Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great historical fiction based on fact ...
Comment: Great historical fiction based on fact ... but a little melodramatic for my taste, hence only 4 stars. The Sword and the Scimitar was a better book. Having said that, the historical detail, the rendering of the Tuareg people and their language and culture and the clash with the French is all superbly done. I finished this book last week and my head is still full of the images of the "blue men".
I think the French part of the book was probably more overcooked than the desert part, insofar as we were asked to believe that the aristocracy were revered and respected after the revolution and in a republic. I found it hard to believe as portrayed.
On the whole a very interesting read with lots of action and some love interest. I will read more by this author.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great adventure story with historical setting
Comment: David Ball has set his work during the 19th century when the French fought the Franco-Prussian war at home and persued colonisation in Algeria and the Sahara abroad. The novel is a beautiful adventure story interwoven around these actual historical events. The lives of the two main characters are followed from small boys playing in Paris to early manhood fighting wars in Africa. Their lives follow a complex road, full of adventure, love, betrayal, tragedy and war. If you are looking for an escapist tale of high adventure then this is for you. If you have an interest in historical fiction then this should definitely be on your list of must reads. Only one criticism from me. The descriptive nature of the early chapters seems to fall off near the end of the book. I guess the author was building towards closing the novel with a climatic ending. I remain a little disappointed that everything seems to happen in a hurry towards the end.
Customer Rating:
Summary: if you ever read anything- THIS IS IT!!!!
Comment: THIS IS BY FAR one of THE best books I have ever read, I read the Sword & the Scimitar & ran to find this one as I love David Balls Work. This book is beautifully written luring you into Paris, then the Sahara dessert..
You follow Paul & Moussa from one empire to another.
"Empires" is based on true facts & the main themes did happen. The war in Paris, the Doomed expedition & the Tuareg. its all real. In fact Flatters did ACTUALLY take the expedition into the Sahara.
This inspired me to read up on it & I found all the facts.
In fact Im travelling to the sahara for a 16 day trek next year.. I want to se it all for myself.
READ THIS!!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: What an adventure!
Comment: What a book! I especially liked the scenes of the boys Paul and Moussa together in the tunnels beneath the city, when they found a skull and took on the Prussian army with a slingshot. And the rats! I had no idea any of that had really happened. The way it's told is marvelous. This is one I'll read again, and again.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I will not forget this book for a long time
Comment: I can think of only a very few novels that have left me with such vivid images and characters as Empires of Sand. As I got close to the end, I hated that it was almost over. I wanted this book to be twice as long as it was. I can't wait for Mr. Ball's next book.
