SOLVED. Science Fiction: Past Life Book, not The Last Samurai. [s]

[Debra]

A friend asked me to try to find this book for her. She remembers reading the book in the early 1990's. She said it was a fiction book about a young boy (approximately 4 years old) whose native language is English. He starts speaking fluent Japanese and talking about a past life as a Samurai Warrior. She says it was either a Young Adult or Adult book. The writing style reminded her of Mark Olden or LustBader novel.

This is all she remembers. Does the information spark a memory for anyone.

[El]

The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt, but this came out in 2000 I believe, not the early 1990s. Everything else matches identically, however.

[Debra]

El wrote: "The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt, but this came out in 2000 I believe, not the early 1990s. Everything else matches identically, however."

I'll forward here the info and see. Thank you so much!

[Debra]

El wrote: "The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt, but this came out in 2000 I believe, not the early 1990s. Everything else matches identically, however."

Sadly, she says it's not the book. She says it is along the lines of a lustbader novel or a Mark Olden and she remembers reading it at college, which was prior to 2000. Thank you though, I greatly appreciate the response.

[Debra]

Bump

[Debra]

Bump

[Angela]

I'm having trouble finding a detailed plot summary of it, but could it be Dai-sho by Marc Olden? It came up in a search on Novelist Plus using the terms "samurai" and "reincarnation." Fantastic Fiction gives this as a plot summary:

"Here, by the author of Giri, is a powerful, all-engrossing novel of a lone American up against the cutthroat samurai of Japanese industrialists: An American looking to unravel the mystery of the death of an Asian woman he once loved ... a Japanese secret society linked to a multinational corporation ... a brilliant artist determined to restore his country's ancient glory ... a boy with an eerie sixth sense ... an exotic American woman with even more exotic tastes ... a Chinese triad that rules the Hong Kong underworld-mix with bushido, the samurai code of the Japanese, and the explosive result is dai-sho: "big sword, little sword," a confrontation of East vs. West, a struggle whose only resolution is in the ultimates of life and death. Dai-Sho begins where The Ninja leaves off. It is irresistible storytelling." (https://www.fantasticfiction.com/o/marc-olden/daisho.htm)

[Debra]

I'll ask my friend and let you know. Thank you for the suggestion. :)

[Debra]

She said it's a possibility. She does like Marc Olden's work. She will try to find a copy of the book. If she does, I'll let you know the results. Thank you so much for the suggestion!

Administrators, I'm not sure how to move this to the "Possibly Solved folder". I think someone told me in the past that you guys do it upon reading the information. Thank you :)

[Andria]

Hi Debra, I'll move this to Possibly Solved -- just come back and let us know one way or the other!

[Debra]

Will do :)

[Debra]

Angela, you were right. :) It was Dai Sho by Marc Olden. I found a used copy, bought it for my friend and sent it to her. She said she remembered the little boy's part being bigger, but it is the book. Thank you so much!

Andria, could you move this to the solved section? Thank you very much :)

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Debra. That's a thoughtful gift. I marked your request as Solved (by clicking the small "edit" link beside the topic header using desktop website, not the mobile app).

[Debra]

Kris wrote: "Glad you found your book, Debra. That's a thoughtful gift. I marked your request as Solved (by clicking the small "edit" link beside the topic header using desktop website, not the mobile app)."
Thank you Kris. Now I know why I couldn't change the status, lol. Have a wonderful day.