The Iron Ring - Hardcover

Alexander, Lloyd

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525455973 ISBN 13: 9780525455974

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, 1997

Synopsis

After he loses his kingdom and everything he owns in a dice game, the young king of Sundari embarks on a magical quest to atone for his mistake and to learn about honor, goodness, and the preciousness of life.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 5-9. Alexander's latest epic adventure is rooted in the mythology of ancient India. A losing game of chance with a mysterious stranger seems like a dream to young King Tamar, but the iron ring on his finger is a very real token that his life may be forfeit. A journey to the stranger's distant kingdom seems his only chance to discover the truth. Many adventures and diversions crop up along the way as Tamar gains some surprising companions, including a brave and beautiful milkmaid, a cowardly eagle, and a wiley monkey king who used to be a man. The author's flexible style moves smoothly from comedy to tragedy and back again; from battle scenes to ridiculous situations, Alexander never loses the thread. Set within the action are small gems of poetry and folktales. The concept of dharma, or proper conduct, and the rigid caste system deeply affect Tamar's actions. Plot, characters, and setting all have their parts to play, but it is the tension set up among the lively characters and the cultural conventions binding them that create the structure of the story and lead inevitably to its conclusion. This wise and witty adventure can be enjoyed on many levels.?Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A complex tale of honor and adventure, love and compassion, that shines with the dusky richness of an oriental tapestry. Set in a mythical India, this is the story of Tamar, King of Sundari, who, born to the warrior caste, must live by a strict code of honor. When mysterious King Jaya arrives at Tamar's palace in the middle of the night and challenges him to a high-stakes game of dice, Tamar loses everything. Bound by the iron ring that Jaya places on his finger, he becomes the other man's slave; in the morning Jaya has vanished--though the ring remains. Since it would be dishonorable to ignore it, Tamar sets out for Jaya's distant kingdom expecting to lose his life at the end of his journey--and what a journey it is. Joined by an impudent monkey, a beautiful milkmaid, and an eagle who has seen better days, Tamar comes to question everything he was brought up to believe in, especially the rigid caste system. A page-turning thread of tension appears in the opening sentence, drawing readers into a high adventure involving fierce battles, magical talking animals, and enchanted forests. All are rendered believable on the strength of an exceptionally well- realized cast of characters who grapple with their flaws, grow, and change. Laugh-out-loud humor leavens the story to perfection. (map, not seen, list of characters and places, glossary) (Fiction. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 6^-9. Tamar, a young king to whom honor is everything, loses a dice game to an unexpected visitor, King Jaya. An iron ring mysteriously appears on Tamar's finger signifying that his kingdom, riches, and even his life are no longer his own. To make his way to Jaya's kingdom as promised, Tamar begins a long and winding journey that brings him a host of intriguing companions as well as romance in the form of a level-headed milkmaid. At every turn, there is adventure, magic, and often treachery, but most of all the quest for honor. The question of what constitutes being true to one's dharma, or code of ethics, is the solid, though occasionally slippery cord that ties the whole story together. Using the mythology of India as shiny veneer, Alexander offers a tale that is thoughtful without being leaden and moral without being moralistic. The cast of characters and the liberal use of Indian terms and concepts (a glossary is provided) may bog down less capable readers, but Alexander's legion of fans will respond to the moments of high adventure as well as the many twists and turns, internal and external, that will make them think. Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0525455973
• ISBN 13: 9780525455974
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256