Shanji [Paperback]

James Glass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2004

On the planet Shanji a ruthless Emperor rules a subjugated people. Kati, raised by the lower caste Tumatsin, is taken captive by the Emperor's troops, but saved by The Searchers, who see her as the promised Empress of Light, who can control the hot light of creation. But Kati's psychic powers can destroy a planet or star, and could be beyond everyone's control. She must decide how to use her powers when there is a planetary invasion from afar, led by a powerful Empress Kati thought was her friend and teacher. The barbarian girl must take charge of her own destiny, not only for herself but for Shanji and its neighboring worlds. Born with the heritage of two races, she must rule both of them.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The first of three books in a series, this a very remarkable novel by a brilliant voice in contemporary Science Fiction.

About the Author

"Jim read and wrote science fiction as a kid and published a fanzine while in high school, but then came college, a degree in physics and starting a family while working on ion and arc-jet engines at Rocketdyne.

"Graduate school followed, and a thirty five year career as a professor of physics, department head and dean at North Dakota State University and Eastern Washington University. The writing during this time was seventy five technical papers on his research in molecular biophysics and superconductivity. But the fiction writing bug bit hard again when Jim was well into his forties. His first published story was in Aboriginal S.F. and soon after he won the 1990 grand prize in the Writers of the Future Contest. He retired from his academic job in 1999 and now writes full time."

- From the author's website

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: e-reads.com (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759257817
• ISBN-13: 978-0759257818
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,427,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Adequate, a "Flawed Gem"., May 8, 2000

By 

David Hewitt (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shanji (Mass Market Paperback)

I examined and passed by Shanji in my local bookstore several times. The teaser text on the back is rather horrible - you know you're in trouble when the first sentence is "Poor Kati!" But, after seeing it listed here as a reference from another author I enjoyed, and reading the glowing reviews, I decided to give it a shot. The good: the characters are, by and large, entertaining and reasonably well characterized. Kati, the protagonist is interesting and fun to hang out with. The plot moves along at a good clip, and there are times when the writing can sweep you away into a more fun and interesting world. The empress from another star system is also a very intriguing character, and it is difficult to decide, until near the end of the book, whether she is a good guy or bad guy, and whether or not she can be trusted. The bad: The character's actions and emotions are often at odds with their characterization. There are some truly awkward scenes in the book, that call to mind Anakin's parting with his mother in Star Wars / Phantom Menace ("Mom, I'm going away to be a jedi, cool, eh? Oh no, mom, I have to leave you (sob), oh well, bye!") Serious emotional issues are papered over or ignored, and the book winds up feeling rather shallow. Everything comes off as far to neat and tidy - and sterile - and by the end of the book, I was ready to move on. This is a book that reads like a first effort from an author with promise. I am glad to have read it, and I DID enjoy it. However, I do not anticipate reading the sequel which the book's ending basically announces. I would not recommend this as an outstanding book, but I would not warn anyone away from it. If you are looking for a light read, with some interesting "training" sequences, characters you will enjoy hanging out with, and (secondarily) a struggle to unite two cultures, this book should give you an enjoyable evening or two. If you're only looking for the very best stories told in a unique way by an experienced author, then you'd best keep looking.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent SF & Fantasy all in one, April 15, 1999

By 

Honna Swenson (Seattle, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shanji (Mass Market Paperback)

I'll admit that I read Shanji over a year ago in a different form (audio tape, from Books in Motion). I'll admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't wait for the sequel. But, as is often the case in the publishing world, the book version didn't appear until now, and the sequel won't come out until Baen sees how well Shanji does.

It does well. Glass is a wonderful storyteller, and he thrives with the longer form. The mythology of Shanji is based on Mongol or Mandarin, and Glass has researched this meticulously, even though the story stands alone, away from Old Earth.

Kati, the main character, who at is orphaned and captured by the Emperor, is special and not completely human. From her humble beginnings to her opulent life at the Emperor's court, Kati learns to understand her purpose in life, which is to unite their people against a foe coming from another star. A foe she has talked with all her life by means of the Gong-shi-jie (world of light); a foe who expects her to perfect her powers and learn to fight against them.

Glass has written a marvelous book. It brought shivers every time Kati yelled her "Shanji!" rallying cry. It will transport you into Kati's world of light and magic, show you a world of suffering and hardship, and lead you to the promise of something even bigger than Kati.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So rich you could drown in detail., May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shanji (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Glass's greatest strength is his world building. The world is rich: sociology, religeon, customs, climate, astronomy, metaphysics, magic and technology are all blended with a truly rare skill. The story was top-notch with characters who were delightfully human and plenty of action. My only complaint was that the epilogue was a bit over the top: straining one's credulity a bit. For days after finishing this novel I kept mentally slipping into the land of Shanji - fortunately I recovered before losing my job! That's an experience I haven't had since I was a teenager!