Ancient Enemy: The First Book of Arna

Christopher Rowley's The Ancient Enemy: The First Book of Arna is a work of masterful fantasy at its very best. What begins as a story of one character's personal journey from youth to manhood evolves into an epic tale of warfare, bravery, and survival. The writing is magnificent throughout, thoroughly captivating the reader and drawing him completely in to the world Rowley has created. In the land of Arna, man is a distant legend who has not been seen for thousands of years. In this world, mots and mors (monkey-like beings) live a life of peace and harmony alongside one another, enjoying the benefits of a rich, intelligent, and highly spiritual culture. Awful stories are told of Man the Cruel, who poisoned the land and died out long, long ago in the early mists of time. A mysterious race of ancient scholars called the Assenzi oversees the workings of the politics and economies of the various villages in Arna, working to maintain social and environmental balance in all things. Such things as war and slavery mean nothing to these people, but things change in a hurry when Man the Cruel suddenly returns and immediately sets out to annihilate the lowly "monkeys" they encounter in their effort to colonize this verdant new land. The main protagonist in the story is Thru Gillo, a mot whose dreams of taking a wife and starting a new life on his own farm are shattered when he finds his beloved consorting with another man, one who - unlike Thru - is wealthy . In an effort to get past the heartache this causes him, Thru makes the journey to Highnoth in the northern mountains to study under the wise Assenzi. Here he learns much about the Spirit, history, and life in general. He also begins developing a remarkable talent for mat weaving, a skill he chooses for his livelihood when he later settles in the village of Dronned. It is here that he meets and falls in love with a modern young mor named Nuza, a gymnast with a traveling troupe of performers. Thru faces many setbacks at this particular time in his life, most of them spearheaded by his sworn enemy (the man who stole his first love away from him), but his spiritual training in Highnoth serves him well in overcoming all obstacles. This first half of the book is a very personal story that takes us far into the mind of Thru and paints a vivid picture of the vibrant world in which he lives. Thru's happy new life comes to an abrupt end, though, when he and Nuza are among the first mots and mors to discover a tranquil coastal village in fiery ruins. A mound of decapitated heads by the waterfront reveals the horrible truth that the villagers were not only slaughtered but were eaten by their attackers. One of the few survivors of the carnage delivers the unbelievable news that Man the Cruel still lives and has now returned to the land of Arna. The personal aspects of Thru's story soon fall by the wayside as the final section of the novel concentrates on the preparation and beginning of war betwe

The strengths of this book are mainly in the description and levels of detail of political and social interactions in a fantasy world. Surprisingly, the book is also valid on a personal level if you can relate to the hero and his yearnings that make him something of a wanderer. This not a book for everyone. If you don't relate to the hero and his restlessness, there won't be much in the way of personal stories or romances for you in this book. Because those are close to being the qualities of the Bazil series, I can honestly say if you liked the bazil series you will like this book and vice-versa. If you didn't like Bazil, make sure to stay away from this book. The storytelling is sometimes intellectual and you may get more of it when you read it a second time or compare it with other fantasy books that lack descriptions of a coherent society. ps: You will also see that Chooks are a species of turkey-like birds, and that brilbies are a larger cousin of the mots. ....

Just spent a weekend immersed in Chris Rowley's newly created "world." I've been a fan since THE VANG and the Fenrille books! And as always, he gives you characters you care about and a wonderfully imagined and detailed fantasy culture. Not to mention a powerful set piece battle at the end.

In a world where Man is the enemy and has not been seen in aeons, a young watermot grows up with no more dreams than to be a farmer and marry his love. When his love betrays him, Thru Gillo takes his life in a new direction by studying with the Assenzi. But fate has even more changes in store for him. Suddenly he finds himself in a battle, not only for his life, but for the very survival of his race. And who is he battling, but the ancient, awful enemy, Man. Man believes the watermots are dumb animals, no matter they have a civilization, a language, arts, and scholars. But Man is about to find out that the watermots are much, much more than they seem. Christopher Rowley fills his books with war and battle and adventure. He writes as if he is himself immersed in the fight. Compelling and dynamic, The Ancient Enemy, the first book of Arn, showcases Rowley's dramatic talent. Rickey R. Mallory

Christopher Rowley does it again with 'The Ancient Enemy'. Always a writer to grab you and propel you through a story, this book opens a fascinating new world. Imagine the animals have shaken off the dictatorship of humanity and re-built the planet without greed, waste or blight. The threat of 'man the cruel' is gone, or is it?As usual Rowley opens up big ideas without ever getting in the way of a great plot. The characters are strong, and the action makes this a real page-turner. Roll on book 2! Really enjoyed this one.