Lion's Blood: A Novel of Slavery and Freedom in an Alternate America

When I picked this book up for the first time and read the overlying concept - an alternative history of 19th century America where the racial aspects of slavery are reversed - I confess I thought it sounded gimmicky. Curious, however, I turned to the first page and started reading. I found the writing terrible; trying too hard, streams of unfamiliar celtic terms dumped out in a "look how hard I researched!" fashion, and an over-idyllic setting. Bleh. I put it back on the library shelf.Oh, if only I had given it a few pages more! Fortunately, I heard enough recommendations over the next couple of years that I checked it out and gave it another try. The clearing-of-the-throat narrative voice smoothes out after a couple of chapters, and with the capture of Aiden and his family by the Northmen, I was hooked.This is a brutal story, full of death and a message that all races have the human flaws that enable them to be cruel. But it is intelligent, too. Barnes's alternative history is not just a black-white switch, it is a layered, complicated and fascinating creation - one that lives and breathes on its own. I was especially impressed with the insights on the Islamic religion from a unique perspective. But there are also explorations into the cultures of the Aztecs, Zulus, Egyptians and the Greeks - and how they would have developed over the centuries if Rome and Europe had become a backwater. And lastly - it's simply a good read. Perhaps a little melodramatic at times, but I ate it up. It was good entertainment. Give it a try; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Lion's Blood is a satire of race relations in this country in the latter half of the 19th century. On one hand, it is an exercise in polemics and rhetoric, but on the other, it tells an engrossing story of two boys who have a complex master-slave relationship. In many ways, it resembles an inverted Roots.In ancient times, many Greeks, including Socrates, were attracted to Egypt, especially after a wounded Alexander claimed the throne of the Pharaoh. Alexandrian Egypt, allied with Kush, established trade routes up the Nile and into southern Africa. When Rome became a commercial and military threat, Egypt and Kush allied with Carthage and defeated Rome, which sank in obscurity. When Islam arose, Bilal, a former Abyssinian slave, saved Muhammad's daughter, Fatima, from the Prophet's enemies, carried her to Abyssinia, and married her. Fatima become an impassioned leader, second only to the Prophet himself, leading her followers on the jihad that established Islam throughout Africa.When a plague swept through the Egyptian royalty, an Abyssinian gained the throne, giving both empires a black royalty. The plague also swept Europe, killing the bulk of the population, and leaving only small villages and scattered barbarian tribes. In 1863, the Egyptian and Abyssinian empires are the two superpowers. Egypt has colonies in Bilalistan, corresponding to the Gulf states from Alabama to southeastern Texas, but most colonists are Abyssinian or Zulu. It's just a matter of time before the colonists declare their own independence.Aiden is an Irish boy who, along with his mother and sister, has been captured by Norse raiders. They are sold in Andalus and shipped across the Atlantic to Bilalistan. Some die, the survivors are sick, and all feel they are in hell. In Bilalistan, Aiden and his mother are sold to Dar Kush, but his sister Nessa is not. When they reach Dar Kush, the estate of the Wakil Abu Ali Jallaleddin ibn Rashid al Kush, Aiden meets the second son, Kai, and aids him in a prank that gets him switched. Kai saves him from most of the punishment and selects him as his footboy. Despite their difference in status, the boys develop a strong friendship. However, situations keep happening that bring the friendship in conflict with the master-slave relation.This story does not pull many punches in describing the effects of chattel slavery on both master and slave. However, it dwells on the worst aspects of that institution only in passing. Barnes points out the almost universal occurrence of slavery in ancient Europe and Asia. In fact, the Norse are only slightly more energetic in slave taking in this story than their historical counterparts; the Norse role in this book parallels the role of the Zulu and other warrior tribes in Africa. Barnes is particularly harsh in his portrayal of the major Zulu character, Shaka, whom Barnes probably modeled on the historical Shaka, but the other Zulus are only slightly less fierce.Of course, Barnes had t

Aidan O'Dere is a happy, young, Irish child growing up in the bosom of a close and happy family. He has a strong, handsome father that he respects and admires, a beautiful mother whose strength only enhances her beauty, and a twin sister that knows his every thought. Life is good for the O'Dere family until the day that the giants known as the Northman come and invade their villiage. The Northman come in and leave nothing but destruction and heartache in their wake. They have come to take the O'Dere's and those around them to a new world, a world where freedoom is a thing of the past, and slavery will be their ball and chain. For people who were once free, being enslaved is like having your heart ripped out. As a person, a slave is not really allowed to do anything of their own free will. Women can be conquered by anyone and families can be ripped apart. Aidan feels that he is just existing from day to day in his life as a slave. He works hard from sun up to sun down and feels as though life has dealt him an awful hand. He and his mother were purchased by The Wakil, the leader of the world that they live in. The Wakil's given name is Abu Alli Jallaleddin ibn Rashid al Kushi. The estate that is owned by The Wakil is Dar Kush. Dar Kush is the center of a lot of activity and hosts many visiters. The Wakil has three children and among them is the youngest son Kai, an awkward, shy boy who feels that he will never live up to his father's expectations. One day Kai and Aidan meet and a long and very unlikely friendship begins. Even though Aidan is viewed by Kai as a servant, along the way their relationship develops into much more. In Steven Barnes Lions Blood, he presents a very different perspective of slavery. Instead of Blacks being slaves as was the case in history, Barnes turns the tables and puts Blacks in charge and makes Whites the slaves. Despite this twist, the author still gets the point across that slavery of any kind is wrong. This is an excellant book and in my opinion is a book that everyone should read.Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

I've followed Steve Barnes' writing for many years. He always dealt with interesting subjects in a very readable way. But with Lion's Blood he has finally hit his stride. A lot of the themes he's dealt with over his career - conflict, combat, race, and identity are still there. If anything they are more prominent.But there's a difference this time. The writing is better. The pages keep turn themselves a little more eagerly. The themes are dealt with in a more mature and sophisticated fashion. In short, he's arrived.When I first heard this book was going to be written I had fears that it would be a simple inversion of today's world. These fears were groundless. Barnes has done his homework. He's made a plausible, well-researched world in which to explore his ideas. It's someplace else that really is someplace else. But somewhere that we could have ended up. I look forward eagerly to the next book

Steven Barnes has taken a daring step with Lion's Blood. This fast-paced and compelling alternate history novel takes on issues of race, religion, loyalty, and courage. In the world of Lion's Blood, America (known in the book as Balilistan) is colonized by black muslim's, who enslave white celts. The book centers on Aidan, an enslaved celt who was ripped from his life as a child and brought to Balilistan, and Kai, the younger son of Aiden's master. The two young men are in the midst of conflict between races and serious threat from an external enemy. The book is aptly timed to look at issues that are real today.Steve has always been an excellent storyteller. In Lion's Blood, this ability shows better than ever, and the reader moves from one captivating scene to the next. I highly recommend it!