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Nicholai Hel #0
Satori
Trevanian's Shibumi was a landmark bestseller, one of the classic international bestselling thrillers of the twentieth century. Now, chosen by Trevanian's heirs, the hugely admired writer Don Winslow returns with an irresistible "prequel": Satori .
It is the fall of 1951 and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hodo korosu or "naked kill," and fluent in over six languages. Genius and mystic, he has honed extraordinary "proximity sense" — an extra-awareness of the presence of danger — and has the skills to be the world's most formidable assassin. The Americans need him. They offer Hel freedom in exchange for one small go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's Commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive violence, suspicion and betrayal while trying to achieve the ultimate goal of satori — the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.
It is the fall of 1951 and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hodo korosu or "naked kill," and fluent in over six languages. Genius and mystic, he has honed extraordinary "proximity sense" — an extra-awareness of the presence of danger — and has the skills to be the world's most formidable assassin. The Americans need him. They offer Hel freedom in exchange for one small go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's Commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive violence, suspicion and betrayal while trying to achieve the ultimate goal of satori — the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published March 8, 2011
About the author
Don Winslow
94 books6,873 followersDon Winslow is the author of twenty-one acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Force and The Border, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a feature film by three-time Oscar-winning writer-director Oliver Stone. The Power of the Dog, The Cartel and The Border sold to FX in a major multimillion-dollar deal to air as a weekly television series beginning in 2020.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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April 13, 2011
There’s a popular website called Chuck Norris Facts that has funny sayings about how tough Chuck is like “When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.” and “There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.” Well, if Chuck Norris ever met Nicholai Hel, Chuck would beg for mercy after wetting his pants, and then the Chuck Norris Facts website would become Nicholai Hel Facts.
Trevanian introduced Hel in Shibumi in 1979, and Don Winslow gives us a prequel that fills in a major gap of Trevanian’s original. In Shibumi half the book was spent on Hel’s growing up in Japan as a student of the game Go before and during World War II. Then Hel spends several years in prison after the war imprisoned by the American forces. Trevanian told how Hel was finally released after getting an offer to take on a suicide mission for the Americans in return for his freedom, but then we just got an overview of Hel’s career as an international hitman until the story picked up when he was in his 50s.
Winslow takes on the task of telling about Hel’s first assignment, and it’s a doozy. While the Korean War is wrapping up, the Americans need someone to pose as a French gun dealer to murder a Soviet diplomat in Beijing so that they can sow discontent between China and Russia. With his mastery of multiple languages and ability to kill with his bare hands, Hel fits the bill nicely.
In Shibumi Hel was built up into such a superior being that the original book would have been ridiculous if Trevanian hadn’t winked at the reader now and then to let them know that this shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Hel was one of the world’s foremost assassins, a martial arts expert, a former mystic, a master Go player, a world class cave explorer and the world’s greatest lover. (Seriously.) Plus, he also had a proximity sense that allows him to be aware of people and their moods before he can see them.
Winslow tones this down a bit and plays it straighter than the original book. He was also smart enough not to try and match his style to Trevanian’s. Instead, he focuses on delivering the same essence of Hel in a fast paced action story set against political intrigue in Southeast Asia in the ‘50s. It works like gangbusters with a pace so furious that you don’t have time to think about how outlandish the plot is.
And Winslow also dealt with my main complaint from Shibumi which was Hel’s smug and condescending attitude towards almost every country except Japan and his hypocritical stance about materialism. (Guys making fortunes for killing people shouldn’t climb on their moral high horse about how the world is full of ‘merchants’.) While Hel still has the aloof demeanor and attitude, Winslow toned it down so he’s not nearly as annoying.
This was a fast paced and fun international thriller set against the Cold War with a stone cold bad ass main character, and I’d like to see Winslow revist Hel again to tell us more of his story.
Trevanian introduced Hel in Shibumi in 1979, and Don Winslow gives us a prequel that fills in a major gap of Trevanian’s original. In Shibumi half the book was spent on Hel’s growing up in Japan as a student of the game Go before and during World War II. Then Hel spends several years in prison after the war imprisoned by the American forces. Trevanian told how Hel was finally released after getting an offer to take on a suicide mission for the Americans in return for his freedom, but then we just got an overview of Hel’s career as an international hitman until the story picked up when he was in his 50s.
Winslow takes on the task of telling about Hel’s first assignment, and it’s a doozy. While the Korean War is wrapping up, the Americans need someone to pose as a French gun dealer to murder a Soviet diplomat in Beijing so that they can sow discontent between China and Russia. With his mastery of multiple languages and ability to kill with his bare hands, Hel fits the bill nicely.
In Shibumi Hel was built up into such a superior being that the original book would have been ridiculous if Trevanian hadn’t winked at the reader now and then to let them know that this shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Hel was one of the world’s foremost assassins, a martial arts expert, a former mystic, a master Go player, a world class cave explorer and the world’s greatest lover. (Seriously.) Plus, he also had a proximity sense that allows him to be aware of people and their moods before he can see them.
Winslow tones this down a bit and plays it straighter than the original book. He was also smart enough not to try and match his style to Trevanian’s. Instead, he focuses on delivering the same essence of Hel in a fast paced action story set against political intrigue in Southeast Asia in the ‘50s. It works like gangbusters with a pace so furious that you don’t have time to think about how outlandish the plot is.
And Winslow also dealt with my main complaint from Shibumi which was Hel’s smug and condescending attitude towards almost every country except Japan and his hypocritical stance about materialism. (Guys making fortunes for killing people shouldn’t climb on their moral high horse about how the world is full of ‘merchants’.) While Hel still has the aloof demeanor and attitude, Winslow toned it down so he’s not nearly as annoying.
This was a fast paced and fun international thriller set against the Cold War with a stone cold bad ass main character, and I’d like to see Winslow revist Hel again to tell us more of his story.
February 15, 2020
Don Winslow's followup Satori, the approved sequel to Trevanian's Shibumi. Like the previous book, it focuses on the assassin character Nicholaï Hel. The story covers a period glossed over in Shibumi after his release from prison when he is sent on a suicide mission inside of China. The sexism is a little bit more toned down than inShibumi and there were fewer racial stereotypes as well. The story is fun and very fast moving. I enjoyed the descriptions of places like Beijing and Saigon and, of course, I enjoyed Hel's character. The overriding principle of Satori is a "waking up" in Zen philosophy and, as in Shibumi, the idea of a Go game floats over the narrative. I would recommend it for those who enjoyed Shibumi.
I guess that endless stereotypes (French women all love giving oral sex, French women are all sex hounds, French men all smoke Gauloise cigarettes) and tropes (the woman will always betray the man - Eve syndrome) drove my rating down to 3 for this otherwise entertaining story.
I guess that endless stereotypes (French women all love giving oral sex, French women are all sex hounds, French men all smoke Gauloise cigarettes) and tropes (the woman will always betray the man - Eve syndrome) drove my rating down to 3 for this otherwise entertaining story.
March 28, 2013
HOKI
A Manny Rayner novel based on Shibumi
The bell rang three times, two short and one long. It was the signal they'd agreed on.
"Entrez!" said Rayner. "La porte est ouverte."
The man entered hesitantly, looking around with evident curiosity at the apartment's simple but costly furnishings. An elderly Chinese servant glided up to him, discreetly took his heavy winter coat, and left again without uttering a word. The man cleared his throat.
The rest of this review is in my book What Pooh Might Have Said to Dante and Other Futile Speculations
A Manny Rayner novel based on Shibumi
The bell rang three times, two short and one long. It was the signal they'd agreed on.
"Entrez!" said Rayner. "La porte est ouverte."
The man entered hesitantly, looking around with evident curiosity at the apartment's simple but costly furnishings. An elderly Chinese servant glided up to him, discreetly took his heavy winter coat, and left again without uttering a word. The man cleared his throat.
The rest of this review is in my book What Pooh Might Have Said to Dante and Other Futile Speculations
October 22, 2014
I read this with some trepidation since it is a sequel of Shibumi by Trevanian. It was quite good, a book I read back around 1980 once & still remembered fairly well 25+ years later. It's rare that an author does a satisfying job writing in another's place, but I think Winslow did fine in this case. More to the point, it answered a lot of questions about Hel, the man - how he became so cynical & willing to be an assassin, his connections, & feuds. There is plenty of room for more such novels, too. I wonder if Winslow will ever do another? I'll read it if he does.
Winslow also carried over one of the more irritating aspects of Trevian's writing, the glossing over of details in order to make character intersections & action points stand out more. That made some of them too magical for my taste. Still, if you just go with it, the overall story is a good one, full of intrigue, subtle thinking, & clues. Character revelations toward the end weren't surprises, just inevitable & the more cynical, almost horrible for that. It's quite a web he weaved.
There is quite a bit of history & politics surrounding Vietnam, too. I found that aspect interesting, especially from the point of view of the book.
Winslow also carried over one of the more irritating aspects of Trevian's writing, the glossing over of details in order to make character intersections & action points stand out more. That made some of them too magical for my taste. Still, if you just go with it, the overall story is a good one, full of intrigue, subtle thinking, & clues. Character revelations toward the end weren't surprises, just inevitable & the more cynical, almost horrible for that. It's quite a web he weaved.
There is quite a bit of history & politics surrounding Vietnam, too. I found that aspect interesting, especially from the point of view of the book.
September 15, 2019
In Shibumi, Trevanian’s masterwork, readers are introduced to Nicholai Hel, both being given his complex history as the son of a former Russian Countess, who fled the Reds during the 20’s to Shanghai, and there raised a son who eventually learned the martial arts and the game Go in Japan, and Hel’s later years as a retired recluse in the Basque provinces on the border of France and Spain. Trevanian, however, left a large gap in Hel’s history, specifically what happened to Hel between being incarcerated as a young man in an American prison and becoming the world’s greatest assassin for years prior to his retirement. Sartori fills in part of that lengthy gap. It was a project actually started by Trevanian’s daughter and literary executor, who sought out a writer to the task and was an idea floated to and sanctioned by Trevanian before he died.
Winslow does an absolutely fantastic job in Sartori, channeling Trevanian’s feel for the character of Nicholai Hel, much as Max Collins channeled Spillane’s spirit in completing the Mike Hammer series or that Lin Carter or L Sprague De Camp did in channeling Robert E Howard’s spirit. What Winslow offers the reader here is a focused story about the events surrounding Hel’s release from prison and his first job as a super-assassin. Winslow weaves Hel’s history into the story and creates a terrific novel that simply captures the essence of Hel and respects Hel’s spirit. The story focuses on China in the early fifties as conflicts with the Soviet Union begin to emerge and the America begins arming the French in their battle against the Viet Cong. To do a job in Red China, you need someone who can speak Mandarin like a native and understands the culture. Hel, who grew up in Shanghai, was perfect for the job. I highly recommend Sartori as a terrific thriller by itself and a welcome addition to the Nicholai Hel legend.
Winslow does an absolutely fantastic job in Sartori, channeling Trevanian’s feel for the character of Nicholai Hel, much as Max Collins channeled Spillane’s spirit in completing the Mike Hammer series or that Lin Carter or L Sprague De Camp did in channeling Robert E Howard’s spirit. What Winslow offers the reader here is a focused story about the events surrounding Hel’s release from prison and his first job as a super-assassin. Winslow weaves Hel’s history into the story and creates a terrific novel that simply captures the essence of Hel and respects Hel’s spirit. The story focuses on China in the early fifties as conflicts with the Soviet Union begin to emerge and the America begins arming the French in their battle against the Viet Cong. To do a job in Red China, you need someone who can speak Mandarin like a native and understands the culture. Hel, who grew up in Shanghai, was perfect for the job. I highly recommend Sartori as a terrific thriller by itself and a welcome addition to the Nicholai Hel legend.
September 15, 2019
it is not a great thriller, in many ways the plot is even cliche but it is well written even in places beautifully. Winslow have a great eye to catch places and to give them the right feeling. i am sure he love Asia. it is all over. i liked a lot his knowledge, his research, his understanding the spirituality of the places and the historic view of events. on the all enjoyable.
February 9, 2018
In the 1970s, an author named Rodney William Whitaker wrote best-selling airport paperbacks under the pen name "Trevanian." His most famous novel was Shibumi, a thriller about a Japanese-raised son of Russian aristocrats named Nicholai Hel. The story was just a typical Men's Adventure tale about an over-the-top action hero who was more Japanese than the Japanese, more Basque than the Basque, and more badass than a barrelful of GI Joes. It was full of lurid sex and violence and enough racist, sexist cliches to give modern SJWs seizures.
What made it a truly great novel, though, was the fact that "Trevanian" was taking the piss out of his audience, which was evident to anyone who could read the subtext of all the characters' speeches. Nicholai Hel was a ridiculous parody of every Mighty Whitey superhero from Tarzan to James Bond, and he said right on the page that Americans were tasteless, cultureless, soulless boors who assuaged their lack of intellect or character by reading crappy novels about Mighty Whitey superheroes. One got the impression that Trevanian was fairly seething with hatred for the very readers who made him a bestseller.
Taken at face value, Shibumi was still a fun novel, and Trevanian was a much better writer than Ian Fleming. But I think it was much easier to appreciate as a work of meta-textual satire. Or to put it another way, Trevanian was a literary troll.
So along comes a modern writer of violent thrillers, Don Winslow, whose agent got him a deal to write an authorized sequel to Shibumi. Winslow renders faithfully the character introduced to us in Trevanian's novel, and in Nicholai Hel's adventures in Paris, China, and Vietnam, gives us the same lethal, go-obsessed killer who was so entertaining in the previous novel. But Satori depicts a younger Hel, immediately after World War II, not quite as accomplished (no "Level Five Lovemaking") or deadly or imperturbable, not yet a master of espionage, and most importantly, not a scornful philosopher issuing pithy denunciations of modern society.
Inasmuch as Winslow has tried to present a follow-up to the adventures of Nicholai Hel, he's written a novel that is compatible with Shibumi and fills us in on Hel's earlier life. He admits in his author's notes that he could not, and did not try, to emulate Trevanian's voice. But he's thereby abandoned much of what made Trevanian's novel great, rendering a fairly standard adventure novel that Trevanian and his character mouthpieces would denounce as hack fiction.
In Satori, Nicholai Hel has been captured by Americans after the occupation of Japan. Originally hired as a translator, Hel killed his mentor, a Japanese general, to spare him the humiliation of a war crimes trial and execution. The Americans don't react well to this, and Hel gets some special treatment from a sadistic CIA officer. Then for contrived reasons, they decide they need Hel to do a job for him, and make a deal to offer him his freedom and a new life if he'll just go kill the Russian ambassador to Communist China in Peking for them.
How this is set up - the whys and wherefores - make sense, more or less, in the novel, but it's all just background to send Hel on a trip to China, dodging Maoist secret police and trying to assassinate a Soviet bureaucrat who turns out to have some history with Hel's mother. So there's lots of espionage and torture and martial arts, and then Hel has to escape China, and winds up in Vietnam doing arms deals as a fake French arms merchant while the French, the Americans, and various factions of the Vietnamese are all out to get him. Along the way he also falls in love with a French prostitute, and while it may technically be a spoiler, I'm sure everyone else who reads this will have exactly the same reaction I did when she was introduced, which was the absolute certainty that she would not survive to the end of the book.
I would highly recommend you read Shibumi first. Then, if you like that book, you will probably appreciate Satori, but just don't expect the same kind of book.
What made it a truly great novel, though, was the fact that "Trevanian" was taking the piss out of his audience, which was evident to anyone who could read the subtext of all the characters' speeches. Nicholai Hel was a ridiculous parody of every Mighty Whitey superhero from Tarzan to James Bond, and he said right on the page that Americans were tasteless, cultureless, soulless boors who assuaged their lack of intellect or character by reading crappy novels about Mighty Whitey superheroes. One got the impression that Trevanian was fairly seething with hatred for the very readers who made him a bestseller.
Taken at face value, Shibumi was still a fun novel, and Trevanian was a much better writer than Ian Fleming. But I think it was much easier to appreciate as a work of meta-textual satire. Or to put it another way, Trevanian was a literary troll.
So along comes a modern writer of violent thrillers, Don Winslow, whose agent got him a deal to write an authorized sequel to Shibumi. Winslow renders faithfully the character introduced to us in Trevanian's novel, and in Nicholai Hel's adventures in Paris, China, and Vietnam, gives us the same lethal, go-obsessed killer who was so entertaining in the previous novel. But Satori depicts a younger Hel, immediately after World War II, not quite as accomplished (no "Level Five Lovemaking") or deadly or imperturbable, not yet a master of espionage, and most importantly, not a scornful philosopher issuing pithy denunciations of modern society.
Inasmuch as Winslow has tried to present a follow-up to the adventures of Nicholai Hel, he's written a novel that is compatible with Shibumi and fills us in on Hel's earlier life. He admits in his author's notes that he could not, and did not try, to emulate Trevanian's voice. But he's thereby abandoned much of what made Trevanian's novel great, rendering a fairly standard adventure novel that Trevanian and his character mouthpieces would denounce as hack fiction.
In Satori, Nicholai Hel has been captured by Americans after the occupation of Japan. Originally hired as a translator, Hel killed his mentor, a Japanese general, to spare him the humiliation of a war crimes trial and execution. The Americans don't react well to this, and Hel gets some special treatment from a sadistic CIA officer. Then for contrived reasons, they decide they need Hel to do a job for him, and make a deal to offer him his freedom and a new life if he'll just go kill the Russian ambassador to Communist China in Peking for them.
How this is set up - the whys and wherefores - make sense, more or less, in the novel, but it's all just background to send Hel on a trip to China, dodging Maoist secret police and trying to assassinate a Soviet bureaucrat who turns out to have some history with Hel's mother. So there's lots of espionage and torture and martial arts, and then Hel has to escape China, and winds up in Vietnam doing arms deals as a fake French arms merchant while the French, the Americans, and various factions of the Vietnamese are all out to get him. Along the way he also falls in love with a French prostitute, and while it may technically be a spoiler, I'm sure everyone else who reads this will have exactly the same reaction I did when she was introduced, which was the absolute certainty that she would not survive to the end of the book.
I would highly recommend you read Shibumi first. Then, if you like that book, you will probably appreciate Satori, but just don't expect the same kind of book.
November 8, 2013
This is a prequel to one of the best-loved thrillers of all time, Shibumi by Trevanian. Stepping in so many years later to reincarnate the hero-assassin Nicholai Hel is a massive undertaking. I can only imagine how daunting this must have been to Don Winslow, but he does a fabulous job. The character of Nicholai is true-to-form, and the story is rich in authentic details of the 1950s Cold War. If you like thrillers and international intrigue, you can't go wrong with this one.
August 6, 2017
This is pure candy. Not Winslow's best. Professional fanfiction and a bit cliched, but it is what it is. I'll review more tomorrow.
February 10, 2018
Um, I haven't read Shibumi, the book by another author (Trevanian) that this novel is based on. I just may. I'm curious about it, even though I have mixed feelings about Nicholai Hel, the character Don Winslow has revived here.
Nicholai Hel makes me feel a little bad about myself. Not because he's a master of a martial art called 'naked kill' and can kill people with tea cups and newspapers and when outnumbered and I can't. He makes me feel bad about myself because I wonder why I can't just let myself enjoy the moment. Of course, readers aren't meant to take Nicholai Hel's extraordinary skills too seriously, I presume, especially the 'proximity sense' that prevents anyone from sneaking up on him. And for the most part I did just go with the flow. In the end, applying that kind of supernatural mumbo jumbo to Eastern philosophies and practices turns me off a little too much. At certain times Nicholai Hel came across as a little cartoonish and I could not relate. Same with some other characters. They had names, roles and motivations but did not fascinate or draw me in. That's how I felt about the setting too. It's the 1950s. The story takes place in Japan, China and Southeast Asia. The writing was vivid enough within a scene - I pictured the surroundings well, but the overall milieu did not come across strongly. I was reading this for plot and there are twists and turns but I feel bad. I like the characters and setting to also shine, at least more than occurred here.
I bought Winslow's Savages and will give it a try. I'm sure it's not easy taking on another author's character. Winslow has bigger balls than Nicholai Hel.
Nicholai Hel makes me feel a little bad about myself. Not because he's a master of a martial art called 'naked kill' and can kill people with tea cups and newspapers and when outnumbered and I can't. He makes me feel bad about myself because I wonder why I can't just let myself enjoy the moment. Of course, readers aren't meant to take Nicholai Hel's extraordinary skills too seriously, I presume, especially the 'proximity sense' that prevents anyone from sneaking up on him. And for the most part I did just go with the flow. In the end, applying that kind of supernatural mumbo jumbo to Eastern philosophies and practices turns me off a little too much. At certain times Nicholai Hel came across as a little cartoonish and I could not relate. Same with some other characters. They had names, roles and motivations but did not fascinate or draw me in. That's how I felt about the setting too. It's the 1950s. The story takes place in Japan, China and Southeast Asia. The writing was vivid enough within a scene - I pictured the surroundings well, but the overall milieu did not come across strongly. I was reading this for plot and there are twists and turns but I feel bad. I like the characters and setting to also shine, at least more than occurred here.
I bought Winslow's Savages and will give it a try. I'm sure it's not easy taking on another author's character. Winslow has bigger balls than Nicholai Hel.
May 12, 2011
SATORI by Don Winslow "A Novel Based on TREVANIAN'S SHIBUMI" is the full title. This is my commentary on-the-fly, as I read, since I don't do in-depth, analytical, reviews per se.
I received an email from my local library that this book, my hold request, was now available for pickup. In the several months since I had placed the request I'd forgotten about it or even where I'd heard about the book. I think I had been browsing lists for best fiction or best science fiction and stumbled across it.
I haven't read the cover leafs as I don't like to be too well informed of a plot, but I did read, on the library website I believe, that this is a 'prequel' to the Shibumi series. I gather the original series is by someone named Trevanian, and his estate (I presume he is deceased) has authorized someone named Winslow to write Satori. I'll attempt to verify all this when I finish the book. On that note, it's difficult to discuss the book without revealing some of the plot. If you want to remain totally uninformed perhaps you shouldn't read commentaries and reviews. Stop now.
The book starts in early 1950s (1951), post-WWII Japan and soon shifts to China. The story is of the spy/assassin genre. The CIA is involved and Langley is mentioned. (Did Langley exist then? This page at the CIA's own site indicates Langley wasn't considered as a site until 1953 and the HQ wasn't built until the late '50s. A lazy author's faux pas perhaps?)
Main character back-stories are told, laying the foundation for who they are. There are numerous Japanese references to traditional gardens and tea services. There is a surprise attack by ninja types (Chinese as it turns out). They are quickly and effectively dispatched. The plot thickens. I'm less than 1/5th into this 500+ page novel. It's time to read more.
By the way:
"Satori was the Zen Buddhist concept of a sudden awakening, a realization of life as it really is. It came not as a result of meditation or conscious thought, but could arrive in the wisp of a breeze, the crackle of a flame, the falling of a leaf." (From Page 7 of the novel.)
(Brief intermission here. Reading... Reading...)
(24 hours later, real time not reading time, I've finished the novel.)
GOOD READ! Gripping. Action builds and builds to the very end. So much for on-the-fly analysis. I couldn't put it down. A veritable tapestry of woven intrigue, sort of like the board game Go. Hmmmm.
I like it so much I'm picking up a copy of Trevanian's SHIBUMI today. It's supposed to be highly acclaimed. There are notes at the end of SATORI about Winslow getting permission to write this prequel to SHIBUMI, which was first published in 1979 under the pen name Trevanian by Rodney William Whitaker (1931-2005). Whitaker wrote The Eiger Sanction and other books. The plot gets even thicker. :)
March 20, 2012
As a long time fan of Shibumi, I hoped Don Winslow would do an adequate job on this prequel.
He surpassed all my expectations; enough where I added all of his novels to my "must read" list!
He surpassed all my expectations; enough where I added all of his novels to my "must read" list!
October 19, 2015
Satori is quite a unique book in that Don Winslow took on the tricky task of writing a sequel to Shubumi, a brilliant book written in 1979 by the legendary author known as Trevanian (Dr. Rodney Whitaker) who also wrote The Eiger Sanction, The Loo Sanction, and others.
Satori, like Shibumi, focused (why doesn't focused have a double "s"? it really should) on Nicholai Hel, who has incredible martial arts skills, speaks seven languages and has developed a rather remarkable sixth sense that alerts him to potential threats of others within proximity - called, appropriately, his proximity sense.
As a result of activities undertaken in Shibumi, Hel has been in solitary confinement for the last three years. His incarcerators approach him with a proposition, "win your freedom by working for us." He takes on this mission, which will, as you would expect, almost certainly end his life.
During his execution of this seemingly, impossible to survive mission, the usual and some unusual pitfalls and surprises pop up, as does a beautiful French woman who helps to prepare him for his task.
All in all, Winslow has done a quite credible job in writing a sequel to Shibumi in a style very much like Trevanian's. He is not the equal of Trevanian, of course, but, nonetheless, Satori is quite a worthwhile read. It is not necessary to have read Shibumi but, quite frankly, if you are interested enough to read Satori and have not read Shibumi, you be foolish not to.
If you are not, by now, completely confused about the identities of Trevanian, Whitaker and Winslow and the books, Satori and Shibumi, then I have failed, miserably.
On my 1 to 10 scale of pure enjoyment (1 = didn't enjoy it at all and quit reading rather than periodically stopping to vomit; 10 = I enjoyed it so much that I started going to bed early so I could get back to it each evening), I would give Satori an 8.
Satori, like Shibumi, focused (why doesn't focused have a double "s"? it really should) on Nicholai Hel, who has incredible martial arts skills, speaks seven languages and has developed a rather remarkable sixth sense that alerts him to potential threats of others within proximity - called, appropriately, his proximity sense.
As a result of activities undertaken in Shibumi, Hel has been in solitary confinement for the last three years. His incarcerators approach him with a proposition, "win your freedom by working for us." He takes on this mission, which will, as you would expect, almost certainly end his life.
During his execution of this seemingly, impossible to survive mission, the usual and some unusual pitfalls and surprises pop up, as does a beautiful French woman who helps to prepare him for his task.
All in all, Winslow has done a quite credible job in writing a sequel to Shibumi in a style very much like Trevanian's. He is not the equal of Trevanian, of course, but, nonetheless, Satori is quite a worthwhile read. It is not necessary to have read Shibumi but, quite frankly, if you are interested enough to read Satori and have not read Shibumi, you be foolish not to.
If you are not, by now, completely confused about the identities of Trevanian, Whitaker and Winslow and the books, Satori and Shibumi, then I have failed, miserably.
On my 1 to 10 scale of pure enjoyment (1 = didn't enjoy it at all and quit reading rather than periodically stopping to vomit; 10 = I enjoyed it so much that I started going to bed early so I could get back to it each evening), I would give Satori an 8.
June 7, 2020
4.5 stars rounded right on up to five! Don Winslow has fast become one of my favorite authors, and I continue to be impressed by the breadth of book-types he writes with equal aplomb.
In Satori, Winslow has crafted a fast-paced thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War, encompassing China, Japan, and Vietnam circa 1952. Unbeknownst to me before reading this book, Winslow had been approached to write this as sort of a continuation (actually a prequel) to Trevanian's well regarded thriller, Shibumi. As an aside, Trevanian (a.k.a. Rodney Whitaker) also wrote the Eiger Sanction, which I'd read as a teen and loved.
After wrestling with his concerns over the potential disaster of trying to emulate Trevanian's "voice," Winslow dove in and has managed to produce a thoroughly entertaining, taught story that combines Asian cultures, martial arts, espionage, romance and, ah, what the hell, just about anything you care for in a good spy novel. James Bond got nothing on Nicolai Hel, our avenging G0-master (ancient Chinese board game... look it up) who is ridiculously capable, even for a novice spy.
I thought perhaps Satori might have been a trifle too lengthy at just over 500 pages. I suspect it could have been accomplished as well in, say, 400 or so, but just when I think perhaps he's drawn things out too long, Winslow pins me back into my seat as the story accelerates like top-fuel dragster and rushes headlong to the satisfying ending. He creates a pervasive sense of place and captures the times, sentiments, and characters so well that you might feel sweaty and double-triple-crossed despite sitting snug in your comfortable home. The man can write. Read some of his work and see if you agree. Enjoy.
In Satori, Winslow has crafted a fast-paced thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War, encompassing China, Japan, and Vietnam circa 1952. Unbeknownst to me before reading this book, Winslow had been approached to write this as sort of a continuation (actually a prequel) to Trevanian's well regarded thriller, Shibumi. As an aside, Trevanian (a.k.a. Rodney Whitaker) also wrote the Eiger Sanction, which I'd read as a teen and loved.
After wrestling with his concerns over the potential disaster of trying to emulate Trevanian's "voice," Winslow dove in and has managed to produce a thoroughly entertaining, taught story that combines Asian cultures, martial arts, espionage, romance and, ah, what the hell, just about anything you care for in a good spy novel. James Bond got nothing on Nicolai Hel, our avenging G0-master (ancient Chinese board game... look it up) who is ridiculously capable, even for a novice spy.
I thought perhaps Satori might have been a trifle too lengthy at just over 500 pages. I suspect it could have been accomplished as well in, say, 400 or so, but just when I think perhaps he's drawn things out too long, Winslow pins me back into my seat as the story accelerates like top-fuel dragster and rushes headlong to the satisfying ending. He creates a pervasive sense of place and captures the times, sentiments, and characters so well that you might feel sweaty and double-triple-crossed despite sitting snug in your comfortable home. The man can write. Read some of his work and see if you agree. Enjoy.
July 18, 2017
Satori by Don Winslow is a prequel to Trevanian's 'Shibumi'.
I read Trevanian's original Nicholai Hel adventure before this prequel by Winslow, and taking nothing away from the original, i think i prefer Winslow's effort. It fills in all of the 'gaps' left in Shibumi and indeed there is space for Winslow to write another prequel, of which i would be an avid reader. Winslow's Satori takes the reader seamlessly into the world of Nicholai Hel.
For fans of the original by Trevanian, Graham Greene and to a lesser extent John le Carre and naturally, fans of Don Winslow.
Highly recommended by this reader. Unput-down-able! A rare 5 stars from this reader.
I read Trevanian's original Nicholai Hel adventure before this prequel by Winslow, and taking nothing away from the original, i think i prefer Winslow's effort. It fills in all of the 'gaps' left in Shibumi and indeed there is space for Winslow to write another prequel, of which i would be an avid reader. Winslow's Satori takes the reader seamlessly into the world of Nicholai Hel.
For fans of the original by Trevanian, Graham Greene and to a lesser extent John le Carre and naturally, fans of Don Winslow.
Highly recommended by this reader. Unput-down-able! A rare 5 stars from this reader.
December 11, 2020
Remember Trevanian? Pseudonym for author Rodney Whitaker who wrote such great stories as the Eiger Sanction. He wrote a book called Shibumi about a professional assassin which was quite well done and this book is a prequel. Written with the blessing of the Whitaker estate, Don Winslow (a great thriller writer on his own) recreates the central character and sends him on a suicide mission or several. Fast action as expected, a few "superman" exploits, a bit convoluted and overpopulated at times but a worthy book to take to the beach to while away some enjoyable hours.
February 2, 2011
Considering that Don Winslow wrote a prequel to another writer's book (Shibumi by Trevanian), I find this work to be exceptionally well done. He has not just written another story inspired by the characters from Shibumi, he has absorbed the spirit of Trevanian's work.
The development of the young Nicolai Hel and his spiritual growth are well depicted and his persona in Shibumi is better understood and appreciated. In some ways Satori is easier to read as Don Winslow does not get involved in the rambling philosophical thoughts that characterise Trevanian's work. That is not to say that Satori is lacking in depth, but that Winslow's style is far more straight forward.
I can well imagine that Trevanian would have been well pleased by this book and that his work inspired another good writer to extend the appeal of his work.
Highly recommended.
The development of the young Nicolai Hel and his spiritual growth are well depicted and his persona in Shibumi is better understood and appreciated. In some ways Satori is easier to read as Don Winslow does not get involved in the rambling philosophical thoughts that characterise Trevanian's work. That is not to say that Satori is lacking in depth, but that Winslow's style is far more straight forward.
I can well imagine that Trevanian would have been well pleased by this book and that his work inspired another good writer to extend the appeal of his work.
Highly recommended.
September 17, 2011
1952. Nicholas Hel has been imprisoned for 3 years for murdering his step father but is suddenly released to work for the American government in assassinating a dangerous Soviet agent in Mao's China. But with the French fighting Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and both Russia and the US supplying arms to the sides, it seems the US will fall deeper into the Cold War with the possibility of themselves fighting in Vietnam. There's also an assassin called Cobra on the loose and talk of Operation X. Only Nicholas Hel can save the day!
I think that about covers the "plot". This is a prequel to a popular novel from the 1970s called "Shibumi" by the French author Trevanian. With his death in 2005 and sales of "Shibumi" topping 2 million worldwide, the publishers were anxious to put out another book in the series like the Fleming estate has been doing for James bond.
But Nicholas Hel isn't James Bond. He is, sort of, in that he's a fighting machine, lover of women, fine drinks, and is courted by secret government agencies, but he doesn't have the charm or wit of Bond. He's basically a stoic, humourless shell. The archetypal "hero", heroically bland. That said, none of the characters were at all memorable or interesting. The love interest is of course a perfect woman in every way. Minus a personality but then Hel doesn't have one either so they're a perfect fit. The baddies are bad, blah blah snooze.
Then there's the "thriller" label this book is given. The first thing we see in the book is a lengthy description of a Japanese tea ceremony. Then 40 pages later this scene is rehashed again! In the first 100 pages the only scene that could be called "thrilling" was a less than 1 page scene where Hel takes out two would-be assassins. Less than a page! And then back to the dreary story.
You see, Hel is being prepared for his assignment so there is a lot of studying of dossiers, exercising, eating, and resting before he goes out to Beijing and all of it is detailed here. And it's not thrilling or interesting just plain boring.
Then we get onto the mission and Winslow wants to prove that he's done research on this era. There are pages and pages on Mao's China and the Chinese Revolution, almost like Winslow wanted to say "Hey, look! I read Jung Chang's "Mao"!". Well so did I buddy and I don't need to get through an information dump in the way of the "thriller".
I gave up on page 167 and closed the book for good. I normally give a book 50 pages and then decide if I want to go on with it but I thought I'd give this a chance. However, flicking to the back of the book and seeing there was a total of 500 pages, there was no way I was going to read another 333 pages of this drivel. The only character I was interested in was Cobra but he was in the book for less than a page.
For 167 pages, almost nothing at all happened. Nothing to make me want to keep going, nothing to keep reading, nothing of interest. I've no idea whether the original "Shibumi" was like "Satori" and don't care to find out. Whether Trevanian is a great writer or not is uncertain but as this is the first time I've heard of him I'm guessing no. But Don Winslow is a brilliant writer, or can be. Just read his latest book "Savages", a 300 real thriller through the drug wars of the Calexico border. Kidnappings, bribes, shootouts, double-crossing, drug deals, murder - compare "Savages" to "Satori" and you'll notice a vast gap in the quality. "Savages" made me want to read more when I finished, "Satori" made me want to never read another "thriller" again. I guess this is aimed at the Trevanian fanbase because based on what I read here, nobody is going to be won over by this weak effort.
I think that about covers the "plot". This is a prequel to a popular novel from the 1970s called "Shibumi" by the French author Trevanian. With his death in 2005 and sales of "Shibumi" topping 2 million worldwide, the publishers were anxious to put out another book in the series like the Fleming estate has been doing for James bond.
But Nicholas Hel isn't James Bond. He is, sort of, in that he's a fighting machine, lover of women, fine drinks, and is courted by secret government agencies, but he doesn't have the charm or wit of Bond. He's basically a stoic, humourless shell. The archetypal "hero", heroically bland. That said, none of the characters were at all memorable or interesting. The love interest is of course a perfect woman in every way. Minus a personality but then Hel doesn't have one either so they're a perfect fit. The baddies are bad, blah blah snooze.
Then there's the "thriller" label this book is given. The first thing we see in the book is a lengthy description of a Japanese tea ceremony. Then 40 pages later this scene is rehashed again! In the first 100 pages the only scene that could be called "thrilling" was a less than 1 page scene where Hel takes out two would-be assassins. Less than a page! And then back to the dreary story.
You see, Hel is being prepared for his assignment so there is a lot of studying of dossiers, exercising, eating, and resting before he goes out to Beijing and all of it is detailed here. And it's not thrilling or interesting just plain boring.
Then we get onto the mission and Winslow wants to prove that he's done research on this era. There are pages and pages on Mao's China and the Chinese Revolution, almost like Winslow wanted to say "Hey, look! I read Jung Chang's "Mao"!". Well so did I buddy and I don't need to get through an information dump in the way of the "thriller".
I gave up on page 167 and closed the book for good. I normally give a book 50 pages and then decide if I want to go on with it but I thought I'd give this a chance. However, flicking to the back of the book and seeing there was a total of 500 pages, there was no way I was going to read another 333 pages of this drivel. The only character I was interested in was Cobra but he was in the book for less than a page.
For 167 pages, almost nothing at all happened. Nothing to make me want to keep going, nothing to keep reading, nothing of interest. I've no idea whether the original "Shibumi" was like "Satori" and don't care to find out. Whether Trevanian is a great writer or not is uncertain but as this is the first time I've heard of him I'm guessing no. But Don Winslow is a brilliant writer, or can be. Just read his latest book "Savages", a 300 real thriller through the drug wars of the Calexico border. Kidnappings, bribes, shootouts, double-crossing, drug deals, murder - compare "Savages" to "Satori" and you'll notice a vast gap in the quality. "Savages" made me want to read more when I finished, "Satori" made me want to never read another "thriller" again. I guess this is aimed at the Trevanian fanbase because based on what I read here, nobody is going to be won over by this weak effort.
December 16, 2011
‘Satori was the Zen Buddhist concept of a sudden awakening, a realisation of life as it really is. It came not as a result of meditation or conscious thought, but could arrive in the wisp of a breeze, the crackle of a flame, the falling of a leaf.’
‘Nicholai had never known Satori.’ – A captive of the United States, Nicholai is provided his freedom on the proviso he assassinates the Soviet commissioner to Red China, Yuri Voroshenin. The US, having identified Nicholai’s talents - notably the mastery of Naked/Kill techniques, puts in motion a chain of events which causes ripples cross continent.
‘Satori’ is oriental espionage involving arms dealing, assassination, political corruption, and gorilla militants delivered in cinematic beauty perfected for the big screen in vivid detail. Despite the nod towards violence and the shady characters of the underworld, at its heart lies a moving story of love and determination like no other. The claustrophobic conclusion will leave you gasping for breath as you come to terms with a twist I couldn't predict.
Winslow pays homage to Trevanian’s ‘Shibumi’ in spectacular fashion in concoting an internal thriller with spy connotations executed by complex plotting, engaging characters lead by a protagonist yet to reach his vengeful potential. 4 stars.
‘Nicholai had never known Satori.’ – A captive of the United States, Nicholai is provided his freedom on the proviso he assassinates the Soviet commissioner to Red China, Yuri Voroshenin. The US, having identified Nicholai’s talents - notably the mastery of Naked/Kill techniques, puts in motion a chain of events which causes ripples cross continent.
‘Satori’ is oriental espionage involving arms dealing, assassination, political corruption, and gorilla militants delivered in cinematic beauty perfected for the big screen in vivid detail. Despite the nod towards violence and the shady characters of the underworld, at its heart lies a moving story of love and determination like no other. The claustrophobic conclusion will leave you gasping for breath as you come to terms with a twist I couldn't predict.
Winslow pays homage to Trevanian’s ‘Shibumi’ in spectacular fashion in concoting an internal thriller with spy connotations executed by complex plotting, engaging characters lead by a protagonist yet to reach his vengeful potential. 4 stars.
June 17, 2021
3.5
The first half is brilliant, the second less so. But all in all it is great, ridiculous fun.
The first half is brilliant, the second less so. But all in all it is great, ridiculous fun.
February 3, 2020
Listened to the audio book and was given quite a magnificent presentation. Given our main character's aptitude for language and the setting, the narrator had to be able to handle all of the challenges of language and characters. He did it splendidly!
If you've read Shibumi, you'll want to pick up this novel to find out how Nicholai Hel came to be. Done with the same feeling and intensity of the original author's work (Trevanian), Don Winslow picks up the mantle and carries it well.
For anyone unfamiliar with the original, starting with either book should be perfectly fine. There was so much to love about the original, I was very surprised & delighted when I came across this novel at my library.
Language, violence and sexual content keep this as an adult read.
If you've read Shibumi, you'll want to pick up this novel to find out how Nicholai Hel came to be. Done with the same feeling and intensity of the original author's work (Trevanian), Don Winslow picks up the mantle and carries it well.
For anyone unfamiliar with the original, starting with either book should be perfectly fine. There was so much to love about the original, I was very surprised & delighted when I came across this novel at my library.
Language, violence and sexual content keep this as an adult read.
March 29, 2021
Phenomenal! Magnificent! I didn't expect this much, to be honest. I hoped for something close to good attempt at honoring the first book, but this.... It's complete monumental tribute to the grandeur of original and its author. In some small first part of the book, I was preying like a hawk for anything that might trigger cynical fanboy in me to go "oh yeah, just as I expected. Nice try, but no." That never really happened. It only got better and better. Perfect sequel (actually, a prequel) to the perfect book. Mr. Winslow did impossible and recreated complete genome of one of the most intriguing characters I ever came across in literature. Every note is played, every single nuance of his personality is there, as much as I could detect. All the expectations I could ever possibly have had is fulfilled. Well done, Mr. Winslow, well done. Any chance for the third book? What might come after Shibumi and Satori? Maybe, Nirvana or something?
August 10, 2023
A good story well told in Winslow's usual flowing style, but let down by improbable coincidences and incredible escapes worthy of Jackie Chan.
December 24, 2015
’Satori’ es una novela de encargo y Don Winslow el elegido para llevarla a cabo. Se trata de una precuela de ‘Shibumi’, que aprovecha un hueco de tres años que Trevanian dejó al escribir esta obra. Estamos en 1951, y tenemos a Nicholai Hel, el protagonista, al que tras tres años de encarcelamiento se le pone en libertad a cambio de realizar una misión para el gobierno americano: eliminar a Yuri Voroshenin, un delegado de la Unión Soviética que se encuentra en Pekín, y con el que curiosamente Hel tiene cuentas pendientes también. Este es el punto de partida de esta novela de espías, en la que entrará en juego más de un bando con sus propios intereses, y donde las traiciones no se harán esperar.
Don Winslow se aleja de la manera de narrar de Trevanian y opta por un estilo más acorde con los tiempos actuales. No he leído nada de Winslow, pero según tengo entendido tiene un estilo muy crudo, donde la violencia y el sexo se exponen sin tapujos. Este no es el caso de ’Satori’, si bien es verdad que estas no faltan. Supongo que Winslow ha optado por un punto intermedio. La narración es muy visual, trascurre como si de un guión cinematográfico se tratase (parece ser que habrá adaptación, con Leonardo di Caprio como protagonista). ‘Shibumi’ fue una novela que me gustó mucho en su momento, y de la que guardo un grato recuerdo. Sin embargo, ’Satori’ no me ha dejado ninguna huella. Es una novela que entretiene sin más, que supongo es lo que pretendía.
Don Winslow se aleja de la manera de narrar de Trevanian y opta por un estilo más acorde con los tiempos actuales. No he leído nada de Winslow, pero según tengo entendido tiene un estilo muy crudo, donde la violencia y el sexo se exponen sin tapujos. Este no es el caso de ’Satori’, si bien es verdad que estas no faltan. Supongo que Winslow ha optado por un punto intermedio. La narración es muy visual, trascurre como si de un guión cinematográfico se tratase (parece ser que habrá adaptación, con Leonardo di Caprio como protagonista). ‘Shibumi’ fue una novela que me gustó mucho en su momento, y de la que guardo un grato recuerdo. Sin embargo, ’Satori’ no me ha dejado ninguna huella. Es una novela que entretiene sin más, que supongo es lo que pretendía.
April 2, 2019
Dreadful. Trevanian really could write. In his three spy novels he imitated Ian Fleming in a way that became increasingly excoriating (especially when discussing Americans) but he was never serious about it. It was satire.
Don Winslow doesn't get this. I think he's a stylistically wretched writer. His cliche descriptions and flaccid pacing make this a pale and unneeded imitation. Travanian himself never wanted to write any more of this sort of stuff , so he finished his career with the summer of Katya (which is a wonderful romantic mystery worthy of Zola or Conrad) and The Crazyladies of Pearl Street, (which is like an E L Doctorow novel. In each case his writing choices are deliberate and precise, his language elegant, and his ideas interesting.
I believe he wrote shibumi for exactly the audience I was when it came out, that is, a 14-year old boy. Winslow on the other hand is a hack of the sort I detest, just smart enough to get the form but nowhere near a good enough writer to capture the rythm and tone. Maybe he writes a good thriller yes, but I don't see anything in the way he writes here that makes me want to read any of his work
I can understand the money-grubbing Publishers wanting to cash in, but boy am I sorry I spent one of my audible credits on this piece of garbage. I don't even have the satisfaction of being able to throw it across the room.
Don Winslow doesn't get this. I think he's a stylistically wretched writer. His cliche descriptions and flaccid pacing make this a pale and unneeded imitation. Travanian himself never wanted to write any more of this sort of stuff , so he finished his career with the summer of Katya (which is a wonderful romantic mystery worthy of Zola or Conrad) and The Crazyladies of Pearl Street, (which is like an E L Doctorow novel. In each case his writing choices are deliberate and precise, his language elegant, and his ideas interesting.
I believe he wrote shibumi for exactly the audience I was when it came out, that is, a 14-year old boy. Winslow on the other hand is a hack of the sort I detest, just smart enough to get the form but nowhere near a good enough writer to capture the rythm and tone. Maybe he writes a good thriller yes, but I don't see anything in the way he writes here that makes me want to read any of his work
I can understand the money-grubbing Publishers wanting to cash in, but boy am I sorry I spent one of my audible credits on this piece of garbage. I don't even have the satisfaction of being able to throw it across the room.
May 23, 2019
Don Winslow çok zor bir işe kalkışmış. Bir başkasının, hele ki Trevanian gibi bir ustanın çizdiği portrenin detaylarını doldurmak üzere bir roman yazmış. Şibumi okuyanların merak edeceği detaylar var Satori’de; fakat bir siyasi ayak oyunları ve kişi ve mekan adları denizinde boğulmayı göze alabilirseniz. Nicholai Hel Şibumi’de çelik gibi bir adam; bu kitaptaki olayların öncesinde çektiği işkence ve tecrit bile onu eğip bükememiş. Bu kitaptaki Nicholai Hel aynı adam değil. Yani mesela siz bira içen, ne sebeple olursa olsun para pazarlığı yapan bir Nicholai Hel düşünebiliyor musunuz? Bir de Şibumi’de anlatılan Nicholai’ın General’i öldürmesinin çok önemli bir detayı Satori’de farklı anlatılmış. Tam bir hayal kırıklığı.
Kitap tek başına güzel bir macera romanı olabilirdi ama Trevanian’ın ayak izlerini takip etme yolunda çok başarılı değil. Yine de özlediğimiz bir kahramanın anısıyla biraz daha vakit geçirmemize vesile oluyor ve Nicholai Hel’in hikayesindeki boşlukları biraz olsun doldurabiliyor; işin zorluğunu düşününce eleştiride çok acımasız olmak istemiyorum.
Kitap tek başına güzel bir macera romanı olabilirdi ama Trevanian’ın ayak izlerini takip etme yolunda çok başarılı değil. Yine de özlediğimiz bir kahramanın anısıyla biraz daha vakit geçirmemize vesile oluyor ve Nicholai Hel’in hikayesindeki boşlukları biraz olsun doldurabiliyor; işin zorluğunu düşününce eleştiride çok acımasız olmak istemiyorum.
November 12, 2015
It's the fall of 1951 and the Korean War is raging on. 26 year old
Nicholai Hel has spent the last 3 years in solitary confinement
compliments of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu or
naked kill which means that he can kill you with any handy weapon,
like a pencil. He also speaks 7 languages. Likewise he has a keen
awareness skill. He can sense the presence of danger. This certainly
makes him a formidable assassin. The Americans need him and offer him
freedom if he will go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's Comm-
isioner to China. This is almost certainly a suicide mission but he
accepts and now he must survive violence, suspicion and betrayal. This
book is from 2011 and it's a definite winner. I gave it a 5.
Nicholai Hel has spent the last 3 years in solitary confinement
compliments of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu or
naked kill which means that he can kill you with any handy weapon,
like a pencil. He also speaks 7 languages. Likewise he has a keen
awareness skill. He can sense the presence of danger. This certainly
makes him a formidable assassin. The Americans need him and offer him
freedom if he will go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's Comm-
isioner to China. This is almost certainly a suicide mission but he
accepts and now he must survive violence, suspicion and betrayal. This
book is from 2011 and it's a definite winner. I gave it a 5.
April 24, 2011
Don Winslow has done a good job in writing a prequel to one of my favorite books, Shibumi by Trevanian. Nicholas Hel is the child of a Russian aristcrat and Asian father, who fits in neither world. He is rescued from jail with an offer to find and kill an enemy of the U.S. Then, of course, he has to battle many adversaries to achieve his goal, which include punishing the men who tortured him for euthanizing his Japanese mentor.
February 16, 2022
2.5 stars
With “Satori” Don Winslow goes over the top, providing us with a full-blown catalog of adventure/thriller cliches. Sometimes this even reads like a parody, albeit, a hollow one, “The Naked Gun” without jokes. And the ending made me dizzy as if I was on roller coaster. It wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t good either.
With “Satori” Don Winslow goes over the top, providing us with a full-blown catalog of adventure/thriller cliches. Sometimes this even reads like a parody, albeit, a hollow one, “The Naked Gun” without jokes. And the ending made me dizzy as if I was on roller coaster. It wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t good either.
August 6, 2011
I'm a fan of Trevanian's work. It took me less than a page to fall in love with Don Winslow's walk in Trevanian's world. He did a masterful job of honoring Shibumi and writing so well that I don't think Trevanian could have done a better job.
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