Aztec

Book Description

Here is the extraordinary story of the last and greatest native civilization of North America, at the height of its magnificence. It is a story told in the words of one of the most robust and memorable characters in modern fiction. His name is Mixtli-Dark Cloud. Rising above his lowly station, Mixtli distinguishes himself as a scribe and later a warrior. He earns a fortune as a traveling merchant, exploring every part of what the Aztecs called The One World-the far lands of mountains, jungles, deserts, seacoasts.

Customer Reviews:

Historical Pornography.......2007-07-16

I don't consider myself a prude, but Jennings takes this guy's sexual exploits, and the Aztecs religious practices to places I don't want to go. Jennings dwells on the supposed deviant behaviour of the Aztecs; human sacrifices, every deviated sexual situation possible, live hearts being ripped out, limbs torn off, dismemberments, torture, etc. on and on, ad nauseum. If this is what the Aztecs were really like, we should be glad the Spaniards conquered them. I'm no Christian and the Spaniards likely were'nt saints when they imposed their religion on Mexico, but it had to be better than what went before, if this book has any basis in reality. Of course, it's fiction, and anything goes. That doesn't necessarily make for good writing or great authors, but I guess it sells books. I'd skip this one if I were you.

The Best Historical Novel.......2007-07-13

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Historical fiction as its best. Jenning transports you to the vanished world of the Aztec Empire at its zenith, as an old Indian tells the story of his life and many adventures. As in all his books, the past is illuminated with such detail and attention to bizarre aspects of culture that reading this rich, engrossing novel is an adventure in itself. I highly recommend this book to any reader who desires a truly unique reading experience. Even if you are not a fan of historical fiction, "Aztec" would convert you.

Aztec living experience........2007-06-22

An inside look at the experience of Aztec living and the splendor of the pre-spaniard world. Very enjoyable and easy to follow. The adventures of an Aztec native are remarkable.

take a literary journey of pure pleasure.......2007-01-03

A big thank you to the reviewers of this book whose high rating of it enticed me to order it. I got absolutely lost in this literary delight during the festive season and whilst perhaps of the thought that the author could have summarized more the saga towards its ending, it remains indeed a historical epic - in my view the Aztec equivalent of Ken Follett's medieval English saga of "Pillars of the Earth" Highly recommended.

...AN ADVENTUROUS TALE INSIDE THE GLORY THAT WAS THE AZTEC EMPIRE.......2006-08-22

A superior read for those seeking an epic adventure ride, inside a historically accurate novel. This is the life and times of Mixtli, an Aztec citizen, ....one time warrior, merchant, teacher, royal attaché and many others. A picture of what it may have been like inside the magnificent Empire of the Aztec.

You will begin the story with an elaborately written request from the rulers of Spain and Catholic Church; to write down for posterity, a history of the now conquered Aztec Empire and a depiction of its former state..... supposedly to ease the conscience of the powers in Spain (Cortez having been directed to completely obliterate the art, culture, architecture and language of the Aztec people) This is the start of a long and interesting tale.

If you pick up this novel for historical depictions and accuracy, I promise you won't be disappointed. As an educated person of Spanish and Oneida Indian descent, as a North American (in the southwest), and just plain my humble opinion, Gary Jennings did his research for this novel. As you travel with the main character, you will taste, feel, see and hear all the architecture, colors, scents, artistic talents, courage, blood lust, tragedies, loves, engineering feats, people and scenery of a time that once was, through the eyes of someone who was there when it was the center of the universe.

Before Mexico city was Mexico City, into the beginnings of the Aztec peoples then on through to it's glory then ultimate conquer and subjugation to Spain and the Catholic Church. This is a riveting story, woven with colorful threads, through the experiences, memories, and actions of one man.

I cannot imagine anyone attempting to try and develop a film version of Aztec. The many nuances and difficult ideas would be difficult to depict, it is a long book.... But not too long. Don't worry. .... I admit a film version would be something I wouldn't mind seeing in my life time.

The explicit sexual encounters, I thought were unnecessary, and could have done without. Artistic license or something, I suppose the author thought these had to be there, in detail
...I don't know.

There are many tragic characters in this book, the Tapir Woman is the most tragic of all. You will understand, when you read the book. and although for me, that was 27 years ago, I know you also will not forget...... "the sound of small bells ringing" ***** FIVE STARS

Average customer rating:

Huemac a fantastic read
The luck of Huemac is great
Definitely Delivered
A very enjoyable book!
Great book that really sets you in the life and times of the

The Luck of Huemac
Daniel Peters
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394513134
Release Date: 1981-07-12

Customer Reviews:

Huemac a fantastic read.......2004-07-06

I am an avid reader of biography, history and historical fiction, and "Luck of Huemac" by Daniel Peters is one of my dozen favorite books in this class. The characters, both real and invented, are extremely well drawn with great depth, all totally alive and believable. Likewise, the gods and places. And, thank goodness for the glossary, which helps those of us with poor memories keep track of all those characters, gods and places. I was particularly impressed with the author's treatment of the Aztec spiritual world, which was made believable even to skeptics. The story ends just after the arrival of Cortez (nothing given away here), and a brief history of this great catastrophy is presented with appropriate sadness and finality. A really terrific book.

The luck of Huemac is great.......2003-05-29

The book "The Luck of Huemac" by Daniel Peters is one of the most extraordinary
Books I have ever had the privilege to read. The story records the struggle by his family to control the city of Tenocticlan and in the shadows Huemac Born under the Sign of the Rabbit and destined to by unlucky grows to be a legendary man. Huemac combats fierce opponents on the ball court and battlefield, learns the ancient lore of the priests and confronts the mysterious white gods. This story is not only a adventure story but also a heart touching story about Huemac's family over one century. Daniel peters flings you in to a exotic world totally alien to your mind the final century of the Aztec empire's supremacy in Mexico. I say as J.R.R. Toielkien is to Fantasy and Frank Herbert is to Sci-Fi Daniel Peters is the master of Historical Fiction by Mike

Definitely Delivered.......2002-10-19

This was a good book. I've read all three Aztec books by Gary Jennings and was left wanting more. This book delivered. It's an easy way to get a lot history inside a great story.

A very enjoyable book!.......1998-11-28

I have read all of Mr. Peters books and I have not been disapointed. You don't have to be a scholar in order to enjoy "The Luck of Huemac". The fall of the Aztec Empire is a topic that has inspired many authors, including Peter Daniels. Huemac, an "unlucky" Mexica marked from birth, ironically evades death and misfortune only to witness the end of his world and the death of their gods. If you liked this book, you should read also Gary Jennings' "Aztec" (an equally impresive book)or "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico" by Bernal Diaz del Castillo( this is a historical chronicle by one of Hernan Cortez's captains who participated in the Conquest). "The Luck of Huemac" is quality reading and fiction literature at its best!

Great book that really sets you in the life and times of the.......1998-07-04

This is a great book that really shows you what life might have been like for the Aztecs. It covers everything frome war to love to school to politics. A great book.

The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico

Average customer rating:

Could have used more explanation but still very useful
An important work
Exceedingly Sweet action!!!
Informative book
Are you kidding?

The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
Miguel Leon-Portillo
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807055018

Book Description

In this updated edition of a classic, Leon-Portilla has included accounts from native Aztec descendents across the centuries. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that perserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors.

Customer Reviews:

Could have used more explanation but still very useful.......2006-12-22

Broken Spears does something very interesting in his book that no one else has ever tried to do. He approaches the invasion of Mexico from the perspective of the Aztecs. He looks at the court of Montezuma and tells us how the invasion looked from their perspective. This is a very astute look at the invasion and one of the most unique out there. It is very well written and holds the readers interest. The biggest downfall of the book is that if you are not familiar with the story you will find it lacking in information. It assumes a great deal of information about the invasion that can be gotten from other books. It also takes into account the rise and fall of Montezuma and how the kingdom was not as unified as it appeared. If you are going to study Latin American history than this is a must read.

An important work.......2005-07-17

This book is important because it is scholarly, yet written for the average person interested in history of this period. It is very important in that it is the only contemporary book I know of which specifically and consciously attempts to present the native side of the story. It is not a work of pandering, left-wing revisionism. It is a compilation of native historical sources: the Tlaxcala, and the Mexica themselves--often through Spanish priests who recorded their words, including poetry. The thing to remember is that it is the Aztec/Mexica point of view, and we usually get the Euro-centric version--there is a difference. Both are useful and needed to make a complete picture.

Exceedingly Sweet action!!!.......2004-08-18

I got this book because I find pre-columbian Mesoamerica fascinating, and I also enjoy the vivid clash of cultures which occured when the Spaniards arrived there. This book describes the conflict between the Aztecs and Spaniards superbly! This book is somewhat unique among histories because it takes the point of view of the vanquished rather than the victors. It starts from before the Spaniards arrive with eerie premonitions of eminent doom to the fall of Tenochtitlan and the suffering associated with that, then proceeds to give a short account of the plight of the native Nahuas after the conquest. Leon-Portilla uses a vast array of native sources from the Florentine Codex to the Cantares Mexicanos(which consists of Native American songs about the conquest), and combines them to create a lively and pleasant read, and its fairly short length add to its overall unburdensome style. In fact for me this book was harder not to read than to read. The tale is full of lively adventure, fascinting omens and cultural tidbits(such as the Aztec dedication to human sacrifice and their belief that the Spaniards were gods), violence, and sorrow. This book is a must for the Aztec fan, the conquistador fan, or anyone who likes an engaging story that just happens to be history.

Informative book.......2003-12-03

"The Broken Spears" is a very informative book and gives readers an insight on the Mexican/Aztec point of view of the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish.
The introduction is very helpful so don't skip it like I tried to! Some of the text does get boring at times but if you're reading this book for a college class keep your eyes open and notebook handy, you'll need it to keep places and names straight.
For all those below who hated the book, maybe you're right, but did you understand it and the point for the writting of this book?

Are you kidding?.......2003-10-15

What a total joke of a book! This book is both non-informative and boring.

Average customer rating:

Tlazo'camati (Thank You)
clear, easy to understand handbook
Aztec Calendar Handbook

Aztec Calendar Handbook
Randall C. Jimenez , and Richard B. Graeber
Manufacturer: Historical Science Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0966116313

Book Description

New Book bridges Ancient Wisdom with Modern Technology!

Dr. Randall C. Jimenez, a San Jose State University educator, and Richard B. Graeber, an engineering documentation specialist, have collaborated to bring the first Technical Manual for the Aztec Calendar ever produced. The book was created to address a lack of clear, concise information regarding this ancient native artifact and to correct inaccuracies as taught in history classes across the U.S. today. By using concise documentation techniques, over 240 sources were compressed into a 100-page book, which includes 150 technical drawings, 230 word native glossary, timeline and a 12-page bibliography.

This unique book entitled Aztec Calendar Handbook, on the surface appears to be about the Sun Stone, but in reality is about of Native American history. Chapters include; the History of the Aztec Calendar, Native American Time-keeping, Keepers of Time, Founding of Tenochtitlan and the Legend of Quetzalcoatl. It is designed as an accessible authority on the Aztec Calendar and the people that had such a profound effect on the shaping of modern America.

By looking at myths, legends & history with an Aztec's perception of God, this new Manual provides needed answers to many important questions.

Customer Reviews:

Tlazo'camati (Thank You).......2007-01-30

Tlazo'camati, my book came nicely packed & secured and in no time I had it in my hands. Great service. Thank You.

clear, easy to understand handbook.......2002-09-11

This book is clear, non-technical, and easy to read and understand. People interested in the subject will find it useful.

Aztec Calendar Handbook.......2002-09-08

Grammatical aside, there is no other treatise on pre-Columbian America and the Aztec Calendar as complete, concise and thought provoking as this one. I didn't notice the grammatical error until the fellow from Tejas spotted it. I was too amazed at having my perception of Native America shattered. After reading many books on the Aztecs, I bought this book and was favorably impressed by the depth, continuity and treatment of the entire subject matter. There is so much information in this book its astounishing. The bibliography contains over 200 sources. Direct eyewitnesses from the 16th century are quoted. The Time-Line is great. I will be referring to this book for years to come.

The Aztecs, Maya, and Their Predecessors, Third Edition: Archaeology of Mesoamerica

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The Aztecs, Maya, and Their Predecessors, Third Edition: Archaeology of Mesoamerica
Muriel Porter Weaver
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0127390650

Book Description

This is a thorough revision of the successful Second Edition and includes both Aztec and Maya areas in one volume. It covers the period from the European settling of the New World to the Spanish Conquest of Mexico in 1521, as well as the deciphering of Maya hieroglyphs that reveal dynastic history, and recent discoveries and excavations at Rio Azul and Naj Tunich in Guatemala, Caracol in Belize, and Mexico.
The Third Edition of this successful introduction to the archaeology of Mesoamerica includes full coverage of the Aztec and Maya areas in one volume. Beginning with the settling of the New World and continuing through the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica in 1521, this completely updated textbook contains information on decipherment of the Maya hieroglyphs, excavation in Belize and Honduras as well as in Guatemala. News from Mexico, including the west, refocuses ideas on writing, murals, architecture, and the Olmec. The latest information on new approaches, theories, sites, and areas of investigation. This information reflects the work of a new generation of researchers whose recent discoveries have shed additional light on many of the ideas that have shaped the last fifty years of Mesoamerican archaeology.
Includes deciphering of Maya hieroglyphs, the dynamic history of the Maya, the new royal tomb excavated at Copan, Honduras, important new discoveries at Rio Azul and Naj Tunich in Guatemala, and Caracol in Belize, ritual sacrifices on a massive scale revealed at Teotihuacan in central Mexico, new material from Tula (Toltec capitol) and from the heart of Mexico City.

Key Features
* All-in-one textbook covering the Aztecs (central Mexico) and the Maya (Yucatan and Central America) in one volume
* Spans the period from the settling of the New World until the Spanish Conquest of Mexico in 1521
* Shows the growth and collapse of the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec empires
* Includes a chapter on Mesoamerica's relationship to the northeast (southeastern United States) and to the Andean region of South America
* Illustrates the importance of trade, domestication of plants, and the rise of urbanism in relation to other cultures in the New World

Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health

Average customer rating:

From the Horse's Mouth
Another New Age book for the gullible
invaluable wisdom and knowledge on modern Curanderismo
This is a wonderful book
Exceptional writing by Joy Parker

Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health
Elena Avila , and Joy Parker
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 1585420220
Release Date: 2000-05-18

Book Description

A modern healer draws on Aztec folk medicine to offer a new perspective on women's health.

Showing readers how to become not only physically healthy but also creatively and spiritually whole, Elena Avila's book presents a global vision of how the gifts of indigenous health care, married with contemporary technology, can create a medicine of the future.

Customer Reviews:

From the Horse's Mouth.......2005-08-28

I am the co-author of Woman Who Glows in the Dark. I had not visited this page for quite some time and was deeply troubled to read the review written by Edward B. Holman. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel that Mr. Holman has made some grave misjudgements about an author he has never met. He has also reported information, inaccurately and out of context, regarding a book I find it difficult to believe he has read. None of his references get beyond p. 28, and Chapter 1 starts on p. 41.

I spent eight months writing this book with Elena. That work involved traveling through Guatemala and Mexico with her, meeting her Aztec teacher Ehekateotl, staying at her home in New Mexico for weeks at a time, and meeting and interviewing her students and some clients. As someone who knows her personally and had to do extensive research to write this book, let me tell you, from the proverbial horse's mouth, what really happened and something of who this woman is.

Mr. Holman writes "Curanderismo is mainly the province of the people who are, essentially, exorcists, and their conterparts, brujos, brujas, and hechiceros, are people who are paid by their clients to place hexes on others."

This is incorrect. First of all, many modern curanderos are midwives, herbalists, chiropractors, bone-setters, and counselors. For a more in-depth discussion of this topic, please see, Chapter 1: Types of Curanderos and Their Specialties (beginning on p. 69).

Second, to infer that this class of healers, and Elena by extension, deals only with the darker arts is a gross mistatement.

Elena is a healer of the highest integrity--and, I might add, an inspiring humility. Every time we met to write, she spoke of the responsibility that healers have toward their clients. She never claimed any "magical powers" for herself but emphasized over and over that she was just God's instrument.

The stories she tells in this book are of clients who were healed in a profound way. You have only to read them to see the love and commitment she brings to this work. Writing this book with her brought profound healing into my own life.

I also saw the fruits of her work in her students, whom I met and interviewed for the book. The foundation in healing that she gave them was solid and rich. I refer you to Chapter 6, which is filled with stories about what she taught them about curanderismo. Read the book and let these students, who have worked and traveled with her for years, speak for themselves.

Mr. Holman goes on to say, "she replaces it [the 'conventional wisdom of curanderismo']with a concoction that she largely invented herself, with the help of a couple of fraudulent pretenders from Mexico who claim to be the heirs of the magical and religious traditions of the Aztec Indians."

Again, I was there. I traveled with her to Mexico and spent time in the community center of her teacher Ehekateotl, who is truly one of the spiritual heirs of the Mexica (Aztec) tradition. How do I know this is true? Because I met the people he helps in his community and found them to be good and intelligent souls. I helped them to build a huge altar for the Dia de los Muertos ceremony and did ceremony with them. I was permitted to visit some of their sacred sites. I listened to their stories, I met other healers who deeply respected Ehe.

All I can say is that Ehekateotl is a man of deep humility, great humor, and dedication to his people. To call such a kind and generous man, sight unseen, a "fraudulent pretender," as Mr. Homan does, is inexcusable. Ehe lives very humbly, has little money, and spends his days healing people who come to the community center where he lives. (And they keep coming, obvously, because they get results.) He is really quite overworked and kind, and carries on with a lot of courage.

To really understand how a culture could go underground to survive the Spanish Conquest, take a look at Chapter 7: The Gods That Refused to Die. It's not unthinkable that cultures go underground. When I wrote A FOREST OF KINGS and MAYA COSMOS with Linda Schele and David Friedel, it was the same story. The Aztecs, as well as the Maya, are alive and well.

On the subject of cursing, Mr. Holman quotes Elena as writing, "'Some times the "cursed" individual is suffering from some kind of chemical imbalance, such as schizophrenia, and needs medication and psychiatric help.'... That is the impression I get of her. People come to her expecting to be treated in the way that any other curandera would treat them, and she sends them off to someone who will get them started on Prozac. Thanks a lot, Ms. Avila!"

This is taken entirely out of context. I quote from p. 53 of the book, "Recently, I saw an elder named Anna who had give a 'curandero' her life savings--ten thousand dollars--to take away a hex. I was deeply saddened by her story. Her thirty-six-year-old daughter had been diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia but was refusing to take her medication."

Elena goes on to say that the daughter was becoming violent and was unable to care for her small children. When the woman brought her daughter to Elena, who is also a trained psychiatric nurse, "It was obvious to me that her daughter had a chronic condition and needed to take her medication. Not taking her medication was what was causing her to become violent with her children."

This brings up an important point, that there is, as Mr. Holman implies, some sort of "right" or "orthodox" way to be a curandera. This is a terribly limited way of looking at any healing modality. A true healer applies the APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE cure for the situation, not some kind of rigid prescription.

What Elena writes about in this book is how she has taken what she learned of curanderismo and applied it to THIS culture. Sometimes that looks very, very traditional indeed; and sometimes it looks creative and appropriate and effective. The stories told in the book, particularly the story of Donna and her soul retrieval in Chapter 4: The Weeping Soul, p. 193, attest to how skillfully Elena works with her patients and how astute she is about finding ways to help them.

I would also like to address Mr. Holman's remark "I am quite sure she charges for her sessions, her lectures and tours and workshops, and anything else she can charge people for. And I doubt if she is cheap, either." It is true that in traditional cultures a healer works by accepting donations. But it is also true that they never have to go without food or lodging or the necessities of life because the community values them and takes care of them. To expect a curandera in America to accept only donations is just absurd. Elena started out this way, she told me, but soon discovered that people would give her $15 for two hours of work. One wealthy client, who had a $100-a-day cocaine habit, handed her a twenty for hours of work.

Why do we believe that traditional healers don't deserve to be paid? We pay our medical doctors, don't we? Yes, Elena does charge, reasonably, but I also know for a fact that she would not turn away someone who really needed her help. When we were in Mexico City together doing research for the book, the owner of the hotel we stayed at found out she was a curandera and sent his whole staff to her. She didn't charge a penny and willingly worked on everyone because that is her calling.

It is also very interesting that the book that Mr. Holman holds up as the ideal, CURANDERISMO by Robert Trotter, does not seem to have been well-reviewed by him. I quote from his review of that volume: "This book is what one would expect from a team of American academics starting from scratch trying to assemble a definitive body of knowledge while based on US soil and focusing on a population located inside of the US." On the other hand, Elena has lived her whole life in this culture and WOMAN WHO GLOWS IN THE DARK is written with depth and intelligence, honesty and passion.

I just do not believe that Mr. Holman carefully read this book and I am curious about the virulence of his attack.

I can only urge you to read this book and judge for yourself. It is a wonderful record of the history of curanderismo, of love and service to others, and of deep respect for a wonderful, endlessly creative, living healing tradition.

Another New Age book for the gullible.......2005-08-22

Lewt me start off by saying that I have been interviewing curanderos and curanderas in Mexico, along with their clients, for 15 years now, and I have read all of the major books on the subject, and I know what curanderismo is and what it isn't. This book is just another New Age piece of fiction, such as the market abounds with, and the author is taking advantage of the gullible with this work.

Curanderismo is mainly the province of the people who are, essentially, exorcists, and their conterparts, brujos, brujas, and hechiceros, are people who are paid by their clients to place hexes on others. Besides that, they do treat regular illnesses, and also they treat "folk illnesses" such as "susto", with prayers and simple cleansing ceremonies known as limpias. In addition, they sometimes perform candle burning magic, usually wherein images and statues of saints are involved, and these are known as "trabajos" - "works".

Avila has concocted a scheme of things that overlooks and actually, at times, rejects the conventional wisdom about curanderismo and she replaces it with a concoction that she largely invented herself, with the help of a couple of fraudulent pretenders from Mexico who claim to be the heirs of the magical and religious traditions of the Aztec Indians.

Here are just a very small sampling of the nonsense and contradictions that she offers, which, for anyone who is actually familiar with Mexican curanderismo, do not represent in any fashion the conventional wisdom or what one would find on ones own if one were to interview real curanderos or their clients.

On page 21 she states: "Although I do not believe in curses, I respect the cultural perspective of those who do, and I listen to them with respect" ... "Some times the 'cursed' individual is suffering from some kind of chemical imbalance, such as schizophrenia, and needs medication and psychiatric help". So, what she is saying is that she completely rejects and dismisses out of hand the very foundations of curanderismo, and since she obviously des not anything about curanderismo, she finds this very easy to do. That is the impression I get of her. People come to her expecting to be treated in the way that any other curandera would treat them, and she sends them off to someone who will get them started on Prozac. Thanks a lot, Ms. Avila!

More: "Curanderas build up a person's energy and self-esteem, and teach him or her how to break the vicious cycle of depression and hopelessness." So, here we can see that her concept of curanderas is that they are essentially counselors who give pep talks to people, and this sort of speculation derives from her fumbling around to idealize them as some sort of folk psychoanalysts along with her not having any contact with any real ones wherein she would find out soon enough that none of this is true.

Page 23: (in which she is making the assertion, apparently, that the principal roots of curanderismo come from Africa) "As a curandera, I use ritual, ceremonies, dances, drums, rattles, divinations, painting of the face and the body during ceremony, and fasting as tools of healing." That all sound like the sort of thing your average New Age shaman would do, but I have never heard of a real curandera doing any of that.

She says that she had "Aztec teachers" (p. 23). These people, it turns out, are a couple of men who claim that they are part of a tradition that has been kept alive secretly by members of the Aztec priesthood who operated underground for the last 500 years ago before resurfacing and appearing in Northern New Mexico where they became Avila's gurus. What we have here is a tale that seems to be copied from Gardner (of Wicca fame) and Carlos Castaneda (with his ficticious Yaqui guru "Don Juan").

I won't elaborate on the text, but her description of the "spiritual theory" of curanderismo, as she describes it, on pages 27 and 28 indicates that she does not understand the core concepts of curanderismo and brujería. This seems to indicate that she has always been insulated from actual curanderismo and its practice, and that, even though her clients keep trying to bring her into the fold, she seems to not be interested because she has been promoting this pseudo-curanderismo that she invented for so long that she cannot even begin to accept the conventional wisdom such as what the people who really did grow up steeped in this culture hold. She also thinks that people who are under curses are only suffering from "suggestion", and that this is the reason for their reactions. This is a point that we have discussed at length in the 1curanderismo group in earlier exchanges. People who do not believe that curses are possible contend that this is all a psychological occurrence based on the fear reaction that occurs in people who believe themselves to be cursed, and this allows an explanation as to why people might get sick or even die. It is all psychosomatic, according to these explanations. However, we know that brujos and hechiceros go to pains to prevent their victims from knowing that they have been cursed. Avila also claims that people who supposedly cure the victims of these supposed fictitious curses are charging a lot of money and bilking their clients for bogus services That is not true either. Certainly, there are plenty who do that, but it is well known that the best curanderos never ask for money. They only accept donations. Inasmuch as she is willing to tar all legitimate curanderos and curanderas who are actually practicing curanderismo and doing what curanderos and curanderas do more often that anything else with this sort of cynical charge, I think that no one should object to her being exposed for the way that she presents herself and how she does business either. Let us be perfectly honest here. I am quite sure she charges for her sessions, her lectures and tours and workshops, and anything else she can charge people for. And I doubt if she is cheap, either.

If anyone wants to read about curanderismo from the standpoint of ligitimate researchers, you might try the Trotter book, which I think is the best in its field in English (some excellent studies have been written in Mexico, but they are in Spanish). Such books, you will find, almost categorically contradict Avila's assertions. The shame of all this is that there are, no doubt, a lot of people who would really like to know more about curanderismo, and as long as Avila is allowed to dominate the scene with this nonsense, people are going to have a hard time getting at the facts. I think that is about time that she were exposed for the fraud that she is, if only for the sake of those who might benefit from actually knowing about curanderismo, which is a fascinating subject. One person who would likely benefit from such knowledge is Avila herself.

invaluable wisdom and knowledge on modern Curanderismo.......2003-09-16

One of the most, if not the most important book of Modern Curanderismo. Lovely book, that is hard to place down, and belongs in every Healer's shelf. Beautifully written, touching, and very informative. The book teaches the importance of not just healing the body and mind, but also the soul. As a Puerto Rican Espiritista and Santero, I have really appreciated the deep wisdom and body of knowledge that came from this book. I Highly recommend this book. The lessons learned can be applied by any healer or spiritual councilor, no matter what ones spiritual path or religion, or race may be. The wisdom and knowledge that Elena Avila shares with her readers and students is invaluable.

Well worth the money, and it is like having a wise sage or Curandera in your living room. I hope to see future works by Elena Avila, as I believe she has a voice and knowledge that needs to be heard. I am late commer to this book, and am happy to have had the chance to find it, and enjoy, brazo to you Seniora Elena Avila. Luz, Progresso, y Caridad!

This is a wonderful book.......2002-03-25

There is no end of thanks for such insight as is reflected in this book. Elena Avila is a selfless healer. What she does is the blessing of the Creator. Anyone interested in Healing will do well to read this book.

Exceptional writing by Joy Parker.......2000-05-30

This book is a beautiful and powerful testimony of the potential that lies within each of us to heal. Joy Parker accurately details the experiences and inner world of a curnadera working in the Aztec tradition. Her mastery of language and her ability to translate on paper the magic of Elena's work is exceptional. I highly recommend this book to any serious seeker on the path of healing, spirituality, native studies/indigenous cultures, and/or women's studies.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing!
A Disservice to the Memory of Gary Jennings
Saga of a Proud People
Not as good as "Aztec"; but not bad as they say, either
Good story, but not as great as the first one...

Aztec Autumn
Gary Jennings
Manufacturer: Forge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312862504

Amazon.com

Historical novelist Gary Jennings returns to the time and place of his international bestseller Aztec one generation after the conquistadors have all but destroyed the culture. The once-shining capital city of Tenochtitlan has been renamed Mexico City. Eighteen-year-old Tenamaxtli, the novel's hero, has traveled with his mother from the northern region, where they have been kept abreast of the progress of the malignant, marauding, disease-bearing Spanish. In the course of witnessing the execution of an old Aztec, Tenamaxtli's mother reveals that the victim is, in fact, her son's father. Everything is in place for vengeance, and over the novel's next several years, Tenamaxtli organizes an ill-fated insurrection, enjoying many sexual adventures along the way.

Told plainly and at some remove, Jennings has reserved the fancier footwork for an excursion into Aztec culture, creating a detailed tapestry of a struggling, vanquished race. Readers familiar with Mexican history will welcome the rich details of this vengeance drama; those new to it will be impressed by Jennings's exhaustive research.

The narrative reads like a journal, its language meant to evoke some generic past. Perhaps this is a distancing device, allowing readers to focus on the rich weave of cultural and historic elements rather than the carnage, cruelty, and genocide that characterize this unhappy piece of Mexican history.

Book Description

We return at last to the bygone world of the Aztecs, to a time when their great empire has fallen beneath the brutal heel of the invading Spanlards. But one proud young Aztec, Tenamaxtil, refuses to bow to the foreign conquerors. He starts an incredible rebellion that forms a forgotten chapter in history--a story now brought to life in all its splendor and unforgettable passion.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing!.......2007-01-05

What a waste of my time this was! What a disappointing book from the author of "The Aztec". It looks as if he was strapped for cash and sold this piece to anybody who would buy it...Why such an unknown publishing house? Were the major ones aware that his novel was crap? The faults of this story are so many that it would be a waste to count them all.. The man being burnt at the stake at the beginning is no other than the main character of his previous novel. Then he gets to meet his daughter at the end...Everybody keeps running into everybody else, as if Mexico was a three bedroom apartment rather than a country...Implausible lines, anachronistic expressions (i.e. "palace guards" referred to some Aztec warriors...). And then sex sex sex. Gary, is anything else on your mind?

A Disservice to the Memory of Gary Jennings.......2006-06-19

This book would never have been published had Gary Jennings been alive to prevent it. It is obvious that someone controlling his papers--notes, outlines, partial writing of a projected novel--
sought to make money out of his incomplete work by completing it for him and doing a miserable job of it. Jennings himself was so meticulous an author in every regard that he would have been embarrassed to have his name associated with this piece of trash.
It is to be hoped that someone else, someone up to the task, was hired to use Jennings's papers to create Aztec Blood.

Saga of a Proud People.......2005-07-20

AZTEC AUTUMN is a sequel to Gary Jennings' earlier novel, AZTEC. Even so, it stands alone. The primary character of the first book makes his only appearance, at his execution, in the first chapter of this one. From that point, the story is told from the viewpoint of the burned heretic's son, an Aztec prince from an area not subjugated by the Spanish. When he learns of his true identity, the prince (Called Juan Britanico because his Aztec name is too difficult to spell) vows to wipe the Spaniards from the American continent.

Most of the book is concerned with Juan's adventures in preparation for leading his revolution. The actual revolution, in terms of battles and such, is left to the very end. As such this is more the story of a man's life instead of a war chronicle. We learn the joy and concerns of Juan and his people. Along the way, we also learn something of the native cultures of the Americas in the generation that lived through the conquistadors.

This is an entertaining book, if somewhat graphic in terms of sex, cruelty and violence.

Not as good as "Aztec"; but not bad as they say, either.......2005-04-19

Gary Jennings was an author known for his great historical novels, based on enormous and thorough research, very sexually active characters, developed in a level that few writers can master, and unusual situations brought to light by an uncommon and skillful style of writing. I think "Aztec" is his masterpiece, but "The journeyer" and "Raptor" are not that far behind.

While reading "Aztec", I was totally transported to the "one world", back in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries of the christian era. Mixtli was a great character. His life was a great life. Jennings's readers were so appaled by his tale that they were left wanting more. Almost two decades later, their wish was granted. Of course, to be better than "Aztec" was a nearly impossible task, and not even Jennings was able to do it.

In "Aztec autumn", a sequel of sorts, Mixtli briefly appears, but the main character this time is Tenamaxtli, one of Aztlán heirs, who have to cope with his land being invaded and ruled by the spaniards. Tenamaxtli has revenge boiling in his heart, and he will conceive many plans to make the white smelly devils go back to where they came from.

The book starts well enough, and for a time I thought "Aztec autumn" would be as great as "Aztec". But this book lacks the presence of many of the great secondary characters that peopled its predecessor. Tenamaxtli is interesting enough, but he's surrounded by cardboard characters. Many of them appear only briefly. The subplots are also not very great. Many reviewers complain that some of those subplots are sorry excuses for overrated sexual experiences; I don't entirely agree with them, because I understand that sexual scenes were a very strong part of Jennings' writing style, but this time those scenes were not as greatly written as the ones existent in his three masterpieces. Also, the ending in "Aztec autumn" seems very rushed, as if the author himself got tired of his book and just wanted it to be over.

But when we're dealing with historical fiction, there are not many authors that can deliver a fantastic book like Jennings does - Noah Gordon and Ken Follett come immediately to mind. To go back to the One World / New Spain in the 1600s one more time was worth the reading. That's why this book deserves a 4-star rating.

Grade 7.2/10

Good story, but not as great as the first one..........2004-09-14

- - - * * * MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS * * * - - -

Now let me tell you, I think this was a great book, and a good plot for a sequel, the already fallen Aztecs rising to drive away the Spanish... excellent.

The way the story was written I found to be nice, as some sort of diary just like the prequel. But I really didn't liked the ending...

The problem is that the story was told in some sort of way that you can see every step of the army being built and making open war to the Spanish, but some place on the last 6 pages everything went through the toilet... I mean, the climax, the thousands of Aztecs going to attack Aguascalientes, and in 10 lines or so the hole of the Aztec army is defeated and the Spanish win... I found that to be a pretty hasty ending, not as in the first one... and you start wondering "Did Gary Jennings was really so eager to get rid of writing this story that he just finished it as fast as he could?"... "The Aztecs marched to the city but it was a trap, we fought, but lost, and the only survivors were me and some Yaki doctor... THE END"

The fantastical trait was also a downer... what made the first one so great was the fact that you could believe it happened, but in this one you meet G'nda Ké, a Yaki woman that when she happens to die, she appears to have been alive for thousands of years... also, a woman called Pakapeti, who is pregnant, but although you are never told what it is, you can infer that it is some sort of monster... that just took away all the illusion of reality to this story...

Also, you see Tenamaxtli living many episodes lived by Mixtli, his early virginity loss, the incest, getting lost in the sea...

It was a good story, the last 20 pages are the downside, but it still was a pretty enjoyable book...

The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration of the Ancient Mexican Manuscript

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The Other 5 Star Reviews are Right
Un libro que no puede faltar
A Gem
Excellent, and at this price...
Terrific insight

The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration of the Ancient Mexican Manuscript
Gisele Diaz , and Alan Rodgers
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486275698

Book Description

First publication of remarkable repainting of outstanding Mexican codex — priceless original is in Vatican Library — thought to have originated in the Cholula area, ca. AD 1400. 76 large full-color plates show an astounding array of gods, kings, warriors, mythical creatures, and abstract designs. A work of rare power and beauty. Introduction.

Customer Reviews:

The Other 5 Star Reviews are Right.......2007-03-16

I will not go over their 5 star comments except to say that I agree. The amazingly colourful and crisp art in this short book is rivetting. As much as one may credit the reknowned author, deep congratulations should also go to the publisher for a masterful print job.

Un libro que no puede faltar.......2007-01-09

Sin duda este es un título que no debe faltar en ningúna biblioteca personal, ya que la restauración de uno de los principales códices es perfecta, para aquellos interesados en la cultura y ciencia ancestral este códice es de gran ayuda.

A Gem.......2005-02-15

This is a very strange and beautiful book in pictures. It reads like a dream if you tune in to it, and reveals very deep meanings about the relation between life and death, the human relation to the forces of nature, and time. Even though there are no words, it is possible to understand. If you get into it the symbols become more and more recognizable, and they begin to speak. the calendrical symbols and the spirit deities are completely recognizable. The sequences are all about times, and there is a big element about sacrifice. It has to do with the consequences of change; there is no life without death. The book has a very powerful image of life and death fused back to back that pretty much is the epitome of all the book is about. It's all about life and death in relation to time.

Excellent, and at this price..........2003-01-18

This is a wonderful resouce for those interested in ancient Mexico. Full photographic facsimilies of these codices are hideously expensive, and really, most are not in great shape. After extensive research, we have here a great reproduction of what this important work looked like when it was "fresh off the presses." It is beautiful, and in comparison to Dover's similar Codex Nuttall, this work comes with a MUCH better introduction that explains more of the text, the context, and the ideology. Readers will be able to better understand some of the religious principles of the ancient Mexicans (and there is some debate whether this book was painted by Aztecs or Mixtecs, which I won't bore you with!). It shows gods, ceremonies, the calender, and other religious iconography which is interesting, and would be a revelation for more the artisticly inclined. The visuals are wonderfully presented and all in all this is an astonishing bargain. Those with even a casual interest in New World archaeology or art NEED to get this book.

Terrific insight.......2001-03-16

This book gives terrific insight into the ancient Mexicans, their theology and world view, and their way of life. The illustrations are extremely well done, and the interpretation is on the mark. A must-have for anyone interested in ancient Mesoamerica.

Cycles of Time and Meaning in the Mexican Books of Fate (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture)

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Cycles of Time and Meaning in the Mexican Books of Fate (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture)
Elizabeth Hill Boone
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0292712634

Book Description

In communities throughout precontact Mesoamerica, calendar priests and diviners relied on pictographic almanacs to predict the fate of newborns, to guide people in choosing marriage partners and auspicious wedding dates, to know when to plant and harvest crops, and to be successful in many of life's activities. As the Spanish colonized Mesoamerica in the sixteenth century, they made a determined effort to destroy these books, in which the Aztec and neighboring peoples recorded their understanding of the invisible world of the sacred calendar and the cosmic forces and supernaturals that adhered to time. Today, only a few of these divinatory codices survive. Visually complex, esoteric, and strikingly beautiful, painted books such as the famous Codex Borgia and Codex Borbonicus still serve as portals into the ancient Mexican calendrical systems and the cycles of time and meaning they encode.

In this comprehensive study, Elizabeth Hill Boone analyzes the entire extant corpus of Mexican divinatory codices and offers a masterful explanation of the genre as a whole. She introduces the sacred, divinatory calendar and the calendar priests and diviners who owned and used the books. Boone then explains the graphic vocabulary of the calendar and its prophetic forces and describes the organizing principles that structure the codices. She shows how they form almanacs that either offer general purpose guidance or focus topically on specific aspects of life, such as birth, marriage, agriculture and rain, travel, and the forces of the planet Venus. Boone also tackles two major areas of controversy—the great narrative passage in the Codex Borgia, which she freshly interprets as a cosmic narrative of creation, and the disputed origins of the codices, which, she argues, grew out of a single religious and divinatory system.

Average customer rating:

I may change my mind but
Not very good, but if you're a fan of the series, read it.
The Best of the Aztec Books
A big con trick
Unbelievably good!

Aztec Blood (Aztec)
Gary Jennings
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812590988

Book Description

In this colorful and exciting era of swords and cloaks, upheaval and revolution, a young beggar boy, in whose blood runs that of both Spanish and Aztec royalty must claim his birthright. From the torrid streets of the City of the Dead along the Veracruz Coast to the ageless glory of Seville in Old Spain, Cristo the Bastardo connives fights, and loves as he seeks the truth-without knowing that he will be the founder of a proud new people.As we follow the loves and adventures of Cristo and experience the colorful splendor and barbarism of the era, a vanished culture is brought back to life in all its magnificence.

Customer Reviews:

I may change my mind but.......2007-08-10

I started reading this book and got maybe through page 5 or 6. The writer who took over for Jennings has this annoying conceit of dropping a few Spanish words here and there and it is really really annoying. Probably thought it would give the book some flavor, but it doesn't. It just stops the flow of the story line cause he doesn't have a clue on how to do it effectively.

Not very good, but if you're a fan of the series, read it........2007-06-29

This book had its moments, but more misses than hits. The character is an unlikeable guy, unlike those in the previous episodes--he never really figures out who or what he is, and never really amounts to anything. I got really tired of him telling the reader that the only thing he really ever knew were guns, horses, and women. His creative references to his sexual conquests were laughable. My favorite was, "...water the garden between her legs." Is there a woman alive who wouldn't swoon to that reference?

Rating the series from best to worst:

1. Aztec
2. Aztec Rage
3. Aztec Autumn
4. Aztec Blood

The Best of the Aztec Books.......2007-01-01

For me, this was, without a doubt, the best of Gary Jennings's books about the Aztecs. In a wide ranging story that spans cultures, economics, religion and continents, he puts forth a protagonist who is a likable rogue we just want to see succeed.

The rogue's name is Cristoforo, known as el bastardaro...which means exactly what the cognate implies. We first meet him languishing under torture in the dungeons of the Viceroy in Mexico City. He is ordered to write an account of his life and crimes in the hope that the rulers may find where his stash of loot is hidden. It is as his story unfolds that we find out who he is.

He is a poor "half-breed". Because of this he is despised by all, Indian and Spaniard alike. The only one who will give him the time of day is an old friar who treats him as a son. The friar provides literacy and education for the boy but warns him to hide his abilities. The arrival of an old harridan and a cruel overseer at the hacienda provokes fear. The friar takes the boy to Veracruz, warning him to hide his identity but never really letting the boy know about his identity. This act causes the priest to be defrocked due to political pressure brought forth by the old lady but he remains to true his calling to help the poor.

In Veracruz, the boy learns the skills of a street beggar and becomes quite an accomplished little trickster. The appearance once again of the old lady and the overseer cause them to eventually flee however. It is a flight the boy survives but that the friar does not. Thus begins the third part of his life.

He is apprenticed to a native shaman who heals people. From this old man the boy learns of his Aztec heritage, though not of his family. He is still a schemer and his schemes eventually lead him to hook up with the rogue who helped him to escape Veracruz. This improves his learning but eventually, a scheme goes wrong and the old healer is killed. The boy is left at the mercy of the rogue and a crown official who sees some merit and use in him.

The crown official takes the two in, teaching them to live as Spanish nobility but using them to investigate crown crimes. In doing so, the educational process is taken to the PhD level as he learns the corruption of officialdom. While investigating these crimes, he comes in contact with the mysterious old lady and the cruel overseer again. His discovery leads his patron and his entire adopted family into the dungeons of the inquisition. This is all quite frustrating in that he still does not know what he has done earn such enmity other than to be born.

From the inquisition it is to life as a slave in the mines. Escape from there leads to a life of brigandage and a reunion with his rogue friend. A heist of the royal mint gets them both to Spain. All the while, the young boy turned into a man wants to know who he is, why he is hated and hunted and he wants vengeance on those who have killed all his loved ones. That brings him back to Mexico, this time posing as a young noble. In his quest, he gets his revenge, the love of his life and his true birthright is a series of bold and almost unbelievable actions.

By this point, the plausibility hardly matters. The story is so engrossing that the reader is willing to swallow most anything and do so willingly.

This one is much happier than the previous two books but it does not always seem that way. It is fascinating as a story and as an examination of the best and the worst of native and colonial cultures.

A big con trick.......2006-07-12

If you enjoyed Gary Jennings books when he was alive, and I enjoyed them immensely, then avoid this pile of ungrammatical manure like the plague. To start with, it was not written by Gary Jennings but was authored by someone who apparently dropped out of English I before the first class started. We are told by the publishers that an (unknown) author was chosen after a long search. I think they asked the office boy two questions: 'Can you write?' 'No,' came the reply. 'Are you cheap?', 'Yes.' 'Then we've got just the job for you.'
The plot is so obvious that you know after Chapter 1 how it will turn out. I continued, hoping that I would be proved wrong, but it was not to be.
As for the writing style, just let me say that the word 'off' never appears without being followed by 'of'. Thus, characters climb 'off of' horses, roads branch 'off of' highways, and wearisomely on.
This books is an insult to Gary Jennings' memory, but what's that compared to the opportunity to make some money.
I gave it one star, but only because I was unable to award it zero stars.

Unbelievably good!.......2006-03-10

I haven't read any other books in this series, but plan to now. This novel can stand on its own though and is for the adventure/history buff. The novel reminded me why separation of church and state was thought up in the first place...everybody say 'Spanish Inquisition'. The descriptions of the tortures are barbaric, and it hardly seems that poor, young Cristobal will escape.
When the character Mateo enters the stage, the entertainment factor is heightened even further. He is arrogant, but charming. In fact, his character is so strong it threatens to steal the lead from Cristobal, but the writer is careful to rein him just enough to keep Cristo in the forefront. I'll be devouring the other books in this series real soon!
Chrissy K. McVay
author of 'Souls of the North Wind'

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