Dave-Platt@LADC (10/18/85)
From: Dave Platt <Dave-Platt%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA>
Del Rey/Ballantine 32138 (May 1985)
I'd like to second-the-motion for Matt Leo's recent note in praise
of Barry Hughart's fantasy novel "Bridge of Birds" (Matt listed it
as "Princess of Birds"... different edition, or fumble by flying fingers?
I'm not sure). This is Hughart's first novel, and it goes onto my
very small stack of "first novels that blew my socks off" immediately.
I bought it largely by chance, to fill an otherwise empty afternoon;
I rapidly realized that I'd purchased a real gem.
The story is subtitled "A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was".
If this sounds a bit like Jessica Amanda Salmonson's stories of Tomoe
Gozen (please forgive any misspellings here - I don't have my library
handy)... well, yes and no. The underlying concepts are similar (an
alternate version of an Oriental country of long ago, in which magic
and similar such things apply), but the feel of this story is very
different. I stopped reading Salmonson's stories after the first
Tomoe Gozen novel, as I never felt really engaged in what was
happening; I fell into Bridge of Birds head-first, tore through it
in one afternoon, and wished for more.
Bridge of Birds is told from the point of view of Lu Yu (or "Number Ten
Ox" to just about everyone), a young man of a small village. The
children of his village are suddenly struck down by a strange illness,
and he must locate a Wise Man to determine the cure. The only Wise Man
he can hire with the money available to him is Li Kao, a somewhat fallen
scholar with "a slight flaw in his character". Li Kao drinks rather too
much wine, has little respect for authority, and has a love and talent for
a well-turned con that would warm the heart of Slippery Jim diGriz (the
Stainless Steel Rat). Together, they set out to locate (and steal) the
Great Root of Power, which is the only curative medicine powerful enough
to overcome the malady that has stricken the children. It soon becomes
apparent that their quest is not simply what it seems... it is entwined
with a deeper and more ominous search reaching up to the very heart of
Heaven. A truly marvelous cast of supporting characters appear (and
reappear unexpectedly) throughout the story, and the resolution is
quite satisfying.
This book has some of the most marvelous scenes and images that I've
encountered in the past few years; the sense of humor which pervades the
story never quits, and never gets in the way. It will be quite some time
before I forget the picture of Miser Shen ploughing his way through
an immense pile of goat manure looking for gold coins... or the discourse
on the proper way to prepare porcupine in bean paste (VERY carefully!)...
or the Falcon's granting of Doctor Death's true wish... or, most
especially, the flashing Sword Dance done to free the spirits of
Bright Star and the young captain that she loved from the ghost dance
that holds them in thrall. I had tears in my eyes more than once
while reading the story, and I'll buy Hughart's next novel the moment
I see it.
I give this book my highest personal recommendation. Special-order it
if your bookstore doesn't have it in stock (I got mine at B.Dalton),
borrow a friend's copy, withdraw it from your local well-stocked library
(does not apply in California) or whatever.. but DON'T miss it!