A classic spy novel from the bestselling author, Trevanian, about a westerner raised in Japan who becomes one of the world’s most accomplished assassins.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 protégé of a Japanese Go master. Hel survived the … 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, and a master of language and culture, and his secret is his determination to attain a rare kind of personal excellence, a state of effortless perfection known only as shibumi.
Now living in an isolated mountain fortress with his exquisite mistress, Hel is unwillingly drawn back into the life he’d tried to leave behind when a beautiful young stranger arrives at his door, seeking help and refuge. It soon becomes clear that Hel is being tracked by his most sinister enemy—a supermonolith of international espionage known only as the Mother Company. The battle lines are drawn: ruthless power and corruption on one side, and on the other . . . shibumi.
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Not for me. Did not hold my interest from the start.
This was my first book by Trevanian, probably not the best to first, but it fascinated me so much I have been hooked on Trevanian since.
I read this author when I was much younger and thought he was great, the Eiger Sanction etc.
Reading this book was like going back to your elementary school, as an adult. The school seems so much smaller and darker and sadder than your memories. The guy can write but the prose was overblown, the plot was a bit silly, and the pace was turgid. It was a disappointment.
Loved the character Nicolas. Would have enjoyed more of the stories of his career as an assassin. This is definitely a keeper to read over and over again.
This is one of my all time favorite books. It holds up as well as the Lawrence Sanders Bourne books!
He is a very fine writer.
I read this book when it first came out 20 years ago. it is the only book I have ever re-read over and over. It has long been my favorite and I read an awful lot of books.
ONe of his best books, oldie but goodie.
This book is full of action and intrigue. I truly enjoyed every page. I could not put it down.
Interesting hero but the all too frequent rants against Western culture and values became predictable and boring.
Simply my most favorite character of all time, Nikolai Hel.
Read this years ago and was happy to become reacquainted with the author! Excellent book, although I found the spelunking portion a bit tedious…
Simply a class unto itself.
Interesting author, read about his life on Wikipedia. I believe he made up a plot to incorporated a lot of his interests and passions and when he said all he wanted to at the time he just ended it. I gave it 5 stars because of his passions and how he shared them, plot almost got in the way. An old book, but timeless.
I read this book many years ago and recommended to my friends, it kept my
attention from beginning to end, it sure was a page turner, not only opened me
to a new culture I was not familiar with, but made me appreciate it and years
later I still think of this book, and it’s main charater.