The King's Last Song - Softcover

Ryman, Geoff

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931520569 ISBN 13: 9781931520560

Publisher: Small Beer Press, 2008

Synopsis

"[Ryman] has not so much created as revealed a world in which the promise of redemption takes seed even in horror."—The Boston Globe

“Sweeping and beautiful. . . . The complex story tears the veil from a hidden world.”—The Sunday Times

“Inordinately readable . . . extraordinary in its detail, color and brutality.”—The Independent

"Ryman has crafted a solid historical novel with an authentic feel for both ancient and modern Cambodia."
—Washington DC City Paper

“Another masterpiece by one of the greatest fiction writers of our time.”—Kim Stanley Robinson

"Ryman's knack for depicting characters; his ability to tell multiple, interrelated stories; and his knowledge of Cambodian history create a rich narrative that looks at Cambodia's "killing fields" both recent and ancient and Buddhist belief with its desire for transcendence. Recommended for all literary fiction collections."
—Library Journal

Archeologist Luc Andrade discovers an ancient Cambodian manuscript inscribed on gold leaves but is kidnapped—and the manuscript stolen—by a faction still loyal to the ideals of the brutal Pol Pot regime. Andrade’s friends, an ex-Khmer Rouge agent and a young motoboy, embark on a trek across Cambodia to rescue him. Meanwhile, Andrade, bargaining for his life, translates the lost manuscript for his captors. The result is a glimpse into the tremendous and heart-wrenching story of King Jayavarman VII: his childhood, rise to power, marriage, interest in Buddhism, and the initiation of Cambodia’s golden age. As Andrade and Jayavarman’s stories interweave, the question becomes whether the tale of ancient wisdom can bring hope to a nation still suffering from the violent legacy of the last century.

Geoff Ryman is the author of the novels Air (winner of Arthur C Clarke and James Tiptree awards) and The Unconquered Country (a World Fantasy Award winner). Canadian by birth, he has lived in Cambodia and Brazil and now teaches creative writing at the University of Manchester in England.

About this title

About the Author

Geoff Ryman is the author of the novels Air (Clarke and Tiptree Award winner) and The Unconquered Country (World Fantasy Award winner). Canadian by birth, he has lilved in Cambodia and Brazil and now teaches creative writing at the University of Manchester in England.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Ryman’s reputation as a leading speculative fiction author has been forged with novels that push the envelope of literary innovation with often-disquieting results. His dark, surreal exploration of the Oz mythos, Was (1993), envisioned Baum’s real-life inspiration for Dorothy as a sexually abused teenager living in squalor. Now Ryman steps outside the sf genre for a sweeping mainstream novel that recaptures a slice of Cambodia’s cultural history. When French archaeologist Luc Andrade unearths an ancient Cambodian manuscript, he’s taken prisoner by a political faction still loyal to the defunct Pol Pot regime. During a search-and-rescue attempt by Andrade’s friends, an ex-Khmer Rouge agent and a young tourist guide, Andrade translates the manuscript in full for his captors. The narrative alternates between Andrade’s plight and the story of twelfth-century King Jayavarman VII, including his childhood, eventual rise to power, and conversion of the populace to Buddhism, which spurred construction of the famous Angkor Wat temples. Ryman draws on his extensive knowledge of Indo-Chinese history and his masterful descriptive powers to paint an unforgettably vivid portrait of Cambodian culture past and present. His focus on the power of a peaceful philosophy to assuage pain and guilt brings a message of hope to a country still haunted by its war-torn past. --Carl Hays

About this edition

• Publisher: Small Beer Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1931520569
• ISBN 13: 9781931520560
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352