Rating: 
Summary: a more introspective Apropos
Review: Thanks to angering a powerful supernatural being (so what's new?), Apropos is shipwrecked and washes up in the alien country of Chinpan. Everything about Chinpan is different from what Apropos is accustomed to, from their looks to their odd over-developed sense of honor. He stumbles upon a small farming village, made up mainly of the Chin family, and to his surprise, makes himself at home with them as a simple farmer. He is encouraged to study with the village's revered teacher, Chinpan Ali, who begins to teach Po how to empty himself and find peace. Apropos finds himself in the unusual position of being happy-and he waits for the axe to drop. Which, naturally, it does.
Chinpan Ali is murdered and Po seeks vengeance-biting off way more than he can chew. Again, what's new?! He angers the Hamunri Clan, the criminal organization the Forked Tong, the Tong's Skang Ke family, the Anais Ninjas, and pretty much everyone else he encounters. The Imperior, the head of the Skang Ke family (Skang Kei Ho), an annoying person named Mitsu, and a former acquaintance also make Po's revenge-and life-more difficult and he goes from one bizarre situation to the next.
Like the first two Apropos books, Tong Lashing is filled with that bizarre humor that makes a Peter David book so darn good. Puns, the outrageous, satire, sarcasm and the just plain funny run rampant, making the reader groan and laugh at the same time.
Unlike the others, Tong Lashing is rather introspective. (Consider the dedication: "to all those who had the chance and passed".) Po begins to change, sometimes subtly, sometimes obviously, and to rethink his prior way of living. Whereas it used to be every man for himself and Po first, others start taking a more important role in his life.
While still enjoyable, and still a four-star book, I want to warn the reader that it IS different from the previous books. Not different in a bad way, but definitely different. There is a more serious tone to this book, with humor taking a back seat to Po's development, with an ending that leaves one confused and thinking, just like Po. If you've read the first two, you need to read this third-and possibly final-volume of Apropos' life.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: This third (and perhaps final) installment of Sir Apropos of Nothing may just be the best book out of the three. Peter David maintains his hilarious (and painful) use of puns with the names such as Itso Isi, Hamunri, and Go Nogo (and many more which I won't spoil). The plot moves along at a steady pace, and any lulls in the action are used to further character development. And the final chapters in the book are so shocking and powerful that I am led to believe that Peter David is either a genius or the sickest man alive! If you read the first two books, buy and read this book ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret of Power Is Nothing
Review: Tong Lashing is the third novel in the Sir Apropos of Nothing series, following Woad to Wuin. In the previous volume, Apropos discovered that he was being used by Hecate and the shades of the Rockmunchers. He sacrificed the worldly body of Hecate and shattered the Eye of the Beholder. Then, faced with the shadows of the Rockmunchers, he turned their own fears against the spirits and drove them away. Apropos and Sharee cleaned up the debris from the shadows massacre and buried the rejoined Eye of the Beholder. Preparing to leave, Apropos addressed a question to Mordant, as he has done many times before, but this time Mordant answered. Continuing their conversation, they travel out of the desert to Port Degras. There Apropos is offered an chance to join with Sharee and Mordant in a quest, but he declines. In this novel, Apropos sails on the Larp toward Azure Island. One of his fellow passengers, Ronnell McDonnell of Clan McDonnell, is a powerful weaver as well as a roleplaying game enthusiast. He sets up a game of his devising with the passengers but McDonnell gets to be gamemaster and arranges for the other players to die in the game ... and in real life. Yet Apropos manages to turn the game itself against McDonnell, but the weaver explodes and blows a hole in the side of the boat. Yet Apropos is sucked out of the ship clinging to the table, but he floats in the sea for days without sight of land or ship. When he finally comes ashore, he discovers that he is within the land of Chinpan. He is met by mistrustful farmers, but a little girl paves the way for his acceptance. He remains in the village of Hosbiyu for months, learning the language and helping with the crops. Then three men from the Skang Kei family appear and offer "protection" to the villagers. In this story, Apropos continues to face his fears and find ways to avoid their stranglehold on his life. He begins to like the villagers and admires their peace of mind. He becomes a disciple of Chinpan Ali, an old man with a a firm grasp of Zennihilation, to seek such peace. Later, his concern for the welfare of the villagers drives him to depart to seek an audience with the Imperior. In this story, Apropos observes a group of sexually demented female ninjas appear and disappear again. He finds Mitsu, an excellent fighter but young and moody, trying to help Mordant escape from a cage in a traveling circus. He is granted great honors by the feckless Imperior, but powerful men plot against him. And he meets Veruh Wang Ho, who becomes the great love in his life. In this novel, the author pulls out all the stops with the wordplay. Although Apropos eventually learns the names of all the villagers, the most common name is Chin and he labels them all with variations of the name that reflect some attribute. He calls his host "Double Chin" and his hostess "Lun Chin". Her sister is "Kit Chin" and the little girl is "Kit Chinette". Later, Apropos meets an important imperial general named "Go Nogo". This novel is the last in the series, at least for now, and the story terminates with a resounding finality. All of Apropos' illusions are shattered and his loves are lost. In the end, he is left with Nothing ... with a capital "N". Highly recommended for David fans and for anyone else who enjoys puns, twisted macabre plots, and sheer destruction.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret of Power Is Nothing
Review: Tong Lashing is the third novel in the Sir Apropos of Nothing series, following Woad to Wuin. In the previous volume, Apropos discovered that he was being used by Hecate and the shades of the Rockmunchers. He sacrificed the worldly body of Hecate and shattered the Eye of the Beholder. Then, faced with the shadows of the Rockmunchers, he turned their own fears against the spirits and drove them away. Apropos and Sharee cleaned up the debris from the shadows massacre and buried the rejoined Eye of the Beholder. Preparing to leave, Apropos addressed a question to Mordant, as he has done many times before, but this time Mordant answered. Continuing their conversation, they travel out of the desert to Port Degras. There Apropos is offered an chance to join with Sharee and Mordant in a quest, but he declines. In this novel, Apropos sails on the Larp toward Azure Island. One of his fellow passengers, Ronnell McDonnell of Clan McDonnell, is a powerful weaver as well as a roleplaying game enthusiast. He sets up a game of his devising with the passengers but McDonnell gets to be gamemaster and arranges for the other players to die in the game ... and in real life. Yet Apropos manages to turn the game itself against McDonnell, but the weaver explodes and blows a hole in the side of the boat. Yet Apropos is sucked out of the ship clinging to the table, but he floats in the sea for days without sight of land or ship. When he finally comes ashore, he discovers that he is within the land of Chinpan. He is met by mistrustful farmers, but a little girl paves the way for his acceptance. He remains in the village of Hosbiyu for months, learning the language and helping with the crops. Then three men from the Skang Kei family appear and offer "protection" to the villagers. In this story, Apropos continues to face his fears and find ways to avoid their stranglehold on his life. He begins to like the villagers and admires their peace of mind. He becomes a disciple of Chinpan Ali, an old man with a a firm grasp of Zennihilation, to seek such peace. Later, his concern for the welfare of the villagers drives him to depart to seek an audience with the Imperior. In this story, Apropos observes a group of sexually demented female ninjas appear and disappear again. He finds Mitsu, an excellent fighter but young and moody, trying to help Mordant escape from a cage in a traveling circus. He is granted great honors by the feckless Imperior, but powerful men plot against him. And he meets Veruh Wang Ho, who becomes the great love in his life. In this novel, the author pulls out all the stops with the wordplay. Although Apropos eventually learns the names of all the villagers, the most common name is Chin and he labels them all with variations of the name that reflect some attribute. He calls his host "Double Chin" and his hostess "Lun Chin". Her sister is "Kit Chin" and the little girl is "Kit Chinette". Later, Apropos meets an important imperial general named "Go Nogo". This novel is the last in the series, at least for now, and the story terminates with a resounding finality. All of Apropos' illusions are shattered and his loves are lost. In the end, he is left with Nothing ... with a capital "N". Highly recommended for David fans and for anyone else who enjoys puns, twisted macabre plots, and sheer destruction.
|
