Dream of the Dragon Pool [Paperback]

Albert A. Dalia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2007

Dream of the Dragon Pool A Daoist Quest is a multifaceted novel woven around the historical fact of the death-sentence exile of China s best loved poet-adventurer, Li Bo (also Li Bai, 701-762 A.D.). This is an adventure story of magic, myth, and occult powers written as traditional Chinese-style wu-xia (heroic) fiction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of this simplistic debut fantasy from Dalia, a Western scholar of China, the renowned poet Li Bo (based on the historical figure, Li Bai, A.D. 701-762) is drinking too much and writing too little since his exile from the emperor's court. Accompanied by his friend Ah Wu, a deadly crossbowman, Li Bo seeks guidance at the Dream Temple, where an immortal bequeaths him the magical Dragon Pool sword and assigns him a quest that will restore his literary powers. Li Bo must bring the sword to a rain goddess who inhabits a 12-peaked mountain in the Yangtze River's Three Gorges, but the sword attracts some dangerous characters: a blood dragon and his enslaved golden-haired ghost, as well as a ruthless albino swordsman. The beautiful Shamaness Luo, on a separate spiritual quest, is also headed to the 12-peaked mountain. While the story aspires to romantic chinoiserie, the bulk of it remains stubbornly earthbound.
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About the Author

Albert A. Dalia is a China scholar with four decades of study, research, and experience in medieval Chinese history and culture. Two decades ago, after earning two masters degrees and a Ph.D. in Chinese history and religion, he turned to fiction writing and produced a series of published short stories and, now, his first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Pleasure Boat Studio: A Literary Press (April 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929355343
• ISBN-13: 978-1929355341
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,199,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All this...and a drunken monkey!, May 25, 2007

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dream of the Dragon Pool (Paperback)

The great poet, Li Bo, has been ordered into exile, but on his way out of the Empire he decides to stop at Dream Temple, "a place where dreams bring peace to troubled hearts." But, the dream vision he receives sends him and his friend Ah Wu on a quest to bring the magical Dragon Pool Sword to the Rain Goddess on Mount Wu. And so, Li Bo sets out on an epic quest that will lead him through life and death, and choices...and back again.

OK, Where do I start? I have read and enjoyed a few pieces of Chinese literature before, and found them interesting, if heavy, going (most notably Chang Hsi-kuo's city trilogy). This book was written by Albert A. Dalia, a Western scholar and traveler with two masters degrees and a Ph.D. in Chinese history and religion, and it ably succeeds in bringing a Chinese story home to a Western reader.

The story is set in eighth-century China, but it is the China of legend. Through his quest, Li Bo and the reader meet ghosts and dragons, magical assassins and potent shamanesses, magic swords and Immortals...oh yeah, and a drunken monkey. The story itself is quite excellent, being equal to any of the recent wuxia movies coming out (including House of Flying Daggers, which I highly enjoyed).

So, let me sum up by saying that this is an excellent fantasy story, a wonderful Chinese-style story that brings Chinese culture and religion within the grasp of a Western reader, and a very entertaining read. All this...and a drunken monkey. Come on, you know you *have* to read this book!

I loved this book, and give it my highest recommendations!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Only More Historians Wrote Such Fine Stories, May 21, 2007

By 

William Porter "Red Pine" (Port Townsend, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dream of the Dragon Pool (Paperback)

I have known Albert over thirty years, and Li Bo longer. And I've been waiting for this book for more moons than I have hairs left on my head. The wait was worth it, though I hope the next one won't take so long to reach me. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this journey. But then again, I'm so out of touch with the times, sharing, as I do, Albert's love of the Tang. Meanwhile, I will be keeping an eye out for the glint of a sword blade, the next time I travel through the Yangtze Gorges.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Jedi you'll like wuxia, January 8, 2008

By 

E. Khuluq (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dream of the Dragon Pool (Paperback)

This is my wife's account, my name is Dawud.

I bought this book because I'm interested in wuxia literature after having been into wuxia films and comics for years. I'd never read a wuxia novel all the way through before. Most of those I knew about don't have English translations and are subject to gradual fan translations online. So when I heard of Mr Dalia's work I was eagerly anticipating it. I was not in the least disappointed.

I'm a huge Star Wars fan, and I've been reading Star Wars novels for the last 14 years and in recent years I've been really noting the similarities between Star Wars and wuxia ever since I became interested in wuxia. So Star Wars novels were a good introduction for me into this genre I'd say, and reading Dream of the Dragon Pool was like putting on familiar clothing with a different design and maybe a bit more vintage.

Dream of the Dragon Pool really drives home for me how wuxia Star Wars is, especially when it comes to the use of chi in the martial arts. The first time Wang Ah Wu uses his chi to boost his awareness of his surroundings I was reminded of the way Jedi are written to use the Force for the same thing. This book is a must read for Star Wars fans. I also highly recommend it to anyone interested in wuxia fiction in general... and people who have an interest in Chinese culture and martial arts.