The Trail of Bohu (Imaro, #3) by Charles R. Saunders

The Trail of Bohu (Imaro, #3) Reviews

• 
  S.E. Lindberg

  Spurred by a
  Sword & Sorcery groupread honoring this year's passing of
  Charles R. Saunders, I continued the Imaro Series with
  The Trail of Bohu. A guide to the series and book availability is posted on
  Blackgate.com.
  
  
  This third novel is a setup for last:
  The Naama War.
  The Trail of Bohu has considerably less action than
  Imaro and
  The Quest for Cush: Imaro II (the prior being comprised of short stories and this being the first full length novel). So far, Saunders has been building up two big plots: (1) Imaro's mysterious, ancestral origin, and (2) the burgeoning war between the united Northern tribes/nations (Cloud Strider and Cushite aligned) and the evil Naamans (Erriten, Mashataan sorceries). Here Saunders delivers mostly on the former, and quite comprehensively; the latter, reserved for the final book.
  
  When he does deliver action, he doesn't hold back. Creatures are wonderfully dark:
  

  Even in the half-light of dusk, the animate corpses were hideous to behold. Though they were all naked, the bloating of their bodies had advanced to the point that their sex was difficult to determine. Their faces were travesties of humanity: noses split apart, teeth jutting beyond peeling lips; eyes that were nothing more than gelatinous orbs that glimmered with a tinge of green luminescence. Machawai green... The walkingdead gouged at throats, faces, eyes. They attempted no defense against the steel that hacked and slashed at their bodies..."

  
  
  Saunders provides plenty of Nyumbani (i.e. Africa) lore, culture, and creatures, including mountable rhinoceros and zebras. Glossaries in the back of each book are appreciated, but not necessary. There is one distinct moment which made me snicker, recalling Samuel Jackson's renowned cursing. When questioned by Rabir about what Imaro will do when he catches the titular Bohu, Imaro says: "I will kill the mama-mfuka." I am no linguist to know the etymology of that insult, but it sounded the most contemporary of every Nyumbani term.
  
  My favorite location is the "The Placed of Carved Trees", a mystical grove that Imaro seeks guidance:
  

  "Each of its trees was carved into a gigantic sculpture that was grotesque in form and enigmatic in meaning. At first glance, the sculpted tree-trunks appeared distorted, and even monstrous. Many of the carvings took the shape of bulbous masses of bodies separated by thin, cylindrical stalks that might have been legs. Faces hung from those bodies--faces with misarranged features and distended mouths with protruding teeth, sometimes smiling, sometimes screaming..."

  
  
  All in all a great stage for an all out war for the continent of Nyumbani!
• 
  Richard

  The third installment doesn't disappoint*, even though it's essentially a buddy road trip kind of story. Imaro (Terry Crews) and Pomphis (Kevin Hart) are on the road again. Magical bracelets assist in tracking the mysterious and elusive murderer Bohu. That's really it. No, really.
  
  This book was published back in '85. Let that sink in. The final book wasn't published until sometime in the 2000's. That's a lifetime, or at least most of mine.
  
  I recommend this whole-heartedly, although....there isn't really an affordable way to acquire this series of books. The original DAW paperbacks are being ransomed on Ebay and the reprints, while available on Lulu.com are $20 each. I really wish someone would offer the series in e-book format.
  
  
  
  
  *unless your jonesing for book four The Naama War.
• 
  Charles

  The third in the Imaro series.
• 
  Alan

  I wanted to read one of Charles Saunders Imaro books because of what he wrote in the forward of Octavia Butler's Kindrred, " I wanted to write a black man who would kick Tarzan"s ass." Imaro, and I agree with the fantasy historians, owes more to RLH's Conan and his ilk that ERB's Tarzan. Imaro's ancient Africa does resemble historical Africa, but only a little (no evil priests invoking power from those who cannot/shall be named in historical Africa to my knowledge). The pluses are in 220 pages Saunders builds a world, people and characters that are quite engaging, and makes for a fast read. The minuses, and I'll start with a minor one, is that this is the third of three Imaro books. The largest minus is that the story obviously leads in a very important fourth book that was never published.
• 
  Andrew

  The opposing forces move to confront each other on the continent of Nyumbani and Imaro finds himself a pawn in events beyond his control.
  As he seeks to avenge a great wrong which has been done to him, a journey which starts as one of simple vengeance may lead to answers about his origins and the role he has to play in the unfolding events across the continent.
  
  "The Trail of Bohu" is the third book in the Imaro series and "Sword and Soul" at its best. Yet another great read from Charles R Saunders.
  
• 
  James T

  This was very good. Ultimately, it’s a travelogue and a bridge towards something bigger, both in terms of story and shift of genre.
  
  The first two Imaro books were sword and sorcery but with Saunder’s unique African cultural and mythological flavor. This book transitions to a more heroic of epic fantasy quality.
  
  There are some critiques to be made. Maybe it’s a bit too predictable, or maybe everyone hating Imaro is a bit tiring, or maybe even the chosen one narrative is a bit contrived, but none of that really matters.
  
  For example, the crew slowly turning against Imaro and the captain builds an incredible tension. The mystery of Imaro’s identity being revealed after the previous two books is deeply gratifying.
  
  The book flows great, it reminds me of the “airport paperback” quality of Lin Carter’s better books. It’s something you can’t put down and can read briskly. Saunders has definitely grown as a writer over the course of the series.
  
  The term “Sword and Soul” is used to describe this micro genre of sword and sorcery that Saunders created. I find it very fitting. The characters are more emotional, and less archetypal (or if you want to be derogatory 2 dimensional) that sword and sorcery mainstay characters. However, their emotions don’t have the banality of contemporary fantasy characters. They are fittingly “soulful” like a song, but not mundane like characters of grimdark fantasy.
  
  It’s a real shame this author wasn’t appreciated more in his lifetime. I hope he’s watching down on the world, maybe hanging out with some of his imagined Cloud Striders, happy that in passing his works have been given a second life and newfound attention.
  
  I’ve become a huge fan of the series. This analogy is inelegant but it works. Sword and Sorcery is my favorite meal. Let’s say it’s like a pizza. Saunder’s married each slice of that pizza with a complementary flavor of their his own cultures cuisine. He even did one better, because each slice is a different unique cultural tone.
  
  I can’t imagine being one of the people who read this series in the 80s awaiting for a conclusion that seemed like it was never coming. I’m looking forward concluding the series.
  
  I went into the Imaro series with minor trepidation. The cynic in me wondered if people were overselling it do to the unfortunate passing of the author, or as some virtue signaling thing in our hyper-polarized climate. But no, rest assured that cynicism was without merit.
  
  This series is one of the all time greats of Sword and Sorcery and Saunders deserves as much love as Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, C.L. Moore, Henry Kuttner, Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock.
  
  So spread the word, and read the book if you haven’t yet!
• 
  J.W. Wright

  The warrior Imaro formerly of the Ilyassai has decided to settle down in the metropolis of Cush for a while, as he has been prophesied by the Kandisa to play an integral part in the looming war with the dark, sorcerous kingdom of Naama. Several previously adversarial warring nations are now banding together to fight against the threat of Naama, and their rulers, the Erriten, who want nothing less than the sole domination of Nyumbani itself, and to plunge the known world into darkness, as they plan to bring back their masters, the Demon Gods known also as the Maashatan from their interdimensional exile. With his wife, Tanisha, Imaro has sired a son, Kilewo, but, upon returning home one fateful day, Imaro finds his wife and child brutally butchered at the hands of a Naaman sorcerer known only as “Bohu.” Imaro doesn’t even stop to let himself grieve as he obsessively follows the trail of this sinister sorcerer to seek vengeance upon him…..
  
  Imaro: The Trail of Bohu, the third volume in the Imaro series differs from the preceding volumes in two ways; 1. It is a self-contained novel and not a fix-up comprised of short stories as the previous two were and 2. It has a very dark and tragic tone. Not that the preceding volumes didn’t have some degree of darkness to them, I mean, sword and sorcery is also referred to as “dark fantasy” after all, but the fact that Imaro comes home to his family butchered before his very eyes is a heartwrenching plot development and scene that only an unempathetic asshole would not be affected by. This adds a new level of darkness to Imaro’s brooding character as not only is he dealing with the demons and traumas of his past; he lets the spirit of vengeance fill him.
  As Imaro is preparing to face the murderer of his family, so too are the former warring kingdoms of Nyumbani casting off their differences and uniting to go to war against the threat of the darksome Naamans. This is not done easily or immediately but takes time as certain nations enter into the alliance reluctantly and it takes them a while to stop grinding the proverbial axe.
  The supporting cast of characters we know and love are back; the gentle scholar Pomphis and the Zanjian sea-captain Rabir and his colorful crew, including a host of new ones.
  There are some engaging battle scenes including a rather disturbing battle with the undead at sea, but a lot of this book focuses on Imaro being hot on the trail of the sorcerer Bohu and growing more deeply into who he truly is. This volume focuses way more on character development than the preceding volumes, and there are also plenty of surprises in store. While not as exciting and action-packed in some ways as the preceding volumes, I still enjoyed it. I’m just saddened to have recently learned it and its sequel, “The Naama War” are now out of print. I hope they are brought back so more can read this pioneering sword and soul saga of Imaro. Its place in sword and sorcery literature history is undeniable.
  
  I give Imaro: The Trail of Bohu a 4.5 out of 5.
• 
  Martin

  This is the first full book about Imaro rather than a collection of short stories. I think this one has the most sublime moments of deep brutal emotion. While I understand that Imaro and events specifically tied to him are the heart of the story, I loved the struggles that Rabr had to deal with for his beliefs. I just wish there was more regarding him. Reading Rabrs turmoil made me hate Bohu more for than what he did to earn Imaro's wrath.
  
  Only thing that would probably make this story better would be maps of the world.
• 
  NaturalMystic

  I cannot imagine reading a better African adventure than the Imaro series. Saunders do not get enough praise for his great writing that keeps me on edge.
• 
  KinkyCurlyNerdy

  Wonderful! The twists and turns were unimaginable. Imaro's true identity is reveal, so anticipated! Cannot get enough of this series!
• 
  Helmut

  Das Ende des "Sohns-keines-Vaters"
  
  Imaro wird sesshaft: Nach seiner Ankunft in Cush hat sich der grimmige Ilyassai einen Ruf als Arena-Kämpfer erarbeitet. Mit diesem Ruhm, seiner Frau Tanisha und seinem Sohn Kilewo soll es nun ein bisschen weniger Action sein, und als Schmied-Azubi scheint sich selbst für den unruhigen Imaro endlich etwas Frieden in sein Leben zu schleichen. Doch die Erriten schlafen nicht, und sie treffen Imaro an der Stelle, an der es ihn am meisten schmerzt.
  
  "The Trail of Bohu", der inzwischen 3. Teil der Imaro-Reihe, begeistert mich nicht mehr ganz so wie die ersten beiden Teile. Ich kann nicht ganz klar definieren, woran das liegt - vielleicht weil das Buch einem wie ein Zwischenspiel zwischen zwei Werken vorkommt. Im ersten Teil des Buchs wird sehr viel auf Imaro 1 und 2 verwiesen und erläutert, was dort vorging. Im Schlussteil wird dem Leser schnell klar, dass dieses Buch zu keinem echten Ende kommen wird. Gewiss erfährt man in "Trail of Bohu" viel neues, faszinierendes über Nyumbani, die Welt Imaros; und auch über den Helden selbst wird einiges klar. Doch trotzdem kommt kein Spannungsbogen zustande wie in Imaro 1 oder 2. Auch stilistisch wirkt "Trail of Bohu" nicht hunderprozentig ausgereift, das Stilmittel des prophetischen Erzählers (nach dem Motto "...aber sie wussten nicht, was noch passieren wird...") nervt nach der 10ten Benutzung nur noch.
  
  Doch genug der Kritik. Auch "Trail of Bohu" ist ein tolles Stück Fantasy-Literatur - die Welt Nyumbani fasziniert ungemein. Gerade heute, wo Fantasy immer gleichgesetzt wird mit europäischem Mittelalter, Drachen und Rittern, tut dieser sehr erdige und einzigartige Blick auf ein Afrika, das es so nie gab, unheimlich gut. Die Beschreibung der Maguvurunde, seiner Völker und Lebewesen, fügt dem ohnehin bereits wunderbar funktionierenden Imaro-Mix noch ein weiteres spannendes Kapitel hinzu. Schön zu sehen, dass Saunders, obwohl er viele Rückschläge hinnehmen musste, diese Welt auch heute noch weiterschreibt; nach fast 30 Jahren gibt es inzwischen den dringend benötigten Nachfolger zu lesen, als Book-on-Demand. Suchen Sie einfach nach "The Naama War".
  
  Das DAW-Paperback ist in jeder Beziehung durchschnittlich - jedes Exemplar, das heutzutage aufzutreiben ist, wird vergilbte Seiten haben aufgrund des säurehaltigen Papiers, das bis in die Neunziger verwendet wurde. Eine sehr gelungene Titelillustration macht das aber vergessen.
• 
  Will Cockrell

  The third book in the Imaro series is a different animal from the first two. It's a complete novel rather than a series of interconnected short stories and novellas fit together in a novel-length book. That has the effect of making it much harder to put down, since you don't get the same sense of satisfaction when you get to the end of a "chapter" that you got with the first two books. That also explains why I got it read in about four evenings' time. It's great. You always want to know what's going to happen next. Once all the pieces of the puzzle are in front of you the climax is a bit predictable, but no less satisfying for it. It's a perfect lead-in to the next (and I REALLY hope not the last) chapter in Imaro's adventures.
• 
  Andrew

  The opposing forces move to confront each other on the continent of Nyumbani and Imaro finds himself a pawn in events beyond his control.
  As he seeks to avenge a great wrong which has been done to him, a journey which starts as one of simple vengeance may lead to answers about his origins and his role in the unfolding events across the continent.
  
  "The Trail of Bohu" is the third book in the Imaro series and "Sword and Soul" at its best. Yet another great read from Charles R Saunders.
• 
  Shane

  This was a bad ending to the trilogy. I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling the ending for some, but the ending was already spoiled for me. The other two in the series were great, but this one left me feeling let down.
• 
  Edward

  Had to order this bad boy from England. And it was worth it too. Another must read from the great Charles R. Saunders.