Shike

I bought the two Shike books about five years ago and they remained forgotten until I dusted them off the shelf, peered curiously at the first chapter, and opened myself to one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The first mistake one can make about these novels is the comparison to James Clavell. Clavell is good in his own right, but what I found refreshing about "Shike" is that there is no western influence anywhere. No shipwrecked sailor or trade baron's are found here. All the characters are three dimensional, living beings and the reader can identify with every one of them. Shea's vocabulary makes the medieval Japanese Zen ideal easy to comprehend and contributes to the story and characterization. Another aspect I found facinating was Japans relationship to the rest of Asia, which is explored fully in these books. The author takes you to China, Mongolia, and all over the islands of Japan. Anyone who has made generalizations about Asian culture will get a wonderful education. It's a shame that most of the authors books are out of print. He has the rare gift of telling a wonderful tale and exposing you to a wonderful world.

This is a story that takes us through the lives of two young people. One is a fearsome warrior from a secretive monk caste who is born from a Mongolian father and a Japanese mother. His growth throughout the story, with having to deal with the struggles of not fitting into a discriminating Japanese culture, allows us to readily identify with him. The other character is a very young girl who is to be sent away from home to meet her husband, prior to her prearranged marriage. From there on it is a tale of Combat, Love, and Friendship against the backdrop of Feudal Japan during a war of the clans. The tides of war and betrayal then take our subjects to China during the invasion of the Mongols, and then back to Japan under the newly proclaimed Shogun, preparing to face the Mongol Hordes. If you are considering reading this series, stop considering and get it. You will want to reread them over and over. Monks, Samurai, and Mongols ... what else is there to say.

I couldn't believe how far the story took me in the first 60 pages without me feeling like I had missed something. Although I am a martial artist, I don't usually read this type of book. But, this is one incredible book. I have trouble putting it down so I can go to work in the morning. I can't wait to start book two.

I was fascinated with this story.I was amazed at how i could'nt put this book down.I read this book two times.This has got to be the best book i have ever read.It's filled with discipline,love, sorrow,revenge,and a great surprise.Simply a brilliant author.If anybody can locate both editions please contact me.

One wouldn't think of a book like this to be the life-changing kind. But it can be. I read this books a few years ago, getting a copy in the strangest of ways. I read the first book and loved it. But this one is something else. Little I would know that I'd find myself on a trip to India and learning japanese fencing and solving Zen koans inspired partly by it. A very impressive close to the story, and I certainly regret there is no third installment on the series, for it would make a hell of a story. Historic timeline is sharply set aside, but it takes a history freak to check all the details out, so most people won't notice. Even better than the first, and the emphasis on spiritual experiences and growth is more marked in this book. The end is majestic and adequate to a marvelous saga. I almost hope to find a reference to a wandering japanese monk in Shea's next series: Saracen. It wouldn't be too hard.