The 47th Samurai

Bob Lee Swagger #4

by Stephen Hunter

In The 47th Samurai, Bob Lee Swagger, the gritty hero of Stephen Hunter's bestselling novels Point of Impact and Time to Hunt, returns in Hunter's most intense and exotic thriller to date.

Bob Lee Swagger and Philip Yano are bound together by a single moment at Iwo Jima, 1945, when their fathers, two brave fighters on opposite sides, met in the bloody and chaotic battle for the island. Only Earl Swagger survived.

More than sixty years later, Yano comes to America to honor the legacy of his heroic father by recovering the sword he used in the battle. His search has led him to Crazy Horse, Idaho, where Bob Lee, ex-marine and Vietnam veteran, has settled into a restless retirement and immediately pledges himself to Yano's quest.

Bob Lee finds the sword and delivers it to Yano in Tokyo. On inspection, they discover that it is not a standard WWII blade, but a legendary shin-shinto katana, an artifact of the nation. It is priceless but worth killing for. Suddenly Bob is at the center of a series of terrible crimes he barely understands but vows to avenge. And to do so, he throws himself into the world of the samurai, Tokyo's dark, criminal yakuza underworld, and the unwritten rules of Japanese culture.

Swagger's allies, hard-as-nails, American-born Susan Okada and the brave, cocaine-dealing tabloid journalist Nick Yamamoto, help him move through this strange, glittering, and ominous world from the shady bosses of the seamy Kabukicho district to officials in the highest echelons of the Japanese government, but in the end, he is on his own and will succeed only if he can learn that to survive samurai, you must become samurai.

As the plot races and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that a ruthless conspiracy is in place, and the only thing that can be taken for granted is that money, power, and sex can drive men of all nationalities to gruesome extremes. If Swagger hopes to stop them, he must be willing not only to die but also to kill.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Action, Suspense, Adventure, Crime

496 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 11, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Stephen Hunter is the author of fourteen novels, and a chief film critic at The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviews

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure that some will read this book and rate it lower than I have...there is a HUGE eye roll factor here in at least one way. I'll say this...do some mental exercise and beef up your "suspension of disbelief muscles".

I like the Bob Lee Swagger character pretty well. However the Bob here isn't quite the Bob we've met before. There's not a huge difference but anyone who's followed the series will probably see the differences.

This however is not the eye roll factor. I'll have to discuss that under a spoiler warning...sorry. I don't want to "spoil" anything for anyone.

Many if not most of you will probably catch the reference made in the title. It does harken back to that particular story/legend/historical event. Again details under a spoiler warning later.

So the book has some flaws...but it's what it sets out to be. It opens up with a World War II sequence about Bob's Dad. There is a section of slow plot building that leads to a slam bang finish. So, an action book that sets up a....slightly marginal story but with plenty of action. I'll give it four stars as it claims to be an action book and that's what it is.


Okay...as I've said under spoiler warnings before, Just us now.

What is so eye rolling about this book? Please, let me explain.

Are you aware of the story (referenced above) of the 47 Samurai, or more properly the 47 Ronin? It's iconic in Japan like the Alamo here. The story is also well known in many places as there are endless movies, books, stories and TV shows based on it. In short (and please don't be offended as I'm just giving a quick imprecise version here) a young lord is tricked into doing something that offends the Shogun by an unscrupulous and cowardly court member. The young lord is ordered to commit seppuku. This left his retainers as masterless samurai. Of his retainers 47 refused to allow their lord to go unavenged. For 2 years they built a reputation as shameful ronin, drunk debauched masterless warriors. Then they brought off an unexpected attack on the castle or residence of the one who'd brought about their lord's shame and caused his death. After this when the Shogun ordered them they to committed seppuku.

Alright here Bob meets a Japanese man who's father knew Bob's father...they met in a blockhouse/pillbox where they were trying to kill each other and each in turn spared the other's lives. This man has come to Bob searching for his father's sword. Bob feeling an obligation sets out to help him. He finds that his father (Earl Swagger) had handed the sword off to his young captain.

The story proceeds through tragic happenings to a vendetta that leads Bob to the Yakuza.... See the really bad, nasty, evil dangerous Yakuza hit man uses a sword. The Sword Bob tracked down is (of course) a famous antique samurai around which blood and horror spin.

Bob schools himself in Samurai/Bushido culture (yeah...samurai movies play a big part in this). Still spouting Bushido honor and proving himself to be the epitome of THE SAMURAI Bob conquers. Of course to do this, Bob the Nailer, Bob Lee Swagger sniper supreme at 60 years old learns to (apparently master) use the Katana, (from a master of course) the Wakizashi and the tanto... In the end Bob beats (just barely of course) the samurai master. Not only this however...no,no,no Bob Lee manages to have an on station CIA operative and a group of JSDF (Japanese Self Defense Force) air born troops (also all using swords, though they are backed by snipers, who never fire) go along on the assault of the Yakuza stronghold. Of course when you count them it turns out that Bob Lee makes the...you guessed it, the 47th Samurai. The sword Bob had recovered had belonged to the original 47th Samurai. Now aside from the fact that this could never happen, it leads to a pretty good fight scene directly introducing Bob's duel with the hit man.

Okay far fetched (I'm 60 and really I'm more than impressed) a bit eye rolling somewhat hard to suspend reality this much, but it's still a fast paced action packed book with a nice happy ending. Enjoy.

[Carol Storm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bob Lee Swagger becomes a Samurai. I mean, really? I thought he was a rifleman! So what's next?

Bob Lee Swagger is a surfer. And he pals around with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, and together they break up a murderous hippie cult. ("Let go of the girl, Charlie. I mean it!")

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really do try not to be cynical and always try to give the author credit when I’m reading because they did, after all, go through the effort of writing a book and getting it published. All the more so, really, because Stephen Hunter has been one of my recent favorite thriller writers. The dude is awesome. I also try my best to suspend belief at all times in the service of just having more fun with a book. All that said, this book was...just kinda dumb, really. Honestly, I was really trying to get into it. I thought the setting was cool, love middle ages Japan shit and of course think the various samurai swords are cool as shit. Plus, the constant references to Japanese film hero Toshiro Mifune made my inner movie geek happy.

I just wanna make it clear that I’m coming from a place of optimism and really gave this one a shot. But I got to the part where Bob takes on six hard-as-nails trained yakuza in a swordfight that wouldn’t have been out of place in Kill Bill and just quit reading. IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OSTENSIBLY AWESOME STEPHEN HUNTER SET PIECE. It was just too ridiculous. Millions of people have bitched about why this is so and again I don’t wanna harp on it too much so I’ll just let it go. But it really did bum me out. I will say that the subplot involving Japanese porn was super interesting. I learned a lot! Stephen Hunter is like the Mr. Rogers of your local skid row.

It really, really sucks that I had such a bad experience with this one because I’ve been on a really fun Hunter kick lately after recently discovering him. It’s hard to believe it’s the same dude that wrote books consisting entirely of marble-set badassery like Black Light, Dirty White Boys or Hot Springs. I think the real mistake here was making this a Bob the Nailer book. The previous books where Bob is basically Achilles with a Remington 700 are at least semi-plausible because Bob was a dude that was in ‘Nam and had been using guns and killing people for a long, long time. This one was a few steps too far. Looking ahead I see the next Bob book is about NASCAR? With all due respect, Mr. Hunter: The fuck?

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook - listened to 4 of 12.5 hours - 1 star out of 5 - DNF

I started this novel with some reasonable expectations although GR readers reviews were pretty mixed. The narrator was OK, but the story - it just went everywhere and nowhere for me. After a couple of hours of thinking "umm ... am I going to like/finish this?". A couple of hours later I went back to the GR reviews and found that I had tilted way towards agreeing with the one and two star reviews, figured Bobby Lee wasn't going to get any better and kicked him to the DNF shelf.

[Jarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all: original premise, likeable characters, fast paced action and a bit of dark humor. The narration by Buck Schirner is a perfect match for Stephen Hunter's writing, and the result is pure, unadulterated entertainment.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very compelling read I burned through in three days. Stephen Hunter has always known how to weave a top quality yarn and The 47th Samurai is one of his absolute finest.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. I could not suspend my disbelief.

I’ve hit on a string of poor choices in fiction recently. OTOH, I suppose this could be a contemporary fantasy about a rather average, middle-aged White man, who morphs into a super-skilled samurai swordmaster in one to two weeks.

If you speak Japanese at any level, pass on the audiobook. The narrator’s pronunciation of Japanese is terrible.

[CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Lee Swagger is getting long in the tooth. Hunter's great character needs to come to resolution, and this West-East mashup isn't the vehicle to take Bob Lee to his retirement.

Those who read this story need to keep in mind that is that, a story. Maybe not a great entry in the Bob Lee sage, but still fairly satisfying and as well written as most of the rest. It does not rise to the pinnacle of Hunter's best works even while being recognizably a part of the total canon.

Another synopsis laden review that debates the merits and weakness of plot elements and arguing the 'factual accuracy or failures' is not required. It is a new battlefield for Bob Lee or the same one he's fought since the beginning, that doesn't matter. Swagger will be the hard bitten Marine until the end. This just isn't the end and if there is one in the literary future, let's hope that it leaves this story amid some other virtual cherry blossoms.

[Jeff Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read it for accuracy or believability.

But if you can suspend your disbelief, it's a thriller. Another Bob Lee Swagger book, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the others, perhaps more. The cultural insights into Japan and the respect in which Hunter holds the culture are both interesting and touching. I actually believed, while reading it, in a "trees instead of forest" mindset, that Swagger could do those things with a sword even on so little training.

It's a lot of fun, but has its issues with suspension of disbelief. Don't take it too seriously and it's a great run.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Приличен трилър, с добри истории в древна Япония и по време на ВСВ. В книгата има доста информация за японските мечове и схватките с тях.

Съвременната линия издиша определено - смехотворно е според мен, да се научиш да се биеш с меч за една седмица, че и до степен да излезнеш в двубой с човек, който се е занимавал с това цял живот.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

9 of 10 stars! While a shade longer than necessary, it’s still a worthwhile read. I’d let the author know, but Hunter doesn't care at aol dot com

[Sabrina S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Bob Lee Character, and will probably finish series, but I didn't enjoy the narrator - Buck Shirner..... Stephen Hunter always weaves a great story, but I felt this was not as good as the others, maybe just not my cup of tea/story ......

[Wayne Jordaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not supposed to like this. Rambo, A-team, Seagal, all those American Ninjas, except this time in the guise of a samurai, and off course, America is the greatest. All of those combined, with lots of blood and gore, but I did enjoy it, because Stephen Hunter is a good writer, actually, make that a very good writer

[Jeffrey Schmieder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of his but it does have some great scenes and he does his research.

[Pop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hate that I feel that I have to give this Swagger entry a low rating. I enjoyed the first three episodes of series, but a “Samurai”. The only reason for the second * is that I now must read the “Earl Swagger books.

[Rev Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Lee will go as far as he has to to succeed in his battles. The ending was precious.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six-Word Review: Strange request, danger lurks, Swagger prevails.

I admit I'm a Stephen Hunter junkie. His stories are full of coincidences, improbable heroes, including Bob Lee and his dad, and unlikely scenarios but I read his books to escape reality not immerse myself in it. If a reader wants literature instead of an action-filled yarn, avoid Hunter.

In this issue, Swagger is visited by the son of a Japanese officer his dad had a deathly encounter with on Iwo Jima in WW II. Swagger Senior ended up with his enemy's Katana and gave it to an officer. Philip Yano comes looking for it which spurs Bob Lee to try and find it, which he does. He goes to Japan and presents the sword to Yano, only to learn later that Yano and his family are massacred and the sword stolen. It turns out that the priceless sword has a tremendous historical and cultural background which elements of the Japanese Yakuza wish to use to get one of their number elected as Premier.

Swagger can't help himself and wants to avenge Yano but to do so he must learn the Japanese Bushido code and also swordplay. With the help of Yano's former subordinates in the Japanese Self-Defense Force and a couple civilians, he is able to arrange for a final showdown which brings the story to a satisfying climax.

I think Hunter does a good job of describing the Iwo Jima experience of Swagger's dad and tying it back to the present day. He also does a fine job of describing elements of Japanese culture both good and bad. As always the action is near non-stop and Swagger's inability or unwillingness to adjust and/or bend to fate is both frustrating and exciting.

If you are a Hunter fan, you'll like this book. If you aren't. don't bother reading it or start with one of his earlier efforts.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 4th novel in the Bob Lee Swagger series seems to be universally regarded as the worst in the series. Readers who choose this one to sample Hunter’s work are often baffled at why he and his characters are so popular and even long time readers of this series often recommend skipping it entirely.

I don’t feel quite so negative as that, however. This is certainly an uncharacteristic representative of the series but I like it when an author is comfortable with his characters and is willing to take risks with them. For some, this departure just didn’t work but I actually enjoyed it pretty well and saw it as a logical progression of the Bob Lee character.

So what’s so different? The plot starts similarly to other novels in the series with Bob Lee minding his own business on his spread in Idaho. He is approached with a request to find and return an ancient sword to the son of a Japanese officer who was on the opposing side of a World War 2 battle involving Earl Swagger, Bob Lee’s medal-of-honor winning father. Previous novels have always thrust Bob Lee into situations beyond his control, demanding a response (usually an extremely lethal response) even though he simply wants to be left alone to enjoy his well-deserved retirement. Here, he enthusiastically accepts the task and allows it to become his personal quest, due to reasons that are not fully explained until the final chapters of the book.

His journey takes him to Japan and back and events lead him to convert his honorable quest into a personal vendetta. He undertakes a deep dive into all things Samurai, learning from books, movies, magazines, etc. and eventually even learns the martial arts associated with becoming a Samurai warrior. This, I feel sure, is where the book falls apart for many readers. Not only is Bob Lee getting a massive info dump on Japanese culture (spread over many chapters), but so do we readers, often to the detriment of the progression of the plot. And the idea that any person, even one with the incredible warrior mentality and experience of Bob Lee Swagger, can become an effective Samurai warrior in such a short time is indeed asking a huge suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader.

But despite all of that I enjoyed the book. I may have been able to enjoy it more than others due to the fact that I listened to the audio version and I found the voice talent of Mr. Buck Schirner to be perfect for the voices, particularly the many Japanese characters. He depicted Bob Lee’s southern drawl so that he seemed like a dumb hick when Bob Lee wanted to sound that way. But he was also able to voice him effectively as a masterful strategizer and tactical military leader at those appropriate times as well. Quite an amazing job.

So my recommendation is for readers to not start the series with this one but for regular readers of the series to expect a different look. Overall I liked it despite its flaws.

[Dav · Rating 3 out of 5]

" Bob Lee Swagger and Philip Yano are bound together... Iwo Jima, 1945,...their fathers, two brave fighters on opposite sides...

...sixty years later, Yano comes to America to honor the legacy of his heroic father by recovering the sword he used in the battle. His search has led him to Crazy Horse, Idaho, where Bob Lee, ex-marine and Vietnam veteran, has settled...

Bob Lee finds the sword and delivers it to Yano in Tokyo. On inspection, they discover that it is not a standard WWII blade, but a legendary shin-shinto katana, an artifact of the nation...priceless...he throws himself into the world of the samurai, Tokyo’s dark, criminal yakuza underworld, and the unwritten rules of Japanese culture.

...it becomes clear that a ruthless conspiracy is in place...money, power, and sex can drive men of all nationalities to gruesome extremes. If Swagger hopes to stop them, he must be willing not only to die but also to kill."

The story has some fab writing, some ERN, eye rolling nonsense & a few R-rated obscene/rape suggestions. The reasoning in the story would suggest Japs are not honorable & placidly accept their police state, which is rife with injustice, gangs, sex slavery, drugs, bribes & corrupt officials. A typical BS society that outlaws guns but lets all criminals be armed with guns. In the end the bad guys are beaten, Bob gets to adopt the Yano kid, goes home with his ward & resumes his retirement.

Go ahead employ your WSD, willing suspension of disbelief--"willingness to suspend one's critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment." Then you can really enjoy it. ☆☆☆ Ok

[annapi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this book was that it satisfied three challenges at once. Overall, it was entertaining enough, a bit of a slog in some parts. The worst thing about it was the huge dollop of suspension of disbelief that I had to choke down in order to finish it. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't inadvertently seen a review that warned me of the author's unbelievable contrivances beforehand. But despite the eye-rolling that hurt, I was still able to enjoy the action of this thriller.

It starts with a battle scene in WWII on Iwo Jima that pits an American marine against a Japanese captain. The story continues through their sons in the present time, when Philip Yano comes to Bob Swagger looking for his father's sword. Bob doesn't have it, but after some research he eventually finds it, and decides to surprise Philip by traveling to Japan to present the sword to him in person. This somehow embroils him in yakuza intrigue and off we go to the races.

I liked the characters and story well enough to give this three stars, but so far I am not inclined to read more about Bob or even his father Earl, who has his own series of books. This is book 4 in Bob's series, and reads well enough as a standalone. I did think the author was a bit overly manipulative of the reader's emotions - it would have served him better to be more subtle.

[Martí Rogalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent action thriller with a few interesting twists. I appreciate the work of authors that shows that they have put an effort into researching the information they include in their novels. My all time favorite Tom Clancy was one of them: the level of technical and political detail was always satisfying and showed to me that the author respects his reader and doesn't take their satisfaction with just a nice story for granted.

The same is the case here: I assume Hunter had consulted his work with specialists in Japanese history and especially Samurai swords. This has definitely paid off. The story sounds absolutely believable in a technical sense (the plot is, of course, a different thing) and raises the reader's interest in the intricacies of Japan's long and complicated tradition Samurai warriors and the nation's love of swords. The only slight point of critique - in my eyes - is that Hunter several times stresses the fact that westerners (I.e. The reader) will never fully understand the meaning of tradition and honor the way the Japanese see it. And yet, he himself is not Japanese ;-)

This was my first Hunter novel but definitely not the last. I am looking forward to getting to know more of his works.

[John Cheeseman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The irony of Stephen Hunter's character Bob Lee Swagger laughing at "The Last Samurai" for Tom Cruise becoming a Samurai in 6 months when Stephen Hunter's character becomes one in a week is hilarious. I enjoyed some aspects of this book, found I had to turn off about 80% of my brain to do so though, learnt some things like the Japanese using white as our black and some of the history of Japan, Samurai and Katana's.
The story itself though is utterly ridiculous and you could poke so many holes in it that it would look like a colander! The action was quite exciting, I really didnt want Bob to drink any alcohol but bizzarely enough I did want him to get his freaking head cut off by almost everyone.
One of the worst aspects of this book is the way they treat the Japanese as having no honour and no sense of duty which is completely at odds with reality.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephan Hunter has been my movie reviewer of choice for more than 30 years. First, when I lived in Baltimore and read him in the Sun, then when he followed me down to DC and took a job with the Post. (That doesn't sound too egotistical, does it? Something tells me Oliver Sacks would have a field day parsing the self-absorption in that sentence.) That said, he (we) are still boys at heart. Full of all the fascination for things that go boom or cut and bleed. It was only a matter of time when all those years of watching Kurosawa would emerge somewhere. But how he managed to pull Bob Lee Swagger into it is a marvel. Hell, it's just a fun read. You can't take him too seriously. Because he's having a good ol' time making his books... yeah, that's it... making his books.

[Chip and Katie Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall, my least favorite Swagger book. There were just too many hard to buy plot-lines (such as Swagger being able to learn enough about sword fighting in a week or two to be able to stand up against sword wielding Samuri with years of experience). I don't mind stretching the believability factor to a point, but don't smack me in the face with it. Maybe if it wasn't a 'Bob Lee Swagger' novel, it'd have read better to me, but he just seemed like a round peg in a square story here. I guess I just prefer Bob shooting his sniper rifle like a good ol' boy and not getting involved in a plot that almost feels more like a Jason Bourne novel.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Hunter must have spent considerable time researching Samauri, swords, and Japanese culture in general because it is so detailed that sometimes it gets tediously more noticeable than the plot. I did not enjoy this book as much as the previous appearances of Bob Lee Swagger, but am glad that I read it. Hunter's character's are fun, full of energy, all built around Swagger's indestructabilty and vulnerabilty. You have to love Hunter's sense of humor which is best exposed in his acknowlegement when he advises you to go to his email sites namely: Hunterdoesn'tcare@aol.com or Hunterwon'trespond@aol.com

[CPL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been 3.5 stars if that was an option. The dive into Japanese samurai and sword culture was interesting and a nice supplement to the story. As often in these types of books, the protagonist gets "lucky" again and again. The culmination of the fight with Kondo was a little disappointing. The hip replacement saving him was a stirring commentary but to believe that he would last even one exchange with a master such as Kondo stretched the limits, even in a fantasy book, a little too far. The woman gets the job, Swagger gets the little girl. So etimes stories wrap up a little too neatly.

[Mgarriott Garriott · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you speak or understand Japanese at all do not waste your time with the the audio version of this book. The reader has horrible pronunciation. He has no idea how to say some of these words. Also his Japanese "characters" boarder on racist.
It seems as though the author took one trip to Japan and based his stereotypes on his first impressions.
If you know nothing of Japan this is as entertaining as any other book of this type. Passes the time and is quickly forgotten or mingled with a zillion other stories just like it.

[Howard Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Hunter just keeps getting better. The series may have to end prematurely, however, if Bob Lee Swagger keeps getting chunks of his anatomy shot off, blown off, or as in "The 47th Samurai" carved off. And ol' Bob Lee ain't getting any younger. There are some lessons here, about loyalty and honor, and respecting the wisdom and experience of older generations, but Mr. Hunter doesn't let them get in the way of a good story. Outstanding read.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things get better somewhere in the middle of book. There was finally some action going on cause I was getting kinda bored with all encyclopedia stuff that found it's way into the narrative.
The strangest thing in the book is how Swagger learned how to fight with a sword so good he could beat all those Japanese fighters who spent long years in learning and practice?
I actually liked how story echoed the legend about 47 samurai. The history repeats itself.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a silly book that was clearly written by a writer who unapologetically knows little of Japan. That the average Japanese holds up samurai culture as a paragon is little more than a gaijin fantasy. And real samurai sword fighting? Please. Another sad example of a misinformed writer adding to the exotic Japan myth.