View Single Post
Old 08-28-2011, 04:54 AM   #10628
Stitchawl
Opsimath
Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Stitchawl's Avatar
 
Posts: 12,344
Karma: 187123287
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcCunney View Post
the late SF artist Kelly Freas said "You want to read a novel about contact with an alien culture? Read Shogun!", and he was quite right, because that's what it was. Edo period Japan was a very different culture and place than Europe of the period.
In that respect, it hasn't changed a whit!

Quote:
The book got some flak from Japanese, who were unhappy with the portrayal of their people and said it wouldn't have happened that way. That was somewhat amusing, as Clavell had lived in Asia, and put himself forward as an expert on Japanese culture who could help other westerners who had to deal with it.
______
Dennis
I'm here to say Clavell was correct in virtually every respect. Unfortunately, the Japanese don't particularly like to see themselves in such a light, and I can understand why there would be some outcrys.

I still think 'Shogun' was one of the very best books I've ever read, and Clavell's knowledge of Japan and Hong Kong (as shown in 'Taipan' and 'Noble House') is encyclopedic. If you are familiar with Hong Kong, you can easily change given names and recognize all the people and places.



Stitchawl
Stitchawl is offline   Reply With Quote