Shanji

by James C. Glass

Book Overview

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, and then saved by the Searchers, who see her as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671577891
• ISBN13: 9780671577896
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Baen Books
• Length: 406 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

World Building and Great Story, Too -- Hurrah!

Shanji is a world of contrasts. Most of the population live in third-world conditions, crowded into tiny rooms with barely enough food to eat. The emperor, however, rules from a techologically advanced city full of the wealthy elite. He ignores the conditions in the larger city that provides his comfort, and occupies himself enforcing the "traditional" limits on technology that keep Shanji stable (and the people oppressed). But the emperor's people are not the only ones who live on Shanji. The Tumatsin are a clan-based society, descended from alien invaders who were outcast a thousand years ago.Kati is born to the Tumatsin though her father was one of the emperor's people. When her people are killed she is rescued by the Searchers, a group of psychic-priests who advise the emperor, because she shares their powers -- thanks to her Searcher father. But Kati inherits a different set of powers from her mother, making her a valuable chess piece in the emperor's court. She is trained to use her psychic powers and a sword with equal skill. Though she grows to love her adopted people, part of her heart is with the Tumatsin. Alien invaders threaten the planet, and Kati alone can save her world by uniting the people.I would have given this book five stars for the world building, it was that good. But Mr. Glass populated his world with wonderful, three dimensional characters. One of my complaints about male authors who write female protagonists is that the women come out like guys in drag -- female on the outside, male inside. Women warriors come out even worse: Arnold Schwarzenegger in a dress. But Kati is very female -- and still a great warrior and leader.I'll definately read the sequel.

creative and stimulating

Tightly written, fast paced. Step into a world where two races are destined to come together in one individual, Kati, a mind reader and a reluctant warrior, a character you will love from the first chapter. Shanji is a novel where spirituality, hard science, and moral issues vie for center stage and the reader walks away feeling they have truely been to another place and time. I loved this novel and I am looking forward to the next.

Best book I've ever read

I really liked this book because it had a bit of everything in it tragety, mystery, suspense, action, romance, and hey everyone loves it when the hero/heroin has a special ability that no one else does and uses it to save the World!! I also liked it because he created a world that i think is very appealing and personnally I would love to visit it! I hope that he writes more books like this and that they all are as good as this one! Hey if you can only buy one book, let it be this one!!I'm only 16 but beleive me I have read many books and this one is on the top of my fav list!

So rich you could drown in detail.

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!

Excellent SF & Fantasy all in one

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.