Shogun was the epic show of the year, receiving critical acclaim upon its premiere and a whopping 25 Emmy nominations. (Thankfully, due to its success, seasons 2 and 3 are now in early development.) Fans probably know that the series was adapted from a book by the author James Clavellwhich also served as the basis for the 1978 film adaptation. What readers may not know is that Shogun is actually just one book in a six-part series called Asian Sagawhich covers the period from the 17th to the 20th century.
The series focuses on the interplay between Western and Eastern cultures over hundreds of years and Each novel immerses readers in a different era and placefrom feudal Japan to colonial Hong Kong to war-torn Iran. Essentially, it’s well-researched genre fiction that prioritizes entertainment over factual accuracy. But that’s exactly what makes it so appealing, and fans of historical fiction are sure to like it. Here, each book in the series is sorted by its Goodreads rating.
6 “Whirlwind” (1986)
Rating: 3.86/5
“They are all crazy and narrow-minded!” The fifth part of the Asian Saga is set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The main characters are members of a British helicopter company caught up in the political unrest. Protagonist Andrew Gavallan and his colleagues struggle to keep their operations – and their safety – going amidst the escalating chaos. This plot was inspired by real helicopter crews who had to flee the country in a hurry when the revolution was in full swing.
In keeping with its title, Whirlwind consists of a tangle of subplots, almost all of which have something to offerwhether it’s action or romance. (A highlight is the poignant love story between pilot Tom Lochart and the charming Sharazad.) Another good story is about a KGB agent under pressure. The settings are also varied and well realized, from Aberdeen to Tehran to Lake Van in Turkey. Clavell said he did a lot of research for the book and even learned how to fly a helicopter.
5 “Gai Jin” (1993)
Rating: 3.90/5
“Get back at your teacher by making it your mission to outdo him!” Gai Jin transports readers to Japan in the 1860s, when the country was struggling with the pressures of opening up to the Western world. Commodore Perry’s infamous “gunboat policy” had forced Japan to engage in trade. The story centers on Malcolm Struan, who must navigate the complex and often dangerous interactions between Japanese and foreign traders.
Once again, Clavell takes on a story of gigantic proportions and tells it at a brisk pace and with ever-increasing tension. It is gripping and hardly lets up. The author stumbles over some of the characters, who are two-dimensional, even cartoonish. Their sometimes clunky dialogue and inexplicable behavior can affect the reader’s willingness to suspend their skepticism. Overall, however, Gai Jin should appeal to fans of historical novels, as long as they are not too strict about accuracy, as Clavell is very loose with some details and freely invents others.
4 “King Rat” (1962)
Rating: 4.19/5
“The strongest was always the king, not by strength alone, but by cunning, luck and strength together.” The first entry in the Asian Saga (and Clavell’s debut novel in general) offers a glimpse into life in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II. Based on Clavell’s own experiences as a prisoner, the story centers on Peter Marlowe, a British RAF officer who becomes involved with the enigmatic and resourceful American corporal known as “King.”
Ultimately, The fact that Clavell himself was in a prisoner of war camp increases Rat King compared to similar, rather mediocre dishes. Sure, the book can be over the top at times, but its mix of action and philosophy will resonate with a certain type of reader. It is an intense, powerful novel based on classic war adventures. In terms of prose, Clavell seems to have retained the lean, economical style of Ernest Hemingway with varying degrees of success.
3 “The House of the Lord” (1981)
Rating: 4.27/5
“If you borrow a little, you have a debtor; if you borrow a lot, you have a partner.” Noble house is set in Hong Kong in the 1960s and traces a week in the life of the powerful trading company Struan’s. The drama centers on Ian Dunross, who fights to keep the company (nicknamed “Noble House”) afloat amidst a whirlwind of industrial espionage, financial crises and personal feuds.
Once again, Clavell cleverly combines several storylines and a large number of characters and makes Noble housea true epic (this also applies to its length: it is around 1,170 pages). It is therefore haunting and larger than life. Noble House also received particular praise for its authentic and realistic portrayal of Hong Kong. “My intention is to entertain, perhaps to educate,” said the author. “If I can transport people to this buccaneering society of Hong Kong in 1963, maybe they can take something away from it.”
2 “Tai Pan” (1966)
Rating: 4.30/5
“The whole world is crazy, by God!” Tai Pan is the prequel to Noble houseset in Hong Kong in the mid-19th century. The protagonist of his time is Dirk Struan, the impressive and ambitious head of the Struan’s trading company. Struan, the Tai-Pan or supreme leader of his company, is determined to secure his inheritance and fortune despite the fierce competition. Of course, this turns out to be no easy task.
Tai Pan is particularly impressive due to its fascinating historical background. The novel tells in particular of the British occupation of Hong Kong in 1841 and the expansion of the opium trade. Clavell then populates this dramatic period with eccentric and memorable characters, such as Strauna’s arch-enemy, the one-eyed Tyler Brock. Many of the scenes are predictable and some of the plot developments seem formulaic, but these are only minor flaws compared to the book’s many strengths. Overall, it is a solid piece of historically based genre literaturewill surely appeal to fans of an old-fashioned trip into the past.
1 “Shōgun” (1975)
Rating: 4.41/5
“Be a rock against which the waves of life beat in vain.” It is no surprise that Shogun is Clavell’s highest rated book on Goodreads, as it is by far his most famous novel. This epic tells the adventures of John Blackthorne, an English pilot who is shipwrecked on the Japanese coast. As Blackthorne navigates this new and enigmatic world, he becomes embroiled in the country’s political and cultural upheavals. Along the way, he develops a close relationship with the powerful warlord Toranaga, who seeks to unite Japan under his rule.
Blackthorne is the perfect protagonist for this type of book, as he acts as a stand-in for the audience. Through him, Clavell deftly guides his readers through 17th century Japan, explaining concepts like Bushido and sprinkling the information with romance, war, betrayal, and tragedy. Shogun is a nice balance between informative and entertaining. For this reason, it was a huge success and had already sold six million copies by 1980.
