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Kurt Giambastiani’s three previous books
in The Fallen Cloud Saga; The Year the Cloud Fell, The
Spirit of Thunder and Shadow of the Storm have introduced
us to an alternate path in the history of our world focusing on
the USA and the Cheyenne. In this the fourth instalment, the story
of the Cheyenne and George Custer Jr continues and true to form
Giambastiani gives us a powerhouse of a book. His books just keep
getting better; and with vivid depictions of the life of the Cheyenne
and their friends and enemies he brings an alternate 1890’s
America to vivid life. Alternative history has never before been
this good. I know this is a quite a bold statement and many people
probably will disagree but in my opinion this is the case.
From the Heart of the Storm takes place
in 1890 and follows on from the disastrous events in Shadow
of the Storm after what most people assumed was an assassination
attempt on the American President, George Armstrong Custer.
With an incapacitated President Custer in no state
to lead the nation, his Vice-president takes hold of the reins and
sets out on a path of aggressive politics towards the Cheyenne and
the Spanish. With time running out, One Who Flies (the name of George
Custer Jr among the Cheyenne) is missing. He is the only hope of
survival for the Cheyenne, the only one who can forge an alliance
with the Spanish in order to curb the US military and preserve any
hope of peace. With the search on for One Who flies another twist
of fate intervenes to give hope to a peaceful resolution to the
looming conflict. To many people it comes as a huge surprise that
this hope comes in the form of President Custer himself.
I find myself in awe of Giambastiani’s knowledge
and description of Cheyenne life and their culture. It is obviously
something he feels incredibly strongly about (he states in the front
of the book some of the proceeds from this book goes towards an
organisation that provides educational opportunities to the Northern
Cheyenne and the Crow people). One of the striking contrasts in
the book is provided by the descriptions of the three main cultures
portrayed: the Cheyenne, the Americans and the Spanish. In the sections
regarding the Cheyenne, nature and life is portrayed from their
viewpoint. The importance of nature, the beauty of it gives a clear
and refreshing outlook something we in modern society seem to overlook.
The American sections are littered with politics and the need for
expansion and industrialisation; all in the name of progress an
making the civilised society a better place. The Spanish meanwhile
comes across as a deeply religious catholic society where honour
is very important and there is a clear divide between nobility and
the common people. It all makes for a fascinating story and the
blend of the three cultures leaves you with a very satisfied feeling
of a very well thought out alternate worldview indeed.
Small touches like the bewilderment of characters
from one culture when confronted by another also help to make the
book. Trust comes with understanding of each other and the only
way that can happen is by experiencing someone elses culture and
see how they do things. There is no way that you can dictate how
someone else should behave and what they should believe in and Giambastiani
writes these encounters very very well. He gets the bewilderment,
amazement and the slow spark of understanding and common ground
down to a 'T'.
Personal battles are also very well portrayed;
the main protagonist, One Who Flies, also battles with his own sense
of failure. Being the son of an American hero like George Armstrong
Custer, it means that he has lived with heavy expectations all of
his life. Now that he feels he has failed himself and the very people
who rely on him; he turns to the bottle and wallows in self-pity,
pushing away the very people who love him and can save him from
himself. With his actions he is mainly pushing away the woman who
loves him, Mouse Road. He doesn’t realise what he has got
until he has lost it, and with that realisation comes the knowledge
that some things are worth fighting for even if you don’t
succeed. Can he win back the woman he loves and be the man that
everyone seems to believe he is or has his personal demons already
destroyed that hope?
Meanwhile, Storm Arriving and Speaks While Leaving
are two strong individuals locked in a marriage but unable to voice
their concerns to each other and neither being willing to give.
Will their actions bond them together or tear them apart? A defining
moment occurs in this book that will determine if their paths are
bound together or if they are destined to take separate roads at
this fork in the road
Political intrigue, love, betrayal, cultural differences
and characters that will leave the reader begging for more gives
this book a must-read tag. If I could I’d beg Giambastiani
to write the next installment as soon as humanly possible. But true
excellence is something that can’t be rushed and I feel that's
what we're getting from The Fallen Cloud Saga.
From the Heart of the Storm is out of
this world. Here is a writer with an abundance of talent, and the
genre is very lucky indeed to have him. A true masterpiece from
any angle you might want to look at it from. Truly astounding!
©2004, Vegar Holmen;
reprinted by permission |