Siege of Mithila (Ramayana series)

This is the second book out of six in Ashok K. Banker’s Ramayana series. The goal of the series is to take everything written in the original Ramayana, and epic Hindu story written roughly 3,000 years ago, and cast it into the Big Fat Fantasy mold: stay true to all the events and characters and the culture of the time, but add characterization, and additional narration and explanation and make it easier for the modern audience to read. Although I have never read the original, I have to say that Mr. Banker seems to be succeeding beautifully, and “Siege of Mithila” is smoother and more accessible than its predecessor.

In the first book “Prince of Ayodhya,” too much of the focus was on Rama himself, the hero of the epic. This is show more the natural place to put the focus, of course. However, Rama is a little too perfect, a little too much of a paragon to be a character that you can really empathize with. He is confronted with a situation, and basically follows his dharma (duty/right conduct) exactly perfectly, every time. While ideal for an enjoyable, instructional parable on right living, this isn’t really the way we do fantasy nowadays.

So in “Siege of Mithila,” Banker puts more emphasis on the supporting cast of characters: his brother Lakshman, his bodyguard Bejoo, the princess Sita and others. This makes the story more accessible, by giving us the POVs of more human “Joe Schmoe” characters to follow, even if all the “Joe Schmoes” are heroes in their own right.

The scenery in the book and the introduction to Hindu culture and history is invaluable. Now more than ever I am motivated to say that I want to visit India at least once in my life. To be introduced to all this from a person within the culture, instead of Westerners writing about them from the outside is a gift, and in such an enjoyable format! The story itself is engaging, with very clear prose that pulls you along. Be warned: this book doesn’t really end, it simply stops. I moved directly onto book three from here, just to know what happens next, so be prepared. And don’t be afraid to make frequent use of the glossary in the back! You’ll be surprised at how much extra texture and education it adds to the story. show less

This second volume in the Ramayana series moves at a fast clip. The proliferation of untranslated Sanskrit words slowed down the reading down, as I had frequently check the glossary. Banker has a strong understanding of myth, and knows how to play with it. Special kudos for his portraits of strong, yet realistic women. In this version, Sita is a tomboy, and the evil witch Manthara is a villainess extraordinaire.

The second part of the six part series sees Rama and Lakshman travelling through ancient India after destroying the demoness Tataka in the Bhayanak-van. With Brahma-guru Vishwamitra by their side, they must decide on whether they should travel back to Ayodhya or go to Mithila to face Ravana's forces. A powerful narration of a wonderful epic.