Aztec, by Gary Jennings

Reviewed by: The Blind Monkey

Well, I have not reviewed a Top Ten novel in a while and really, we are trying to get reviews done for all these books so here you go…

I think that Jennings may be just a little disturbed. Which is why I am sure that Blind Monkey loved this book. The hero (although I prefer protagonist) is so twisted and wrong that you wonder how this could happen at all, and yet it could.
Our hero’s name is Mixtli. Dark Cloud is what it means, and it is a not so subtle metaphor for the book. He’s near-sited. He’s not exactly brave. And he’s often undeniably dense. But he’ s also cunning and survives life that way with some help from the people who are drawn to him (for whatever strange reason).

He is Mexica, or Aztec, as the Spaniards prefer. He is the middle class son of a stone mason. His sister is Tzi-Tzi, or ‘the sound of ringing bells’. The story, taking place around the time that Cortez arrives in Mexico, revolves around Mixtli.. or should I say reels? It seems that Mixtli blunders from one thing to the next, whether it is heroism, tragedy, joy, or nothing, really. Throughout the story it is obvious that things are way beyond Mixtli’s control, even when he thinks they are.

He is a twisted hero just by the circumstances he is in and through the knowledge the reader is given it is obvious that Mixtli’s interpretation or view of things is often flawed, very flawed–which is one of the many ironies of the story. In all reality there is only one point in the story where I can say that Mixtli has control and is aware of the true meaning of the things going on around him.

Enough of that.

The story is framed in a series of missives from the Arch Bishop of Mexico to the King of Spain. Each new section starts of with a diatribe from the bishop to the King that belies the Bishop’s limited understanding of things which also helps to engender the Mexica, and especially Mixtli, to the reader.

In itself the story is well written and enjoyable to read. The language is clean and well paced. Jennings connects everything together rather well so that you won’t ever be left asking ‘How’d he get there from here?’ or some such thing. I promise that you won’t be bored, disgusted maybe, but not bored. And it is a great story of the fall of the Aztec Empire, personalized through the myopic eyes of Dark Cloud.

Addition from Blind Monkey:

Gary’s 10 years of research only begins to lie the foundation for the genius of this tale. There’s a reason Aztec is on my Top Ten. It’s shocking. It’s dynamic. It’s down-right awe-inspiring.

What it isn’t is a book that passes the Mom-O-Meter. If you’re the sqeamish type, or even mildly easy to offend by violence or sexual situations, then this isn’t the book for you. But if you like ADVENTURE, with rich characters thickly braided in fantastic emotional plots set in exotic settings and situations, you won’t go wrong with Mixtli’s stunning tale.

Mass Market Paperback – 1038 pages Reprint edition (August 1997) Forge; ISBN: 0812521463; Dimensions (in inches): 1.80 x 6.79 x 4.17