Shibumi: A Novel
May 2005 · Sold by Crown
4.6star
68 reviews
Ebook
480
Pages
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About this ebook
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 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.
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 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.
Ratings and reviews
4.6
68 reviews
A Google user
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July 12, 2014
This is THEE book that hooked me for good on fiction of this genre. I have read some really good books over the years, but this book to me is ground zero for novels of this type and has yet to have been surpassed. I have mixed feelings about Trevanian not doing a follow up but understand why. They couldn't top it and would only be capitalizing on its success. FYI Trevanian is not a person. It's a co-op of multiple authors.
4 people found this review helpful
A Google user
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March 13, 2012
I think this book is a good of a read as any you'll find. It reminds me of Jason borne meets Kill Bill, super spy meets samurai. It is a book that still seems relevant and modern despite being written over 20 years ago. Highly recommend.
LKNANML
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March 28, 2015
It has a good pace for a spy thriller. Colorful characters and while some are cliche they fit the story and make it a fun good read. This is the first time I have read it as an EBook and I like it. I used cool reader and liked it on a Galaxy S5 on the go.
5 people found this review helpful
About the author
Trevanian lives in the French Basque region. He is the author of The Crazyladies of Pearl Street, The Eiger Sanction, The Loo Sanction, The Main, The Summer of Katya, Incident at Twenty-Mile, and Hot Night in the City. Visit trevanian.com for the Crazyladies cybernotes, Trevanian’s commentaries, items from the author’s desk, and more.
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