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Yang Shen, The God from the West, Book I

James Lande (Goodreads Author)

4.38 · Rating details · 16 ratings · 4 reviews

[This instance on Goodreads of the 2nd Edition shows an earlier lower resolution cover]

Only one man dared fight to defend Shanghai from rebel hordes - the American adventurer who called up a ragtag band of deserters to defeat armies of thousands.

"A master in hell before a minion in Heaven. I'll be a prince in China, and lord over these heathen beggars, or I'll make a grea ...more

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Paperback, 2nd edition, 556 pages

Published July 4th 2013 by Old China Books (first published August 1st 2011)

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Jan 23, 2013 Shannon rated it liked it · review of another edition

Yankee Mandarin

by James Lande

Old China Books

www.oldchinabooks.com

publisher@oldchinabooks.com

blog.oldchinabooks.com

Yankee Mandarin is a work of love by a person who has extraordinary and detailed knowledge about the subject, the time, and the tensions of the area. It is very carefully crafted, and I respect the work that is represented here. Personally, I found that there was too much detail, too much precision in the descriptions of the changing of sails and charting the navigation and the diffe ...more

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Aug 22, 2012 John Garner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Want to be picked up and dropped in the middle of a bloody civil war? Want to get stuck on a sandbar and battle a small fleet of pirates, while armed with only a six pound cannon and a few obsolete rifles? If this doesn't quench your adventurous thirst, then how about attacking a walled city guarded by blood-thirsty rebels, with less than a hundred intoxicated, undertrained mercenaries and deserters?

Or maybe you are in more of a social mood. How about mingling with rich merchants, decorated mili Want to be picked up and dropped in the middle of a bloody civil war? Want to get stuck on a sandbar and battle a small fleet of pirates, while armed with only a six pound cannon and a few obsolete rifles? If this doesn't quench your adventurous thirst, then how about attacking a walled city guarded by blood-thirsty rebels, with less than a hundred intoxicated, undertrained mercenaries and deserters?

Or maybe you are in more of a social mood. How about mingling with rich merchants, decorated military leaders, dignitaries, and consuls at a palace by the Shanghai harbor?

If you find yourself suffocating or intimidated by the extravagant dress and arrogant behavior of the elite British, French, and Americans who are well-off and well connected; simply walk down a short way and enter one of the less formal establishments where the conversation, alcohol, and women are much easier to come by.

When you wake up the following morning, if your hangover allows it, take a trip to inland China on the Whangpoo River and tour a medieval landscape of ancient, walled towns and primitive farmers and their huts along the waterway. You might as well get bullied by a petty king of the rebels. Don't worry, he'll let you go if you pay him an extortion fee of a small fortune. By now, you should have had a full day and be ready for your bunk in the bowels of a side-paddle river steamer that is assigned to suppress murdering pirates up and down the Yangtze River.

Of course, if your blood's hot, and chasing pirates in their own familiar territory just doesn't scratch that itch for adventure, you can always join that mercenary, bull-headed American opportunist Fletcher Wood. This will give you the official Chinese seal of approval to jump right into the bloodiest civil war in history. You can shoot and kill, or get shot and killed. And if you need more risk to add some spice, just remember it is possible that you can go to jail for all this fun if the British or American powers-that-be decide you are violating their political instructions.

Anyone that likes historical novels with a little action, or action novels with a little history, should definitely try Lande on for size. The first chapters are a little awkward for me, because I know very little of China's history. However, Lande does a very good job of introducing the 19th century culture of the Yangtze Delta to the ignorant (in laymen's terms). It really is a good 101 lesson on some of the customs and politcal structures of that ancient nation.

If you like Shogun, you'll like this novel. If you like Master and Commander, or similar maritime tales, you'll like this book. My only surprise is that we don't see it on the New York Times' bestseller list. ...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Ron rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Having recently finished the unabridged version of Les Miserables, when I began Yang Shen I immediately noticed a similarity between the technique of Mr Lande with the work of Victor Hugo. Both authors have interspersed chapters containing a wide variety of historical detail with other chapters which weave the threads of exciting, action stories. The drama of Yang Shen extends from fighting pirates on the high seas to negotiating passage through vicious rebel armies on the upper reaches of the t ...more

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Aug 30, 2012 James Lande rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

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topics	posts	views	last activity
China: Yang Shen 2nd edition (print) DISCOUNTED	1	7	Apr 14, 2017 09:13AM
China Book Club: Yang Shen 2nd edition (print) DISCOUNTED	1	8	Apr 14, 2017 09:10AM
Yankee Mandarin	1	2	Aug 30, 2012 11:36AM
Yang Shen eBook 1-DAY 99¢ SALE on now!	1	3	May 16, 2012 08:32AM
Reader questions from Yang Shen book readings in April 2012	1	2	Apr 22, 2012 09:17AM
Q&A with James Lande: Welcome to Goodreads Q&A for YANG SHEN	2	2	Feb 04, 2012 08:54AM
Historical fiction about China in the 19th century	1	3	Nov 10, 2011 11:36AM