Dreadful- not worth buying cheaply - Rated 
Having read the main western epics and enjoyed children's versions of Indian mythology when I was young I randomly selected this version of the ramayana to make a start on the Indian tradition. It was very disappointing. Combines the style and cliches of crappy fantasy with clunking explanatory passages in which minor characters are created for no other reason than to explain things at length, and in an incredibly tedious way.
Given that the author himself has posted a review encouraging people not to buy this edition I don't think I have to say that much more. This is the first review I have posted on Amazon, but this book left me so irritated that I had to find some way of working it out.
PLEASE READ THE INDIAN EDITIONS INSTEAD - Rated 
f you are reading my Ramayana series, then I gently urge and request you to please not buy the UK or US editions, even if they're available at bargain prices. Which they probably are, since the publishers there have more or less put the books out of print, due to a lack of interest by non-Indian readers.
The Indian editions are the definitive editions of my work, containing a lengthy Introduction by me titled 'Retelling the Ramayana', which provides an essential perspective on the work, the final versions of all the books--including some small but significant changes, particularly in some book endings--no glossary, thank God, and are generally the best-edited, designed and published versions, in my opinion at least. In short, they're the Author's Preferred Edition, particularly the new hardcover omnibus editions, which represent the story in the way I had originally intended and are truly sumptuous to hold (and behold). Also, significantly, they aren't packaged as 'Fantasy' or 'SF' like the firang ones, which is a ridiculously transparent attempt at cashing in on the commercial success of the fantasy genre a la LoTR and Harry Potter. Please, people, my Ramayana series is a retelling of an epic, and that's exactly what it should be called, 'Epic'. I'd venture to call it 'Itihasa', but even Mythology, which is the label Penguin uses for the books here in India, is acceptable. But certainly not Fantasy as in one of the ubiquitous Tolkien rip-offs that are churned out in droves by western publishers, or even SF, both genres that can sometimes be wonderful in their own right, but are totally inappropriate in the context of an epic that pre-dates Tolkien by some thousands of years, and the entire tradition of western literature as well!
Frankly, I feel so strongly about this that I'd even go so far as to say, if you can't get the Indian editions, then don't read the books! That's why I'm currently in the process of re-acquiring the rights to the US and UK editions and they will soon be out of print everywhere but India. Which is how it ought to be: this is a quintessentially Indian story, written by a contemporary Indian for other contemporary Indians to read. And the Indian editions are really the only way to go.
Ashok K. Banker
www.ashokbanker.com
wonderful beginning - Rated
In June 2004, after my entrance exams in Chennai, I set off to the huge Landmarks bookstore in Spencers plaza, and guess what??? I found out a novel called Prince of Ayodhya by Ashok K. Banker in the fantasy section.The cover was really cool, and so I opened it and began to scan the pages, to check it out. Man, I must say I was hooked!!! I loved it from the first chapter. The author has a really vivid imagination. He has written it out in contemporary english, which makes it kinda unique and even more interesting.. What I love about the book is the way the characters have been described- each character has been fleshed out beautifully. Banker has obviously given a lot of thought into all the major characters, and has introduced several new ones too, thereby making the story even better. Each person is complex and multifaceted, unlike the staid characters of the Ramayana tv series. Mr Banker has done the emotional aspects really well- the relationships between Dasaratha and his three wives, and especially the conflict between Kausalya and Kaikeyi; and the relationships between the four princes, especially Rama and Lakshmana, have been portrayed very well. And the fight scenes are incredible. The battle between Rama and Lakshmana, powered by the shakti of brahman, against the hybrids of Tataka will remain etched in my mind for a long long time. The way he has written it out is so good that I felt that I was there too!! And the best thing is that Ravana features from the first book itself. The character of Ravana has been created brilliantly. I must say this is one of the best books I've ever read... On a scale of 10, Prince of Ayodhya deserves 9!!!!
Think you know your Ramayana? Think Again! - Rated
Intro - Fortuitously, about a year and a half ago, it was at a dinner party that a friend of a friend just so happened to mention the name of a certain Ashok. K. Banker. He was described as a revolutionary author who had re-invented the wheel with his contemporary re-telling of the Ramayana. At the time this only mildly picqued my interest (as i had always considered The Ramayana to be the lesser of the 2 great Hindu epics), only when i heard that the very same author was currently in the process of giving a similar treatment to The Mahabharata (epic of all epics)did i write his name in my diary, under the very exclusive section of "Books to buy". The rest as they say is history , (AKB's) Ramayana has so far been the most pleasurable reading experience that i have ever enjoyed (5 down 1 to go). Personally speaking, with it's subtle and passive approach the Ramayana has given me more inspiration than any self- help/motivational book can ever hope to achieve ........... but more importantly it's one helluva read! Prince of Ayodhya
Banker takes his readers on a magical journey to an age of wonders 3 millennia ago. As the first of a six part saga Prince of Ayodhya strikes the perfect balance by first introducing us to a mix of fascinating multi-dimensional charachters; whilst at the same time (through the experiences of the protagonist,Rama) manages to open a portal to a plethora of rich tales from the Hindu Pantheon...... the result is a hugely entertaining read which transports you to a time and age that one simply does not want to leave. At last, something that all followers of epic fantasy & world mythology can be proud of.
An excellent start !! - Rated
I came to the Ramayana series as a skeptic, having always loved the Mahabharata over it for its sheer depth and characters. How could one possibly make that dry/over preached tale interesting and (more importantly) relevant to our times? As I read the first page however, it could not be clearer how wrong I was. I was instantly hooked. The youthful Rama, the demonic Ravana, the ‘Rape of Ayodhya’ – every thread woven together in an exquisite tapestry of words, nay, images!! I bought the book and read it cover to cover in one sitting. Was I disappointed? Absolutely not!!!
In a world where Indian culture is synonymous with bald-heads-and-saffron-gowns, bubbling-broth-for-your-soul and not to mention, your friendly spiritual guide in the neighborhood, Ashok’s Ramayana comes as slap in the face of the so-called cultural elite. Here is an author who shows that one need not be an ascetic or a priest to understand and inculcate the “values” and “ethics” of the Vedic culture. That this exercise can also be an entertaining ride adds polish to the luster. As the reader travels with Rama, he experiences the same dilemma’s, ponders over same choices, and finally begins to realize the ‘Dharma’ of the prince and his brother (and in the process, one’s own).
A highly recommended series for everyone !!!
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