tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post3536114938431214232..comments2023-11-29T07:39:34.401+00:00Comments on Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: Lion of Cairo, by Scott Oden. Book reviewCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-24652589418697282802010-11-14T15:47:08.835+00:002010-11-14T15:47:08.835+00:00Not many missed Raynald de Chatillon!
Rommel doe...Not many missed Raynald de Chatillon! <br /><br />Rommel does indeed fit into the same trope of 'admirable foe.'Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16932015378213238346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-53509639472434906692010-11-12T18:12:20.504+00:002010-11-12T18:12:20.504+00:00Rick - Thanks for the link. I didn't know Ric...Rick - Thanks for the link. I didn't know Richard was a bogeyman to frighten naughty children :-)<br /><br />Annis - Respect of one capable and honourable opponent for another is natural in some respects - two professionals both doing the same job. Field Marshal Rommel is a good example.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-3130677253226173752010-11-12T07:23:44.335+00:002010-11-12T07:23:44.335+00:00Excellent article, Rick. I always thought it ironi...Excellent article, Rick. I always thought it ironic that the model of the "parfait gentil knight" was a Saracen warrior :) He did swipe off Raynald de Chatillon's head, but who could blame him? He spared Guy de Lusignan, who could have easily shared the same fate.<br /><br />The "Desert Fox", German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel comes to mind as a more recent example of an enemy leader admired for his daring, military skills and chivalry. The men of the British Eighth Army (my father-in-law was one) certainly regarded him with respect.Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-34400332441912425602010-11-11T03:36:54.152+00:002010-11-11T03:36:54.152+00:00Sad to say that Malek al-Inkitar has nothing like ...Sad to say that Malek al-Inkitar has nothing like the 'admirable foe' reputation in the Arab world that Yusuf ibn Ayyub does in the West.<br /><br />For mild entertainment value, a short bit on them I <a href="http://www.emmetlabs.com/pair/Amir-Saladin_264/King-Richard-I_260" rel="nofollow">wrote for a website</a> a couple of years ago.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16932015378213238346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-37166175055995969352010-11-09T18:33:16.520+00:002010-11-09T18:33:16.520+00:00I expect we'll have to wait and see on that on...I expect we'll have to wait and see on that one :-) He's two or three decades in the future, if I have guessed the approximate date right, so Assad would be getting on a bit by then, but not impossible.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-73308653542415120232010-11-09T18:00:50.409+00:002010-11-09T18:00:50.409+00:00Apparently a trilogy is planned- I wonder if the t...Apparently a trilogy is planned- I wonder if the timeframe will allow for an appearance from Malek al-Inkitar as well?Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-67053241429605387692010-11-09T14:38:13.219+00:002010-11-09T14:38:13.219+00:00Scott - Glad you liked the review. I'm lookin...Scott - Glad you liked the review. I'm looking forward to the sequel.<br /><br />Kathryn - It's certainly an action-packed read, especially if you like graphic fight scenes. Never a dull moment.<br /><br />Annis - That's good to hear - I thought it looked as if there would be more to come about Assad's legendary knife. Great title for the sequel :-)Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-41633551036081215122010-11-08T20:01:29.621+00:002010-11-08T20:01:29.621+00:00Great review, Carla. I really enjoyed this novel a...Great review, Carla. I really enjoyed this novel and <a href="http://www.historicalnovels.info/Lion-of-Cairo.html" rel="nofollow">reviewed it</a> for the Historical Novels Info website when it first came out. I love the way Oden takes elements from pulp fiction and mixes them up with those from modern media like film and gaming to create a fresh new interpretation of the sword-and-sorcery genre.<br /><br />I was intrigued by Assad's salawar, which reminded me of Elric of Melnibone's bloodthirsty sentient sword, "Stormbringer". Scott Oden was kind enough to answer some questions I had about "Lion of Cairo", and he tells me that there will be more about the history of Assad's blade in a sequel, to be called "The Damascene Blade".Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-74600781882363478792010-11-08T09:20:41.785+00:002010-11-08T09:20:41.785+00:00This sounds like a great, juicy novel - I love the...This sounds like a great, juicy novel - I love the idea of all the intrigue, assassinations, betrayals...! I might have to ask Father Christmas for this one, too. :-)Kathryn Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00397714441908100576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-72544398362737243802010-11-08T02:43:43.842+00:002010-11-08T02:43:43.842+00:00Thank you for another nice and even-handed review,...Thank you for another nice and even-handed review, Carla! Glad to hear you enjoyed Lion!Scott Odenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17917296669418463518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-82220099345443660462010-11-07T18:59:03.686+00:002010-11-07T18:59:03.686+00:00Rick - I rather hope I am :-) I was pleased with ...Rick - I rather hope I am :-) I was pleased with myself for spotting him. Yes, that's a great quote and sums up the tone of the book perfectly. <br /><br />Becky - Hello and welcome. If you read Lion of Cairo, I'll be interested to hear what you think.<br /><br />Gabriele - maybe if you ask Father Christmas nicely? If you enjoyed Men of Bronze and Memnon I think you'll probably enjoy Lion of Cairo too.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-67474461909006239142010-11-07T16:49:38.446+00:002010-11-07T16:49:38.446+00:00And another candidate for my To Buy-list. Well, si...And another candidate for my To Buy-list. Well, since I liked Scott's previous books, it was going there sooner or later anyway. ;)Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-2796464857458763202010-11-07T05:45:48.845+00:002010-11-07T05:45:48.845+00:00This looks like a great one, to follow the current...This looks like a great one, to follow the current book I am reading, <a href="http://kellyaharmon.com/?page_id=979" rel="nofollow"> "Blood Soup" </a> by Kelly A. Harmon- which has a story plot modeled after ancient Italy. Am always looking for great historical fictions. Thanks for the recommendation!Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957358850375701366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-38161442746955043982010-11-06T15:02:15.457+00:002010-11-06T15:02:15.457+00:00I believe you are right about Yusuf ibn Ayyub, the...I believe you are right about Yusuf ibn Ayyub, the young man who shows up near the end.<br /><br />Besides being a fan of Robert E. Howard the author is clearly a fan of Egypt, and as from the previous review I get the sense of a firm grasp of the material he is playing with. I love "not the Cairo of history but rather the Cairo of Scheherezade."Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16932015378213238346noreply@blogger.com