Official Review: The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars
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[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars" by Pierre Dimaculangan.]
[rbc=3]id62367-125[/rbc]
Sun Xin, or the ‘blue swordsman’, has dispensed justice with his sword for ten years, but the sense of justifiction which led him on this crusade has long evaporated. The League of Martial Scholars, Sun’s allies in erasing crime from the Middle Kingdom, has a new problem on its hands. Mysterious strangers from faraway lands, have landed on the shores of the Middle Kingdom with their hidden agenda, and infiltrated up to the highest echelons of the imperial court. Scholars suspect that these strangers are anticipating the right moment to provoke a war with the Middle Kingdom.
To counter these evil forces, Sun Xin finds unlikely allies in an unknown philosopher, a banished monk, a happy-go-lucky Mongol and a former bandit chief. This unusual combination of men joins hands with the scholars and the army, to free the emperor from the clutches of the corrupt bureaucratic machinery and to prepare for battle with these unwelcome aliens. Will they liberate the Middle Kingdom or is this battle just the beginning?
The book is written in third person, shadowing several characters in the plot. The story is set in fifteenth century China; therefore, it would be a good idea for some readers to brush up their knowledge of Medieval Chinese history. It is so refreshing to come across a tale set in Asia, and the author presents an interesting mix of history and fantasy. In fact, much of the book comes across as a history spin-off, where unverified claims of history serve as the base for the plot. For example, the maritime ventures of Zheng He, a well-known Chinese fleet admiral in the court of Yongle Emperor, and the conjecture that his fleet might have travelled to hitherto unchartered lands, or the reference to the burning of books and burying of scholars event that took place in third century BCE.
There are several questions of philosophy and ideology asked throughout the book, for instance, can violence and murder be justified to serve the ends of law? Or the oft repeated debate circling vigilantism. Sun Xin faces these dilemmas and many more throughout the story. There are other interesting themes as well, like faith in god, loyalty to one’s teacher, patriotism, greed, war playing out through economic modes, etc. A hint of the medieval Chinese belief in their superiority and the resultant isolation or ignorance, is highlighted in the book as well.
While the concept and the setting for the plot was quite impressive, what did not impress me so much was the writing, which could have been sharper and much better synchronized, for example, it was a tad distracting to find a scene change abruptly and shift to other characters. The action packed scenes, ethical dilemmas, relevant philosophical debates, and an out-of-the ordinary storyline, make for an engaging read, especially suitable for young adult readers. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
******
The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars
View: on Bookshelves |
Like debo9967's review? Post a comment saying so!
Sun Xin, or the ‘blue swordsman’, has dispensed justice with his sword for ten years, but the sense of justifiction which led him on this crusade has long evaporated. The League of Martial Scholars, Sun’s allies in erasing crime from the Middle Kingdom, has a new problem on its hands. Mysterious strangers from faraway lands, have landed on the shores of the Middle Kingdom with their hidden agenda, and infiltrated up to the highest echelons of the imperial court. Scholars suspect that these strangers are anticipating the right moment to provoke a war with the Middle Kingdom.
To counter these evil forces, Sun Xin finds unlikely allies in an unknown philosopher, a banished monk, a happy-go-lucky Mongol and a former bandit chief. This unusual combination of men joins hands with the scholars and the army, to free the emperor from the clutches of the corrupt bureaucratic machinery and to prepare for battle with these unwelcome aliens. Will they liberate the Middle Kingdom or is this battle just the beginning?
The book is written in third person, shadowing several characters in the plot. The story is set in fifteenth century China; therefore, it would be a good idea for some readers to brush up their knowledge of Medieval Chinese history. It is so refreshing to come across a tale set in Asia, and the author presents an interesting mix of history and fantasy. In fact, much of the book comes across as a history spin-off, where unverified claims of history serve as the base for the plot. For example, the maritime ventures of Zheng He, a well-known Chinese fleet admiral in the court of Yongle Emperor, and the conjecture that his fleet might have travelled to hitherto unchartered lands, or the reference to the burning of books and burying of scholars event that took place in third century BCE.
There are several questions of philosophy and ideology asked throughout the book, for instance, can violence and murder be justified to serve the ends of law? Or the oft repeated debate circling vigilantism. Sun Xin faces these dilemmas and many more throughout the story. There are other interesting themes as well, like faith in god, loyalty to one’s teacher, patriotism, greed, war playing out through economic modes, etc. A hint of the medieval Chinese belief in their superiority and the resultant isolation or ignorance, is highlighted in the book as well.
While the concept and the setting for the plot was quite impressive, what did not impress me so much was the writing, which could have been sharper and much better synchronized, for example, it was a tad distracting to find a scene change abruptly and shift to other characters. The action packed scenes, ethical dilemmas, relevant philosophical debates, and an out-of-the ordinary storyline, make for an engaging read, especially suitable for young adult readers. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
******
The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars
View: on Bookshelves |
Like debo9967's review? Post a comment saying so!
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