CompleteMartialArts.com - Ninja
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List Price: $7.99
Our Price: $7.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Fawcett
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780449209165
ISBN: 0449209164
Label: Fawcett
Manufacturer: Fawcett
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 512
Publication Date: 1985-05-12
Publisher: Fawcett
Release Date: 1985-05-12
Studio: Fawcett
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Editorial Reviews:
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"Totally absorbing...as gripping a tale of hatred and revenge as you will read...It is superb."
NEWS RECORD
This is the story of Nicholas Linnear, half-Caucasian, half-Oriental, a man caught between East and West, between the sexual passions of a woman he can't forget and the one he can't control and between a past he can't escape and a destiny he can't avoid.
A sprawling erotic thriller that swings from postwar Japan to present-day New York in a relentless saga of violence and terror elaborately designed for the most savage vengeance of all...
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: FAR EAST HEROES AND VILLANS
Comment: This is a good novel, written by someone so immersed into the Far East culture, one has to start thinking a little like a Japanese or a Chinese in order to fully accept and comprehend it.
Not to risk any spoilers, this is the story of Nicholas Linnear whose mother is Asian and father American. Growing up in Japan, he takes up bujutsu and excels in it to the point that his cousin Saigo evolves into his nemesis to-the-death. After the death of his parents, Nicholas returns to the States only to find that one's demons will follow him to the end of the world.
NINJA is a interesting martial arts novel, heavy on characters (try to read it in as few sittings possible, otherwise you will get confused), rich on background and liberal on sex, as was the fashion in the late 70's when it was written. Since this seems to have become an issue, do not let some sex scenes deter you from enjoying this book: it rates closer to the GODFATHER than the EMPIRE OF SENSES. But, yes, it is not for children.
This is a book that has influenced many writers and movie producers on how they perceive these stealthy warriors with no honor. It it is expected to be rediscovered as it is being made into a Hollywood movie as you are reading this.
RECOMMENDED.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not Free SF Reader
Comment: This book is clearly Van Lustbader's best. Very atmospheric as he shows a killing by a mystery assailant of amazing skill.
Nicholas Linnear, a martial arts expert, and a ninja, no less, is minding his own business until this murder happens. He then meets a police detective, and starts to realise who the murderer may be.
This ties back into a childhood conflict of skill and jealousy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My first foray into martial arts.
Comment: I read this book as a young child.(was taught to read at two.)
And it immersed me in the world of Japan and martial arts.
Ever since then I have studied various types of martial arts.
At first I thought the 'magical' stuff was untrue. In the course of study I have learned that certain things can be harnessed. One just must have the perception to do so.
I digress....
Eroticism, action, martial arts lore, japanese culture and history, fact and fiction in an excellent twirl. Lustbader is an awesome writer. The only other people I read on a regular basis are Lovecraft, Nietschze, Sun Tzu, and Musashi.
Not for everyone, but geared towards those who have a certain itch in their soul. After reading a few pages you will know if this is for you. Will be in my collection until the day I die.... or trancend. If you want authentic ninja training, look up Steven K. Hayes, Masaki Haatsumi, or Shoto Tanemura.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good story suffers from slow pace
Comment: At first glance, "Ninja" is a mystery novel about a series of murders. But the plot is much more complex than that. It goes back into our hero (Nicholas Linnear)'s childhood and connects events from that period with the main story. I was kind of wonderhing how he would be able to tie it all together at the end, but it worked. Unfortunately, the result is that there's many things that happen that seem irrelevant when you read about them but are important for the ending. This inevitably slows down the pace of the book and make it slightly less enjoyable than it could have been.
So the story is good and there are some great action sequences, but the pace sometimes drags too much. It should have been tighter paced and it would have been very good.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Well Written, but for adults
Comment: Nicholas Linnear is stuck between two worlds, half Caucasian, half Asian. We get a very good feel of Post-War Japanese feelings to non-Japanese and how life was for them there. An intelligent man who wishes to study bujutsu. And is only allowed to because if his cousin, Saigo, who does not like him.
And before you think there is not fighting, not so. There is a Ninja after Linnear, and the fight scene is written well. Showing the clash of eastern and western thought.
There are some explicit sex scenes, including a rape. A little too much for me, but I guess the story needs it so you can see how evil one of the antagonist is. Other then that, this is a very good read. If sex scenes were better edited or reduced I would have given the book 5 stars.
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