Shōgun - James Clavell

[Xerxes]

I have made aware of James Clavell’s epic 6-book Asia series for more than 15 years ago. Never got around to it till now. 
 

The first is called Shōgun. After I found out last year that Disney/Hulu was producing a televised version, I bought the first book. And started reading in October 2023.
 

It is 1,100 pages long and I am closing to page 700. 
 

it is very complex story with a diverse cast of characters, which at one point you get to see on a recurring basis so get used to it. So it does get easier. The backstories is told in piecemeal during conversations at then present day, and you get to understand the “plan within plans” and shifting loyalties. 
 

I also watched the first two episodes on Disney, it was absolutely amazing to see all the highlights of what I read depicted on live TV. Really good adaptation in my opinion. 
 

Edited March 4 by Xerxes

[Xerxes]

 

[formthirteen]

Thanks. Didn't know about the book. I will try to read it at some point.

 

Shogun is a very good TV show. One of the better in recent years, so far.

[Pelagic]

I bought it on Kindle a few days ago, about 30% through and its excellent so far. 

[lnofeisone]

I remember when the original Shogun (1980s make?) made its way to Uzbekistan in mid-90s. All of my friends and I were glued to the TV for every episode. It will be the same way for this series as well. The production quality here is very high. I didn't realize it was based on a novel so will get it on Kindle.

[maxthetrade]

I read the book as a teenager way back in the late eighties, loved it. Noble House and Tai-Pan were great reads as well! 

[Xerxes]

I am less than 25 pages from the end.

Of the 1,100 or total pages. 
 

Somehow the author is going to weave and wrap all the plotlines in those 20 or so pages.  

[Xerxes]

Finished the book. The last few pages cover like 10 years or so. 
 

The show is at episode 9. One more to go. Episode 8 and 9 were straight from the book (with minor changes that made it better). It is incredible to see how the producers were able to create a show based on such complicated book without oversimplifying it. 
 

Reading this book I have learned more about Japanese people in that era, culture wise than the past 25 years of my life reading history books about Asia. 
This novel somehow seeps in all the cultural nuances that gets missed just by reading history books. 
 

I think I will read Tai-pan next that deals with merchant families in Hong Kong. 
 

According to Wiki:

 

Four of the six books—Tai-Pan, Gai-Jin, Noble House, and Whirlwind—follow the dealings of the great trading company Struan's, the Noble House of Asia (based on Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited), its founder Dirk Struan, and his various descendants. Gai-Jin provides the major link between the Shōgun and Struan's storylines.

[mjm]

40 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

Finished the book. The last few pages cover like 10 years or so. 
 

The show is at episode 9. One more to go. Episode 8 and 9 were straight from the book (with minor changes that made it better). It is incredible to see how the producers were able to create a show based on such complicated book without oversimplifying it. 
 

Reading this book I have learned more about Japanese people in that era, culture wise than the past 25 years of my life reading history books about Asia. 
This novel somehow seeps in all the cultural nuances that gets missed just by reading history books. 
 

I think I will read Tai-pan next that deals with merchant families in Hong Kong. 
 

According to Wiki:

 

Four of the six books—Tai-Pan, Gai-Jin, Noble House, and Whirlwind—follow the dealings of the great trading company Struan's, the Noble House of Asia (based on Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited), its founder Dirk Struan, and his various descendants. Gai-Jin provides the major link between the Shōgun and Struan's storylines.

thought shogun the best of that lot.  think King Rat , believe his first book, and have read/enjoyed it.  also the old King Rat movie that is in black and white is enjoyable.

 

[Xerxes]

8 hours ago, mjm said:

thought shogun the best of that lot.  think King Rat , believe his first book, and have read/enjoyed it.  also the old King Rat movie that is in black and white is enjoyable.

 

Thanks. 
I was actually to skip King Rat as it was his first published one and no major history arc in it. 

[mjm]

9 hours ago, Xerxes said:

Thanks. 
I was actually to skip King Rat as it was his first published one and no major history arc in it. 

watch the movie if you can.  believe main character is a young George Seigel

[Xerxes]

[Xerxes]

On 4/17/2024 at 11:09 AM, Xerxes said:

I think I will read Tai-pan next that deals with merchant families in Hong Kong. 
 

According to Wiki:

 

Four of the six books—Tai-Pan, Gai-Jin, Noble House, and Whirlwind—follow the dealings of the great trading company Struan's, the Noble House of Asia (based on Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited), its founder Dirk Struan, and his various descendants. Gai-Jin provides the major link between the Shōgun and Struan's storylines.

Started reading Tai-Pan.
 

Great setting, great writing. The author in less than three pages nailed the opium trade, the silver surplus buildup in China and the trade imbalance …. 
 

[Xerxes]

Finished reading Tai-Pan.

 

Definitely not in par with Shogun, but very enjoyable as it shows settlers, traders trying to balance foreign interest, commercial interest, the Crown, the Manchu emperors and the Chinese secret societies, in the bid to build a up a colony that would become Hong Kong.

 

Will start reading Gai-Jin in 2025, which although is the last book James Clavell wrote, it is chronology right after Tai-Pan, that takes the story back to Japan and it involves the trading companies of Hong Kong and their commercial interests that were presented in Tai-Pan.

 

Hulu/Disney are confirmed to be developing Seasons 2 and 3 of Shogun. I do wonder what is exactly their scope of work and if they will fast forwarding to Gai-Jin era. 

 

 

According to Wiki:

 

Four of the six books—Tai-Pan, Gai-Jin, Noble House, and Whirlwind—follow the dealings of the great trading company Struan's, the Noble House of Asia (based on Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited), its founder Dirk Struan, and his various descendants. Gai-Jin provides the major link between the Shōgun and Struan's storylines.