Story of the Stone, The
3 journalers for this copy...
The first book in this series is one of my all-time favorites. I didn't enjoy the sequels as much, but it was hard to resist the lure of more adventures with Master Li and Number Ten Ox. I think I still have a copy of this book, somewhere, but it's currently MIA.This copy will be headed straight from Better World Books to its new home.
Headed to New Hampshire as a wishlist tag - enjoy!
This good-condition ex-library hardcover arrived safely today, in time to be united with the bookplate label you sent {grin}. Thanks so much for the tag! I loved Bridge of Birds, and am looking forward to another visit with Number 10 Ox and Master Li!
Later: While this wasn't quite as spectacular as the first novel, I enjoyed this adventure very much - not least because of the new characters who join Li and Ox on their quest: the mysterious beauty Grief of Dawn, and the stunningly-handsome and always-randy (for men, anyway) Moon Boy. Much of the story features these four together, and they get along so well that Li even suggests forming a household - he'll marry the girl, but won't be jealous of any time she chooses to spend with Ox, and while Moon Boy never stays in one place for long they could always keep a room for him when he's in town. Even Ox finds this a charming scheme...
The quest itself involves hints of a strangely powerful - and allegedly evil - stone, with intricately-forged documents forming part of the chain of clues. The quest takes our heroes through the labyrinthine caves that house the tomb of the Laughing Prince - if he's really there; rumor has it he's immortal, and Not A Nice Guy At All.
The journey takes our friends to wondrous places, some of which seem easier to get into than out of, but somehow they manage to continue on their way - sometimes at great cost. The unraveling of the plot is as circuitous - and full of banter - as one could hope, and there's plenty of action as well. I loved the bit where they had to shoot the rapids, a proceeding that nearly killed them all - but at the end, Ox observes that "the only problems were Master Li and Moon Boy. They wanted to go back and do it again, but Grief of Dawn and I sat on them until they regained their senses."
As in the previous book, the descriptions of terrain, food, and rich apparel are lavish and evocative; and, here, there are some marvelous descriptions of music, whether it's Moon Boy's unusual vocal impressions or Grief of Dawn's songs.
While I wasn't surprised at the identity of the main villain here, the details were surprising. And the climax of the story was as spectacular as could be wished. (I especially loved the resolution of the problem, stated early in the book, as to the naming of a new Patron of Prostitutes!) If only things could have worked out the way Li and Ox wanted... Ah, well, perhaps that's for the best!
[There's a TV Tropes page for the series.]
Later: While this wasn't quite as spectacular as the first novel, I enjoyed this adventure very much - not least because of the new characters who join Li and Ox on their quest: the mysterious beauty Grief of Dawn, and the stunningly-handsome and always-randy (for men, anyway) Moon Boy. Much of the story features these four together, and they get along so well that Li even suggests forming a household - he'll marry the girl, but won't be jealous of any time she chooses to spend with Ox, and while Moon Boy never stays in one place for long they could always keep a room for him when he's in town. Even Ox finds this a charming scheme...
The quest itself involves hints of a strangely powerful - and allegedly evil - stone, with intricately-forged documents forming part of the chain of clues. The quest takes our heroes through the labyrinthine caves that house the tomb of the Laughing Prince - if he's really there; rumor has it he's immortal, and Not A Nice Guy At All.
The journey takes our friends to wondrous places, some of which seem easier to get into than out of, but somehow they manage to continue on their way - sometimes at great cost. The unraveling of the plot is as circuitous - and full of banter - as one could hope, and there's plenty of action as well. I loved the bit where they had to shoot the rapids, a proceeding that nearly killed them all - but at the end, Ox observes that "the only problems were Master Li and Moon Boy. They wanted to go back and do it again, but Grief of Dawn and I sat on them until they regained their senses."
As in the previous book, the descriptions of terrain, food, and rich apparel are lavish and evocative; and, here, there are some marvelous descriptions of music, whether it's Moon Boy's unusual vocal impressions or Grief of Dawn's songs.
While I wasn't surprised at the identity of the main villain here, the details were surprising. And the climax of the story was as spectacular as could be wished. (I especially loved the resolution of the problem, stated early in the book, as to the naming of a new Patron of Prostitutes!) If only things could have worked out the way Li and Ox wanted... Ah, well, perhaps that's for the best!
[There's a TV Tropes page for the series.]
I'm sending this to BCer HI77 in Florida as part of a trade. Enjoy!
*** Released as part of the 2015 4 Elements challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 4 Elements challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***
What pen and paper may say,
will not hold him long
before he runs.
will not hold him long
before he runs.
