In the Courts of the Sun

Truly a Tour de Force. The book is one of the most intellectually and emotionally demanding books I've read in years. It is NOT for the faint of heart or shallow of mind. Some of the negative reviews chide the author on his poor writing and story-telling ability...or his "mis-reporting" on Mayan culture and history. That, to my mind, this is like criticizing Cervantes, James Joyce, or Thomas Pynchon for "not sticking to the facts". If you are not interested in a challenging read then don't get it. If you want a book that is satisfying, mind-boggling, and -- yes disturbing -- then you must read this.

What a refreshingly intellectual book by a wonderfully gifted author! No dumbing down for the masses here. This book is so much better than Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code that it's in a league of its own. Even if you're not into end times, Mayan mysticism, or codices, you should give this book a try. D'Amato uses a quadrilingual character, scientific notations (helps to have at least some high school physics, although his equations almost certainly are not 'real-world workable'), and a healthy dose of imagination to link it altogether in a tale that is told by a wonderfully self-depreciating character in a realistic manner. I don't play internet, Nintendo, Wii, etc. games, but his game theory is easy enough to understand if you play any kind of intellectual game. Fantastic!

I picked up this book for a variety of reasons - intrigued by Mayan culture but don't know much about it; idly curious about the Mayan calendar and its end of the world prediction; looking for a good entertaining read. I was not disappointed on any of these counts. I learned alot, felt immersed in the past and was hooked on the story. Let's be clear - its not a history book. I am also a fan of Tuchman (A Distant Mirror is a favorite), Diamond and such, and this is not what this book is. But it appears (as I said, I have no first hand knowledge of Mayan culture or history) a well-researched, immersive historical fiction. The book is in three parts - the first and last are in the close future, where our hero, Jed, struggles with the end-of-the world prediction. The middle part is in the 5th century Mayan culture. So get ready for a change in pace and tone - although the main character keeps it together. The middle, Mayan part, is by far the best, and you are in for a treat in how the author imagines the people and their culture. It is also a very inventive book - the time travel problem is solved well as is the problem of how people relate to the person from the future, there are many twists and turns in the narrative, and it is very plausible within its own rules. I was not aware that this is part one in a planned trilogy - that was a surprise. And a nice one - I await the next installment with anticipation. Mr. D'Amato is a very interesting person - artist and author, and you can tell in his writing that he has many strengths which he can bring to his fiction.

I picked this book up the other day hoping for a half-way decent story, and expecting flat characters but maybe a little diversion for a few days. Boy, was I surprised. I'd never heard of the author before, but he has a wonderful narrative voice. The main character - in fact, all of the characters - is not flat at all, but instead well fleshed out and compelling and real. It's an easy read but, more importantly, it is a smart read. The author has clearly done his homework and packs it with clear and relevant research. It combines a solid and fun plot with smidgens of game theory and complexity, a large dose of historical fiction, a smattering of just-around-the-corner technology, and a neat blend of the cutting edge with the ancient. If you are a fan of Crichton or Neal Stephenson, you will enjoy this book I'm sure. The characters are probably more believable than Crichton's generally are, but in terms of teaching you stuff you didn't know while entertaining you, this author is definitely in their league. I look forward to reading his future work with keen anticipation.

Combining the gifts of a master storyteller with a dazzling knowledge of his subject, D'Amato brings a lost world,long the domain of the archaeologist and art historian, to life with astonishing vividness. Even the images of his imagined city, Ix, and the hieroglyphs illustrating the text are in his own hand. Vastly intelligent, imaginative, and downright obsessive, D'Amato is authentic and unusual. His dystopic view of human nature extends from ancient to contemporary America, from the pugnacious, spiritualized Maya to our own culture of violence, evangelism, and spectacle sport. Time travel affords a disturbing allegory for our own moment. The ancient Maya have found their Tolkien--and their Hobbes.