The King's Last Song

July 28, 2008
After thriving in science fiction (the Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning Air
), Ryman takes on the political history of Cambodia in this unsettling if overlong novel. In 2004, U.N. archeologist Luc Andrade discovers a 12th-century memoir written by Jayavarman Seven, one of the first Buddhist kings of a predominantly Hindu kingdom. While transporting the book to safety, Luc is kidnapped by a disgruntled Cambodian army lieutenant-colonel who believes the book should be returned to the people. As Luc fights to stay alive, his Cambodian friends—Map, a former Khmer Rouge murderer who now makes money hustling tourists, and William, a motorcycle taxi driver whose parents were killed during Pol Pot's regime—search for Luc and the ancient treasure. Ryman mixes his contemporary storyline with a less compelling narrative of Jayavarman, a precocious young prince turned exiled warrior king. While Luc's life story and current predicament are particularly well done, Ryman's take on Jayavarman and the development of his battle strategies can be plodding. In the end, it's the vibrant emotional lives of Luc and his friends that capture the tragic beauty of Cambodia.

September 1, 2008
Ryman, known both for his experimental and his speculative works ("253"; "Air"), turns historical for this novel about Cambodia's bloody history. In 2004, French archaeologist Luc Andrade discovers an ancient manuscript written on golden leaves detailing the life of 12th-century King Jayavarman VII, the Buddhist ruler who built the ancient capital of Angkor Thom. However, Luc is kidnapped by embittered remnants of the Khmer Rouge. As the people who love and respect Luc search for him along the Siem Reap River, the novel intercuts between the story of Jayavarman's life as translated by Luc for his captors and the history of 20th-century Cambodia's self-mutilation as seen through the memories of Luc, his kidnapper, and Tan Map, a guide with a brutal past who leads the search for the archaeologist. Ryman's knack for depicting characters; his ability to tell multiple, interrelated stories; and his knowledge of Cambodian history create a rich narrative that looks at Cambodia's "killing fields"both recent and ancientand Buddhist belief with its desire for transcendence. Recommended for all literary fiction collections.Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2008
Rymans reputation as a leading speculative fiction author has been forged with novels that push the envelope of literary innovation with often-disquieting results. His dark, surreal exploration of the Oz mythos, Was (1993), envisioned Baums real-life inspiration for Dorothy as a sexually abused teenager living in squalor. Now Ryman steps outside the sf genre for a sweeping mainstream novel that recaptures a slice of Cambodias cultural history. When French archaeologist Luc Andrade unearths an ancient Cambodian manuscript, hes taken prisoner by a political faction still loyal to the defunct Pol Pot regime. During a search-and-rescue attempt by Andrades friends, an ex-Khmer Rouge agent and a young tourist guide, Andrade translates the manuscript in full for his captors. The narrative alternates between Andrades plight and the story of twelfth-century King Jayavarman VII, including his childhood, eventual rise to power, and conversion of the populace to Buddhism, which spurred construction of the famous Angkor Wat temples. Ryman draws on his extensive knowledge of Indo-Chinese history and his masterful descriptive powers to paint an unforgettably vivid portrait of Cambodian culture past and present. His focus on the power of a peaceful philosophy to assuage pain and guilt brings a message of hope to a country still haunted by its war-torn past.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)