Jones - The Desert of Souls review

Howard Andrew Jones' The Desert of Souls is an excellent modern tale in the tradition of One Thousand and One Nights. The tale begins in 8th century Baghdad in the palace of Jaffar, the son of the Grand Vizier and best friend of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Jaffar's favorite parrot has just died, and the captain of his guard, Asim, suggests going into the city for an adventure posing as common people. They take the scholar, and tutor of Jaffar's niece, Dabir with them.

During their short adventure, they uncover a mystery and eventually find that a pair of sorcerers are trying to bring down the Caliphate. Dabir and Asim must chase the sorcerers across the Caliphate to the Lost City of Ubar and the Desert of Souls. Their mission is made even more difficult when Sabirah, Jaffar's niece and Dabir's student, stows away on the ship carrying Asim and Dabir south from Baghdad.

It's a fast, fun tale of swords and sorcery. The characters are interesting, and it is fun to watch the friendship of Asim and Dabir shift through the ups and downs of the adventure. This is one case in which first-person, told by Asim, works particularly well.


/ [Viking]

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