Gentlemen of the Road

by Michael Chabon

224 pages

Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN 978-0345501745

Amazon Info

Michael Chabon is one of my favorite writers and I make no bones that as a result there is a certain “fanboy” factor. But it is nice to discover a writer that writes so smoothly and elequently that you just roll through the story. I also enjoy his writing because he always does something different, from a book about Comic books, to a young adult novel that does not attempt to dumb down anything , to a new Sherlock Holmes novel where he never tells you that is what you are reading. He asks his reader to pay attention and hold on. At times it is like being on a roller coaster and going through an art museum simultaneously. Gentlemen of the Road is right in line, with his out of line approach.

The book was conceived as a serial novel that was published originally in Sunday editions of the New York Times. The chapters are all about the same length and all end with a cliffhanger moment. The story is an action/adventure story but told in real historical context of the middle east in the 10th century. It is the story of two Jewish mercenaries and their exploits to survive, deceive and get into and out of trouble. They end up getting involved with a kingdom on the brink of war and collapse. And of course, the fun ensues.

The book has a minimal style to the prose that is different from his previous works. He is usually not long winded, but this book is more sparse. I believe this is because of one practical reason, writing in a serial style, and a choice. That choice is that he is a huge Michael Moorcock fan. The book is even dedicated to him. Moocock is known for he minimal and poetic style, if not pulpy writing and characters. Chabon seems to have lifted this and uses it to its full extent. He has done this prior, with his work The Final Solution, he writes handily in style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, without explicitly duplicating it.

The book is fast - and short - coming in at about 240 pages and that includes a full page illustration for each chapter. The book was birthed out of his research for the Yiddish Policeman’s Union. The books Jewish heroes are unique and not “Woody Allen with Swords” as he references in the afterward. There are some language moments that you have to stop and think about, mostly caused by the use of Yiddish phrases that would be unique to the era.

I truly am in awe of his flexibility as an author. He seems to not know what is off limits. That sense of “what-if” is truly inspiring as a reader.