Book Description
Craig Murray was the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan until he was removed from his post in October 2004 after exposing appalling human rights abuses by the US-funded regime of President Islam Karimov. In this candid and at times shocking memoir, he lays bare the dark and dirty underside of the War on Terror.
In Uzbekistan, the land of Alexander the Great and Tamburlaine, lurks one of the most hideous tyrannies on earth – one founded on cotton slavery and brutal torture. As neighbouring 'liberated’ Afghanistan produces record levels of heroin, the Uzbek rulers cash in on massive trafficking. They are even involved in trafficking their own women to prostitution in the West. But this did not prevent Karimov being viewed as a key US ally in the War on Terror.
When Craig Murray arrived in Uzbekistan, he was a young Ambassador with a brilliant career and a taste for whisky and women. But after hearing accounts of dissident prisoners being boiled to death and innocent people being raped and murdered by agents of the state, he started to question both his role and that of his country in so-called 'democratising’ states.
When Murray decided to go public with his shocking findings, Washington and 10 Downing Street reached the conclusion that he had to go. But Uzbekistan had changed the high-living diplomat and there was no way he was going to go quietly.
Customer Reviews:
Buyer Beware.......2006-12-31
I note that the favorable reviews of this book, both on Amazon and on the book cover, seem to come from people already convinced that Murray is a victim and a hero and that Uzbekistan (and the United States) are evil.
I don't know whether what Murray alleges can be taken fully or partially at face value or should be rejected outright. I do think he has a point of view that should be heard. A few points for the debate, however:
1. This is a poorly, probably hastily written and edited book which is sloppy and contains internal inconsistencies.
In spite of the bad writing it is highly entertaining (and disturbing) to read.
2. This is clearly written to justify and promote the author--nothing wrong with that, especially if he his telling the truth. But it's worth keeping in mind that there are multiple points of view here
3. He is clearly very disingenuous about his motivation and the evolution of his thinking, even if the rest of his allegations are true: a close reading reveals a bias against both the Karimov regime and the US before he ever reached the country.
4. He has a deep-seated anti-Americanism that goes far beyond a normal European hatred of President Bush or doubt about the Iraq war--in fact, he criticizes the British government for standing firm with the USA after 9/11--on the grounds that the US did not enter WWII until it was attacked itself. This doesn't mean what he says is untrue--but it does suggest he had at least a strong point of view before the events in the book unfold.
5. At various times in the book he accuses the same US officials of a) being totally complicit with the Uzbek regime and b) being totally naive in believing that the regime was reforming. One of these allegations might be true. Both are highly unlikely.
6. While the allegations of the horrors of the Karimov regime ring true, his explanation of the campaign against him starts to wander into the real of highly implausible conspiracy theory: a phone call from the White House to London asking his removal sounds possible. A campaign by (who?) to set him up for the variety of allegations...a poisoning? If we were really all that bad, wouldn't it have just been easier to have him shot?
7. For a diplomat, Murray shows a surprisingly simplistic view of diplomatic policy and priorities. The air base the U.S. was using in Uzbekistan--which he argued was so vital that we were "backing" the regime--was subsequently abandoned, after Murray's time, with little or no consequence on the war on terror.
8. While his descriptions of his highly immoral personal behavior might serve to lend a further air of truth...the fact remains that he is a self-confessed serial adulterer and very heavy drinker. A man with a family who had a time consuming job but chose to spend his free time in strip clubs...none of this means he's lying...but it does, at least in my mind, make it plausible that he may not have totally come clean. He deceived his wife for decades, but he wouldn't deceive us?
Look, this is a fascinating story--I would just counsel that it be read with a healthy amount of skepticism given the source. And that the author not be awarded hero status just because of the enemies he picked...
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.......2006-07-13
Allegations of visas in exchange for sex against a British ambassador to some ex-Soviet republic; subsequently cleared on all counts but forced out nonetheless. Like many in Britain that was all that really remained in my memory of the lurid headlines and media reports of a year or so ago - and life carried on.
Anyone for whom that rings bells owes it to themselves to read this book, as does anyone wondering about the true nature of the West's so called 'War on Terror'. It is deeply disturbing on two levels:
1. It documents the appalling nature of the 20 year Uzbek Regime of Islam Karimov. A regime which spans the pre and post-to-date Soviet era. Not in some dry academic fashion either but through the exploits of the Ambassador who, at considerable risk to his own safety, intervened in numerous cases of offical brutality. The reader is left in no doubt that the Karimov regime of Uzbekistan is on a par with the very worst of the worlds self-serving and brutal dictatorships. It was during this period that controversy about US/UK willingness to 'make use of evidence obtained under torture' and US so called 'rendition flights' became public. The ambassador reported that any such 'evidence' from Uzbekistan was useless since the regime was simply in the business of forcing 'dissidents to confirm what the regime wanted the West to hear. His reports were unwelcome.
2. To have the true nature of one the then principal strategic allies in the West's 'War on Terror' exposed to scrutiny was judged by the Foreign Office top brass to be (euphemistically) 'counterproductive'. In spite of him having overwhelming support from human rights organisations and the Ex-Pat British business community, not to mention achieving more genuine influence with the Karimov regime than any of his predecessors, he had to be stopped. The methods employed to stop him were the inspiration of those headlines which hid a myriad of other kafkaesque stratagems . They bring shame on both the British government and the upper echelons of a politicised civil service which even now is doing all it can to prevent both the sale of this book and publication of documents which prove its authenticity.
A Diplomat Tells the Truth for His Country.......2006-07-11
Few of us have done battle with a murderous dictator. "Murder in Samarkand" tells how a British Ambassador did so and survived, only to be stabbed in the back by his own Prime Minister. Tony Blair ignored diplomatic advice if it complicated his relations with George W. Bush. How the British Foreign Office tried but failed to dismiss Ambassador Murray for invented disciplinary offences is an individual tale of injustice. However, the gripping core of this story is of a young and studious Ambassador driven to take absurd risks in remote parts of Uzbekistan as he builds up a dossier of incontrovertible brutalities by his host government. Those who try to obstruct him find this experienced and slightly overweight scholar is no patsy. He disputes the lies of petty bureaucrats. He storms into a corrupt procurator's office and dismisses him as a criminal - a risky way to use an Ambassador's "full and plenipotentiary" powers. But it works. The bully is exposed as a coward in front of those he has bullied. There is even a snow-shrouded chase with President Karimov's goons in pursuit - no wonder film rights are under discussion.
The shocking part of this story - narrated with skill and honesty - is that, at heart, much of the British Foreign Office valued Ambassador Murray's reporting from his Embassy in Tashkent. Dealing with human rights abuses is never easy. Murray knew his way around the policy heavyweights at home well enough to make sure that a controversial speech critical of Uzbekistan had support from the human rights desks. But when the White House complained to Tony Blair and he passed this down the line, spines crumpled - from Foreign Secretary Jack Straw down. This book shows how diplomats can bring shame or honor to their country. There is a simple lesson for Tony Blair (and George Bush) to learn. If you ask diplomats who are trained to report truthfully, to tell lies, the lasting problems will come from the ones who obey you, not the ones who stick to their professional calling.
Book Description
From the blue-tiled splendor of Tamerlane's Samarkand to the holy city of Bukhara, which boasts a mosque for each day of the year, and beyond to the desert-girdled khanate of Khiva, Uzbekistan lays claim to a breathtaking architectural legacy. Bound by sand and snow, fed by meltwater from the Roof of the World, these fertile oases attracted the greatest travelers and conquerors in history along the fragile threads of the Silk Road. This groundbreaking guide, now extensively revised and updated, focuses on the wealth of sites and colorful legends at the heart of Central Asia, plus the best of the rest—excursions covering the major attractions of neighboring republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
- Still the only guide to cover this former Soviet republic, offering informative insights into the history, religion and culture of Uzbekistan
- Up-to-date practical information for the traveler, covering visas, customs and specialist travel agencies
- Hints for business visitors
- Environmental issues
- Special topics include the disappearance of the Aral Sea, and the life and death of Tamerlane the Great
- Updated information on transport, food and accommodation for each city and site
- Useful maps, together with detailed plans of principal sites
- Suggested excursions to neighboring republics, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
- 92 color photographs
- 22 maps
Customer Reviews:
The best guide for Uzbekistan.......2007-09-15
I lived in Uzbekistan for two years, and at the time this was the only reliable guide to sightseeing in the country. Well researched and full of historical anecdotes. Re-reading the book only makes me want to return to this very complex nation.
The Golden Road to Samarkand.......2006-07-20
This book is not only the definitive and most comprehensive but it is also the most uncannily accurate and comprehensive guide to Uzbekistan in 2006. Throughout our travels from Tashkent to Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and back to Tashkent it was our bible, not only helping us to negotiate the culture but directed us to the 'must do' places to see or visit. In fact it made eveything about the country utterley comprehensible - from food and culture to history and politics. It came home very badly thumbed. Brilliant!
Best Guide Yet!.......2002-02-02
I live and work in the heart of Central Asia. Of all the guide books available, this one is the best yet. Not only does it have beautiful color photos and maps, the history articles are excellent. Beware: when you open up this book on the streets of Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva, people will gather around to view it! It's so good, I am ordering a full class room set for my students to use in the Uzbekistan studies part of our curriculum at Tashkent International School.
Precise and Modern.......2001-09-17
This is not a mere travel guidance of Uzbekistan, but one of the best scientific articles full of joyful information spiced with humanistic reaction of the authors toward the legacy of Silk Road and Soviet Russian history.
Names of people, telephone number, street name, as well as social and political information are all correct. Evaluation of the hotel accommodation including smart managers and busters is illustrated interestingly. If the authors would be aware of the fact that the inattentive attitude of the people in some area shows the existence of military secrets, this book might have shown a different flavor.
Because I have given this book to my friend in Uzbekistan, I would like to order you another copy.
Beautiful, Detailed.......2001-07-26
Although at times this guidebook serves as an outlet for the authors' intellectual and personal preoccupation with the region, thereby losing its practicality for the reader, overall it is both helpful and beautifully written, brimming with sensory and cultural detail... The authors do not just tell you to go to a bazaar in Samarkand; they take you there, weaving you through narrow streets and by beer vendors, letting you smell the shashlik, nudging you to watch out for pickpockets. Because the authors do not miss a beat, this guide is at times almost a virtual tour of the country. Because the region is unstable and consequently dynamic, this book is now somewhat outdated in certain areas. The two need to update the edition.
Customer Reviews:
The Master of Lucid Dreams.......2006-08-22
Olga Kharitidis' writing keeps one informed on the reality of Lucid Dreams, and the effect they can have as keys in our lives. Her Journey, and those she helped with this knowledge, made me look at dreams in a totally new and productive way.
A deep introduction to other perspectives on healing trauma.......2006-05-24
Ancient cultures viewed pain and trauma as part of the tapestry of life, the obstacles we must face, and lessons in growth if we choose them to be. In the Western world, despite all the trapping of comfort and wealth, Westerners have the highest rates of clinical depression and mood disorders. Though the statistic is subject to debate, it is a clue that material possessions do not make life any easier when dealing with pain. This book provides a detailed explanation of how this pain can be healed from a different vantage point - that of the indigenous practices of ancient shamans. A way out of pain is not denial but harnessing the energy into something that in the ends, fosters positive growth.
Excellent description of the world that lies beyond life.......2006-01-31
This book is not correctly titled as it does not teach you how to be conscious in our dreams. It is about the help that a lucid dreaming master, who lives in Uzbekistan, gives to the author using this technique. This book is the most vivid book that I have come across that describes life after death and the possible consequences of our life to our life after death and therefore reinforces the importance of living our life in order to meet death as enlightened and aware that we can possibly be. His reference to the Book of Revelations being the "christian book of the dead" is intriguing and may offer an explanation for its inclusion in the New Testament. This book is written just as well as her first autobiography which is also a 'can't put it down' quality read.
First Time in Samarkand.......2005-09-21
For those interested in a personal experiencing of central Asian knowledge to an uninitiate, this is an excellent first book. The writer carries her story along in such a gripping fashion the book reads almost like a thriller. It may become necessary to dismantle an important, heavily relied-upon personal conviction that is inaccurate, but such dismantling can be confusing and one might need a guide. The writer of this book was lucky enough to find one, the reader is lucky enough to find her story of it.
What does this have to do with lucid dreams?.......2004-12-19
I was disappointed in "The Master of Lucid Dreams." While the story was entertaining and had some interesting psychological theories about dealing with trauma, the connection to lucid dreams was tenuous. The author and her teacher frequently discuss the important of conscious dreaming, but they provide no information on how to achieve it. Go ahead and get this book if you're interested in healing trauma, but don't bother if you want practical information on lucid dreams.
Customer Reviews:
Invoking a deep respect for Iran, Islam,democracy and Justice.......2007-08-04
This is easily Maaloufs best work. Totally different from all other writers, Maalouf never polarises. He writes with fine balance and invokes a deep respect for every culture and creed he writes of. No one , having read this, will finish it without having a deep understanding and respect for Iran and its people, its brutal history , its identity ,which it has had very little chance in creating due to constant invasions-Turks to Mongols- or tutelege-Britain and Tsarist Russia.
Using the verses of Omar Kayyams Samarkand Manuscript and the turn of the century constitutional and democratic revolts and its failure due to British and Russian interference (what would we give for the democratic Iranian state today-free of religious and political tyranny?!) Maalouf weaves a wonderful tale of -appropriately-Arabian Nights proportions and educates the reader on all the historical upheavals desires and missed opportunities of the region. The book divides into two main parts; 11th century Persia and the life of Kayyam, and the late 19th and early 20th century Persia; a nation trying to establish itself in the world.
A deep lesson lies here, of the importance of democracy freedom and justice to all people, and how fragile it is against vested interests.
This is a truly great novel. A wonderfully unifying novel that lifts the prejudices and fears between the east and west, and misconceptions of Iran and islamic cultures.
A masterpiece in humanitarian understanding.
A parable for our times.......2006-09-01
Other reviewers have highlighted the charm of the book, with its evocation of Khayyam, the Rubiyyat and the fabled cities of the Silk Route. I would like to point out that it holds a frightening parallel to our present times. The book was published in 1988, so Maalouf could have had no idea how closely his book would mirror the early part of the twenty first century.
The book deals partly with the confict between the hidden leader of a violent sect and powerful empire. The second part of the book deals with the citizens of a country (ironically, today's Iran) striving for democracy and freedom from the oppressive rule of theocrats, but opposed by two great world powers of the time (Britain and Russia!) who wish to maintain the status quo for their economic benefit.
The book is written with great charm and makes the reader feel (s)he is there. Like a previous reviewer, I do not know enough to separate fact from fiction, but at the end of the book, one wishes with all one's heart that there IS such a book, written in Omar Khayyam's own hand, and that it is NOT at the bottom of the Atlantic.
An amazing and uplifting book.
Historical fiction about Persian history and literature - outstanding.......2006-05-29
This is a translation of a novel written in French by the Lebanese author Amin Maalouf. This novel is, in fact, two loosely linked stories tied together by the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. For those who are unaware of what this is, the Rubaiyat are a series of quatrains (four line poems) written in the 11th century in Persia. They are poems about life, love, women, and destiny which I would say they are comparable in some sense to the Odes of Horace (for those more familiar with Roman literature). These quatrains were supposedly lost for several centuries, rediscovered in the 19th century, and ultimately became enormously popular both in Persia (Iran) and the West. It is doubtful that Omar Khayyam wrote all of the collection, it is believed that some have been added in subsequent centuries. I found it useful to read some of the quatrains as I was reading this novel.
The first part of this novel is a fictionalized account of Omar Khayyam's life. I am not an expert, and I don't know how much is truly historical and how much is fictionalized, but this is both an informative and entertaining story. Khayyam befriends the head of a strict Muslim sect who founds the Assassins. This is also a tragic love story. This is primarily a political and romantic adventure describing the events surrounding Omar Khayyam as he writes his Rubaiyat.
The second part of the novel takes place in the late 19th and early 20th century as the Rubaiyat is uncoverd after centuries of hiding. A young man becomes obsessed with obtaining an original copy of the Rubaiyat, and ultimately gets swept into the Persian Constitutional Revolution of the early 20th century. As before, the story is primarily political and romantic in nature. It is interesting that the Persians (Iranians) of the early 20th century viewed the United States as the best example of democracy and freedom. I wonder if they feel the same today?
Like much of the writing of Maalouf, the main characters in the two stories don't fully participate/belong in the societies in which they are living. This gives them a unique perspective from which to evaluate the culture and the society around them. This novel is a great balance of compelling tales, tragic loves stories, and fascinating historical fiction, combined with the unique perspective that Mr. Maalouf writes with. This is a beautiful novel that I highly recommend.
wonderfully written stroy about the east.......2006-02-05
this novel introduced to me a world i already know from a new perspective,that now i understand in a better way.
this novel to me was about learning something new,researching for the real events,and most of all understanding the east in a way nobody like Maalouf can bring to life.
Wow.......2005-11-01
I was assigned this book to read for my Islamic Civilization class. At first I wasn't going to read it because, well, I felt I just didn't have the time. I had nothing to do one evening last week so I sat down and figured I'd give the book a try. Boy, am I ever glad I picked up Samarkand. It is a lively, somewhat romantic read, packed with adventure and intrigue. Two thumbs up.
Book Description
Praise for The Failure of Political Islam:
"A daring exploration. This book is a corrective of stunning power."
--Boston Book Review
"This book is essential reading for all interested in the late 20th century evolution of movements of religious activism and revival."
--Middle East Journal
During the anti-Gorbachev coup in August 1991 most communist leaders from Soviet central Asia backed the plotters. Within weeks of the coup's collapse, those same leaders--now transformed into ardent nationalists--proclaimed the independence of their nations, adopted new flags and new slogans, and discovered a new patriotism.
How were these new nations built, among peoples without any traditional nationalist heritage and no history of independent governance? Olivier Roy argues that Soviet practice had always been to build on local institutions and promote local elites, and that Soviet administration--as opposed to Soviet rhetoric--was always surprisingly decentralized in the far-flung corners of the empire. Thus, with home-grown political leaders and administrative institutions, national identities in central Asia emerged almost by stealth.
Roy's analysis of the new states in central Asia--Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikstan, Kirghizstan and Azerbaijan--provides a glimpse of the future of an increasingly fragmented and dangerous region.
Customer Reviews:
...heavily based on confirmation bias........2006-12-05
In this book, Olivier Roy makes several sweeping generalizations about the history of Central Asian states. His research is solid and in depth, however, his application is quite opinion-based.
The material has the ability to create significant discussion on the topic of former influence by the Russian and Soviet powers, yet his points are sporadic and randomly placed throughout the book. His arguments often stray from his own research and fail to provide foundation as well. This is seemingly a result of his need to confirm his own prior opinions on the matter.
One stands to greatly benefit from the research provided by Roy in this book. However, read cautiously and be aware of the existence of more recent research which shows major flaws in his point of view. I would recommend that individuals study Central Asian history and politics personally before jumping into Roy's book whole-heartedly.
Packed with info. Hard to read........2004-08-31
This book is packed with useful insights but it is not for the Central Asian novice. I give it two stars because it is hard to read and could be better organized. The information in it is five star. It is a graduate-school level analysis of the evolution of the current Central Asian nation-states. It is what would be expected from a person in Roy's position; researcher at the Centre National des Recherches Scientifques. The book was originally written in French and translated into English for this edition. That in itself is not a problem but the writing style is one that has a heavy "fog factor". There are numerous sentences that are 60 words long and contain multiple commas, parenthetical statements, hyphens and semi colons in one sentence. If you can slog through syntax you can glean a lot of useful information. My suggestion is you have some understanding of Central Asian history and geography before you attempt this book. The lack of maps would make it really difficult for a beginning reader of Central Asia. Central Asia in Historical Perspective (edited by Manz), although a graduate-level text, is better organized and easier to understand.
Caution to the reader.......2002-07-17
I purchased this book after I developed an increasing interest in the politics and history of Central Asia. At that point, I had read a couple of books on the topic, leaving me with a feeling of general competence. This book, however, was seriously beyond my level of knowledge, and I'd like to caution readers with anything below a superior understanding of Soviet and Central Asian History. The author "jumps" around the region quite a bit, creating problems which compound themselves, particularly as no maps are included anywhere in the book. If you do not possess an intimate knowledge of the geography, I suggest waiting until your mental map is more complete (as I'll be doing).
The book is translated from French. After reading about 20 pages, this fact amazed me from the vocabularly chosen by the translator. I can't remember the last time I had to use a dictionary, but this book sent me searching on more than one occasion. Moreover, the writing style is incredibly dry, even for a work of history. "New Central Asia" is loaded with solid research and cogent argumentation, but the presentation leaves much to be desired.
Making Sense of Central Asia.......2001-11-14
Olivier Roy is a well-known expert on Islam, the Arab world and Central Asia. His The New Central Asia is an excellent examination of the creation of new nations that emerged from the end of the Soviet Union in 1992. He contends that while these new republics are in search of identity (in essence creating new nationalisms), they have also inherited the older Soviet system of rule and institutions, which were not democratic and more oriented to personality cults and heavy-handed treatment of the opposition. This explains the difficult path countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have had through the 1990s and into the next decade. For anyone looking at the problems of development as well as wishing to obtain a better understanding of a pivotal geo-political zone, Roy's well-researched book is worth the read.
Making Sense of Central Asia.......2001-11-14
Olivier Roy is a well-known expert on Islam, the Arab world and Central Asia. His The New Central Asia is an excellent examination of the creation of new nations that emerged from the end of the Soviet Union in 1992. He contends that while these new republics are in search of identity (in essence creating new nationalisms), they have also inherited the older Soviet system of rule and institutions, which were not democratic and more oriented to personality cults and heavy-handed treatment of the opposition. This explains the difficult path countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have had through the 1990s and into the next decade. For anyone looking at the problems of development as well as wishing to obtain a better understanding of a pivotal geo-political zone, Roy's well-researched book is worth the read.
Book Description
This groundbreaking work in women's history explores the lives of Uzbek women, in their own voices and words, before and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Drawing upon their oral histories and writings, Marianne Kamp reexamines the Soviet Hujum, the 1927 campaign in Soviet Central Asia to encourage mass unveiling as a path to social and intellectual "liberation." This engaging examination of changing Uzbek ideas about women in the early twentieth century reveals the complexities of a volatile time: why some Uzbek women chose to unveil, why many were forcibly unveiled, why a campaign for unveiling triggered massive violence against women, and how the national memory of this pivotal event remains contested today.
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Sogdian Traders: A History (Handbook of Oriental Studies) (Handbook of Oriental Studies)
Etienne De La Vaissiere , and
Etienne De La Vaissiere
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Pub
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The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of T'ang Exotics
ASIN: 9004142525 |
Product Description
The Sogdian Traders were the main go-between of Central Asia from the fifth to the eighth century. From their towns of Samarkand, Bukhara, or Tashkent, their diaspora is attested by texts, inscriptions or archaeology in all the major countries of Asia (India, China, Iran, Turkish Steppe, but also Byzantium). This survey for the first time brings together all the data on their trade, from the beginning, a small-scale trade in the first century BC up to its end in the tenth century. It should interest all the specialists of Ancient and Medieval Asia (including specialists of Sinology, Islamic Studies, Iranology, Turkology and Indology) but also specialists of Medieval Economic History.
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Studies in Persian Art and Architecture
Bernard O'Kane
Manufacturer: American University in Cairo Press
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Peerless Images: Persian Painting and Its Sources
ASIN: 9774243706 |
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This volume covers modern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and contains all the major articles on Persian art and architecture published by O'Kane between 1976 and 1994. Topics include individual monuments, Persian painting, and Islamic Persia's architectural heritage.
Book Description
Over 160 rich, sumptuous designs, reproduced from rare 19th-century edition. Royalty-free motifs drawn from carpets, tiles, carved wood, plates, jewelry, decorative painting of buildings and furnishings, metalwork, jewelry, more. Geometrics, florals, and other designs in many sizes and shapes; rich selection of borders. 162 designs on 68 plates. Captions.
Customer Reviews:
Great Islamic designs.......2005-11-22
To correct the previous reviewer, these designs are by no means Russian! Neither are they Arabic, but, as the name of the book states, they are Islamic. The designs were collected in Central Asia area, mainly in Bukhara, the center of ancient culture, and are the great sample of the wonderful art of the region.
Great colors.......1999-01-29
If you are looking for arabian designs this is not the book, the designs are russian, but the drawings are very good.
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- Rucka's best!
- Tara Chase is back and as tough as ever!!!
- A Fine Effort, A Fine Balance
- Good, but not on my "A" list...
- Even better than its predecessor
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Private Wars (Queen and Country)
Greg Rucka
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Finder
ASIN: 0553584936
Release Date: 2006-07-25 |
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Only Greg Rucka, the thriller genre’s most fearless writer, would dare create a spy so edgy, so explosive, so extreme, she should be rated X.
Tara Chace was once the most dangerous woman alive. And now that the international spy network thinks she’s as good as dead, she’s even more dangerous than ever.
Only one thing could coax Tara back into the game: a chance to vindicate herself. The torture and execution of Dina Malikov has set off a cutthroat grab for power in strategically crucial Uzbekistan. Tara’s job is to slip into the country and extract Dina’s pro-Western husband and their young son before they are murdered—by his ruthless sister.
But there are a couple of wild cards in the deck, including a missing mobile weapons system that can bring down a commercial airliner, not to mention powerful political careers. Now, as she vanishes into hostile territory with a man who may or may not be what he seems, Tara is going to find out that the war on terror is more terrifying than anyone knows. For in a battle where betrayal is a conventional weapon, loyalty is a weakness, and anyone—even a child—is a legitimate target: it’s every spy, every woman, for herself.
Combine a thriller that defies every expectation with a heroine for whom nothing is out of bounds, and the result is
Private Wars, a suspense novel so explosively realistic, it should be classified.
From the Hardcover edition.
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"The action bristles and Rucka's way with amoral characters continues to seduce: Chace chases, chills, and somehow charms."--Kirkus Reviews
"Tara is often likened to a female James Bond (she can drink, sleep around and kill just like a man), but she's really more interesting than the comparison would suggest. These are well-researched, intriguingly complicated, exciting spy novels in the tradition of Adam Hall and his great series hero, Quiller."--Publishers Weekly
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Rucka's best!.......2007-09-20
In an age where one might think that the spy novel is a thing of the past, Rucka scores with a timely, action packed, intense read that will keep you up until the wee hours. You've already read the details......too much detail if you ask me....suffice to say that Rucka's Tara Chase is a compelling, enviably well conceived character, who leads us careening through a fascinating and exhilarating insider's view of a modern day female James Bond.
This is undoubtedly Greg Rucka's best novel to date, and that's saying something.
Tara Chase is back and as tough as ever!!!.......2007-05-29
In the sequel to Greg Rucka's A Gentleman's Game, British SIS agent, Tara Chase returns for one of the most challenging and dangerous missions of her career. In the newest novel of this stunning series, Private Wars begins with Chase finding out that she's pregnant with her dead lover's (Tom Wallace) baby. When she puts in a request for a temporary leave of absence with her boss, Paul Crocker, the request is denied and she quits her position as Minder One in anger. Not knowing what else to do, Chase tracks down Wallace's mother in England and tells her that she's having her dead son's child. Chase then moves in with Val Wallace and spends the next year-and-a-half having the little girl and raising her. Everything comes to a halt when Crocker suddenly appears at her doorstep, needing her expertise for a secret mission into an East European country to rescue the son and grandson of its dying President. It seems as though the President's daughter is determined to take over after her father anyway she can, even if it means killing her brother and young nephew. Her lover, who's the head of the country's secret police, has already raped and murdered her brother's wife and now wants to take out the sibling. Chase's job is to get the President's son and grandson out of the country before they can be murdered. The problem is that Chase must do it with little help from her superiors and without the American government finding out. Also, she must find a way to get through twelve armed men who have the son under house arrest, waiting for orders to kill him. Chase, however, manages a miracle and just about succeeds in her mission, until there's an unexpected betrayal from the American side. She's captured and then faces a slow, torturing death at the hands of the secret police. Nothing has prepared her for what she'd have to endure and nothing will ever be the same. Private Wars takes the "Tara Chase" series to a whole new level. It's an even faster read than the first novel with unbelievable action and suspense. The characters are more developed, the plot richer in context, and it's a very difficult book to put down even for a minute. The ending will leave you feeling empty, wishing there had been another alternative and knowing that governments seldom care about the suffering of one individual. Along with the "Atticus Kodiak" series, author Greg Rucka has another winner in Tara Chase. I hope Mr. Rucka will keep this new series alive because I want to read more novels with Chase as the lead character. She's one tough lady who's not afraid to kill, or to call her boss an idiot. This is great reading and a lot of fun!
A Fine Effort, A Fine Balance.......2006-06-21
Greg Rucka's second Queen & Country novel is a fine effort with a wonderful payoff for those fans left hanging by A Gentleman's Game. His grasp of the internal politics of the MI-6 and alusions to the current Blair Government ring true. Political sketches of the situation in many of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia also are spot on. Uzbekistan is a particularly poignant setting for a Anglo-centric spy thriller given its nexus as a staging ground for the US GWOT, for regional ethnic tensions, breedign ground for islamic extremism, and, most importantly, some of the most egregious human rights abuses recorded in recent memory. Tashkent hosts a thuggish regime, that has particularly been salt in the wounds of British Government politics thanks to Craig Murray, and could very realistically have produced the characters that Rucka fleshes out so admirably in these pages.
Vauxhall Cross is also the staging ground for intrigue as we see how Paul Crocker's relations with his Chief of Service deteriorate until a final end game results in a most satisfying coup d'gras. Francis Barclay is one character that anyone could love to hate. He gets his comeuppance.
Tara Chace will forever be a heartbreaking character. A tragic figure. Rucka stays true to form. There will be no happy endings for Miss Chace...she's not meant to have them and I am not sure that she deserves one. What a fabulously realised character.
Good, but not on my "A" list..........2006-02-10
After reading the first Queen and Country novel, A Gentleman's Game, and being moderately entertained, I decided to try Greg Rucka's follow-up called Private Wars. I think I'll end up reading more by Rucka, but they probably won't be on my A-list...
Tara Chace is back after losing the father of her unborn child at the end of a botched mission in the Middle East. She's had it with government politics and espionage, and wants nothing more to do with it. Until she realizes that now she's really just like everyone else, with no real direction in life other than raising her daughter as a secretive single mother living with her dead lover's mother. Her boredom gets the best of her, and she's lured back into the game when she's offered a chance to extract an Uzbekistan politician who might well be killed by his sister in a government coup. That mission becomes a fiasco when it's found that her handlers really just want to find some missing anti-aircraft missiles, and they really don't care to support the Uzbek politician. She's captured, tortured, and is close to being murdered before her release is secured at the last moment. The fear and humiliation of the ordeal fuels her desire for revenge, and she jumps at the chance to go back into Uzbek territory a few months later to clean up the original mission (and dish out a little retribution in the process). She has to guess who might be telling the truth, who might be playing her, and which side she wants to support...
Generally I liked the book, but I tended to get bogged down when the story turned to internal politics of the English intelligence service. I was never quite following who was aligning with who and for what reason, and I'm sure that probably caused me to miss a bit of the story-line of Chace's missions. When the story focused on Chace and the actual mission, it was pretty good reading. And towards the end, things really flew. But this was the type of book that I could finish in a couple days if I really get into it. Instead, it took me a week and I was reading a number of other books at the same time. No real compulsion to keep turning pages...
If I have the chance to read another Rucka novel, I probably will. It'll probably sit around for a bit if there are other books in the pile, though...
Even better than its predecessor.......2006-01-08
Greg Rucka first adapted the characters from his comic book "Queen and Country" to prose in A Gentleman's Game, an accomplished and intelligent actioner distinguished by strong and realistic characterizations, even among the villains. This foray is not just better, it's a lot better; and the last one was pretty darn good.
Queen and Country distinguishes itself from other espionage novels by its close attention to how office politics among spies affects the business these spies are supposed to be accomplishing. Here, the political considerations are more complex than last time while simultaneously being explained better and seeming more realistic. Furthermore, despite grim overtones, the world is generally better off at the end of the book than at the beginning -- while brutal nearly to the point of nihilism, the plot allows for more hope than the one in the last book, at least for the characters we like most.
And, as in the last book (and in the comic book series), it is the characters that make the biggest impression. The driven, lethal Tara Chace and her immediate superior in the British Secret Service, Paul Crocker, are the best spies since 007; it is always great to see them in action. As they navigate the treacherous politics of Central Asia and the sometimes even more dangerous politics of their own espionage community, they keep the reader's sympathy and attention. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I can't wait for the next one.
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- Paris With Kids 2nd Edition (Open Road Travel Guides)
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- Rick Steves' Europe 101 (Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler (Rick Steves))
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