The 47th Samurai: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel (Bob Lee Swagger Novels)
by Stephen Hunter
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.25 You Save: $17.75 (68%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.06 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The 47th Samurai: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel (Bob Lee Swagger Novels)
Book Review: Hunter at His Finest
Summary: 5 Stars
If you loved Point of Impact, stop whatever you are doing, get Stephen Hunter's latest novel, The 47th Samurai, and start reading. Before you begin, however, repeat after me: Swords not guns. Swords not guns. Swords not guns. Bob Lee Swagger has moved on to new challenges, as any hero must. This time he takes up the sword and enters the world of the samurai, sent there by the legacy of his father and propelled by his own flinty sense of honor. Hunter's writing is as graceful, powerful and revelatory as ever. His words pick you up in the first sentence and don't put you down until the last. There's plenty of violence here, but somehow the reverence for the sword suffuses it with an experience that goes beyond blood and guts. Read this book. Swords not guns. Swords not guns....Book Review: Sword Porn
Summary: 3 Stars
Looked forward to the latest fast-moving epic in the Swaggart family saga, relishing another page-turner. Instead found a comic book without pictures, with a lot of filler verbiage discussing iron and samurai stuff over and over again, to a degree not seen since some of the American novels from the early 1980s celebrating Nipponese swordplay.
Not much of a plot this time around, and pretty cool how after a week (?) of intensive training he was able to beat a number of guys who apparently wasted years and years hanging around the dojo.
I'm looking forward to the next book, but since we're not aware of Bob's having a son, I guess his daughter will have to turn into vendetta girl to carry on the family tradition.
Book Review: Much better than expected
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading many of the reviews I was prepared to dislike this book. However I found the book a fun read and enjoyable. I've read most of the Swagger books (Earl and Bob Lee) and this is not a typical Bob Lee Swagger book (I missed that he never said "It's time to hunt!) but once I started I kept wanting to know what would happen next. Some of it is silly that Bob Lee almost became this samurai guy and great swordsman, but the book was entertaining enough to suspend my disbelief. If you want a typical Bob Lee Swagger book (you know, where he says "it's time to hunt")this one will disappoint but if you just want a fun read this is a good choice.Book Review: Where Is "The Man With A Gun"?
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a huge Bob Lee Swagger fan, so it pains me to have to give this book a mediocre rating, but where's "the man with a gun"? The idea that a 60 year old could become an expert swordsman in a week and defeat the finest swordsman in Japan is beyond unbelievable. In addition, the plot is terribly contrived. It's only because Stephen Hunter is such a good writer and because I love Bob Lee that I give this 3 stars. A suggestion for Mr. Hunter: How about sending Bob Lee into Waziristan to use his sniper skills to save someone? Pair him up with a Navy SEAL or some new character, who could be the protagonist in future novels.Book Review: Brains vs Brawn...Bob Lee shows what he is made of !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read all of Hunter's novels and his non-fiction book, American Gunfight, as well as having seen SHOOTER several times. What you need to realize is that Bob Lee Swagger is a warrior. He is a fighting machine and it makes no differnece if he is using guns, swords, knives, or salami. He just "gets it" and learns fast. I think his training was explicitly detailed and believable for this type of person. Bob knows that the first guys he fights are losers and he only survives Kondo by outsmarting him... not outfighting him! That is the essence of classic Stephen Hunter...and this book is one of the best! Enjoy!!