Britain and Scandinavia. Apart from novels he writes for magazines and newspapers. He travels extensively and undertakes a certain amount of consulting. Until recently he wrote a monthly review column for the Guardian.
Felaheen, the third of his novels featuring Asraf Bey, a half-Berber detective, won the BSFA Award for Best Novel. So did his last book, End of the World Blues, about a British sniper on the run from Iraq and running an Irish bar in Tokyo. He has just delivered the Fallen Blade, the first of three novels set in an alternate 15th-century Venice
His work is published in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Turkish, Japanese, Finnish and American, among others
He is married to the journalist and novelist Sam Baker, currently editor-in-chief of Red magazine. They divide their time between London and Winchester...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 14, 2018
Welcome back to your favorite alternate history where the Germans are causing trouble, the French are snooty and the intersection of politics and business dealings end up getting people killed unnecessarily, forcing an elaborate cover-up. Oh wait, that seems like actual history.
Grimwood continues with his tale of a divergent history where the Ottoman Empire didn't collapse and end up being mostly well known as a comfortable footrest that really ties a room together, setting it in an Alexandria that got its named changed to El Iskandryia to protect the innocent and featuring people who would perhaps like a little less moral greyness in their lives.
In our last outing mysterious puzzling enigma Ashraf Bey, he of the weird fox in his head and undefined genetic enhancements, got pulled into our exotic locale by someone claiming to be his aunt in an effort to get him into an arranged marriage. After she got subsequently murdered, he had to solve the murder and get out of his arranged marriage to Zara, who was okay with that too except they both fell in love with each other after they decided not to get married and seem to be stuck with the decision. He's also taking care of his nine year old niece Hani, who seems to like him except when she doesn't, which sounds typical of nine year olds everywhere. Oh, and somehow he got to be Chief of Detectives after he helped the last one die, which sounds like a promotional ladder designed by Klingons.
Fortunately for his on-the-job training one of the first major cases comes along when a dead body is found in such a way that suspicion is cast on the richest man in town, who was also almost Bey's father-in-law. As if that wouldn't make dinner time awkward enough but it sounds like Hamzah's past might be emerging in a way that could haunt him in a psychologically devastating Ingmar Bergman fashion as opposed to the more conventional "boo!" style.
While the focus this time is once again on unsolved murders that appear to have no solution other than "everyone did it" or "no one did it", Grimwood does a pretty good job addressing what made the first novel so hard to decipher at times . . . namely the wider politics of this new history and how to navigate what the various foreign powers want with the city. Part of this is because Bey is on the inside and thus a little more prone to being exposed to the inner workings of everything (even moreso later in the novel) and while things still aren't totally clear on what the differences are between this world and ours, at least we have some broader context on what changes the divergence has wrought.
It's also a more straightforward plot, at least in the beginning. Having dispensed with the focus on getting Bey set up, Grimwood can run the characters through their paces and the push-pull between the international implications of tourists getting murdered possibly by a prominent citizen and the effect on the city itself is easier to digest. He still has a winning way with characters . . . Bey himself is a marvel in how the book can be structured around someone so unwilling to be effective and so opaque in his past that you still want to root for him. Part of this is accomplished by the supporting cast being skillfully deployed, so much of the fun is Bey interacting with Zara and his niece (a definite bright spot as he threads the needle of having a really smart child still act like a child and not be irritating) or with the other diplomats or Hamzah. Its a balancing act Bey has to pull off, acting like he knows what he's doing when he hasn't the slightest clue and pretending not to notice how easily he's doing it even while everyone else is.
It makes for entertaining reading even when the plot starts to get too murky for its own good. The constant flashbacks to child soldiers are explained easily enough but soon it starts to feel like the tourist murders and the deal with Zara's dad are two entirely separate issues with only the latter being fully addressed in the end (and one murderer is . . . dealt with? and maybe he wasn't the murderer?). Some of the plot choices feel more dictated by need rather than logic, with Bey getting a severe promotion partway through that takes the novel in a more interesting direction even as I'm not entirely sure how it worked within the context of the book itself (and why do people keep giving Bey important positions based on a reputation he didn't really earn?). The drama of the ultimate will-they or won't-they couple Bey and Zara isn't as prominent this time around but their reasons for not getting together seem based more on plot dictated stubbornness than anything resembling human emotion, unless there's a cultural context that isn't being explained very well.
And just because Bey is likeable, it doesn't mean he isn't problematic. After two books I'm still not sure what the point of the "fox" is inside his head or their fragmentary conversations, which don't seem to add much to the proceedings. He also has a wide variety of abilities that get mentioned but never seem to get used and a high degree of competence despite often having no idea what he's doing. Bey's often carried by events and doing his best to stay ahead of them but its not always clear what his motivations are ultimately, if he even has any . . . it makes him mysterious but not always as compelling as the book would like us to perceive him. On some level he's like Jaeger from Carla Speed McNeil's "Finder" series without the charisma or the effortless cool factor.
Even with those caveats I still think its a step forward from the first book, with the climax sporting a nice intersection of past and present, personal and political. It gives a wider feel for the city and its place in the world and the world's place in it, and Grimwood's writing makes the pace steady. It perhaps is a better introduction to the series than the actual first book is, so you wouldn't be totally off considering that as a prelude and this as the start of the real story, which seems like its only going to last one more book anyway.
Grimwood continues with his tale of a divergent history where the Ottoman Empire didn't collapse and end up being mostly well known as a comfortable footrest that really ties a room together, setting it in an Alexandria that got its named changed to El Iskandryia to protect the innocent and featuring people who would perhaps like a little less moral greyness in their lives.
In our last outing mysterious puzzling enigma Ashraf Bey, he of the weird fox in his head and undefined genetic enhancements, got pulled into our exotic locale by someone claiming to be his aunt in an effort to get him into an arranged marriage. After she got subsequently murdered, he had to solve the murder and get out of his arranged marriage to Zara, who was okay with that too except they both fell in love with each other after they decided not to get married and seem to be stuck with the decision. He's also taking care of his nine year old niece Hani, who seems to like him except when she doesn't, which sounds typical of nine year olds everywhere. Oh, and somehow he got to be Chief of Detectives after he helped the last one die, which sounds like a promotional ladder designed by Klingons.
Fortunately for his on-the-job training one of the first major cases comes along when a dead body is found in such a way that suspicion is cast on the richest man in town, who was also almost Bey's father-in-law. As if that wouldn't make dinner time awkward enough but it sounds like Hamzah's past might be emerging in a way that could haunt him in a psychologically devastating Ingmar Bergman fashion as opposed to the more conventional "boo!" style.
While the focus this time is once again on unsolved murders that appear to have no solution other than "everyone did it" or "no one did it", Grimwood does a pretty good job addressing what made the first novel so hard to decipher at times . . . namely the wider politics of this new history and how to navigate what the various foreign powers want with the city. Part of this is because Bey is on the inside and thus a little more prone to being exposed to the inner workings of everything (even moreso later in the novel) and while things still aren't totally clear on what the differences are between this world and ours, at least we have some broader context on what changes the divergence has wrought.
It's also a more straightforward plot, at least in the beginning. Having dispensed with the focus on getting Bey set up, Grimwood can run the characters through their paces and the push-pull between the international implications of tourists getting murdered possibly by a prominent citizen and the effect on the city itself is easier to digest. He still has a winning way with characters . . . Bey himself is a marvel in how the book can be structured around someone so unwilling to be effective and so opaque in his past that you still want to root for him. Part of this is accomplished by the supporting cast being skillfully deployed, so much of the fun is Bey interacting with Zara and his niece (a definite bright spot as he threads the needle of having a really smart child still act like a child and not be irritating) or with the other diplomats or Hamzah. Its a balancing act Bey has to pull off, acting like he knows what he's doing when he hasn't the slightest clue and pretending not to notice how easily he's doing it even while everyone else is.
It makes for entertaining reading even when the plot starts to get too murky for its own good. The constant flashbacks to child soldiers are explained easily enough but soon it starts to feel like the tourist murders and the deal with Zara's dad are two entirely separate issues with only the latter being fully addressed in the end (and one murderer is . . . dealt with? and maybe he wasn't the murderer?). Some of the plot choices feel more dictated by need rather than logic, with Bey getting a severe promotion partway through that takes the novel in a more interesting direction even as I'm not entirely sure how it worked within the context of the book itself (and why do people keep giving Bey important positions based on a reputation he didn't really earn?). The drama of the ultimate will-they or won't-they couple Bey and Zara isn't as prominent this time around but their reasons for not getting together seem based more on plot dictated stubbornness than anything resembling human emotion, unless there's a cultural context that isn't being explained very well.
And just because Bey is likeable, it doesn't mean he isn't problematic. After two books I'm still not sure what the point of the "fox" is inside his head or their fragmentary conversations, which don't seem to add much to the proceedings. He also has a wide variety of abilities that get mentioned but never seem to get used and a high degree of competence despite often having no idea what he's doing. Bey's often carried by events and doing his best to stay ahead of them but its not always clear what his motivations are ultimately, if he even has any . . . it makes him mysterious but not always as compelling as the book would like us to perceive him. On some level he's like Jaeger from Carla Speed McNeil's "Finder" series without the charisma or the effortless cool factor.
Even with those caveats I still think its a step forward from the first book, with the climax sporting a nice intersection of past and present, personal and political. It gives a wider feel for the city and its place in the world and the world's place in it, and Grimwood's writing makes the pace steady. It perhaps is a better introduction to the series than the actual first book is, so you wouldn't be totally off considering that as a prelude and this as the start of the real story, which seems like its only going to last one more book anyway.
May 24, 2010
Takes some close reading to understand. The author writes in jump-cut style, and not chronologically. So far, however, it's been an interesting and worthwhile ride through the streets of El Iskandryia, with true love and cybernetic enhancements alongside Arabic traditional culture.
However, the common theme in this series seems to be -- everyone is abused during childhood, physically or mentally, by circumstances or parents, regardless of whether they came from rich or poor levels of society. The continuation of the Ottoman Empire apparently ensures that no one could grow up with a happy and stable home life. Statistically speaking, this cannot possibly be true. But it's a minor quibble...
However, the common theme in this series seems to be -- everyone is abused during childhood, physically or mentally, by circumstances or parents, regardless of whether they came from rich or poor levels of society. The continuation of the Ottoman Empire apparently ensures that no one could grow up with a happy and stable home life. Statistically speaking, this cannot possibly be true. But it's a minor quibble...
May 23, 2022
Scrittura raffinata e complessa, con trama e intreccio per niente banali, divertente e riflessivo.. (atrocità di guerra, eserciti di bambini, ecc...) Un noir politico, con elementi sci fi, in cui i personaggi sono la vera forza motrice.. romanzo strano, inusuale, ma davvero bello
October 10, 2022
I read this book as part of a one volume edition of all three novels called Arabesk which I picked up in charity shop read without knowing anything about the author or the genre so although it took me awhile to understand what was going on I did enjoy the series the more I understood the problematic all the books in the trilogy became.
I have two major problems - first the weird wi-fi, si-fi (?) medical implants that give our hero special powers which were implanted when he was a child and the whole bizarre part of how his childhood was grossly extended by them etc. All this is only fully explained fully at the end of the trilogy, so for a large part of the story I didn't know what all the various dropped hints - for me just weird stuff about a fox in his head, etc. meant - clearly he seemed to have an ability to see things and do things out of the normal but it was all a bit vague. Maybe I found it more obscure because I don't read a great deal of modern, or any kind of, fantasy/wi-fi.
The second problem is a much bigger one - I caught on pretty quick that the story was set in an Egypt and an Alexandria of an alternate time, one were the Ottoman empire didn't end because England and France lost WWI. So this was alternate history (I don't think I knew the term steampunk when I read this) but if you are going to make an alternate history it is usually by playing around with a history that is known. The setting of this novel in an Egypt were there are still 'pashas' but bears no roots in real history, it is an alternate to what happened - probably because that would require explaining to readers of the book what the actual history you are diverting from was. As 99% of readers will know nothing about the real history of Egypt at the time of WWI the author hasn't created an alternate history but a fantasy history one that is, quite frankly 'Orientalist' in every sense of the word. How deeply offensive this is to anyone from Egypt or the middle east will probably be unknown to the readers of this trilogy but the author tries to avoid the accusation of cultural appropriation that his use of exotic locales and funny antique titles and having the hero being so clearly a westerner by inserting Berber background to explain why he is clearly a white man and not an Egyptian (I can't resist pointing out the Berbers were from areas of Tunisia and Morocco and had nothing to do with Egypt - just one of many egregious errors that have nothing to do with 'alternate' history only plain carelessness or ignorance).
I think the whole setting is just there for glossy colour, there is no understanding of Egypt its culture or heritage and certainly there is no alternate history because you have to understand the history you the real history you are creating an alternative too.
I give three stars because it is well written but that still means I think it is a mediocre and disappointing book.
I have two major problems - first the weird wi-fi, si-fi (?) medical implants that give our hero special powers which were implanted when he was a child and the whole bizarre part of how his childhood was grossly extended by them etc. All this is only fully explained fully at the end of the trilogy, so for a large part of the story I didn't know what all the various dropped hints - for me just weird stuff about a fox in his head, etc. meant - clearly he seemed to have an ability to see things and do things out of the normal but it was all a bit vague. Maybe I found it more obscure because I don't read a great deal of modern, or any kind of, fantasy/wi-fi.
The second problem is a much bigger one - I caught on pretty quick that the story was set in an Egypt and an Alexandria of an alternate time, one were the Ottoman empire didn't end because England and France lost WWI. So this was alternate history (I don't think I knew the term steampunk when I read this) but if you are going to make an alternate history it is usually by playing around with a history that is known. The setting of this novel in an Egypt were there are still 'pashas' but bears no roots in real history, it is an alternate to what happened - probably because that would require explaining to readers of the book what the actual history you are diverting from was. As 99% of readers will know nothing about the real history of Egypt at the time of WWI the author hasn't created an alternate history but a fantasy history one that is, quite frankly 'Orientalist' in every sense of the word. How deeply offensive this is to anyone from Egypt or the middle east will probably be unknown to the readers of this trilogy but the author tries to avoid the accusation of cultural appropriation that his use of exotic locales and funny antique titles and having the hero being so clearly a westerner by inserting Berber background to explain why he is clearly a white man and not an Egyptian (I can't resist pointing out the Berbers were from areas of Tunisia and Morocco and had nothing to do with Egypt - just one of many egregious errors that have nothing to do with 'alternate' history only plain carelessness or ignorance).
I think the whole setting is just there for glossy colour, there is no understanding of Egypt its culture or heritage and certainly there is no alternate history because you have to understand the history you the real history you are creating an alternative too.
I give three stars because it is well written but that still means I think it is a mediocre and disappointing book.
February 1, 2018
We are still not sure who Ashraf al Mansur is. Is he the illegitimate son of an Emir? He still seems like a socio- or psychopath with a drug problem. His relationship with Zara continues to be complicated. In this book he has taken over the murdered Felix's office of Chief of Detectives and later possibly reluctantly has Governor of El Iskandryia added to his portfolio. His mental implant, the Fox, is dying. His niece, the 160 IQ Hani, becomes his internet researcher.
Zara's father's history is found out and he is brought to trial as a war criminal. The powers, Paris, Washington, Berlin, and Moscow, all want to destabilize the free city and bring it under their individual influences so they can exploit its resources. Ashraf, as governor, must overcome these challenges. We learn more about Avatar, Zara's illegitimate half-brother, who plays an important role in unraveling these problems.
A large portion of this book is told in flashbacks of child soldiers exploited to carry out the battles in the interests of the powers.
I still plan to finish the 3 book series.
Zara's father's history is found out and he is brought to trial as a war criminal. The powers, Paris, Washington, Berlin, and Moscow, all want to destabilize the free city and bring it under their individual influences so they can exploit its resources. Ashraf, as governor, must overcome these challenges. We learn more about Avatar, Zara's illegitimate half-brother, who plays an important role in unraveling these problems.
A large portion of this book is told in flashbacks of child soldiers exploited to carry out the battles in the interests of the powers.
I still plan to finish the 3 book series.
October 7, 2021
This s the second in the Arabesk series, set in an alt-historical Alexandria, Egypt. Our semi hero is now chief of detectives, but still plagued by the same problems, and same people, as in volume one.
To me, this is not quite up to the lofty standards of volume one. The action is frenetic but not always logical (and the same is true of the actors). Here’s hoping the final act in the trilogy pulls it all together.
To me, this is not quite up to the lofty standards of volume one. The action is frenetic but not always logical (and the same is true of the actors). Here’s hoping the final act in the trilogy pulls it all together.
June 12, 2017
The author spent a lot of time describing the main character in detail, like what clothes he wore, what brand of sunglasses he had on, the conveyance of Ashraf Bey felt forced to me. This is weird because it is not even the first book in the series, why go on and on about the style of the character if the audience presumably already knew what he is like?
September 27, 2020
Read this because it sounded like Chandler and Gibson set in North Africa. And it was: stylish, brutal, complex and interesting. Lovely prose, big ideas, rich and exotic. Unfortunately, like those same authors, Grimwood struggles to create a three dimensional protagonist that I care deeply about.
October 5, 2021
A little bit different, and an entertaining read.
June 8, 2024
Non male ma l’ho trovato più noioso rispetto al primo della trilogia. È comunque scorrevole e ben scritto.
October 23, 2015
Da:
http://www.webalice.it/michele.castel...
Secondo volume della trilogia Arabesk. Avevo già presentato il primo volume, Pasharaze, nella mia rubrica mensile di consigli di lettura, perché mi era piaciuto molto. Questo secondo volume della trilogia è sicuramente allo stesso livello, ma l'impressione che mi ha lasciato non è equivalente. In parte, ma solo marginalmente, è dovuto all'essere un secondo volume, con i personaggi principali ormai delineati, sostanzialmente ben conosciuti, e quindi senza più l'effetto sorpresa che una storia nuova, con la sua ambientazione originale, inevitabilmente comporta. Questa volta questo effetto è particolarmente ridotto perché non solo Ashraf Bey continua ad essere un essere sostanzialmente misterioso come lo era nel primo volume, per quanto lo si continui a capire meglio, ma anche perché la storia sposta decisamente il piano di interesse, sembra divergere verso una direzione completamente diversa. Grimwood ha detto di considerare questo episodio della sua storia quello che gli piace di più, in cui ha inserito molti spunti sociali e politici. È vero, ma a me sembra che sia stato anche a detrimento della storia e della sua originalità e piacevolezza di lettura.
Di bambini arruolati, di forza o per forza, in qualche esercito africano ci sono purtroppo esempi reali contemporanei, per cui non è il fatto in sè che mi ha lasciato perplesso in Effendi, ma la presentazione che ne fa Grimwood mi sembra talmente esagerata da suscitarmi l'effetto opposto a quello desiderato dall'autore, cioè a farmela sembrare irreale, una chiara finzione letteraria, e perdere così buona parte dell'impatto emotivo.
Gli altri aspetti del romanzo sono invece completamente soddisfacenti: la trama è sufficentemente intrigante e con un adeguato livello di tensione. I personaggi continuano ad essere ben delineati e Ashraf Bey sta poco alla volta scoprendo la sua vera natura e ha riconquistato la presenza della misteriosa volpe che lo consiglia e lo informa direttamente nella sua mente.
Un buon secondo passo di una trilogia, che forse non doveva essere così appesantito dall'eccessivo carico emotivo della guerra dei bambini. Credo ci potesse essere modo di presentare lo stesso argomento in modo probabilmente più efficace e meno soffocante per la storia.
Ma questa è solo la mia opinione, e rimango in ogni caso in attesa del capitolo conclusivo.
http://www.webalice.it/michele.castel...
Secondo volume della trilogia Arabesk. Avevo già presentato il primo volume, Pasharaze, nella mia rubrica mensile di consigli di lettura, perché mi era piaciuto molto. Questo secondo volume della trilogia è sicuramente allo stesso livello, ma l'impressione che mi ha lasciato non è equivalente. In parte, ma solo marginalmente, è dovuto all'essere un secondo volume, con i personaggi principali ormai delineati, sostanzialmente ben conosciuti, e quindi senza più l'effetto sorpresa che una storia nuova, con la sua ambientazione originale, inevitabilmente comporta. Questa volta questo effetto è particolarmente ridotto perché non solo Ashraf Bey continua ad essere un essere sostanzialmente misterioso come lo era nel primo volume, per quanto lo si continui a capire meglio, ma anche perché la storia sposta decisamente il piano di interesse, sembra divergere verso una direzione completamente diversa. Grimwood ha detto di considerare questo episodio della sua storia quello che gli piace di più, in cui ha inserito molti spunti sociali e politici. È vero, ma a me sembra che sia stato anche a detrimento della storia e della sua originalità e piacevolezza di lettura.
Di bambini arruolati, di forza o per forza, in qualche esercito africano ci sono purtroppo esempi reali contemporanei, per cui non è il fatto in sè che mi ha lasciato perplesso in Effendi, ma la presentazione che ne fa Grimwood mi sembra talmente esagerata da suscitarmi l'effetto opposto a quello desiderato dall'autore, cioè a farmela sembrare irreale, una chiara finzione letteraria, e perdere così buona parte dell'impatto emotivo.
Gli altri aspetti del romanzo sono invece completamente soddisfacenti: la trama è sufficentemente intrigante e con un adeguato livello di tensione. I personaggi continuano ad essere ben delineati e Ashraf Bey sta poco alla volta scoprendo la sua vera natura e ha riconquistato la presenza della misteriosa volpe che lo consiglia e lo informa direttamente nella sua mente.
Un buon secondo passo di una trilogia, che forse non doveva essere così appesantito dall'eccessivo carico emotivo della guerra dei bambini. Credo ci potesse essere modo di presentare lo stesso argomento in modo probabilmente più efficace e meno soffocante per la storia.
Ma questa è solo la mia opinione, e rimango in ogni caso in attesa del capitolo conclusivo.
September 5, 2016
Dopo l’esordio con “Pashazade”, la Trilogia dell’Arabesco prosegue con “Effendi”. La vicenda non comincia dal termine del primo romanzo, bensì è ad esso intrecciata tramite eventi già raccontati ma ripresi da punti di vista alternativi.
Teatro dell’azione è ancora El Iskandryia; gli intermezzi che si inseriscono nel racconto questa volta riguardano la “guerra dell’acqua”, combattuta da truppe di bambini e adolescenti arruolati da ignoti manipolatori.
Il promettente scenario immaginato per la trilogia, una realtà alternativa in cui non hanno avuto luogo le due guerre mondiali e, di conseguenza, non hanno potuto affermarsi le due “super-potenze” del Novecento, in cui gli eserciti coloniali europei sono stati respinti al di là del Mediterraneo e il mondo arabo (costituito da regni e città-stato) è rimasto unito sotto il controllo dell’Impero Ottomano (un contesto in cui il Medio-oriente ha potuto godere di un discreto sviluppo economico e sociale - grazie allo sfruttamento delle proprie risorse naturali - e l’estremismo politico-religioso non ha trovato terreno favorevole), in “Effendi” comincia a franare.
L’inveterata abitudine alla conquista e l'insormontabile necessità di sottomissione e sfruttamento delle potenze straniere, provocano infatti pressioni sempre più forti sulla città-libera di El Iskandryia; i rappresentanti di Washington, Parigi e Berlino accusano apertamente uno dei più conosciuti uomini della città di essersi macchiato di crimini contro l’umanità. Ashraf al-Mansur, appena nominato Ispettore Capo, si trova così coinvolto in una delicata questione internazionale; non bastassero le esplosioni incendiarie, le bombe elettromagnetiche e i corpi squartati di tre giovani turiste straniere…
In luogo di crimini apparentemente da “cronaca nera” in "Effendi" si passa su un piano più politico, che coinvolge apparati diplomatici senza scrupoli. Si prosegue comunque nella linea tracciata da “Pashazade”; lo stile è il medesimo: le quattrocento pagine scorrono rapidamente, con solo qualche breve calo di tensione. La lettura del primo libro della trilogia è quasi imprescindibile; il finale lascia chiaramente intendere ulteriori sviluppi (“Fellahin”, ultimo volume, è previsto per l’autunno 2016 in traduzione italiana).
Teatro dell’azione è ancora El Iskandryia; gli intermezzi che si inseriscono nel racconto questa volta riguardano la “guerra dell’acqua”, combattuta da truppe di bambini e adolescenti arruolati da ignoti manipolatori.
Il promettente scenario immaginato per la trilogia, una realtà alternativa in cui non hanno avuto luogo le due guerre mondiali e, di conseguenza, non hanno potuto affermarsi le due “super-potenze” del Novecento, in cui gli eserciti coloniali europei sono stati respinti al di là del Mediterraneo e il mondo arabo (costituito da regni e città-stato) è rimasto unito sotto il controllo dell’Impero Ottomano (un contesto in cui il Medio-oriente ha potuto godere di un discreto sviluppo economico e sociale - grazie allo sfruttamento delle proprie risorse naturali - e l’estremismo politico-religioso non ha trovato terreno favorevole), in “Effendi” comincia a franare.
L’inveterata abitudine alla conquista e l'insormontabile necessità di sottomissione e sfruttamento delle potenze straniere, provocano infatti pressioni sempre più forti sulla città-libera di El Iskandryia; i rappresentanti di Washington, Parigi e Berlino accusano apertamente uno dei più conosciuti uomini della città di essersi macchiato di crimini contro l’umanità. Ashraf al-Mansur, appena nominato Ispettore Capo, si trova così coinvolto in una delicata questione internazionale; non bastassero le esplosioni incendiarie, le bombe elettromagnetiche e i corpi squartati di tre giovani turiste straniere…
In luogo di crimini apparentemente da “cronaca nera” in "Effendi" si passa su un piano più politico, che coinvolge apparati diplomatici senza scrupoli. Si prosegue comunque nella linea tracciata da “Pashazade”; lo stile è il medesimo: le quattrocento pagine scorrono rapidamente, con solo qualche breve calo di tensione. La lettura del primo libro della trilogia è quasi imprescindibile; il finale lascia chiaramente intendere ulteriori sviluppi (“Fellahin”, ultimo volume, è previsto per l’autunno 2016 in traduzione italiana).
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May 3, 2012“Effendi” is the second installment to Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s Arebesk trilogy.
“Effendi” starts just before the point that “Pashazade” leaves off. The slight overlap in story is retold from a different perspective than in the first novel. I found it an effective way to catch up a reader that might not be familiar with the events of the first book and still have enough back story to continue with the second. As for the reader familiar with book one, having the story told from a different perspective keeps it interesting.
The new story begins when a body is found near the mansion of Hamzah Effendi, Zara’s father. Ashraf, having taken Felix’s old job of Chief of Detectives, investigates the slaying, one in a series of brutal murders, and in so doing uncovers a horrifying secret from Hamzah’s past. Where Pashazade had a continuous flashback story from Raf’s past, Effendi has the flashback story of a gruesome war fought by children in the desert, seen through the eyes of a child-soldier named Ka.
In this alternate history timeline, the murders, Hamzah’s past and political intrigue merge as Raf investigates and faces the challenges of his new position, raising his niece, his complicated relationship with Zara and facing down representatives from US, Germany and France intent on exerting political influence on the free city of El Iskandrya. We also learn more about Avatar, Zara’s half-brother, as this novel starts expanding on what was a minor character in the first novel, now a more central character to the story.
There are so many layers to this story. With this second installment, we learn more about this world of Grimwood’s creation, as more of the details of life in Iskandrya become clearer as we become more familiar with this “civilized” world. A couple of shocking revelations do throw a curve that I was somehow not expecting and the ending is…satisfying. (Did you think I would give you a spoiler? Not me!)
One thing that I enjoyed about both this and the last novel is that, while they are part of a series, they are both good as stand-alone novels. I like how Grimwood spins a yarn. It’s a good read.
“Effendi” starts just before the point that “Pashazade” leaves off. The slight overlap in story is retold from a different perspective than in the first novel. I found it an effective way to catch up a reader that might not be familiar with the events of the first book and still have enough back story to continue with the second. As for the reader familiar with book one, having the story told from a different perspective keeps it interesting.
The new story begins when a body is found near the mansion of Hamzah Effendi, Zara’s father. Ashraf, having taken Felix’s old job of Chief of Detectives, investigates the slaying, one in a series of brutal murders, and in so doing uncovers a horrifying secret from Hamzah’s past. Where Pashazade had a continuous flashback story from Raf’s past, Effendi has the flashback story of a gruesome war fought by children in the desert, seen through the eyes of a child-soldier named Ka.
In this alternate history timeline, the murders, Hamzah’s past and political intrigue merge as Raf investigates and faces the challenges of his new position, raising his niece, his complicated relationship with Zara and facing down representatives from US, Germany and France intent on exerting political influence on the free city of El Iskandrya. We also learn more about Avatar, Zara’s half-brother, as this novel starts expanding on what was a minor character in the first novel, now a more central character to the story.
There are so many layers to this story. With this second installment, we learn more about this world of Grimwood’s creation, as more of the details of life in Iskandrya become clearer as we become more familiar with this “civilized” world. A couple of shocking revelations do throw a curve that I was somehow not expecting and the ending is…satisfying. (Did you think I would give you a spoiler? Not me!)
One thing that I enjoyed about both this and the last novel is that, while they are part of a series, they are both good as stand-alone novels. I like how Grimwood spins a yarn. It’s a good read.
August 12, 2008
Following on (sort of) the heels of Pashazade we find Raf as Chief of Police of the free city of El Isksandryia in JCG's alternate future, and not quite believing it himself. As in the previous book, we start with a little peek ahead into the plot, a teasing trick that draws you in, wanting to find out how exactly the hell that happens. And again we get thrown into a confusing tangle of flashbacks and memories, from which we have to extract the plot for ourselves.
Raf, as ever is the coolest thing going (the guy has to wear shades indoors at night for heaven's sake - normally you have to be Bono to pull that off), despite the almost complete absence of the Fox this time, and fairly breezes through the events he faces.
At the same time, we learn more about his mysterious past, but only a little more, while we learn a lot about his erstwhile father-in-law to be Hamzah - the Effendi of the title - and his history, in a very satisfying way as the plot, well ravels, as the various strands come together.
As it does all come together you forget all the confusion, although I did find myself flicking back a couple of times, to check it was all consistent. One thing that did trouble me though was the somewhat unbelievable encounter between Avatar and a squad of special forces, in particular what seems to be a disappointing misunderstanding of how night vision goggles work.
Still a satisfying, if at times wholly disorienting read. Must get hold of the third one...
Raf, as ever is the coolest thing going (the guy has to wear shades indoors at night for heaven's sake - normally you have to be Bono to pull that off), despite the almost complete absence of the Fox this time, and fairly breezes through the events he faces.
At the same time, we learn more about his mysterious past, but only a little more, while we learn a lot about his erstwhile father-in-law to be Hamzah - the Effendi of the title - and his history, in a very satisfying way as the plot, well ravels, as the various strands come together.
As it does all come together you forget all the confusion, although I did find myself flicking back a couple of times, to check it was all consistent. One thing that did trouble me though was the somewhat unbelievable encounter between Avatar and a squad of special forces, in particular what seems to be a disappointing misunderstanding of how night vision goggles work.
Still a satisfying, if at times wholly disorienting read. Must get hold of the third one...
July 1, 2013
In this review, I’m going to write about the willing suspension of disbelief. Perhaps more precisely, I’m writing about the intersection of world-building and the willing suspension of disbelief. Enter Jon Courtenay Grimwood and the ARABESK trilogy: Pashazade, Effendi and Felaheen.
In Grimwood’s world, the Ottoman Empire never collapsed. Woodrow Wilson brokered peace between London and Berlin in 1915, World War II never happened, and the major world powers seem to be Germany, France, the USA and the Empire. This alternate timeline stretches a few decades beyond current time, but in terms of fashion and technology, there’s nothing the science fiction reader won’t recognize. It’s the social, political and economic things that are ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
In Grimwood’s world, the Ottoman Empire never collapsed. Woodrow Wilson brokered peace between London and Berlin in 1915, World War II never happened, and the major world powers seem to be Germany, France, the USA and the Empire. This alternate timeline stretches a few decades beyond current time, but in terms of fashion and technology, there’s nothing the science fiction reader won’t recognize. It’s the social, political and economic things that are ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
July 4, 2021
Effendi continues the story of Ashraf Bey in an alternate earth where the Ottoman Empire survived into the XXI century. It is fully necessary to have read Pashazade to follow Effendi.
It presents a new mystery, building from the ending of the previous book. I did not enjoy it as much, probably because the flash backs and the main actors are less sympathetic, though it may be worth reading for the troubling but sharp picture of life as a child soldier.
Unlike the previous book it is predictable and much of the freshness of the setting is gone. It is still well written and a good use of time.
It presents a new mystery, building from the ending of the previous book. I did not enjoy it as much, probably because the flash backs and the main actors are less sympathetic, though it may be worth reading for the troubling but sharp picture of life as a child soldier.
Unlike the previous book it is predictable and much of the freshness of the setting is gone. It is still well written and a good use of time.
April 9, 2011
I really do like Grimwood's writing style with it's abrupt starts, stops, and change of direction and thread hopping. His language is also fascinating and eclectic. The characters remain enigmatic and troubled, with what I want to see as many layers and depth, but really, they take a lot of actions with little explanation. What explanations there are come as seemingly unrelated shocks, and leave me wondering why they behave as they do. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this novel, and it was gripping from start to finish. I probably won't read it again, though
April 13, 2008
This was the second book in the trilogy. It borrows some of the alternate history (Ottoman Empire still is in existance) and cyberpunk noir from the first one, though this one introduces some darker themes such as the conflict in Darfur and responsbilities of things done in war. Overall a good, engaging read. Now I am on to the finale of the trilogy.
April 28, 2015
Run out of time review.
I just love Grimwood's sassy, punky prose. These Arabesk books are alternate history and set somewhat in the future. There are definite SF elements - in particular cyberpunk ones - but SF is not what these books are really about. They are full immersion into sharp, witty, street-wise prose that explores the seedier side of the imaginary free city of El Iskandryia.
I just love Grimwood's sassy, punky prose. These Arabesk books are alternate history and set somewhat in the future. There are definite SF elements - in particular cyberpunk ones - but SF is not what these books are really about. They are full immersion into sharp, witty, street-wise prose that explores the seedier side of the imaginary free city of El Iskandryia.
March 13, 2016
Notevole. L'autore conferma l'ottima prova di Pashazade, anche se non arriva allo stesso livello.
La narrazione è sempre di ottimo livello, così come i personaggi e l'interazione fra loro. Molto interessante anche la parte sui bambini soldato.
Aspetto con impazienza il terzo episodio. Come sempre grande prova della traduttrice Chiara Reali.
La narrazione è sempre di ottimo livello, così come i personaggi e l'interazione fra loro. Molto interessante anche la parte sui bambini soldato.
Aspetto con impazienza il terzo episodio. Come sempre grande prova della traduttrice Chiara Reali.
July 21, 2008
The Arabesk trilogy takes you for a suspense mystery joyride with a bit of cyberpunk thrown in for good measure. I wouldn't recommend this books as an intro to Jon Courtenay Grimwood's work, but his fans will definitely get a lot of entertainment out of this cliffhanger. ~mwb
August 7, 2011
The best of the trilogy in my opinion - mainly because the supporting cast really shine in this one (it's a given that ashraf is great). Hamzah effendi's past is great as is the development of Avatar and Hani. Plus Colonel Abad is strange but not as Disturbing as St Cloud.
October 8, 2011
Great premise--noir cyberpunk alt history!
Not so great execution. It just goes ... nowhere. Though Raf and his motley crew are quite charming in the end.
All style and no substance, alas. Though it gets props for the believable Muslim details.
Not so great execution. It just goes ... nowhere. Though Raf and his motley crew are quite charming in the end.
All style and no substance, alas. Though it gets props for the believable Muslim details.
October 23, 2013
I thought Gibson's Sprawl series was the ultimate in the genre of cyberpunk, hard-boiled science fiction or whatever you want to call it. However, Grimwood's Arabesk series has to be rated as one of the best in this area. One of the few books I'm looking forward to reading again.
April 24, 2007
Second Arabesk
October 18, 2008
a continuation of the story in Pashersde, the hero now has a place but is still seeking to define his identity
May 21, 2009
I abandoned it half way through - a very unrewarding read. Various story threads which will doubtless assemble at some point, thin characterisation, jumbled ideas.
January 17, 2011
Very creative setting, not sure the characters were very interesting in themselves.
December 6, 2017
this sequel was even more brutal and engrossing than the first. alexandria comes alive with intrigue, murder, political standoff and a dysfunctional romance.
August 10, 2011
Great series Must read again
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