RU. Novel, 1998.

Heroic adventure historical fantasy.

Although this novel has a real historical background it is closely connected with the worlds of the "ABYSS OF HUNGRY EYES" and "THE WAY OF THE SWORD". It's plot is quite separate but to a certain extent this book is the first part of the cycle "THE WAY OF THE SWORD" because its action begins some centuries earlier.

The Arabian poet of the X century al-Mutanabbi is the man of the sword and the man of the word and... simply a man in the full meaning of this word. But in the first place he's a poet although he can wield his sword skillfully. And the life of a poet is his song. "I'll take it myself" is a brilliant allegoric poem about the fate of Mutanabbi who had been an emir if not even a shakh-in-shakh but rejected the sword and entered the history as a poet. And this fate was not at all easy... At the beginning of the book he succeeded to survive in a duel with a wild nomad, but very soon he failed to withstand a samoum - and got to another world where he became not only a shakh but a carrier of the "farre".

This world is for him a hell (although for somebody else it could be like a paradise), but thanks to the "farre" everyone becomes obedient to his wishes. And, what is more, they're sincerely obedient, people render their services with joy, their souls are changed as the pictures at the computer display. The former rival becomes a devoted friend, women are ready to come to him and even a night brigand attacks the shakh only because the latter yearns for battle. Such a life is in fact real torment for a poet who used to deal with a word which had been cruel - but real. And the war victories over Kabir cannot change the situation because the trouble is rooted in his own soul. He refuses to accept life as alms and shouts desperately: "I'll take it myself!"

What is life and death, honor and dishonor, power and responsibility - all of these great questions are raised in this novel, and there can hardly be a reader who'd remain indifferent to it.

Published 8 times from 1998 to 2018 (Russia).