Inge H. Borg

Maceheads thudded against human anvils to mingle with the last wails of the mortally wounded, the blasphemies of the defeated.

Khamsin: The Devil Wind of the Nile by Inge H. Borg is pre-pharaonic Egyptian novel. Borg was born in Austria, immigrated to the United States, currently lives in Arkansas. She is also the author of Sirocco: Storm Over Land and Sea (a contemporary tie in to Khamsin), the series Legends of the Winged Scarab, Moments of the Heart, A book of Poems and Short Prose, and several over books on a variety of subjects.

As a youth Egyptian history fascinated me from Boris Karloff as The Mummy, to The Treasures of Tutankhamun tour of the 1970s, to Steve Martin’s hit song about the boy king. Egypt became a high point in history class in grade and middle school. Egypt, we learned, became a major civilization without having much of a prehistory. It seemed like an advanced civilization suddenly materialized into being. Today we know more, and Borg takes advantage of this in her novel. Although a work of fiction, it does show the culture, religion, and what life could have been like in that time period.

Khamsin is a book about power, gold, and war. Gold is discovered, the king wants its, and he is prepared to fight for it. It is also about power as the king is not the only one who wants to be king. There is some romance, but nothing that would scare off male readers. One of the things I liked best in the book was the innovation of the military and particularly the development of science by the religious class. Some advances by the priest class may be a little far fetched but not beyond willing suspension of disbelief.

The story is well thought out and well written. In fact, all the parallel stories are well done. The collection of main characters covers a wide spread the society and also provides a look inside the classes of characters too. There is the king and son and daughter. The High Priest and an acolyte. The ranking civil servant and his underling. Even within the slave population there seems to be a hierarchy. The military seems to stand alone. While detailing the professional military officer only a brief mention of professional soldiers and conscripts are mentioned.

Perhaps the most interesting is how the priestly class is portrayed in the book. Ramose knows the power the priesthood has on the people, the king, and his enemies. How he uses his power is what separates him from many. In the battle between knowledge and belief, he seems to have taken a side. Personally, Ramose is the most interesting character in the story, although not the main character.

Khamsin is very good historical fiction novel. It also includes several other genres into the mix including military fiction. Borg knows her stuff and even though this is fiction there is new information for most readers. One thing I have not gotten used to with e-books is scanning through the pages before reading. If I would have done so, I would have noticed the excellent appendixes with character references, glossary, geographical references before I started reading. A very enjoyable novel with a great story, some treachery, suspense, well developed characters, and a little history. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Joseph Spuckler gives Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile 4 stars

http://www.authoralliance.net/readers-lounge/author-alliance-reviews/authorallia...… (mais)

Sirocco, Storm Over Land and Sea (Legends of the Wing Scarab #2) by Inge Borg is the follow up to Khamsin (reviewed earlier this year at Author Alliance). This may be the first sequel I have read that takes place 5,000 years after the initial book. Khamsin set the stage in the ancient world and Sirocco picks up in modern Egypt, in fact, modern enough to include the 2011 revolution.

The Sirocco is a Mediterranean wind out of the south-east that can reach hurricane strengths and carries with it sand from Libya and North Africa. Sand from these storms reach Italy, Greece, and Albania and is dense enough to be seen on satellite photographs. Although slow in developing, the storms can wreak havoc on boats that are not prepared or do not take proper precautions.

Overall the story is well done and fast moving. It does fit well into the thriller category and ties in with real world and practical matters in antiquities. The novel has several subplots that converge to make an exciting story that is a bit more complex than your average thriller. There are several competing factions in the story. First is the team of archaeologists from the Cambridge Research Institute with the stand out character Naunet Klein. Their assistance is requested by the Jabari El-Masri who heads the Cairo Museum. El-Masri is feeling the pressure or the growing public unrest. He holds his position through favors and loyalty to President Mubarak. He is concerned with his future and the loyalty of his staff. Not everything he does is above board, but he rationalizes that it is for the safety and protection of the national and historical treasures. Also in the mix is the British gentleman Edward Guernsey-Crock: A man of mystery…a cocky man of mystery. Throw in some townspeople, art “collectors,” and fifty ancient golden tablets and a story quickly forms.

There is tension and suspicion between the various groups with Naunet taking on the role of the central character. Borg does an excellent job of filling the reader in on what would be for most unfamiliar subjects. She describes laser cleaning of metal artifacts used by archaeologists. There are some nautical lessons when the story line moves the open water. Borg has earlier shown in Khamsin that she knows Egyptian history. Her work is well researched. She also exposes the shadier side of the art and artifact world. As with her previous novel, it is nice to finish a novel and, although it is fiction, walk away a bit smarter.

Sirocco proves itself to be an action packed adventure story with an intriguing plot. It is the perfect book for a rainy afternoon or a story that allows you to live a vicarious adventure when your planned adventures fall through. Very well done.

Joseph Spuckler gives Sirocco, Storm Over Land and Sea (Legends of the Wing Scarab #2) 4 Stars


http://www.authoralliance.net/sirocco
… (mais)

After the Cataclysm: Legends of the Wing Scarab #3 by Inge Borg is the third in the series and the second book to feature the same main characters. The first book takes place in predynastic Egypt and the next two books in contemporary times. This book can stand alone, but rides nicely after the second book.

A short time has passed since the end of the second novel. The story revolves around the interactions of three groups of people. Egyptologist Naunet and husband Jonathan Wilkins are living in New England. Former Director Jabari El-Masri, fleeing from Egypt, thought to have died escaping is arranging his future with Lorenzo Dominguez a rich South American art “collector.” Jabari is trading the fifty pitch covered gold tablets for his safety and a new life.

To make matters interesting the super volcano in Yellowstone erupts, not only bring down American society and the Northern Hemisphere in a volcanic “nuclear winter,” but also affects the entire world with the loss of the only superpower. The world order and international law are now a thing of the past without a willing enforcer. Naunet and Jonathan are bunkered down in Jonathan's family home trying to weather out the natural disaster and protect their property. With no internet or phone service ham radio becomes the method of long distance communications. Jonathan receives a message from Jabari to meet him at a set of coordinates in the Caribbean.

The story moves quickly and will hold the reader’s attention. There is plenty of nautical information as most of the story takes place on a boat and ship. Woven into the adventure is the story of the fifty golden, engraved tablets, a curse, and possibly closure for all the characters. Even with the natural disaster and the collapse of the United States the plot stays focused on the story at hand.

I have read and reviewed the previous two books for Author Alliance (www.authoralliance.net) and an reading the third book, on my own, because I enjoyed the previous two books and enjoyed the story and characters. After the Cataclysm lives up to the quality of the previous two books. Borg pays attention to the details in all her books and that is part of what makes them interesting. She combines real and convincing elements into her story and leaves the reader a bit more educated at the end of the book. For action/adventure books this series rates high on my list.
… (mais)

The Crystal Curse is the fourth book in the Legends of the Winged Scarab collection by Inge Borg. The series has remained fresh and holds to a world that is not beyond the reader's usual suspension of disbelief. There is action, adventure, and treachery throughout the series. It's a bit like Indiana Jones, but better.

The series ranges from ancient Egypt until the present. The main characters, Jonathan and Naunet, have survived shipwrecks, kidnapping, revolution, volcanic disasters, and the high seas. Together they meet their sometimes friend and sometimes foe Jabari El-Masri, former head of the Cario Museum, who seeks personal gain as much as he seeks to preserve ancient history. A few characters from the previous books also make an appearance here to add to Jonathan and Naunet's discomfort.

With the United States out of the picture (After the Cataclysm) and Europe hurting from the effect, a group of eight have plans to divide up the world and start a new paradigm. The fifty gold plates are still in play along with their translation. There is even some "magic" in crystals when held in the right hands, but it really does not seem out of place or act as a spoiler. Borg's knowledge of all things nautical and her knowledge of the history and geography of the Mediterranean outshine any spark of the supernatural in the series.

The novel runs a fast pace but is well thought out. The plot is solid and the settings are very well described to the smallest detail. The characters both old and new all seem real and hold real ambitions for either good, evil, or their own self-interest. Detailed new characters are limited and fill in necessary roles without overburdening the reader with an army of characters to keep straight. This is helpful as the rosters for good and evil seem to change as quickly as it benefits most of the characters. The new characters are not just to fill in the plot. They play pivotal roles, and I took an interest in Vergil from the first meeting.

The reader could pick this book up without reading the rest of the series, but that would risk missing much of the detailed story. The novels build perfectly one after another with all of them telling part of a great story. Although each story is self-contained, this one like the previous books leaves enough room to allow a continuation. Spending most of my time reading non-fiction this book came at the right time. Despite some mystical references, the story flowed unfettered through my fact processing brain. I would hate to say this is the best book in the series, but it does raise the level of the series; it just keeps getting better.… (mais)