Shibumi

By: Trevanian

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Nicholai Hel, born in the ravages of World War I China to an aristocratic Russian mother and a mysterious German father, raised in the spiritual gardens of a Japanese Go Master, survives the destruction of Hiroshima to emerge as the world's most artful lover and its most accomplished and highly paid assassin. Genius, mystic, master of language and culture, Hel's secret is his determination to attain a rare kind of personal excellence, a state of effortless perfection: shibumi.

Now living in an isolated mountain fortress with his magnificent Eurasian mistress, Hel faces his most sinister enemy, a super-monolith of espionage and monopoly. The battle lines are drawn: ruthless power and corruption on one side and on the other, shibumi.

©1979 Trevanian (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration (Male)

"It's hard to imagine a more nearly perfect spy story." (Milwaukee Journal)
"Novels about international intrigue demand intricate plotting. Shibumi delivers." (Los Angeles Times)

Love his books

This is an oldie but a goodie. The suspense and calm that blend in and out of Trevanian storyline will keep you picturing yourself within the scene. Mr. Barrett sites this book justice with the intensity just shy of hearing a director tell, "cut, that's a print".

One of His Best

The story was incredible and hard to put down. The narration was spectacular! Well done and most enjoyable.

If only the publisher's summary was the story.....

Started out so slow and disconnected from the summary I had to check twice to ensure I was listening to the same book. Nicholai Hel is no "greyman", the book covered too much prep, side stories, and while it was humorous at times in a cynical way I tired of the constant belittling of the USA culture and institutions. It was not balanced and I am sure lots of folks enjoyed it- BUT the publishers summary was not a good indicator of what was to come. At the end the book speed was cranked up to 1.5. I may be returning the sequel.

A Most Perfect Novel

This is one of the best, and most perfect novels I have encountered. I look forward to exploring most of the author's works.

Overall a great novel!

This wasn’t a page turner. But it did satisfy my penchant for characters that exhibit skill, discipline, taste, intelligence, wit, and more. I would recommend this novel to those that have an interest in Japanese culture.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending and expected a bit more considering the lead up was so well developed.