Persians and I facts for kids

The Persians and I (Parsian va Man) trilogy is a super popular fantasy book series from Iran. It was written by Arman Arian, a Persian author. These books are special because they mix old myths and epic stories with modern fantasy.

The series became very famous quickly after the three books were released between 2003 and 2005. It was a best-seller at the 19th Tehran International Book Fair in 2006. The trilogy also won many awards. It received the "Book of The Year of Iran" award in 2005. In 2008, it got a special award from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) in Denmark. This is a very high honor for children's book creators.

What is Persians and I About?

This series of three books is a modern version of the Shahnameh. The Shahnameh is a very long and famous epic poem. It was written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi a long, long time ago (between 977 and 1010 CE).

The Shahnameh has three main parts: myths, epic tales, and historical stories. The Persians and I trilogy follows this idea. Each book in the trilogy covers one of these parts:

• The first book, Azh dahak Fortress, tells a mythical story.
• The second book, Mystery of the Bird Mountain, focuses on an epic tale.
• The third book, Here comes the Resurrection Day, shares a historical adventure.

Who are the Main Characters?

Each book in the trilogy tells a separate story with its own ending. But all three stories come together in the final book. The main character in each book is a lonely teenage boy. He is separated from his family.

These boys travel from the present day into the past. They go on amazing adventures through Persian mythology, epic legends, and history. They fight against unfairness and evil. By the end of the third book, the three boys – Ardeshir, Siavash, and Bardiya – meet. They join other young people from different countries. Together, they work to create a world full of happiness and beauty.

Awards and Honors

The Persians and I trilogy has won several important awards:

• In 2008, it received an honorary diploma. This was at the 31st IBBY World Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was given by the International Board on Books for Young People.
• In 2005, it won "The Book of The Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran" prize. Arman Arian was the youngest person to ever win this award.
• It won the "Mehrgan e Adab" annual prize for writers and publishers in 2005 and 2006.
• It also won the "Ghani pour" annual book prize in 2005.
• In 2006, it received an annual prize from The Children's Book Council of Iran.

Book Summaries

Azh dahak Fortress

This first book introduces Ardeshir, a modern teenager. He lives with his parents, who are authors, in a quiet jungle hut. One winter, bad men attack their home. They want to destroy his father's handwritten stories.

During the attack, Ardeshir's parents are killed. But Ardeshir magically travels into the world of his father's book! He finds himself in ancient Iran, in the age of myths. This is the time of Zahhak, a king with snakes growing from his shoulders. Ardeshir joins a group of Persians led by Kaveh the blacksmith. They are preparing for a big fight.

Ardeshir is surprised to find his own father among the warriors. His father is a commander in Fereydun's army, fighting against Zahhak. The revolutionaries attack the town, and Zahhak tries to escape. They chase him to his northern palace. Fereydun wins the battle. Zahhak is chained inside a cave on Mount Damavand. He is left there to suffer from the snakes on his shoulders. Zahhak's evil helper, Arikshad, who caused much of the trouble, is hurt and disappears.

Many people die in this battle, including Ardeshir. He then returns to the present time. He finds the bad men who killed his parents are also dead in the snow. The story ends with some mystery about Ardeshir's fate.

Mystery of the Bird Mountain

The second book features Siavash, a fourteen-year-old. He works as a mechanic's helper and lives with his step-parents in the desert. His life changes when a blind sorcerer named Mago arrives. Mago buys Siavash from his step-parents. He pretends he wants Siavash as a servant. But Mago really wants Siavash to help him find a hidden treasure.

They travel deep into the desert. After many tiring days, they reach a mountain shaped like a giant bird. Mago orders Siavash to enter the bird's throat. Siavash has discovered he has some amazing powers. He needs to get a special "book of life" from inside. This path opens only every 20 years. It blinds anyone who enters, just like Mago was blinded 20 years ago.

Siavash enters carefully. He finds the incredible book. As he reads, he realizes he should not give the book to the sorcerer. Following the book's instructions, he touches two pages. He then floats into its magical spaces.

Suddenly, Siavash wakes up as Prince Siavash! He is the son of Kay Kavus, an ancient king from Iran's epic age. He is now in a world where epic stories are real. He joins Rostam, a great hero who protects Iran. They go on many adventures, including some of Rostam's Seven Labours. Their journey ends when Rostam is killed by his step-brother, Shaghad.

In his last moments, Rostam kills his evil brother. Siavash has lost his protector. But he is saved by Simurgh, a mythical bird. They travel through time and return to the cave of the book of life. This brings Siavash back to the present day.

Here comes the Resurrection Day

The third book introduces Bardia, a fifteen-year-old. He comes from a wealthy family. His mother has passed away, and his father lives in Europe with another woman. Bardia lives alone in a big mansion in Tehran with his nanny. His father tells him to move to Europe for his studies. But his airplane crashes in the Alborz mountains. This changes his life forever.

Bardia is lonely and hurt after the crash. He is saved by Simurgh, the mythical bird. She carries him back in time to the ancient Achaemenid Empire. This is when Cyrus the Great began his rule. Bardia is now Prince Bardiya, King Cyrus's second son. He also meets his cousin, the young Darius, who will become Darius the Great. Bardia and Darius start an adventurous journey. They want to find Bardia's father. They also take part in the peaceful takeover of Babylon.

Bardia's adventure ends with his death. But this is not the end of the story. All three main characters of the trilogy – Ardeshir, Siavash, and Bardia – join thousands of other young people. They have all completed their own difficult journeys. Together, they enter a "resurrection day." Their goal is to end a dark and evil time. They want to bring about a new age of peace and glory for the world.