About this title: Nicholai Hel is the world's most wanted man. Born in Shanghai during the chaos of World War I, he is the son of an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father and is the protege of a Japanese Go master. Hel survived the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished--and well-paid- ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 1980
ISBN-13:9780345285850ISBN:0345285859
Description: Poor. No dust jacket as issued. cover worn, pages slightly yellow from age. very readable copy. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. Audience: General/trade. 440 pages. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN-13:9780345285850ISBN:0345285859
Description: Good. Spine is smooth. Covers show some wear at the edges and corners. Good reading copy. Binding is Mass Market Paperback. Pages tanning. Used books may have price stickers. Most orders ship on the next business day. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine
Date Published: 1990
ISBN-13:9780345285850ISBN:0345285859
Description: Very Good. First edition. Very good with only light reading marks to spine. Tight binding and clean, unmarked pages. Nicholai Hel is the world's most wanted man. Born in Shanghai during the chaos of World War I, he is the son of an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father and is the protege of a Japanese Go master. Hel survived the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished--and well-paid--assassin. Hel is a genius, a mystic, ... read more
Binding: MASS MARKET PAPERBACK
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN-13:9780345285850ISBN:0345285859
Description: Good. 0345285859 Good condition paperback book, clean pages, mild creases to spine, some edge wear-may have small edge tear or corner crease, this book is Good! Shop & Save With US. read more
"There are very few books (the estimate is eight) that feature the Japanese board game Go as a central feature. This is not the best, but at least it shows a working knowledge of the game. I am a Go aficianado and from that standpoint, the book does not disappoint. Trevanian has always been a master of phrases and his command of many languages makes him a maven of the written tongue. That said, this has some serious flaws.
First, all of his male characters are completely cynical and caustic toward other men. I would surmise either that this is Trevanian's view of men in general or this is how he thinks men feel about each other. Second, he takes way too long to describe certain settings such as the prison and the cave. In a novel focused on action, these incredibly long expository glimpses could have been edited.
Even though the story does move quickly, it is hurt by the two-dimensional characters. The men are either stupid, bombastic or both. The women are all sexual toys and the world's governments are all pawns to the industrial machine. These are hardly viewpoints I espouse, so I cannot give it more than three. But his prose is light and does move along."
"I must really be missing something. A quick internet search locates many favourable reviews of both this book, and of its author, Rodney William Whitaker (aka Trevanian), who apparently positioned himself as someone who read Proust, but not much else written in the 20th century. Consider this statement from Wikipedia: Shibumi is elaborately written, using a very extended vocabulary, based on a sound knowledge in history and geopolitics, switching easily from pessimism to wry humor, Shibumi is more than a mere thriller, and may be compared to other works such as Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-four and Fahrenheit 451. And there's much more of the same in other reviews. However, I have seldom read or listened to a more inept, poorly-written thriller, and the comparison to the three great works referred to is ludicrous. The characters in Shibumi are absurd stereotypes, the writing-style is awkward (clearly if the author indeed read Proust extensively, he absorbed little), and the plot-line is as weak as cheap coffee."
"If you've ever wanted to know what it takes to become the world's hottest lover and most kick-ass ninja-style assassin, then Shibumi lets you in on the secret. First, you need to learn to play Go well; then you have to become fluent in Basque.
Real Go players tell me I'm about second Dan strength, but unfortunately I don't know any Basque at all. One out of two ain't bad, I guess. Anyway, you've probably figured out why I adore this engagingly crazy book."
"excellent thriller. Hel can kill you with anything, Trevanian is in top form with this one. dare not miss it. from the cherry blossoms of Japan to dark caves to the mists for the final showdown... I go back and re read this evry once and a while and always come away loving it."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
