Deshi: A Martial Arts Thriller (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
Cutting spiritual insight infuses martial arts thrillerSteeped in Eastern philosophy, rich with language that evokes the sweat and intensity of a Japanese dojo, and peppered with gritty cop talk and wry humor, John Donohue's "Deshi" smoothly folds mysticism into this top-notch action thriller.Spiritual/metaphysical content: High. The villain is a martial arts sensei who teaches a potent New Age blend of Tibetan mysticism and the lethal heritage of the samurai. Connor Burke, master of the Japanese sword, is a thinking man's hero who embodies both the physical and spiritual aspects of the Asian disciplines. He is guided by a Tibetan rimpoche (lama), a clairvoyant mystic who grounds the story in spirituality.My take: I loved the spare, elegant prose that reflects the spiritual simplicity of the story. Donohue underpins the intense action with depictions of a mystical martial arts culture that evoke the beauty of haiku. The characters--sensei Yamashita, deshi (student) Connor Burke, and the Tibetan rimpoche--are as finely drawn as the missing calligraphy scroll that holds the clues to solving the mystery. At once a gripping exploration of Eastern wisdom and a gritty cop thriller, "Deshi" fed both my desire to seek truth and my need for bloodthirsty catharsis in a satisfying balance of oriental philosophy and Western sensibility.For more reviews of spiritual/metaphysical novels, see Fiction For A New Age.
This was a fun read. The plot development although sketchy at best, had provided greater depth and intrigue that its predecessor, Sensei.I loved the center characters, Connor, his Sensei, Yamashita Mickey, and Art. The continuity from Sensei provided an engaging read and I look forward to reading the remainder of the Connor Burke and Yamashita Sensei series. You do not have to read Sensei to flow the plot; it merely adds an insider element.I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about Japanese sword and martial arts culture.TD
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