The Monkey King

If you haven't heard of the "Journey to the West" about a monk, a monkey, a pig and their other companions, then this book is a great introduction to the Chinese folktale written by Cheng-en Wu 500 years ago. I look forward to catching the Hallmark miniseries when it's shown on NBC this year, probably during sweeps month in May. This book captures the humor and the excitement of the original story and blends in a modern tale for todays audiences. In the book, an american, Nick Orton, is thrust into a magical world where the original book by Cheng-en Wu is being destroyed and with it the real world of today. The Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Ying gets Nick to join with the famed Monkey King to battle the evil lord Shu to save the book. Monkey's old companions Pigsy and Friar Sand join in the quest also. Nick falls in love with the Goddess, but can she love him in return? Since having seen the Japanese television series of the "Western Journeys" (same name really), I would have to compare this to that. And this book really captures the humor and the characters of the show and frm the original tale. Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith did this story right, but I still can't forgive them for the X-men movie novelization.

It's hard finding good, riginal fantasy nowadays. Most fantasies are variations on Tolkien's classic Lord of the Rings or the King Arthur stories. But here comes the Monkey King, a fantasy based off of Chinese Legend. It has memorable characters and truly magnificent settings like a palace full of Gods. I can't wait till the miniseries comes to TV. Keep up the good work Hallmark.

This book is a very humorous and entertaining read. The main characters are very well developed and likable. The book is very descriptive and exciting, full of vivid scenes of ancient cities, powerful monsters, and a Palace full of Gods. The only sour point is that the main villains are not really given enough time in the book to develop and stick in your memory. But in this story that hardly matters. I suggest anyone looking for a different kind of fantasy give this book a shot.