The opening of Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka shows a lot of promise.
Within just a few pages we are introduced to the principle characters: a Geisha, a Japanese Lord, a preacher, and a gunslinger.
Set in Japan in the 19th century, this is a world just after the Americans have forced the Japanese to open their ports, so we have various tensions: Japanese reformers vs Japanese conservatives; and, obviously, Japanese culture vs American ideals.
The opportunity for conflict is fertile enough - but add to this the fact that Lord Genji's family have someone in every generation who has visions of the future. Genji get's off lightly with only 3 visions prophesised to him - his uncle Shigeru goes mad with their constancy.
This book is an interesting read - at all times it's hard not to forget that James Clavell has already covered a lot of this culture conflict with Shogun - but Takashi Matsuoka constantly finds different ways to bring new life to a familiar theme.
The use of very different characters with very different goals means that they all play off from one another in very interesting ways.
The trouble with Cloud of Sparrows is that it begins very strong but slowly but surely seems to lose momentum as it continues.
It doesn't do anything particularly wrong compared to what other authors get away with, but it would have been a potentially stronger book with a better eye for editing: less head hopping in a scene, and more care with how scenes occurring at slightly different times are joined.
It does, however, construct some quite unforgettable imagery and characters. Shigeru drives a lot of this: his extreme skill as a swordsman and hunter, his visions of World War II which he interprets as imminent, and the truly horrible killing of his own children.
There's a sense of fatalism running through this work that always has its counter points, which in itself is quite cleverly constructed. But it does seem the further the book develops, the less it has to say, and the more likely the head hopping will grate. And the more blood of Japanese innocents will flow.
This could have been a superb book, but the weak approach to writing and editing means it never achieves it's full potential. We're left with an interesting story, but it's a story that could have been deeper, could have told more, and could have tangled our emotions more intensely.
Ultimately, a lot of the book's appeal is the sheer contrast between the characters, but the longer the story progresses, the less that is enough to maintain the story by itself.
Shigeru and Jimbo manage to steal a lot of the light from the main characters, which begs the question of why they were unable to maintain it on themselves in the first place.
As a debut, it's certainly a worthy story with some truly great moments, and a decent read if you can stomach Samurai attitudes towards life and death. Ultimately, however, I couldn't help but feel there was something missing by the time I reached the end.
7.5/10
