Whether Marco Polo travelled from Venice through the Levant and onto Asia or not - and there is now some debate as to whether or not the journey ever took place - Gary Jennings' adventure-packed tale took me out of myself and made me want to see the world!

Each page had me feeling much the same as Polo's alleged cell-mates must have been dazzled by the story upon his return! NB: History proves that the man was incarcerated following a return trip to his hometown.

I have since undertaken to travel as much as I possibly can in my lifetime; to see as many countries, cities and peoples that I might. I can eagerly attribute this wanderlust to having read this book. Okay, so I'm an easy mark for sweeping, historical fiction AND I love the downright grittiness and humanity we see between these pages.

Jennings isn't for everyone, I know. His vivid depiction of sexual encounters are not for the squeamish. If you like this, you're in for a treat. If you can get past this, then prepare to be transported. Feel the heat on your face and the dust on your nostrils as you embark on an epic journey with Marco and his father and uncle - and not just a few extremely interesting and highly exotic characters every other page!

To quote Mssr. Polo, "I have not told you the half . . ."

Released on Thursday, December 05, 2002 at Federal Building in San Jose, California USA.

Public concourse entryway