Product Description

A great king brings peace to a warring nation. Centuries later, his writings will bring hope to those facing the tragic legacy of modern Cambodia's bloody history. When archaeologists discover a book written on gold leaves at Angkor Wat, everyone wants a piece of the action. But the King, the Army and the UN are all outflanked when the precious artefact is kidnapped, along with Professor Luc Andrade, who was accompanying it to the capital for restoration. Luckily for Luc his love and respect for Cambodia have won him many friends, including ex-Khmer Rouge cadre Map and the young moto-boy William. Both equally determined to rescue the man they consider their mentor and recover the golden book, they form an unlikely bond. But, William is unaware of just how closely Map's bloody past affects him. The book contains the words and wisdom of King Jayavarman VII, the Buddhist ruler who united a war-torn Cambodia in the twelfth century and together with his enlightened wife created a kingdom that was a haven of peace and learning. His extraordinary story is skilfully interwoven with the tales of Luc, Map and William to create an unforgettable and dazzling evocation of the spirit of Cambodia and her peoples in all their beauty and tragedy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154050 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
'Inordinately readable ! brilliant ! this intricate double-sided tapestry is woven with ambiguities that mesmerise ! its leavening of invention with compassion is as good as it gets.' Justin Wintle, Independent 'Sweeping and beautiful ! the complex story tears the veil from a hidden world.' Times 'A marvellous book about the making of souls.' Time Out 'A mesmerising, modern quest novel that subtly and shiningly evokes ancient and modern clashes of Eastern and Western culture.' Saga Magazine 'Geoff Ryman has the true novelist's gift -- he takes the reader inside other lives and other cultures, and makes them live with the utmost vividness. In this case we experience Cambodia in all its beauty and conflict, both past and present. Another masterpiece by one of the greatest fiction writers of our time.' Kim Stanley Robinson 'A fascinating panorama of Cambodian life, past and present. The original subject-matter, broad scope and elegant style make for an exceptionally enlightening read.' Michael Arditti Praise for 253: 'Has more emotional depth than a festival of tear-jerkers.' Independent 'A stylistically dazzling box of fireworks.' Glasgow Herald 'Astonishingly vibrant! lyrical and totally engaging.' LA Times

About the Author
Geoff Ryman is a Canadian living in London. He has published eight novels, a volume of short fiction and co-edited a collection of Canadian fiction. His novels and short stories have won twelve awards. His first novelette on Cambodian themes was published in 1985. 'The King's Last Song'was inspired by a visit in 2001 to an archaeological dig at Angkor Wat. Geoff is a frequent visitor to Cambodia and has twice visited the country to run workshops in creative writing. His other fiction includes 'Was', an historical novel about the American West in the 19th and 20th centuries, and '253' about passengers on the London underground.

Customer Reviews

Another brilliant Ryman
Got an early copy of this and devoured it over two days. Simply brilliant. No two Ryman books are the same - but for me this is almost as good as his last book, Air, which was one of the best pieces of fiction of this decade. Another brilliant book from Ryman - buy it.

A fictional look into Cambodia's past
I eagerly awaited Geoff Ryman's novel, The King's Last Song, that links the glories of the Angkor dynasty of King Jayavarman VII with modern-day Cambodia, and I was richly rewarded. It's excellent. I particularly loved the passages that yielded such a vivid and atmospheric recreation of life in the court of the King during the twelfth century that I could almost taste it. Okay, much of it was from the author's own imagination, but I believed it. The book swirls around the life story of Jayarvarman VII written on gold leaves which are found and subsequently stolen. The hunt is on for their recovery and with it, we gain an insight into the Cambodia of today. This book sets a towering standard for new fiction writing on Cambodia that will be difficult to match, let alone exceed. I take my hat off to the author for a wonderful and evocative story that I found impossible to put down. I urge everyone with an interest in Cambodia to buy this book and then encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Sensitive and interesting novel about Cambodia, past and present
This is a very interesting book: a look at Cambodia past and present, and the repetitive, recurring nature of its troubles. The discovery of King Jayavarman's gold leaf memoirs should be a great thing for Cambodia, but it is stolen and some of the recent conflicts come back to the surface. I especially enjoyed reading about Luc with the texts (some of which are shown in the book) and the historical scenes of Jayavarman's life. All the characters, Kings to moto-boys, are portrayed with a raw, real sympathy that makes understanding easy. Most importantly, Ryman is not a blundering white man writing about an exotic land; he is careful and considerate, and this book is a pleasure (though sometimes difficult, because of its subject) to read. The pace sometimes slows too much, such as the long story of Map's past, but it retained my interest throughout.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in a part of the world that receives little coverage in Western media or literature.