James Clavell

[biodroid]

I see here and there on the site some of the Chrons recommend him. Where should I start? How good is he as a writer and the types of stories he writes? Seems like everyone gives him high praise.

 

[Rodders]

I only know him from the Shogun series (which i haven't read). Did he write any SF?

 

[paranoid marvin]

I found Taipan to be very accessible - and highly enjoyable ; definately recommended

The tv series Shogun is well worth seeking out too

 

[clovis-man]

Like many very successful writers, Clavell could get a little full of himself. Shogun is his magnum opus, but King Rat is an economical, well crafted tale that can give you a good indication of his style. The George Segal movie is okay, but the book is great. Some of his later epics are less than epic IMHO.

 

[biodroid]

Sounds good guys, I will have a look into getting Shogun at least, might as well read his best.

 

[murphy]

I think that the first book of his that I read was Tai Pan, which I greatly enjoyed. I do agree that Shogun was his best, though. I just bought it for my granddaughter.

 

[biodroid]

murphy - I can't really compare to other books but is Shogun similar to the movie The Last Samurai, story and character wise etc? That was a good movie IMO

 

[kauldron26]

Last Samurai is nothing compared to shogun. They shouldnt even be mentioned in the same sentence. clavell has written 5 masterpieces. I did a marathon of his works a couple of months ago, and the man is a genius. Tai Pan i believe is his best work. I highly recommend reading them in chronological order: Shogun, Tai Pain, Gai Jin, King Rat, Noble House and then Whirlwind. You will not be disappointed. I always tell fans if you think GRRM is a master of the inner-workings of political maneuvering, Clavell will change your mind.

 

[biodroid]

kauldron - is he also paced and action packed?

 

[kauldron26]

Depends on what your definition of action packed and pacing is. RA Salvatore writes action scenes the way michael bay directs action movies. Im not saying its bad, im saying that we want different things at different times and we dont always want the same thing at the same time. These kind of action scenes are not in Clavell novels. However if you like your action scenes in the same vein as james cameron or the old beard speilberg then you will find them in clavells works. But remember Clavell's novels focus alot more on characters and social/historical commentary.

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

Thanks for this Kauldron - I'm reading Shogun right now and think it's one of the best novels I've ever read (and like most on here I've read a hell of a lot). I'm going to read the series in order and I have had the TV series on DVD dropped through the letterbox so once I've finished catching up on Lost then I'll be starting with the TV show.

 

[biodroid]

Spielberg and Cameron is more intense where as Bay is just fast. I prefer Spielberg and Cameron.

 

[Boaz]

Biodroid, I've chimed in on James Clavell a number of times in the GRRM forum. I read Shogun when I was fifteen or sixteen... and I thought it was great. I loved the overall scope and the layers upon layers of political intrigue.

Clavell takes a number of liberties with the actual characters, timelines, technology, and religion, but these changes (I feel they're minor in comparison to the size of the story) really help define the setting. For instance, 1. Guns were used before the decisive battle of Sekigahara, 2. There is no evidence that Will Adams (Blackthorne) had any romantic feelings for Gracia Hosokawa (Mariko), 3. The term Geisha originated at least 150 years after the events of Shogun, 4. De Liefde (Erasmus) made landfall on Kyushu and not Hokkaido. Anyway, the story inspired me to read up on the transition from the Sengoku period to the Tokugawa Shogunate... so I thought that Clavell's liberties enhanced the story for an American teenager.

For over twenty years, I've looked for epic political struggles like Shogun. Dune, Frederick Forsyth's stories, Tom Clancy's stories, Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Illiad, The Riftwar Saga, Dan Simmons' stories, and HBO's ROME all had aspects of intrigue, schemes, and betrayal in political settings. Some suceeded better than others, but none quite had the exquisite and engrossing touch that Shogun had.... That is until I picked up GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire epic. Happy reading.

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

Boaz - HBO's Rome - what a series! I still think it's one of the best programmes I've ever seen on TV and have recommended it to lots of friends and family

 

[gully_foyle]

Haven't read Shogun since my high school years, but I did read King Rat a few years back and found it to be a great story.

 

[Lord Soth]

On these recommendations I have gone and purchased Shogun - looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!

 

[Boneman]

On these recommendations I have gone and purchased Shogun - looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!

I firmly believe you will not be disappointed - I read Shogun every two years or so, and still gte massive amounts out of it - I have never read anything to equal it... but I want a sequel!!

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

About three quarters of the way through now and it's getting better!

 

[AE35Unit]

I read Shogun a looong time ago and loved it-would take me forever to read it these days tho!
My brother has his other books too-Tsipan,King Rat etc. I believe the war prison film The Hill is based on one his stories.

 

[clovis-man]

I read Shogun a looong time ago and loved it-would take me forever to read it these days tho!
My brother has his other books too-Tsipan,King Rat etc. I believe the war prison film The Hill is based on one his stories.

The Hill (screenplay) was written by Ray Rigby, who actually underwent some of the treatment portrayed in the movie during WW II.