I Read Books: Imaro

 

Imaro

Imaro, born amongst the Ilyassai people of the Tamburure plains, is an outcast. His mother fled an arranged marriage to the clan’s sorcerer, then returned pregnant with evidence of the sorcerer's crimes. Imaro's half-blood makes him enemies, even as he excels as a boy in warrior training. When he takes part in the manhood ritual, to kill a lion (the Ilyassi believe their spirits turn into lions so this frees an ancestor), the new sorcerer makes it appear as though he ran and he is put through the shaming ritual. Fleeing, he takes revenge on the clan, before uncovering the truth, finding that both new and old sorcerer are servants of the Mashataan, secret high masters of sorcery who want to destroy Imaro for some reason. Defeating them, the clan offer to let him return, but instead he decides to leave.

He wanders across the land of Nyumbani (a fantasy Africa), having a number of adventures. He eventually finds himself amongst a group of bandits on the fringes of the coastal kingdoms. Rising to become their leader his daring and unmatched ferocity in battle leads to success, with other bands joining his. He gains allies and a lover, Tanisha, trained in the arts of love by her mysterious people. He also acquires enemies, those within the bandits who are jealous, and the rulers of the kingdoms.

The two biggest kingdoms eventually put aside their differences and send a joint army to attack. Imaro and his bandits give good account of themselves but it’s clear they could be overwhelmed. Worse still the Mashataan are offering sorcerous powers to whoever might bring Imaro down. It seems the end of his bandit army is at hand, one way or another.

Charles Saunders, a Canadian-American Black man and fan of swords and sorcery and adventure fiction, was underwhelmed by how black people in general, and Africa in particular, was represented in those genres. Hence his creation of Nyumbani, whose relationship with Africa mirrors Robert E Howard’s Hyborian Age; a fantastic mash-up of various countries and times, heightened towards heroism, villainy, and enough magic to add spice. In this he created, and named, sword and soul as a sub-genre. And with it Imaro, a hero who again reflects the various giants of adventure fiction*. As well as the familiar aspects: always an outsider; his superb physicality and unmatched skill as arms; a straightforward, mostly-honest approach**; he is nevertheless himself, a restless brooding personality, a rage that explodes when reminded of being trapped in his past, looking for home and belonging but always distrusting it. Something from his background, something from his culture, something all his own.

Read This: Startlingly powerful new take on classic swords and sorcery
Don’t Read This: Murder, betrayal, banditry

* Saunders very much was reacting against Tarzan, and unfortunately his publisher described Imaro as a black Tarzan on the cover, which the Burroughs estate objected to, leading to a delay as new versions were printed and distributed. This inauspicious start, along with delays to later volumes of the series, didn’t help it on launch, leading to the series being cancelled in the 80s, before later being revived.

** Yes yes, bandit king, but he’s not lying or cheating, he’s just robbing you.