Empires of Sand

I'd never heard of this author, but one of his books was recommended by George R.R. Martin on his website (http://georgerrmartin.com/reading.html) - so I picked this one up.
It's actually NOT the book that Martin read (that was Ironfire, about the Knights of Malta), but I think he'd like this one as well. What an enjoyable book! Ostensibly, this is an historical novel, based on a true incident – a failed 19th-century French expedition to suss out the possibilities of building a trans-Saharan railroad. However, the book has only a marginally less tenuous connection to reality than, say, George R.R. Martin's books. (still reading A Feast For Crows, btw) Empires of Sand is first and foremost a grand adventure-drama, and if historical show more reality falls a bit by the wayside – who's missing it?
The book focuses on the relationship between Paul DeVries and his half-French, half Tuareg nomad cousin, Moussa. The first half of the book takes place against the backdrop of Paris during the French Revolution, and establishes their relationship as boys. The second half of the book is set in the Sahara. Paul is now an officer in the French army, but Moussa has gone back to the desert and reclaimed his Tuareg heritage... they must meet again, this time on different sides in a terrible conflict.
Along the way, there's plenty of violence, passion, daring escapes, rape, enslavement, cannibalism, miserable deaths, betrayals, revenge... all that good stuff! And plenty of it... it's 770 pages long. It's got enough manly/military type action to satify fans of that kind of thing (Bernard Cornwell, perhaps?) – but also strong female characters and enough romance for those more into the soap-opera dramatic epic kinda thing (Melanie Rawn?). A good balance. The historical background is richly panoramic, but the story itself is always about the personal relationships between the characters, which is something I personally like in this kind of epic fiction... Definitely recommended! show less

This is one of those rare escapist treasures that you pick up expecting to be good, not great, but find yourself thoroughly enjoying. The plot, characters and seamlessly interwoven historical research all combine into an adventure story reminiscent of Dumas or Kipling. There is love and lust enough to keep the story interesting, but not so overwrought and overdone as to turn it into a gratuitous bodice-ripper. I fully intend to seek more of this author's works out.

After reading Ironfire, I searched this book out and certainly was not disappointed. Great characters, interesting plot, and fascinating settings. I've never been to the Sahara (or Paris for that matter); however, I could almost feel the sand blow. Ball is a great storyteller. The only fault I can find is the ending is just a bit too easily tied up; however, I would have been so disappointed in anything less because it seems I invested so much in all the characters. Check out the website: [...]

Reread: 5-2016: Read this after reading "Bad-ass Librarians.." because of the Tuareg peoples. Probably would have given it a 4 star after second reading. A bit wordy in places especially with descriptions and there were too many coincidences. show more Still good characters: Paul, the Frenchman, and Moussa, Paul's half-French and half-Tuareg cousin. Paul's mother, Elisabeth is a bit over the top of malice and Moussa's Tuareg mother, Serena, a bit too good. show less

In part this is en example of the classic journey of the hero, but it is much more. In it there is a clash of civilizations and the story is directed in part by this and in part by very human emotions. It is an epic tale that takes the reader into a world of adventure.

Not my typical style of reading, but it was recommended to me. I'm glad it was. Two cousins, two cultures... Bonds of family nutured in Paris tested against bittle conflicts in the Saharan sand.
I enjoyed the glimpse into a culture I knew nothing about.

Enjoyed this novel contrasting France and north Africa in 1880s.

La acción comienza en París, en pleno fragor de la guerra franco-prusiana, y muy pronto se traslada al desierto del Sáhara. Dos primos, que en su infancia eran inseparables, se convierten por las circunstancias políticas en amargos rivales. Moussa es hijo del conde Henri deVries, un noble aventurero francés, y de Serena, descendiente de una dinastía tuareg a quien Henri conoció en un viaje en globo por el desierto. El matrimonio, considerado un escándalo por la nobleza francesa, ha infundido en Moussa un sentimiento de marginación que le acompañará el resto de su vida. Paul, en cambio, es hijo de Jules, hermano de Henri, y de la fría y ambiciosa aristócrata Elizabeth, y no sufre los prejuicios que afectan a Moussa. Cuando show more Francia decide emprender la construcción de un ferrocarril que atraviese el Sáhara hacia el interior de África, el enfrentamiento de los primos se hace realidad. show less