Gentlemen of the Road

November 26, 2007
The odd bond between the young Frank Zelikman and the older, dark-skinned giant, Amram, serves as the basis for Chabon's short novel about life, war and religion in the 10th century. Wandering along the Silk Road, using both knowledge and trickery to earn their way, they stumble upon Filaq, the displaced heir to the Khazar throne. The two employ their many skills to return Filaq to the throne. Braugher delivers a strong and commanding performance with a lilting rhythm to his voice that is almost hypnotic. His resonating baritone voice proves appealing for the narration. His vocalization of the strong and solemn Amram is perfect, while his lightened tone for Zelikman is also a good match. His female vocalizations aren't nearly as powerful. Chabon reads the afterword, enlightening listeners to the reasons for writing a novel he originally intended to call Jews with Swords
. Simultaneous release with the Del Rey hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 9).

Starred review from September 3, 2007
Pulitzer Prize winner–Chabon (The Yiddish Policemen's Union
) recreates 10th-century Khazaria, “the fabled kingdom of wild red-haired Jews on the western shore of the Caspian Sea,” in this sprightly historical adventure. Zelikman and Amram, respectively a gawky Frank and a gigantic Abyssinian, make their living by means of confidence tricks, doctoring, bodyguarding and the occasional bit of skullduggery along the Silk Road. The unlikely duo find themselves caught up in larger events when they befriend Filaq, the headstrong and unlikable heir to the recently deposed war king of the Khazars. Their attempts to restore Filaq to the throne make for a terrifically entertaining modern pulp adventure replete with marauding armies, drunken Vikings, beautiful prostitutes, rampaging elephants and mildly telegraphed plot points that aren't as they seem. Chabon has a wonderful time writing intentionally purple prose and playing with conventions that were most popular in the days of Rudyard Kipling and Talbot Mundy. Gary Gianni's elegant illustrations, a cross between Vierge's art for Don Quixote
and Brundage's Weird Tales
covers, perfectly complement the historical adventure. A significant change from Chabon's weightier novels, this dazzling trifle is simply terrific fun.

Starred review from October 15, 2007
Having tackled alternate history and hard-boiled mystery in "The Yiddish Policemen's Union", the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" now tries his hand at a historical adventure along the lines of "The Arabian Nights". Set in the medieval Jewish empire of the Khazars, this novella, originally published serially in the "New York Times Magazine", follows two "gentlemen of the road" who find their fortune wherever they canand don't mind taking up what seems like a lost cause just for the adventure of it. A lost cause shows up in the form of a secretive young man with a tragic past who is trying to raise an army to avenge the death of his family. Few can resist his powers of persuasion, including our gentlemen adventurers, and the story wraps up with a satisfying twist or three. Chabon says in an afterword that he semiseriously intended to call the story "Jews with Swords" to highlight a little-known aspect of Jewish history. Chabon has a humorous, acrobatic writing style that translates rather well to the adventure genre. Highly recommended for public libraries.Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2008
Adult/High School-Set more than 1000 years ago, this tale of Jews with Swords follows two swindlers, Frankish physician Zelikman and giant African Amram, on their adventures. The young, recently orphaned and dethroned prince known as Filaq is traveling under duress to his grandfathers house with his guardian when they come across Zelikman and Amram. When the guardian is murdered by pursuers, these two endeavor to complete his task and collect the reward for Filaqs safe delivery. The prince is later kidnapped by a usurpers followers, and Amram and Zelikman, along with a cast of soldiers, thieves, religious men, and merchants, set their sights on his rescue and restoration. The Kingdom of Arran and the little-known Khazar Empire, despite the historical distance, ring true, and Chabon clearly describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the region. Giannis illustrations help convey the setting and characters clearly. Through these characters travels, the author introduces numerous unfamiliar topics (rabbinates, shatranj, and ancient Middle Eastern politics, to name a few) and leaves readers both satisfied and eager to learn more. Although the vocabulary may challenge some teens, the story moves at a rapid pace and is full of surprises. It is sure to find a wide readership among those with an interest in Jewish history or swashbuckling adventure."Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2007
Chabon enjoys genre jumping, from a comics-inspired novel (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, 2000) to a murder mystery (The Yiddish Policemens Union, 2007) and now toa swashbuckling adventure yarn, accomplishing each type of fiction with equal parts fun and artistry. This latest one wasserialized in 15 parts in the New York Times Magazine, from January to May of this year. The novel finds its setting in the Black SeaCaspian Sea area in the year 950. Yes, its the time and place of clashing tribes, with swords and battle-axes the accoutrements of the daywhen slights were easily taken and quickly settled to the death. Two freelance adventurersswords for hire who enjoy relieving people of their bags of gold coinsare invited to escort a young prince back to his native land, to restore the princes rightful inheritance after a bloody coup against his family. As one would guess, the impediments to carrying out the plan come fast and furiously. These two adventurers become a delight to know: cynical thoughwith their own good code of conductgentlemen, in other words. As the reader pretty much suspects all along, a certain individual turnsout not be be . . . well, what is certain is that this is an uproariously entertaining read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)