Daimyo

Daimyo trilogy #1

by William Morell

Tonomori, a young samurai, fights on behalf of Lord Betsuo against Baron Atsuhira, the Daimyo bent on conquering all of Japan

Genres: Historical Fiction

488 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

Reviews

[Dawn (& Ron)]

This cover really doesn't work for me. Seeing the samurai character, I find myself confused as to who or what this man is supposed to be. On his head he is wearing a strange mix between viking head gear and a European periwig, while it appears that he is sporting a lovely, red and purple smoking jacket/robe with a Scottish kilt below. My husband's impression was that he looked very out of place, or his initial response, "a sci-fi Eskimo who has just wandered out of the Alaskan wilderness". Maybe it looks better in person, hopefully it won't matter.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an action-packed story about a mighty Samurai warrior and I give it 4 stars. A lot of historical inaccuracies- and don't confuse this book with "Shogun"- but if you take this book as fantasy, it works better! So I gave it 4 stars.
I first read this book in the 80s, not long after it was published in 1983.
I reread this book in 2012 and, thanks to Goodreads, I now know it was the first of a trilogy.
I may look for the other books in this series--or I may not.

[Janebartels3]

Actually, there is a lot of good cultural detail in this book: There is a non pretentiousness about the writing, and the author knows some pertinent cultural details that he weaves into this story.

Things like the set up of a silk merchant's shop, the 'soft paper they used to wipe their noses", etc, are things that made me smile. A well dressed Japanese gentleman wouldn't be caught dead without his paper handkerchiefs tucked into his kimono.

The fights, action scenes, are riveting, and seem true. The footwork of two men (or the two women of the book) in sword play certainly is based on fencing, but with more deadly results.

Also, though there are some cultural errors, i.e. samurai are born, not declared', it's a heredity issue, this doesn't make a great stumbling block to this great read.

Enjoy this book for what it is. And it's not at all bad.

Lady Nyo
http://ladynyo.wordpress.com

[Dolores Portalatin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a ton of cultural inaccuracies for japan as well as Europe: women wouldn't own property, nor could someone just be appointed a samurai. If you take the story for what it is: a fantasy, it is entertaining. Lots of fighting, murders and mystery. The character relationships are solid and if you've got free time on your hands this quick read isn't a terrible thing to waste the hours away on.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed reading this brief never finished series due to the author's death. It tells the story of east meeting west with Samuri Tonomori entering the service of Diana Countess de Edgemont