23 books
—
33 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Jian (China Maroc, #1)” as Want to Read:
Jian
(China Maroc #1)
by
The consummate warrior. The man who excels. The supreme master of all the arts--love and combat, strength and wisdom--who holds the fate of all China in his hands. In a vast arena with its vivid scenarios of war and revolution, its intricate loyalties of clan and creed, many vie for total mastery. Four ancient pieces of jade are the key to unlocking the grand scheme of the
...more
Paperback, 556 pages
Published
March 1st 1995
by Fawcett
(first published 1985)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Jian,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Jian (China Maroc, #1)
Credo di aver già raccontato questa storia anni fa su un altro social, ma mi fa sempre piacere evocarla.
Nei primi anni della mia lunga storia d’amore con la lettura (ero alle medie), i libri li prendevo pressoché tutti in prestito nella biblioteca comunale della mia città. Eccezionalmente, ogni tanto facevo una gita in libreria con qualche soldo in tasca e passavo ore a setacciare gli scaffali alla ricerca dell’acquisto perfetto, reso possibile dalle mie 10.000 Lire.
Per qualche ragione, i libri ...more
Nei primi anni della mia lunga storia d’amore con la lettura (ero alle medie), i libri li prendevo pressoché tutti in prestito nella biblioteca comunale della mia città. Eccezionalmente, ogni tanto facevo una gita in libreria con qualche soldo in tasca e passavo ore a setacciare gli scaffali alla ricerca dell’acquisto perfetto, reso possibile dalle mie 10.000 Lire.
Per qualche ragione, i libri ...more
This is the kind of book from the era of Ludlum and reminiscent of the book James Clavell wrote, like Taipan & Shogun. Oriental based tales of adventure and complex thrillers.
The book has several tracks it is running on one of them being Jake Maroc special agent of an American spy department by the name of Quarry. The book is advertised as a Jake Maroc story but his story is the closing part of the whole story set up in the book. While he is hunting an elusive assassin who did take/kidnap his wi ...more
The book has several tracks it is running on one of them being Jake Maroc special agent of an American spy department by the name of Quarry. The book is advertised as a Jake Maroc story but his story is the closing part of the whole story set up in the book. While he is hunting an elusive assassin who did take/kidnap his wi ...more
One of my favourite all time authors surely know how to spin a suspense action novel with some historical facts and an array of fictional and factual characters intertwining in his stories.
Of course I used to love these sorts of books more as a teen for their sex and action themes but ,now I find myself also very much enticed by plot's developement and background stories, and to top it all of ,secret societies' works and goals.
Interesting and pretty captivating to the last page. ...more
Of course I used to love these sorts of books more as a teen for their sex and action themes but ,now I find myself also very much enticed by plot's developement and background stories, and to top it all of ,secret societies' works and goals.
Interesting and pretty captivating to the last page. ...more
Este o poveste despre China, cu punct central pe situatia Hong Kong-ului de la sfarsitul secolului trecut, chiar inainte de terminarea perioadei de cesionare de care a beneficiat Marea Britanie in zona. În 1997 teritoriul urma a fi retrocedat guvernului de la Peking. Acum această regiune beneficiază de 50 de ani de autonomie politică, în baza unei legi speciale, adoptată în urma semnării unui tratat in 1984.
Sunt impletite elemente de cultura chineza si japoneza veche in societatea moderna. Tradi ...more
Sunt impletite elemente de cultura chineza si japoneza veche in societatea moderna. Tradi ...more
Brilliant web of intrigue and spy fast action carrying you all across the globe and back in time giving one an inkling of how things worked in China in the early 1900's. Definitely an author to look out for. Busy with the next book in the Maroc series and it is just as brilliant.
...more
An all-around blockbuster
As in his famous Ninja novels, this first installment in the China Maroc series was an absolute blockbuster. Filled with sprawling characters, a seamless kaleidoscope of storylines come together to give us an action saga fit for tv screens. Typically rich in substance set against the backdrop of communist China and the later years of the Cold War, it is filled with all the cool elements of an action thriller: action, violence, intrigue and a lot of sex
As in his famous Ninja novels, this first installment in the China Maroc series was an absolute blockbuster. Filled with sprawling characters, a seamless kaleidoscope of storylines come together to give us an action saga fit for tv screens. Typically rich in substance set against the backdrop of communist China and the later years of the Cold War, it is filled with all the cool elements of an action thriller: action, violence, intrigue and a lot of sex
Typical Asian based spy thriller that Van Lustbader has written. This particular one bounces around between China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia and the U.S. The ending I found a little disappointing. The most interesting parts were his incorporating Chinese history into the story. This indicates I probably should read an actual history book on the subject! I read several of his previous books shortly after graduating college--maybe I've outgrown these. An entertaining read though if this is your gen
...more
Aug 25, 2018
For the love of books
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-fave-books
Non siamo all'altezza del grande Nicholas Linnear, ma anche Jake Maroc e le sue avventure sanno come emozionare il lettore.
Ottime le digressioni, soprattutto per comprendere personaggi altrimenti criptici come Nichiren, Shi Zilin e Tre Giuramenti Tsun.
Sinceramente, non avevo ancora letto il secondo volume, mi domando se tutta l'ingerenza dei russi proposta da Lustbader troverà poi una sua collocazione finale nella storia perché al momento ha solo rallentato la narrazione. ...more
Ottime le digressioni, soprattutto per comprendere personaggi altrimenti criptici come Nichiren, Shi Zilin e Tre Giuramenti Tsun.
Sinceramente, non avevo ancora letto il secondo volume, mi domando se tutta l'ingerenza dei russi proposta da Lustbader troverà poi una sua collocazione finale nella storia perché al momento ha solo rallentato la narrazione. ...more
Trama troppo intricata che costringe spesso tornare indietro nella lettura. Lo stile non è fluido e scorrevole anche se nel complesso è ben scritto. Appaiono inesatte alcune situazioni ipotizzate dall'autore (per esempio a metà degli anni Ottanta l'Unione Sovietica non era più in grado di nuocere a nessuno, tanto meno alla Cina). Tutto sommato è un buon romanzo ma la differenza tra l'autore e fuoriclasse del calibro di Ken Follett è evidente.
...more
Ho iniziato a capire qualcosa degli intrighi che si celano in “Jian” solo dopo la pagina 360!
Dopo è tutto in discesa.
Bella la rappresentazione storica e filosofica delle tre nazioni protagoniste. Ti lascia un po’ con un “e ora?” Ma so che c’è un seguito.
Nichiren protagonista indiscusso per me del libro e che bello leggere tecniche con nome giapponese dell’aikido!!!
Dopo è tutto in discesa.
Bella la rappresentazione storica e filosofica delle tre nazioni protagoniste. Ti lascia un po’ con un “e ora?” Ma so che c’è un seguito.
Nichiren protagonista indiscusso per me del libro e che bello leggere tecniche con nome giapponese dell’aikido!!!
If you like the book, you need to read the second one in the series, "Shan". ☺
...more
Amazing spy/thriller book. A bit too romantic for my taste, but the rest of it is hard to beat. It might be a bit confusing at start, but if the reader is sharp, he/she will notice the main fabula elements and will start feeling excited and anxious about what might happen next.
I loved reading it, even read it like 10 times over the course of several years. I am happy I never met in real people like the Jian character, it would make me feel way too much insignificant.
I loved reading it, even read it like 10 times over the course of several years. I am happy I never met in real people like the Jian character, it would make me feel way too much insignificant.
This was the first Lustbader book I have read.
It was 'ok'.
I did like the weaving in of history and present but everything was a little 'too perfect'. It all fit too neatly.
The story of an assassin living in Hong Kong and another in Japan and how they fight and the story of how they are all being controlled by China, USSR and USA. ...more
It was 'ok'.
I did like the weaving in of history and present but everything was a little 'too perfect'. It all fit too neatly.
The story of an assassin living in Hong Kong and another in Japan and how they fight and the story of how they are all being controlled by China, USSR and USA. ...more
I hadn't read Lustbader for a while and if I'm honest I really missed his style. This book was definitely up there with the Nocholas Linnear series and is Lustbader at his best.
The mix of intrigue, intense action and the marrying of two cultures is a delight to read and I can't wait to read the next book in the series - Shian.
Definitely recommend this book. ...more
The mix of intrigue, intense action and the marrying of two cultures is a delight to read and I can't wait to read the next book in the series - Shian.
Definitely recommend this book. ...more
If you like intrigue, spies, double agents, you won't be disappointed with Jian, the first of a series developed around the history of China from the 1930's to modern day. The author uses many Chinese terms that enrich the story (and thankfully includes a glossary). There are also several sexual trysts that might earn the book at least an R rating.
...more
This book can fool you because the begining was a bit convaluted and seemed to be a little confusing. It ends up being an excellent story. I was surprised at the ending. You need to read this entire book to appreciate the work that went into the writing.
Reading this was tiring. So much action, sometimes I got confused. Hard to figure out who the villian really is. CIA, KGB (back when there was still a Soviet Union), Red Chinese diplomats, and assorted underlings and street thugs. Hold on tight to the book; it may jump right out of your hands.
Jul 25, 2014
Colin Guest
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
those who like crime mystery books
I read this book some years ago and found like other Eric Van Lustbader books it was interesting. I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end. This I think is an excellent book, which I highly recommend you read.
This was the second Lustbader book I ever read; and even more than The Ninja, his writing style excited my imagination. While true that you must "give in to the story" more than other works based in the real world, once you do the story takes over all your senses. An excellent read.
...more
This was my second complete reading of this novel. At this point in history, the story line provides a plausible explanation for the economic rise of China.
I thought James Clavell was pretty good, Mr. Lustbader take one step further !
Very well explored,explained, and presented!
Laszlo
Very well explored,explained, and presented!
Laszlo
Fiction
Apr 17, 2015
Marion Green
added it
Best book ever. He (Eric) knows how to build bridges to bring characters together in a plot. Suspenseful, but also full of historical events, and language.
Not finished, boring, lots of chinese history lessons, no juicy bits
I couldn't get far enough along in the book since I did not like the characters.
...more
fantastic martial arts, a taste of the orient. and erotic sex mixed in with espionage a very heady mixture. five stars from me
Read decades ago.
Also read this back in the nineties (97 I think?)- recall I wasn't as enamored of this series as much as his White Ninja books but was still majorly impressed at that age.
...more
Great book.
Keeps you turning one page after another until suddenly, the books finished.
Keeps you turning one page after another until suddenly, the books finished.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Eric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.
Mr. Lustbader is ...more
Mr. Lustbader is ...more
Other books in the series
China Maroc
(2 books)
Related Articles
Sometimes the monster in your life looks a lot like you. Or exactly like you, but better.
This is the case of Evelyn Caldwell. An...
41 likes · 5 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
