Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #311509 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Meq, subtitled "A Lyric Fantasy" is the first novel from American country-rock musician Steve Cash. The flavour is refreshingly unusual, with a secret race of childlike immortals--the Meq--groping after a lost heritage while decade after decade of human history ticks by.

The narrative of Zianno Zezen begins in 1881 America on his 12th birthday. It's the first of many 12th birthdays, since Meq age no further until they find love and consciously choose to go on through puberty. Z's parents, who made that choice, are soon killed in a tragic accident, leaving the boy with hints of Basque "but more than just Basque" descent, and a cryptic Meq contact name.

Befriended by a travelling Jewish entrepreneur and sort-of-adopted by a St Louis boarding-house keeper who moves into the more profitable trade of brothel madam, Z finds life full of violence, exotic colour and elusive magic. He dreams strange dreams and carries a talisman he doesn't understand. He meets other eternal 12-year-olds living among the dangerous "Giza" (mortal humans), surviving through special talents and centuries or sometimes millennia of experience.

Long and almost dreamlike searches recur. Through 12 years at sea, Z seeks an ancient fellow-Meq nicknamed Sailor. In New Orleans, with a friend, he tracks a Meq who has gone bad and wreaked atrocities on Z's adoptive family. Later hunting covers huge tracts of China, and then--for nine years more, in Tuareg disguise--the North African desert. "Do not think ahead, the Sahara will not allow it." In the background, the First World War is now being fought, and it's over before Z reaches a temporary stopping place.

All this makes for a remarkably charming and compelling read, with history and fantasy twining together--there are glimpses of Jesse James, Oscar Wilde, Scott Joplin and the young TS Eliot. The childlike immortals' leisurely attitude to time is imagined with some power. But as the 20th century wears on, they may be dying out...

Many mysteries remain, a hissable villain is still at large, and sequels to The Meq will follow. --David Langford

Synopsis
The Meq are a rare and ancient and enigmatic race who originated in the Basque Pyrenees. While some of them may be hundreds - even thousands - of years old, they retain the physical appearance of twelve-year-olds. Over the course of time they have played witness and catalyst to some of the most glorious abd shameful events in history. This is the story of Zianno Zezen - commonly known as "Z" - and it commences in 1881, on an ill-fated train journey through the Rocky Mountains. Rescued by a bearded stranger, befriended by orphans, beguiled by kin and burdened by revenge, Z begins to quest to understand the Meq, their purpose, and their secrets. From the midwestern city of St. Louis all the way to China, Africa, England, and many points in between, Z's pursuit is a classic adventure of spirit and imagination. "Steve Cash's impressive debut crosses understated fantasy with an elegant not-quite-coming-of-age story." - "Guardian".

Customer Reviews

lengthy rambling journeys
The book jacket describes The Meq as fantasy, but this is definitely not your usual fantasy novel, with not a single sword, dragon, orc or vampire in sight. Some of it concerns Zianno's awakening self-awareness (I was going to write "growing up" but this of course doesn't happen) in the rough-and-tumble environment of St Louis in the 1880s. The rest of the novel is taken up with various quests which take Zianno and the others on lengthy rambling journeys across the world.

As the story progresses, Zianno and the other Meq characters are revealed by their thoughts and actions to be not quite human. Their lifespans stretch across many centuries, so they can afford to think long-term, also the actions of ancient enemies such as the Phoenicians are still fresh in their collective mind. However, they also curiously inconsistent, one minute acting with great urgency as they attempt unsuccessfully to track down the psychotic killer Fleur du Mal, the next embarking on a long dreamlike trek that may take years and not accomplish very much. Zianno and a companion start a search that takes them all over north Africa, and at one point he suddenly realises that six years have passed with no result!

The characters of the Meq are strangely insubstantial, and I would find it difficult to describe the personal attributes of Zianno, Sailor and the others. They tend to drift in and out of the story, and at times I lost track of who was present and who was missing. The Giza (human) characters, such as Solomon the Jewish trader, seemed to be much more vivid, on the whole. Occasionally historical figures such as Scott Joplin or T.S. Eliot appear in the narrative, but generally the Meq are caught up in their own quests and crises, and do not actively involve themselves much in the wider human realm. Even the First World War is but a remote event that takes place offstage in the world of the Giza.

Despite its dreamlike, ambling ways, I found the story quite interesting and look forward to reading the next book in the series. As the narrative approaches modern times, I am curious to find out how the Meq will retain their secrets in a world of passports, telephones and computers. Hopefully we will also see young Zianno Zezen developing a stronger and more distinctive personality!

The Meq by Steve Cash
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in novels which combine a historical context with a fantastical perspective,and which peels away the surface layers of everyday life to reveal what lies out of sight, a la Machen, Garner, etc. This is not a straightforward "fantasy" novel, there are no swords, and little magic. Steve Cash has developed an interesting concept in the race that he calls The Meq, and there are great possibilities for the series to run and run, especially if he keeps up this standard of writing - he writes VERY well, with confidence and aplomb, and a keen historical sense. A remarkable first novel. Read it soon, before word gets around! When will volume II appear?

Simply the Best
After being a long time fan of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils I was prompted to get this book. I LOVED IT. I haven't read a book like this in a long time. Great story-telling and use of historical fact as a background to the fictional story is incredible. Reading about places in St. Louis (where I currently live) and being able to drive by the areas was great.
A great book that refreshingly keeps you hooked. I couldn't put the book down for the week and a half it took me to read it. Can't wait for the second installment. Keep them coming.