In the heart of the Forbidden City, Master Li and Number Ten Ox, accompanied by a scarred puppeteer and his shamanka daughter, investigate the murd...
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reviews
Jun 29, 2010
Andrew
rated it: 
Rather than going through the hassle of coming up with a good review for this book, I will just say this: I read Eight Skilled Gentlemen from cover to cover in under 24 hours. If that isn't a glowing enough endorsement for you, then I don't know what will be.
The only reason that I gave this book four stars was that it was comparatively weaker than the first book in the trilogy, Bridge of Birds. If it weren't for that, Eight Skilled Gentlemen would have easily scored perfect marks. More...
The only reason that I gave this book four stars was that it was comparatively weaker than the first book in the trilogy, Bridge of Birds. If it weren't for that, Eight Skilled Gentlemen would have easily scored perfect marks. More...
Dec 05, 2009
Nikki
rated it: 
It's a bit disappointing that this trilogy goes from a strong start, in the shape of Bridge of Birds, to something that certainly doesn't match up to that. There were parts I liked about Eight Skilled Gentlemen, but I do think the trilogy got weaker with each successive book. Probably a good thing that it stopped being published, or so wikipedia tells me. On the one hand, I've become fond of Number Ten Ox and Li Kao -- on the other, not much new is being done with them. Again, I don't know exact
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Feb 01, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
I greatly enjoyed all of the books in this series. The Bridge of Birds is definitely the best book in the series. This book suffers from a significant lack of polish compared to the other books in this series. If you look at the other two books, it seems like they took a great time to write and rewrite into a very smooth and polished form. This book seems to have been written and edited in a great hurry.
The plot is interesting, and the characters are enjoyable. I have read and r More...
The plot is interesting, and the characters are enjoyable. I have read and r More...
Dec 25, 2011
Bryce
rated it:
On it's own, Eight Skilled Gentlemen is just fine, a fun romp with moments of gruesomeness. Compared to Bridge of Birds though, it's a disappointment. It lacks the lyrical charm and sweetness of the first book. Here, the plot moves too fast and Hughart forgets to let Master Li and Number Ten Ox enjoy the meanderings of their journey. Li seemed to be following the action instead of being three steps ahead of it, and the idea that he might not be holding an extra ace up the sleeve of his filthy ro
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Sep 11, 2011
Oscar
rated it:
Con 'Ocho honorables magos', Barry Hughart dio por finalizada las Crónicas del Maestro Li y Buey Número Diez, de las que forman parte 'Puente de pájaros' y 'La leyenda de la piedra'. Como él mismo comenta en el libro, podría haber seguido y seguido con esta saga de manera automática, como hacen otros escritores, pero no lo creyó oportuno, y lo que es más importante, deseó poner un digno punto final a estas historias porque veía que el proceso empezaba a hacerse repetitivo y tedioso. Así que cort
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Aug 22, 2010
Kay
rated it: 
The last in the series which makes me very sad. The "ancient China that never was" is a wonderful place and I want Hughart to take us back there again. I have re read all three books in this series numerous times and my enjoyment still hasn't waned. Terrific series.
Jan 22, 2009
MB
rated it:
Barry Hughart's fantasies set in ancient China featuring Master Li and Number Ten Ox are a lot of fun. It is enjoyable to read something based on non-european folklore for a change. And...I realize how little I know about Eastern Mythology.
Mar 28, 2011
Claudette
rated it:
This is definitely an improvement (by leaps and bounds!) from the second book, The Story of the Stone. Fans of the Master Li series could just give that ho-hum a miss and proceed to read this one. To anyone with the taste for the macabre, the Eight Skilled Gentlemen, will not disappoint with its chapter on the ambrosial cooking of an otherwise unsavory ingredient and a certain innkeeper with a penchant for the finer details of culinary science. However, while the Eight Skilled Gentlemen brought
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Jul 26, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
I love Ox and Master Li. This novel lost me at the end. I guess I don't know enough about oriental/Asian culture to understand the implications. I enjoyed the journey though.
Jan 08, 2012
Andre
rated it:
Another gem from Barry Hughart. Master Li and Number Ten Ox reign supreme in a romp around China again. I love how Mr. Hughart can bring Chinese mythology to life.
Sep 03, 2007
Tim
rated it:
The lead character is a former senior bureaucrat who is a genius with "a slight flaw in my character" - he's a trickster and schemer. And he's very, very good at it.
This book has it all - Chinese history, adventure, romance, bad jokes and puns, wonderfully inventive scams and schemes, and heroes who just don't give up no matter what.
Be warned - there are two other Hughart books set in this world, and they are hard to find. But you will want them. Try abebook More...
This book has it all - Chinese history, adventure, romance, bad jokes and puns, wonderfully inventive scams and schemes, and heroes who just don't give up no matter what.
Be warned - there are two other Hughart books set in this world, and they are hard to find. But you will want them. Try abebook More...
Jan 17, 2012
James
rated it:
As this series progresses, it feels like Hughart is running out of ideas, and it's the ideas that support the story.
Dec 11, 2011
Boris
rated it:
It was pure pleasure. I rarely enjoy a book that much. And this goes for the other books of the series too :)
Sep 29, 2009
Malquiviades
rated it:
The third book at the China that never was. Interesting, but somehow lacking some of the strength you may find in the previous books. Also, the initial lyricism of Bridge of Birds is hard to find here but for some excellent parts. This is something you already noticed on the second book The Sory of the Stone, but here it is clear.
In any case, you cannot avoid to be dragged to the China that never was...
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In any case, you cannot avoid to be dragged to the China that never was...
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Feb 23, 2009
Psychophant
rated it:
This is the last book in the "China that never was" series. It is also the weaker. Although the plot has the labyrinthine quality that Hughart handles so well, the characters are flat and the mythic landscape, in my opinion, less rich than what he usually weaves.
The recurring characters are flat and poorly developed, which is not so bad if you have read the previous books, but makes them inscrutable if you start anew. Only at the ending does the author retrieve some of the More...
The recurring characters are flat and poorly developed, which is not so bad if you have read the previous books, but makes them inscrutable if you start anew. Only at the ending does the author retrieve some of the More...
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Aug 12, 2008
Ingrid
rated it:
The third and, alas, last volume in the Master Li and Number Ten Ox series. I place it as second best after the first book, "The Bridge of Birds". Again, there is the madcap combination of fantasy, mythology, folklore, adventure, black humor and wry commentary on the nature of human beings. It is all great fun to read and the ending is quite fitting. It is a shame to have no more romps with Master Li and his loyal assistant, but the series is enjoyably re-readable.
Apr 20, 2011
I keep saying I don't usually read fantasy but there are some on my shelf. I picked this up because a friend had given me The Name of the Wind, which I enjoyed enormously----it has a sequel coming out but I don't think it's until next year.
Jul 30, 2008
Bill
rated it:
This time, Master Li and Number Ten Ox are hired by the Celestial Master to investigate the murder of a mandarin by a man who accomplished the murder using a ball of fire, then transformed himself into a crane! Throughout this series of three novels, I was constantly amazed by Hughart's imagination in coming up with incredible and amusing characters and plot twists. Fans of ancient China and fans of fantasy will be delighted with all these books.
Dec 28, 2007
Mark
rated it:
Another tale of "an ancient China that never was". Master Li Kao and Number Ten Ox investigate eight ancient artifacts whose owners are being murdered by eight demons from the dawn of Chinese history. Notable characters are Devil's Hand, chief executioner going for the consecutive beheading record, Sixth Degree Hosteler Tu, whose appetite for murder is only exceeded by his quest for gourmet recipes, and Yen Shih, the greatest puppeteer in China.
Oct 12, 2007
I own, and want to read this book, but I want to read them in order. I read the first book in the series (Bridge of birds) but the second book (The story of the Stone) is out of print and I can't find it anywhere unless I am willing to pay $40 or so, which I am not.
Nov 02, 2008
Leslie
rated it:
Book 3 of the Master Li and Number 10 Ox trilogy - sublime, funny and beautifully written. The books are a series of fantasy/mysteries that take place in Ancient China. Each one is a gem of human insight.
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 10, 2012
