| Plot Summary of Aztec |
|---|
"Based on extensive research, Gary Jennings' "Aztec" recreates the ancient Mexican empire. The narrator is Mixtil, who has more trouble understanding the Spanish conquerors' Catholic religion than they claim to have in comprehending the Aztec faith. The Spanish, including the clergy, are shown to be cruel, arrogant invaders of a noble civilization and its people. Mixtil is trained as a scribe, or writer. Later, he fights as a soldier. Finally, he becomes a wealthy merchant who travels throughout the empire. Through his experiences and dealings, the reader is acquainted with the rich history and traditions of the Aztec civilization and the ideas and talents of his people. The novel is action-packed, with plenty of sex and violence, as well as accounts of military battles, torture, and death. Recently, Jennings' sequel, "Aztec Autumn," was published."
Gary L. Pullman, Resident Scholar
|
""Aztec" recounts the Catholic Church's attempts to convert the conquered Indians of South America, revealing the priests and the conquistadors' ethnocentricism regarding a noble society of high culture and a proud history. At the same time, this novel takes an unsparing look at the Aztec society, finding a good amount of ruthlessness among the leaders, priests, and warriors of the Indian nation as well. Jennings has done extensive research, and he brings to life the characters, settings, themes, and conflicts of which he, in great, painstaking, and loving detail, writes. "Aztec" was followed by an absorbing sequel."
Gary L. Pullman, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of Aztec |
|---|
|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 25%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 25%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
- 18th century
Exploring into the wild
Yes
Plotlets:
- trouble with tribes
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Religious overtones?
Yes
Terrain
- Jungle
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- a teen
- long lived adults
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
- a significant amount
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Dumb
Physique
- average physique
Setting
The Americas (not US):
Yes
Jungles?
Yes
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 1st
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey references to torture
- very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
- hundreds or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- licking
- use of artificial tools
- lesbians!
- actual description of sex
- descript. of breasts
- descript. of other female areas
- descript. of male nudity
- homosexuals doing their thing
A lot of techno jargon?
Yes
Unusual forms of death
- asphyxiation
- poisoning
- frying (cooking)
- rough sex
- crushed
- flamed
- impaled
- decapitated
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
- blunt clubbing (like seals)
- exploded into bits
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
|
|
