Is anyone else familiar with this author?

[a|one]

A while back I read this book:
Shike | Time of the Dragons by Robert Shea
It doesnt list any other books by him and I enjoyed it immensely, wondering if anyone else is familiar with him or his works.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

I remember one of our irregular regulars, angrybuddhist mentioning him. Perhaps he'll happen by and tell you more. In the meantime, why dont you tell us more?

 

[a|one]

Well its been a while since I read it and I dont remember very many exact details so I'll just write out the back of the book for you.

In the Year of the Dragon, while Japan shudders
beneath the hoofbeats of the great battling clans, Jebu,
a young monk of the awesome breed known
as Zinja, leaves his mountain temple to escost Taniko,
a beautiful and headstrong noblewoman, to her
wedding in the capital.

During the journey their fate is sealed. The warrior who
knows ten thousand ways to kill -and to love-
pledges his life to Taniko. But again and again their
karma will sweep them apart. He, to serve the
outlawed Muratomo family. She, to be possessed by
the heir to the enemy Takashi clan...even as
Kublai Khan and his wild Mongol hordes eye Japan
like a coveted jewel.

The only thing I can think to add is that I really felt captivated by the writing style, I remember reading this book in about 24 hours.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Is it fantasy or straight historical fiction?


A spot of googling shows me that Shea was the co-author of the Illuminatus! series, along with Robert Anton Wilson. The books are 'Filled with sex and violence - in and out of time and space - the three books in this trilogy are only partly works of the imagination. They tackle the cover-ups of our time - from who really shot the Kennedys to why there's a pyramid on a one-dollar bill - and suggest a mind-blowing truth.' all of which sounds good to me.

Huh. The net is so cool. You can read the trilogy free here: http://www.american-buddha.com/illuminatus!.abol.htm

George Washington's hemp crop? Ooh, I need to read this.

Here's some info on Shea: http://www.nndb.com/people/734/000023665/

Not the best-known of sf-ish writers, perhaps, but he did have share of fans: http://www.rosencomet.com/starwood/1994/SHEAOBIT.html

 

[a|one]

Jeeze you didnt have to go to all that trouble! Thanks though

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Not at all, I just get curious and search around for information because I like to. You're just a drive-by victim, as it were.

 

[a|one]

I guess being a drive-by victim isnt as bad as they say
BTW I took the enligsh test on your home page and it would
appear that I too am an English Genious

Got the exact same comment you did,
93% Beginner
80% Intermediate
81% Advanced
88% Expert

Though it may not count seeing as I cheated, apparantly you have to be 18 to take the test.

 

[Rane Longfox]

Ah, the Illuminatus trilogy. Well, you could have said This is one of those books I've seen very often in the bookshop, but never quitre got around to reading... Seems quite interesting though, maybe I'll print the first few chapters off and see what its like.

 

[a|one]

I was unaware. The only book I have of his doesnt include a list of his other works.

 

[Heather]

This is one of my husband's favorites series. He read it when he was a teenager and it's one of the few book sets he lugged with him from Calgary when he moved to Florida. I'm thinking about reading it some day, but I'm not sure. I'm not really into the whole Zinja type thing.

Right now, I'm totally emersed in The Alvin Maker series by Card. I'm on the third book. Thanks again to whoever reccommended them on this board.

 

[$andokan]

Illuminatus trilogy: worth your time, if you're into 'strange, mind-blowing and somewhat clouded by weedsmoke'.

Same goes for Robert Anton Wilson's website: www.rawilson.com

 

[a|one]

Well im definitely into weedsmoke and that rest doesnt sound bad either.

 

[angrybuddhist]

I remember one of our irregular regulars, angrybuddhist mentioning him. Perhaps he'll happen by and tell you more. In the meantime, why dont you tell us more?

I'm only familiar with him as the co-author of the Illuminatus! trilogy, which was mentioned by several others. I'm more familiar with Robert Anton Wilson. Btw, if you pick up the trilogy as separate books, you need to read them in order. They were never meant to be printed separately by the authors, but the publisher refused to try and sell a 800+ page epic. Also, since RAW is a big fan of James Joyce, in particular, Finnegan's Wake and Ulysses, it can be quite maddening to read. Give it at least a hundred pages.

 

[Darken Rahl]

I actually used to have the book in question. IIRC it was a two book tale. The first book tells of the meeting of Jebu and Taniko and follows their travels within the Mongol Empire.The second book details the Mongol invasion attempt of Japan. I read them probably fifteen years ago and can't be sure, but I think the other was called Last of the Zinja. Very engrossing tale, if memory serves, well written and very descriptive. Captures the spirit of the time when honor was actually valued, and society was not in a moral decline. Ironic, considering that the most poignant parts are of a forbidden love and the trials that same society placed upon the lovers.