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Shibumi by Trevanian
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Shibumi (original 1979; edition 2011)

by Trevanian (Author)

Series: Nicholai Hel (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
1,748569,780 (3.89)2 / 44
Nicholai Hel, born in the ravages of World War I China to an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father, and raised in the spiritual gardens of a Japanese Go master, survives the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished and highly paid assassin. Genius, mystic, master of language and culture, Hel's secret is his determination to attain a rare kind of personal excellence, a state of effortless perfection--shibumi. Now living in an isolated mountain fortress with his magnificent Eurasian mistress, Hel faces his most sinister enemy, a super-monolith of espionage and monopoly. The battle lines are drawn: ruthless power and corruption on one side, and on the other, shibumi.… (more)
Member:Replay
Title:Shibumi
Authors:Trevanian (Author)
Info:Headline (2011), 512 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:Japan, China, Suspense

Work Information

Shibumi by Trevanian (1979)

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» See also 44 mentions

English (47)  Spanish (3)  French (1)  German (1)  Dutch (1)  Italian (1)  Basque (1)  Catalan (1)  All languages (56)
Showing 1-5 of 47 (next | show all)
Okay but not stellar

Alright but not sure I'm a fan of the writer's phrasing and pacing. Glad I read it but not sure if I want to read anything else by the author. ( )
  levlazarev | Oct 18, 2023 |
I don't remember anything about this story, but I do remember that I read several of Trevanian's books and liked them, although I can't remember if I actually liked every one. This was before the web, so he was a bit of a mystery to me. I just looked for his books in the bookstores.

I can't really rate any of his specific books, unfortunately, without rereading them.
  MartyFried | Oct 9, 2022 |
Offensively bad. ( )
  stevieboy573 | Aug 14, 2022 |
I first read this around the time it was published. I read his other books afterwords but this remains my favorite. It has the right mixture of philosophy and bravado. I know more about the Basques and about Japanese gardens now. The concept of shibumi remains captivating. Read as a paperback I believe. Very enjoyable as an audiobook. ( )
1 vote waldhaus1 | Mar 9, 2022 |
Paltry and polemic. In spite of its size, not much in the way of plot or character and it’s like reading the anti-Ayn Rand, diatribe after diatribe for pages and pages. ( )
  PattyLee | Dec 14, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 47 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (10 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Trevanianprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Barrett, JoeNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Dedication
To the memories of the men who here appear as: Kishikawa
Otake
de Lhandes
Le Cagot
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The screen flashed 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 ... then the projector was switched off, and the lights came up in recessed sconces along the walls of the viewing room.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English (3)

Nicholai Hel, born in the ravages of World War I China to an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father, and raised in the spiritual gardens of a Japanese Go master, survives the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished and highly paid assassin. Genius, mystic, master of language and culture, Hel's secret is his determination to attain a rare kind of personal excellence, a state of effortless perfection--shibumi. Now living in an isolated mountain fortress with his magnificent Eurasian mistress, Hel faces his most sinister enemy, a super-monolith of espionage and monopoly. The battle lines are drawn: ruthless power and corruption on one side, and on the other, shibumi.

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Average: (3.89)
0.5 3
1 9
1.5 4
2 16
2.5 8
3 83
3.5 19
4 113
4.5 18
5 132

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