Lama with a Gun
MONGOLIA: THE LAND OF GODS, MEN… AND BEASTS.
The legend lives: that a reincarnated Buddhist leader would once again drag the peoples of Mongolia to their feet, those once and future conquerors of the world.
Ja Lama is, for some, the answer and savior – a reincarnation from the revered lineage of Genghis Khan.
An "exhaustively researched, bloody, and compelling work of historical fiction"
- Kirkus Reviews
Born into a group of exiled Mongols in southern Russia in the 19th century, his parents whisk him back toward the homeland for formal training as a Buddhist monk. His boyhood dreams are of a strong and united Mongolia… and reaching the promised land, the golden subterranean city of Agharti.
But death dogs his every step, from the Tibetan monastery to battles with the hated Russians and the Chinese. He collects followers like the crusty sidekick Jimbe and thousands of other hardened nomadic peoples on the wide-open steppes. Ja Lama seizes the reins of power across the widest expanses of wildest western Mongolia, using his powers of will and a superhuman ability to survive the wounds of war. The strong and hopeful of Asia alike rally to the side of the monk with Colt revolvers under his robes.
The world closes in. There are too many enemies, and too many empires teetering close to collapse all around him as the evils of the 20th century marshal their forces. Can the feared and revered “Lama with a Gun” overcome the wounds of soul and body to unite his peoples for one last drive across Asia?
Reviews
"Ja Lama’s reimagined life is a gripping saga that spans his abuse as a monk in training, his burgeoning mental gifts, an act of extreme violence that shaped him, military failures and successes, stints in Russia as a political prisoner, a years-long hermit’s retreat, torture both borne and inflicted, a final betrayal, and the chilling nemesis who haunts his life (be warned: The book contains numerous graphic descriptions of brutality and bloodshed, based on history and historical rumor)."
"Fiercely original, Augenstein takes you on an unforgettable wild ride through a slice of forgotten history with a searing, propulsive hero blazing the charge. All hail Lama with a Gun."
— Adam Frost, author of The Damned Lovely
“This action-packed esoteric thriller set in the Buddhist areas of Inner Asia is based on the true history of Ja Lama, a mysterious warrior- prophet who operated in the chaos of early twentieth century Mongolia. Entering the mind of this colorful warlord, Augenstein will simultaneously mesmerize you with the scenes of steppe and desert travels, showdowns, and tantra ritual. A must-read for those who love action, and also want to learn about the cultures of Inner Asia.”
— Andrei Znamenski, author of Red Shambhala
THE AUTHOR EXPLAINS... AND READS A CLIFFHANGER INTRO: