THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS

THE ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS by Daniel Nayeri

This is one of those stories that holds many surprises. The first being what genre to classify this book as. There are portions of historical fiction as the story unfolds along the Silk Road, and there are portions of it that are Arabian Folktale style that give the reader a feeling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

The story is told in first person from a a boy that has twice been orphaned and is running for his life. It begins with the captivating sentence, "The first time I was stoned to death by an angry mob, I was not even a criminal." Immediately the reader's mind jumps to the idea that there must have then been a second time. Is that even possible? As this nameless boy tries to escape, he happens upon a traveling caravan and meets Samir, a trader whose every item comes with an amazing, truth-stretched back story. Samir intervenes in the stoning and the boy, whom he names Monkey, lives.

Monkey is mortified to find out the true character of his savior and that he now belongs to him. Because of his lying and swindling dealings, several assassins have been hired to kill Samir and are hot on his trail. Everything from a Viking warrior, to a Mongol Archer, to Rogue Roman soldiers, and more are tracking him. Monkey is convinced he must buy his freedom somehow or consider the idea of killing his master before he is completely caught up in all this mess. There's just one little thing he didn't count on, and that is for the first time in a long time, he belongs somewhere.

I have to say a word about the illustrations in this book. Every chapter begins with a painting by Daniel Miyares that gives this book even more of a Middle Eastern Folktale feel. They are well done and have an old-style air to them that makes you feel as if you have slipped back through the pages of time in this story even more.

HEADS UP- The book does talk about different religions, and Samir is quick to become whatever faith relates to his current audience. Often this is very humourous as he often misjudges his audience.