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The Falcon of Siam: An action-adventure thriller that weaves historical fiction, epic storytelling and high drama into an unforgettable journey where a young Greek stowaway on a British East India Company ship finds his destiny in opulent 17th-century Thailand.
Epic in scope, this historical fiction bestseller transports the reader to the mystery and beauty of the ancient Kingdom of Siam (modern-day Thailand) and is rated by a growing number of readers as one of the best action-adventure novels of all time. Against the backdrop of the fight to control the Asian trade routes of three centuries ago, The Falcon of Siam is a thrilling ride through a bygone era, across the high seas and through the bejeweled halls of power.
The epic saga opens as young Constantine Phaulkon is betrayed by the crew he hired to help him smuggle Dutch-made cannons to the Queen of Pattani. At stake are not only the vast trading opportunities of this rich, opulent kingdom but the very survival of Siam as an independent country.
Upon seeing Siam for the first time, Phaulkon knows that the fates have brought him here. Having worked in the Dutch colony in Batavia, he knows the desperate measures the Dutch are willing to take to wrest control of Siam, the jewel of Asia. Control of Siam and the vital Mergui Crossing would allow the Dutch to achieve a virtual monopoly of all European trade with Asia. The action accelerates as the fate of Phaulkon's grand plan, not to mention his life, rests on the successful completion of the sale of the cannons.
Meanwhile, sitting at the epicenter of a whirlwind of deceit, treachery and betrayal is King Narai. The King knows that Arab traders, who his ancestors tapped to manage the Kingdom's trade with the outside world, are abusing their position, but Siam has grown dependent on them to fund Narai's lavish kingdom.
The King had hoped to use the Dutch as a balance to bring the Arab traders back in line. At first, the Dutch and their superior technology seem to offer a solution to this dilemma, but they are so efficient - and ruthless - they soon threaten to take control of the whole country.
The latest group of foreigners to arrive in Siam are the British. The King's spies find among them a striking figure with darker skin and a name impossible to pronounce, but he can speak Siamese. None of the other foreigners except for a few Jesuit priests could speak Siamese, so the King decides to keep a close watch on this strange newcomer.

I first read `The Falcon of Siam' twenty some years ago when it was first released and zoomed to the top of the best seller lists. I have always been amazed that a story this good has never been made into a movie. I gave the book to my daughter who claims to enjoy historical fiction but shies away from swashbuckling pirates, international intrigue, and cutthroat traders protecting their trade routes (revenue streams) which pretty much eliminates any books about Wall Street. But she claims it is a great romance story that kept her sympathies switching back and forth from the strong-willed but lovely Thai wife Sunida and the equally beautiful and intelligent Portugese/Japanese wife Maria.

When `The Falcon of Siam' was first released there was quite a controversy as to whether the charismatic, multi-lingual, one time Greek cabin boy; rogue employee of the British East India Company Constantine Phaulkon, the quick thinking, smooth-talking pirate who went on to become a key advisor to King Narai was really a historical figure or not. It seemed that many modern Thai historians went to great lengths to discount any idea that a foreigner (Farang) ever acquired a high government office. European records however claim King Narai put him in charge of trade and the port of Mergui; and Phaulkon does rate a Wikipedia entry. Some claim the Thai word for foreigner "farang" comes from the Thais trying to pronounce the name "Phaulkon" but as the official records were all destroyed with the fall of Ayudhya we may never know for sure; but it is a great story anyway.

The latest edition may be timed to take advantage of the huge project currently underway at Dawei in Myanmar (Burma). The battle to shorten the route across the Malayan Peninsula without sailing down and around Singapore is as imperative today as in ancient times. Blocking easy transit between the Indian and Pacific Oceans it bottlenecks shipping into the narrow Straits of Malacca that rivals the maritime problems that lead to the Suez and Panama Canals being dug. Offloading container ships onto a railroad seems a more awkward and complex solution than digging a canal across the narrowest point in the peninsula at the `Isthmus of Kra' (27 miles) but then I am not an engineer. But I do enjoy a good read that makes me think and I learn something from.

Falcon of Siam is one of those rare books that you wish would go on forever. Indeed, I know people who re-read it every year. The story follows the adventures of a Greek lad with a real talent for learning languages who was working for the English in late medieval Siam during the tumultuous years when King Narai the Great was fending off attack from Muslim traders who wanted to convert Siam to Islam and the early European traders who wanted to establish Christianity and Siam's giant neighbor to the north (China) who wanted the Mergui Crossing kept open at any cost. It's truly an epic tale of war, honor, treachery, masterful manipulations, tragic heroism, and star-crossed love.
The characters come alive completely and the plot is absolutely gripping. Be warned that you probably won't be able to put this one down. Somehow I read this massive book in only 3 days, ignoring all my schoolwork. I can't say enough good things about this book - it never lets up, always keeps you thinking, and can be quite moving emotionally too. The other thing that's cool about this book is how amazingly accurate it is historically, considering it's fiction. These are historical characters and this story really happened.
Falcon of Siam is Axel Alywen/s masterwork - if any author writes a book this good even only once in a lifetime he or she has succeeded. Everyone should read it, not because it will incredibly enrich your life (its only fiction after all), but simply because this book is so damn good it would be a shame for anyone to miss out on it.

Glad to have it again. Bought my first copy when this book was new, at the original Asia Books on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. Had to laugh at the author's name misspelled on the ebook cover.