Prince Of Ayodhya (Book One of The Ramayana) by Ashok K. Banker
01/06/2003 . Source: Phil Jones 
pub: Orbit/Times Warner. 532 page paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-84149-186-1. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. Visit www.OrbitBooks.co.uk Ayodhya, a huge fortified Capital city of the Arya nations is under threat. It has never been invaded or defeated but now a new rising threat puts the city in perilous danger. For many decades, the Maharaja Dasaratha has ruled over a peaceful land but war now seems imminent. Having fought the Asura (demon) invasion over two decades ago, he led his troops and overthrew the Asura pushing them out of the mortal realm.  His oldest son, Rama, has terrible premonitions of Ayodhya being raped and destroyed by Asura in his dreams. The great Guru Vishwamitra leaves the forest after 200 years of meditation and journeys to Ayodhya to see the Maharaja to warn of the imminent invasion.
On arriving at the city, he disguises himself as a peasant as he is aware that a demon Asura assassin is also entering the city pretending to be him. After much debate, Rama leaves with his brother and Vishwamitra on a quest to stop the Asura invasion. Much of this book and story seems familiar and in some ways it should. It's based on Ramayana, which in itself is a very popular story for many Hindus. The Ramayana is said to have been scribed by the poet Valmiki, who according to tradition lived around 2200BC in the area around Ayodhya in today's Uttar Pradesh. According to legend, he had been converted from a thief to the worship of Rama. For penance, he sat motionless in one place until termites (in Sanskrit valmikas) built a hill around him until only his eyes were visible. The Ramayana is shorter than Mahabharata (which is probably more well known of in the west) and this first book covers the start of Rama's story. This story far from being unoriginal could be argued to be the basis for not only Indian culture, religion and art but similar themes crop up in later myths and stories such as those of Greek, Roman and Norse origin to name a few. OK, so there is not much new here. A would-be prince usurps his royal duties to go on a quest with a Guru come magician and fight off evil hordes. You only have to look at the modern retelling of the Beowulf, numerous written versions and of course, Michael Crichton's 'Eaters of the Dead'/'13th Warrior' to see that there is no harm in retelling old stories, legends and myths. Also it's good way to introduce these stories to a wider audience but what is the book really like I hear you ask. Well overall, it's not as bad as some would have you believe although it's not without its problems. I think the biggest flaw is pacing. Sometimes you just feel that you are overburdened with descriptions and detail. You just feel like saying 'stop mucking around and get on with it'. The author tells just that bit too much about a scene or a character. It's a bit like wading through treacle - tastes good but it doesn't half slow you down. I don't know how close this book is to the original text and whether this descriptive flaw is that of the original or the author's expansion of the story. There are though some wonderful scenes - an almost Matrix-like 'arrow time' scene where Rama rescues what he thinks is an injured doe. The telling of the story of Lord Shiva is also highly entertaining. Ashok K. Banker uses quite a few words and phrases from Sanskrit and other ethnic Indian languages but he provides a most useful glossary of these for reference. Altogether, these add to the mood and pathos of the book. Overall, I would recommend this book. It's an enjoyable easy read and if it helps bring an old story to a wider readership then that's no bad thing. If you like straight forward simple, fantasy then gives it ago. Phil Jones 
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