Rating: 
Summary: Total sensory satisfaction in a written word!
Review: It's been many years since I read The Journeyer, and it still is first in line when I recommend a book to a serious reader. I am not one for historical reading; "Marco Polo?" I said, rather haughtily," over my dead body!" However, out of respect for and curiosity over my friend's glowing description, I picked it up and COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! I carried it everywhere with me, stayed up nights, read at stop lights in the car...wherever I could find a moment, I devoured the book. Jennings' descriptive prose let me feel the textures, smell the aromas, taste the delicacies, hear the crowd and the silence, and see all there was to see. I was there in all senses, immersed in the life and times of his multidimensional characters and interwoven story lines. A timeless classic!
Rating:
Summary: Some of Jennings best
Review: I admit that I thought Aztec was a better book, but I'm still giving Journeyer 5 stars. Why? Well, it really is an interesting and captivating book that draws you in as you read it. Journeyer is the story of Marco Polo and his journeys to Asia, supposedly the other half that he did not actually tell the scribe who recorded his journeys in real life. I am not familiar with the history of that period, so I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy, but I will say that this book made me want to read up on the history. There is danger and adventure on every turn as Marco and his father and uncle make their way to China. The book is at turns violent, sexy, and dramatic, but also enlightening and fascinating. I found it very hard to put down, once I had picked it up, even moving quickly through some squeamish parts. Jennings really knows how to get the reader's attention and keep it.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!
Review: I read this book about 8 years ago and it's still with me to this day. Unquestionably my favorite Jennings book, my favorite book that I've ever read. Lush, bawdy, passionate, robust, spellbounding... I can't praise this book, or Jennings, enough. I was SHOCKED to see an entry of only one star. The person said he gave it one star but maybe he was missing something. Yes, I agree.This is one of those books that leaves you depressed when you finish it because there isn't any more to read!
Rating:
Summary: A superb example of an excellent historical novel
Review: I just finished reading the Journeyer, and can not say enough good things about it. I read Aztec previous to this book and was quite impressed with the author's writing ability. Although I did not think it possible, this book surpassed even Aztec in it's vivid discriptions, interesting characters and awesome adventure. The book artfully and imaginatively fills in the gaps of Marco Polo's journey across Asia, bringing to life each character as Gary Jennings does so brilliantly in Aztec as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in adventure, history, travel and great reading.
Rating:
Summary: Total sensory satisfaction in a written word!
Review: It's been many years since I read The Journeyer, and it still is first in line when I recommend a book to a serious reader. I am not one for historical reading; "Marco Polo?" I said, rather haughtily," over my dead body!" However, out of respect for and curiosity over my friend's glowing description, I picked it up and COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! I carried it everywhere with me, stayed up nights, read at stop lights in the car...wherever I could find a moment, I devoured the book. Jennings' descriptive prose let me feel the textures, smell the aromas, taste the delicacies, hear the crowd and the silence, and see all there was to see. I was there in all senses, immersed in the life and times of his multidimensional characters and interwoven story lines. A timeless classic!
Rating:
Summary: His best, just awesome, WOW
Review: I loved this book. I am a big fan of Jennings and a big fan of historical fiction. It is a shame that this book is not in print anymore....go find it somewhere and read it....
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Piece of Historical Fiction.
Review: "The Journeyer" is a magnificent, wonderful story that will hook you in the first few pages and hold on for all 800 or so! In a truly inspired idea, the author created a possible story for the many unrecorded years of the merchant Marco Polo on his travels in Asia in the late thirteenth century. There are so many colorful characters and exotic locations, interspersed with wonderfully informative tidbits, that the amount of research required must have been staggering. Mr. Jennings' grasp of the English language is superb, and he always seems to find the right words to describe a person, place, ect. Another aspect of this book that is refreshing is how nothing is held back. For every beautiful, vivid description that will have you smiling as you read, there will be another scene of such misery and brutality that it will leave you cringing. The most lovely aspects this world has to offer are given equal time with the world's most repellent aspects, including graphic violence, sexuality, and disease. This leads to some heavy shifts in tone, but it can't be called anything but true to life, especially for that time period. I don't want to describe any of the characters, places, or situations because doing so could only lessen the reader's pleasure (or discomfort) when they first come across them. I will only say that anyone at all that enjoys historical fiction, and doesn't mind the effort required in a book of this size, simply must read "The Journeyer". It is an incredible achievement in every way.
Rating: 
Summary: I bought this book for 50 cents and it wasn't worth it.
Review: I don't know if I'm missing something but I found this book exceedingly boring. It's unbelievable to the point of ridiculousness; I just couldn't get into it through all the phony garbage. Also other than Venice, the places mentioned in the book are not described to the point where you feel you are actually in them. I love historical fiction and wish I had a good book to read about this same journey. I thought this book was going to be great. I am disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: 1000 pages is NOT enough!
Review: How do I love these books, let me count the ways. Gary Jennings is prolific in the manner with which he weaves history and fiction together. EVERYTHING you could ever want from an author from ordinary protagonist to rich character developement, political intrigue, romance and historical references to keep you grounded ; the utter savagery and acceptance of it along side the wonderous beauty and uninhibited nature of culture, people and time. Besides the heroic climaxes, he has a beautiful way of tempering them with the way he slyly leads misfortune directly to your door and you answer before you realize what is upon you. The best part is that long after you have digested the words, you still remember the lessons of frailty, grandeur, mortality and the still present savagry the we live in.. not to stuff too much prose down your throat but this is one damn fine author and I have read Raptor, Journeyer and Aztec at least 3 time in 10 years now!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: I read this book quite some time ago, but I still can remember it quite vividly. It's that kind of book. It's one that stays with you forever. Few authors can achieve this feat. I think this is the best book I've ever read about travel and seeing the world. I compare others to it, and none can come close.
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