#AmReading – Gentlemen of the Road

Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon (2007) – A pair of swashbuckling Jewish bandits in 950 A.D. wander into a rebellion central Asia. Amram, a huge Abyssinian, and Zelikman, a Frankish doctor, make their way through the world as mercenaries and con men. Now they find themselves tasked with returning a prince to his home, and, with a little luck and conniving, his throne.

It only took a page or two for the book to bring Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser to mind. The “Mutt and Jeff” nature of the duo, the flexible morality, and the wandering lifestyle match the classic sword and sorcery tales to T. You’ll have to subtract the sorcery. And I found the whole thing a little flat. There could be several reasons for that.

It’s not Chabon’s writing. The man can write. It was more a question of what he was trying to achieve. It’s been years since I read any of the Lieber’s tales in a while, but I remember more whimsy than I find here. Plus, in a story of this kind, fine, high-flying prose doesn’t feel right. I never settled into the story.

The “swashbuckling” part of the story never took off for me either. Those parts need some over the top pulp magazine style writing, which is not Chabon’s normal output.

With all of that said, the story was interesting. The characters have potential for further exploration, and the setting offers lots of possibilities. I can’t point to any part of the book and say, “See, there’s yer problem”, for the simple reason that much of my reaction comes from my own expectations.

I was expecting something more in the Fritz Leiber/Terry Pratchett Discworld category. Michael Chabon delivers, unsurprisingly, Michael Chabon. So is that my issue or his? If he was trying for the former than it’s his, but that seems unlikely for a writer of his pedigree, so I’ll accept that it was mine.

Looking for some outstanding writing with two interesting characters caught in adventure? This could be the book you’re looking for then. Walk into it ready to allow the story to be itself.

Rating – *** Worth A Look