Rating: 
Summary: The end to a wonderful trilogy
Review: Although the second of this three books series is my favorite Tong Lashing was a wonderful read. After getting to know Apropos from the first two the third brings in more conflicts that he must face. Twists and turns in the story kept me wanting to read the book the entire day. David's brilliant sense of humor I commend once again; he is always leaving me laughing and has the creativity to bring in drama as well, I applaud. When you thought Apropos has been through just about everything David swings a few more curve balls to boggle the mind and say "What the?!..." This is a book I'm sure you won't be able to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Leaves no pun unturned, no fantasy classic unparodied
Review: Fleeing from his career as 'Peacelord,' Sir Apropos of Nothing takes a ship, leaving behind his long-time love interest Sharee. As typical for Apropos, the ship does not make a safe landing. Instead, after a terrible role-playing-game incident involving the gay mouser [sic], Doubting Tomas (the unbeliever playing with his white-gold ring), and Ronnell McDonnell [sic again], Apropos is cast ashore in a strange China/Japan land where his round eyes are thought of as strange and where his bad luck quickly follows. Following an excursion into the world of the Karate Kid, Apropos is faced with the new challenge of finding himself caring for others--and wondering how to take care of someone other than himself. Combining fantasy adventure with allusion to just about any fantasy you can think of (although Tolkien was pretty much taken care of in the earlier volume in the series), and an interesting if depressing cynicism, author Peter David offers a highly readable and compelling story. For most of the book, Apropos actually seems to be turning into a person, wondering how to balance his own needs with those of others, finding a true love, and learning to care about even the simple people of the world. The accidental creation of the great wall of China, multiple horrible puns (including the high-priced Ho of Apropos's infatuation), and the evil emperor's control of the force add to the appeal. Occasionally, David gets a little too clever, pulling the reader out of the story, and Apropos's long introspections could sometimes be cut to the good of the book, but these are minor quibbles. I did find the strong note of homophobia, however, to be unfortunate, and the ending, while certainly in keeping with the Apropos series, left me a little flat. Still, TONG LASHING is funny, readable, and an intriguingly different story.
Rating: 
Summary: An ending from the land of Kopout
Review: For almost every page, this book delivers. Fans of the first two books will be giddy with joy, for this book has the same goofy puns, the same sardonic narration, and the same ridiculous names a the first two books. Almost every page is full of all the cynical wit that the first two Apropos books delivered. The story builds wonderfully, and then at the very end of the book there are two . . . plot twists. The first might not be as shocking as Apropos finds it, but the second is way over the top. Together, they forge a conclusion so harsh and sudden, it feels as if the author just gave up. It is as if your favorite football team is winning the Super Bowl, and then they suddenly forfeit and leave . Other readers may find the ending of "Tong Lashing" rather, well, apropos; but Apropos - and the reader- deserved something better.
Rating:
Summary: An ending from the land of Kopout
Review: For almost every page, this book delivers. Fans of the first two books will be giddy with joy, for this book has the same goofy puns, the same sardonic narration, and the same ridiculous names a the first two books. Almost every page is full of all the cynical wit that the first two Apropos books delivered. The story builds wonderfully, and then at the very end of the book there are two . . . plot twists. The first might not be as shocking as Apropos finds it, but the second is way over the top. Together, they forge a conclusion so harsh and sudden, it feels as if the author just gave up. It is as if your favorite football team is winning the Super Bowl, and then they suddenly forfeit and leave . Other readers may find the ending of "Tong Lashing" rather, well, apropos; but Apropos - and the reader- deserved something better.
Rating:
Summary: The end of the tong?
Review: I agree with Myron. The ending was terrible. What a let down. There were some good puns and such in the body of the story...but the ending could have been much better. It is good that this is the last book...since I wouldn't buy another, even though I liked the first two books. I'm trying hard here not to write a spoiler. :)
Rating:
Summary: The end of the tong?
Review: I agree with Myron. The ending was terrible. What a let down. There were some good puns and such in the body of the story...but the ending could have been much better. It is good that this is the last book...since I wouldn't buy another, even though I liked the first two books. I'm trying hard here not to write a spoiler. :)
Rating:
Summary: Oh Apropos, how I love you!
Review: I have been a Peter David fan for a while and I think his Apropos books are hilarious and imaginative. And talk about wit! The third book is as wonderful as the previous two. The beginning starts off so amusing I was laughing out loud. And this keeps up in the middle. Towards the end I felt that the book was starting to let me down until the actual which redeemed the small setback. This book is a must for any Peter David fan.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Apropos, how I love you!
Review: I have been a Peter David fan for a while and I think his Apropos books are hilarious and imaginative. And talk about wit! The third book is as wonderful as the previous two. The beginning starts off so amusing I was laughing out loud. And this keeps up in the middle. Towards the end I felt that the book was starting to let me down until the actual which redeemed the small setback. This book is a must for any Peter David fan.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never look at Asia the same way again.
Review: I'm a big fan of puns. The more I groan, the better I like them. Peter David must feel the same way, because he's been responsible for a great many of the best groaners around. In fact, I haven't seen anybody make a pun like he has, because he not only makes the joke, but then he makes something useful out of it. It's a rare talent, and one that really makes his books worth reading. Which brings us to Tong Lashing (see what I mean?), which is the third book in the Sir Apropos of Nothing series. The first book, also called Sir Apropos of Nothing, introduces us to the wonderful but extremely self-centered Apropos, a man who won't stick his neck out for anybody. David then gives us The Woad to Wuin, which brings Apropos to the land of Wuin, where he learns that he can sink to even further depths. David says in the acknowledgements that Apropos's future is up in the air. If that's so, it makes me sad, because he unfortunately didn't end it on a great note. Tong Lashing is still a very good book, but the tone is wildly variable, ultimately making for a disappointing finish. I find myself with completely mixed feelings about this book, and I'm not sure if it's just me not getting the ending or what. The book is wonderful, with colorful characters, wonderful dialogue and witty asides (the book is told in first person, so the asides are written by Apropos). It's everything I loved about the first two books, and the jokes are even better then those. Up until the last 100 pages, I was going to call this the best of the three. Everything was just clicking, and I couldn't stop laughing, but yet being touched as Apropos learns even more about himself. He's always been unlikable, mainly because he is the complete anti-hero. In Tong Lashing, however, he starts moving beyond that, and showing that he can actually care for somebody. But then the climax starts, the book all of a sudden turns very dark. This is a pivotal moment in Apropos's life, and it's very well done. He's brought down to the very bottom, the ultimate level of self-loathing as he realizes that he brought all of this death and destruction down on his friends. He's determined to avenge them, and he hatches a plan to bring down everybody in Chinpan. This is fine by itself. While the tone is dark (there are no real jokes by this point), it is very effective. However, then things go even worse, with a literally explosive climax that completely ruins the mood and tone of the book. I think David went way too far in this one, and if he's trying to make some point, it went completely over my head. This change in tone almost made my teeth clap together it was so sudden. I can't say enough about how wonderful the rest of the book is, though. Apropos is his normal self, but he has grown and the change is welcome to see. He is still cynical, knowing that every time he is happy something's going to happen to bring it down. Mitsu is the daughter of the Imperior, impulsive and headstrong in a society where women are not even second-class citizens. She is a product of her upbringing though, and one of the sticking points between Apropos and Mitsu is her willingness to sacrifice her handmaidens when she is being punished. We find out the secret of Mordant, and how he is able to talk. The Imperior is suitably insane, and just when you think he's being stereotypically dumb, David pulls a twist out of his hat and shows us a villain who's both insane and kind of smart too. And then, of course, there are the jokes and puns. You've seen a couple of them in this review, and I don't really want to reveal any more. Probably the best one is a take-off on the Ninjas of old Japan (if you have no plans to read this book, email me and I'll tell you what it is). Peter David has a wildly humorous way of writing, though he is definitely somebody you'll either love or hate. Basically, I can say that if you like puns, you will love his writing. The jokes come fast and furious, and I loved reading about Apropos's feelings on life in general. He talks directly to the reader, writing this in his old age (so yes, it's obvious that he survives everything). Apropos often expresses his amazement that he still has readers, which can be a dangerous thing for an author to do. But David handles it with aplomb, knowing that he's got his reader hooked. The best part about his puns is that they are more than just puns. He makes the Forked Tong a legitimate (and dangerous) criminal organization. The Ninjas could have been used for a joke and then discarded, but they become an integral part of the plot, and characters in their own right. Minor characters, to be sure, but still at least with two-dimensional. The joke becomes part of the plot, rather than just a rim-shot. Even the mad Scotsman Ronnell McDonnell actually gets a mention after he has strutted across the stage. In fact, any gamer will love the sequence with McDonnell and the magical role-playing game. Still, we have to get to the end, and I felt very unsatisfied. It hit me like a two by four to the head, but not in a good way. David had better write another Apropos book to wash the taste of it out of my mouth. It is effective in one way, however. Apropos ends the book truly as Sir Apropos of Nothing. And he's finally satisfied with that. I'm not, however. David Roy
Rating:
Summary: You'll never look at Asia the same way again.
Review: I'm a big fan of puns. The more I groan, the better I like them. Peter David must feel the same way, because he's been responsible for a great many of the best groaners around. In fact, I haven't seen anybody make a pun like he has, because he not only makes the joke, but then he makes something useful out of it. It's a rare talent, and one that really makes his books worth reading. Which brings us to Tong Lashing (see what I mean?), which is the third book in the Sir Apropos of Nothing series. The first book, also called Sir Apropos of Nothing, introduces us to the wonderful but extremely self-centered Apropos, a man who won't stick his neck out for anybody. David then gives us The Woad to Wuin, which brings Apropos to the land of Wuin, where he learns that he can sink to even further depths. David says in the acknowledgements that Apropos's future is up in the air. If that's so, it makes me sad, because he unfortunately didn't end it on a great note. Tong Lashing is still a very good book, but the tone is wildly variable, ultimately making for a disappointing finish. I find myself with completely mixed feelings about this book, and I'm not sure if it's just me not getting the ending or what. The book is wonderful, with colorful characters, wonderful dialogue and witty asides (the book is told in first person, so the asides are written by Apropos). It's everything I loved about the first two books, and the jokes are even better then those. Up until the last 100 pages, I was going to call this the best of the three. Everything was just clicking, and I couldn't stop laughing, but yet being touched as Apropos learns even more about himself. He's always been unlikable, mainly because he is the complete anti-hero. In Tong Lashing, however, he starts moving beyond that, and showing that he can actually care for somebody. But then the climax starts, the book all of a sudden turns very dark. This is a pivotal moment in Apropos's life, and it's very well done. He's brought down to the very bottom, the ultimate level of self-loathing as he realizes that he brought all of this death and destruction down on his friends. He's determined to avenge them, and he hatches a plan to bring down everybody in Chinpan. This is fine by itself. While the tone is dark (there are no real jokes by this point), it is very effective. However, then things go even worse, with a literally explosive climax that completely ruins the mood and tone of the book. I think David went way too far in this one, and if he's trying to make some point, it went completely over my head. This change in tone almost made my teeth clap together it was so sudden. I can't say enough about how wonderful the rest of the book is, though. Apropos is his normal self, but he has grown and the change is welcome to see. He is still cynical, knowing that every time he is happy something's going to happen to bring it down. Mitsu is the daughter of the Imperior, impulsive and headstrong in a society where women are not even second-class citizens. She is a product of her upbringing though, and one of the sticking points between Apropos and Mitsu is her willingness to sacrifice her handmaidens when she is being punished. We find out the secret of Mordant, and how he is able to talk. The Imperior is suitably insane, and just when you think he's being stereotypically dumb, David pulls a twist out of his hat and shows us a villain who's both insane and kind of smart too. And then, of course, there are the jokes and puns. You've seen a couple of them in this review, and I don't really want to reveal any more. Probably the best one is a take-off on the Ninjas of old Japan (if you have no plans to read this book, email me and I'll tell you what it is). Peter David has a wildly humorous way of writing, though he is definitely somebody you'll either love or hate. Basically, I can say that if you like puns, you will love his writing. The jokes come fast and furious, and I loved reading about Apropos's feelings on life in general. He talks directly to the reader, writing this in his old age (so yes, it's obvious that he survives everything). Apropos often expresses his amazement that he still has readers, which can be a dangerous thing for an author to do. But David handles it with aplomb, knowing that he's got his reader hooked. The best part about his puns is that they are more than just puns. He makes the Forked Tong a legitimate (and dangerous) criminal organization. The Ninjas could have been used for a joke and then discarded, but they become an integral part of the plot, and characters in their own right. Minor characters, to be sure, but still at least with two-dimensional. The joke becomes part of the plot, rather than just a rim-shot. Even the mad Scotsman Ronnell McDonnell actually gets a mention after he has strutted across the stage. In fact, any gamer will love the sequence with McDonnell and the magical role-playing game. Still, we have to get to the end, and I felt very unsatisfied. It hit me like a two by four to the head, but not in a good way. David had better write another Apropos book to wash the taste of it out of my mouth. It is effective in one way, however. Apropos ends the book truly as Sir Apropos of Nothing. And he's finally satisfied with that. I'm not, however. David Roy
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