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Trevanian Shibumi
Ballantine Books 0345311809 / 9780345311801 MASS MARKET PAPERBACK Good
0345311809 Editorial Reviews - Shibumi n n nFrom the Publisher n n nNicholai Hel is the world's most wanted man. Born in Shanghai during the chaos of World War I, he is the son of an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father and is the protégé of a Japanese Go master. Hel survived the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished-and well-paid-assassin. Hel is a genius, a mystic, and a master of language and culture, and his secret is his determination to attain a rare kind of personal excellence, a state of effortless perfection known only as shibumi. n nNow living in an isolated mountain fortress with his exquisite mistress, Hel is unwillingly drawn back into the life he'd tried to leave behind when a beautiful young stranger arrives at his door, seeking help and refuge. It soon becomes clear that Hel is being tracked by his most sinister enemy-a supermonolith of international espionage known only as the Mother Company. The battle lines are drawn: ruthless power and corruption on one side, and on the other . . . shibumi. n nSt. Louis Post Dispatch n n nTrevanian is a master of international intrigue...this novel should establish his reputation in the forefront of the cloak and dagger genre. n n n Loading... n n nFeatures - Shibumi n n n Read an Excerpt n n n nRead an Excerpt n nWashington n nThe screen flashed 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 . . . then the projector was switched off, and lights came up in recessed sconces along the walls of the private viewing room. n nThe projectionist's voice was thin and metallic over the intercom. "Ready when you are, Mr. Starr." n nT. Darryl Starr, sole audience member, pressed the talk button of the communication console before him. "Hey, buddy? Tell me something. What are all those numbers in front of a movie for anyway?" n n"It's called academy leader, sir," the projectionist answered. "I just spliced it onto the film as a sort of joke." n n"Joke?" n n"Yes, sir. I mean . . . considering the nature of the film . . . it's sort of funny to have a commercial leader, don't you think?" n n"Why funny?" n n"Well, I mean . . . what with all the complaints about violence in movies and all that." n nT. Darryl Starr grunted and scrubbed his nose with the back of his fist, then he slipped down the pilot-style sunglasses he had pushed up into his cropped hair when the lights first went off. n nJoke? It damn well better not be a joke, I shit thee not! If anything has gone wrong, my ass will be grass. And if the slightest little thing is wrong, you can bet your danglees that Mr. Diamond and his crew will spot it. Nit-picking bastards! Ever since they took control over Middle East operations of CIA, they seemed to get their cookies by pointing out every little boo-boo. n nStarr bit off the end of his cigar, spat it onto the carpeted floor, pumped it in and out of his pursed lips, then lit it from a wooden match he struck with his thumbnail. As Most Senior Field Operative, he had access to Cuban cigars. After all, RHIP. n nHe scooted down and hooked his legs over the back of the seat before him, like he used to do when he watched movies at the Lone Star Theater as a boy. And if the boy in front objected, Starr would offer to kick his ass up amongst his shoulder blades. The other kid always backed off, because everybody in Flat Rock knew that T. Darryl Starr was some kind of fierce and could stomp a mud puddle in any kid's chest. n nThat was many years and knocks ago, but Starr was still some kind of fierce. That's what it took to become CIA's Most Senior Field Operative. That, and experience. And boo-coo smarts. n nAnd patriotism, of course. n nStarr checked his watch: two minutes to four. Mr. Diamond had called for a screening at four, and he would arrive at four-exactly. If Starr's watch did not read four straight up when Diamond walked into the theater, he would assume the watch was in need of repair. n nHe pressed his talk button again. "How does the film look?" n n"Not bad, considering the conditions under which we shot it," the projectionist answered. "The light in Rome In
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