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The Paladin
Now betrayed by the Emperor he once protected, master swordsman Saukendar leaves the way of the sword behind him forever--so he thinks. When a headstrong peasant girl burning to avenge her murdered family demands that he train her, Saukendar is faced with a momentous choice. Send Taizu away, never see her again--or join her and destroy the tyrant who has nearly destroyed them both.
383 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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970 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Cherryh
291Ìýbooks3,492ÌýfollowersCurrently resident in Spokane, Washington, C.J. Cherryh has won four Hugos and is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed authors in the science fiction and fantasy field. She is the author of more than forty novels. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, Mariners baseball, and, a late passion, figure skating: she intends to compete in the adult USFSA track. She began with the modest ambition to learn to skate backwards and now is working on jumps. She sketches, occasionally, cooks fairly well, and hates house work; she loves the outdoors, animals wild and tame, is a hobbyist geologist, adores dinosaurs, and has academic specialties in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. She has written science fiction since she was ten, spent ten years of her life teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level, before retiring to full time writing, and now does not have enough hours in the day to pursue all her interests. Her studies include planetary geology, weather systems, and natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology…in fact, there's very little that doesn't interest her. A loom is gathering dust and needs rethreading, a wooden ship model awaits construction, and the cats demand their own time much more urgently. She works constantly, researches mostly on the internet, and has books stacked up and waiting to be written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
November 22, 2010
I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't.
All I'll say here is, I don't exactly feel flattered by Cherryh's view of "men" in general. The old "paladin" spends half the book considering forcing the heroine to have sex with him...for her own good of course.. Sheesh. Talk about a really tired stereotype. I suppose the constant idiocy of the male character in this novel is to show the female character's struggle to be taken as an equal, but it just doesn't work. Well, it doesn't work unless you have a very warped view of males in general.
Interestingly the culture that this seems to be loosely based on (Feudal Japan) was a strange mix of attitudes but in many ways was much "freer" in it's attitude toward sex than the west. Women of the Samurai Class were well respected and it wasn't unheard of for a woman to take up arms, indeed sometimes it was expected. Of course they were also expected (like the men) to commit seppuku in some cases also.
Cherryh has done better work than this book, far better. Like I said, I wanted to like it, I was hoping to like it, but I don't.
If you do, again I'm happy for you, but it's not for me.
All I'll say here is, I don't exactly feel flattered by Cherryh's view of "men" in general. The old "paladin" spends half the book considering forcing the heroine to have sex with him...for her own good of course.. Sheesh. Talk about a really tired stereotype. I suppose the constant idiocy of the male character in this novel is to show the female character's struggle to be taken as an equal, but it just doesn't work. Well, it doesn't work unless you have a very warped view of males in general.
Interestingly the culture that this seems to be loosely based on (Feudal Japan) was a strange mix of attitudes but in many ways was much "freer" in it's attitude toward sex than the west. Women of the Samurai Class were well respected and it wasn't unheard of for a woman to take up arms, indeed sometimes it was expected. Of course they were also expected (like the men) to commit seppuku in some cases also.
Cherryh has done better work than this book, far better. Like I said, I wanted to like it, I was hoping to like it, but I don't.
If you do, again I'm happy for you, but it's not for me.
March 2, 2013
Looking for a night in shining armor, a paragon of virtue and flawless character? An untarnished hero who is a beacon of light standing against the darkness? Look somewhere else.
In a nutshell we have the main character, and exiled sword master from a china-like fantasy kingdom. A peasant girl whose family have been casualties of the political strife in his former kingdom comes to him and demands that he train her so that she can revenge herself on the Lord responsible. I don't think that it's really a spoiler to tell you that he does so, and that they embark on a quest to get her revenge. All fairly standard stuff.
The entire story is told as a stream of consciousness narrative from the perspective of the aging sword-master, Shoka. He is not always a lovely person, or easy to like. He is impatient, irritable and very much a product of his culture, which is patriarchal and oppressive of women. Several times in the narrative he half-seriously considers raping his student to 'end her foolishness.' He never does of course; regardless of his thoughts he is at his core an honorable and practical man, or at least tries to be. Whether you ever come to like him or not, he is complex, interesting, human and completely believable in context.
In the course of the book we meet Taizu, the peasant girl hell-bent on revenge. We come to know her entirely through Shoka's eyes. It's fascinating to watch her become, not just a nuisance, not just a student and source of sexual frustration, but a complex and interesting person in her own right. One that he comes to value and even love.
Which of these two is the paladin referred to in the title? I've reread this book many times over the years and I still can't decide. Perhaps it is both. Regardless of how many times I read this book I always find it a rich and satisfying experience.
In a nutshell we have the main character, and exiled sword master from a china-like fantasy kingdom. A peasant girl whose family have been casualties of the political strife in his former kingdom comes to him and demands that he train her so that she can revenge herself on the Lord responsible. I don't think that it's really a spoiler to tell you that he does so, and that they embark on a quest to get her revenge. All fairly standard stuff.
The entire story is told as a stream of consciousness narrative from the perspective of the aging sword-master, Shoka. He is not always a lovely person, or easy to like. He is impatient, irritable and very much a product of his culture, which is patriarchal and oppressive of women. Several times in the narrative he half-seriously considers raping his student to 'end her foolishness.' He never does of course; regardless of his thoughts he is at his core an honorable and practical man, or at least tries to be. Whether you ever come to like him or not, he is complex, interesting, human and completely believable in context.
In the course of the book we meet Taizu, the peasant girl hell-bent on revenge. We come to know her entirely through Shoka's eyes. It's fascinating to watch her become, not just a nuisance, not just a student and source of sexual frustration, but a complex and interesting person in her own right. One that he comes to value and even love.
Which of these two is the paladin referred to in the title? I've reread this book many times over the years and I still can't decide. Perhaps it is both. Regardless of how many times I read this book I always find it a rich and satisfying experience.
July 28, 2022
Moment of shame as I admit I have never read anything by C.J. Cherryh! I picked up a whole stack of her paperbacks from the used bookstore; I decided to start with The Paladin because the internet told me that it was a good standalone work. No lies! Now, it took me over a week to read this little story because I was distracted and, perhaps, not in the mood for exactly this type of tale. Nevertheless, while I didn’t love this book, it showcased Cherryh’s writing skills in a way that left me wanting to read more of her work.
Shoka, once Lord Saukendar and swordmaster to the Emperor, lives in self-imposed exile on a mountain on the outskirts of Chiyaden while the young Emperor continues to be overshadowed by a tyrannical regent. His peace is disturbed by Taizu, a peasant girl on the cusp of womanhood. She has crossed the empire in search of the fabled Saukendar and is determined to have him teach her the art of the sword, despite her unfortunate gender and Shoka’s own desire for solitude. Taizu’s goal is no less than the killing of Gitu, the Emperor, and Ghita, the Regent. As you might imagine, she gradually wins over Shoka, but things don’t quite turn out the way either would expect.
I loved the start of this book. It feels a bit like an ancient legend, you know? Determined, plucky youth convinces the grouchy old master to take her on so that she can train for her revenge. All the ingredients are here. Cherryh’s style, at least in this novel, is incredibly lush and descriptive—the dialogue is sparse, but she spends a lot of time on setting, as well as on what’s going through Shoka’s head. The narrator is quick to highlight that Shoka is past his prime, both in age and in political will. Similarly, Taizu’s revenge plot is absolutely bananapants—something Shoka never fails to point out to her—and the way Cherryh handles this later in the story is pretty good.
I could have done without all the lust on Shoka’s part. I have come to expect that from fantasy novels written by men, and perhaps from Tanya Huff, so this was a bit of a surprise. It’s not quite lechery, I suppose, on Shoka’s part, but it just weirds me out, the way it goes beyond addressing the elephant in the room and turns into a kind of fixation for him.
Nevertheless, the first half of the book is quite the training montage. The second half turns into what I can only describe as military fantasy, and that’s where the novel starts to lose me. I had trouble following some of what was going on—there were a lot of names of people and places, a lot of discussion of tactics and difficult situations, and not a lot of moments for our protagonists to pause and work things out. When we finally get to meet the Emperor and his evil Regent, it feels hollow because we don’t really know either of these people. They were just names to us, and then their encounter with Shoka and Taizu is all too brief.
At the same time, as I said earlier, I really respect Cherryh’s storytelling chops. Even as I felt my interest flagging, I could see the wonderful story structure and thematic elements at play. The way that Shoka must shift back into his old persona of Saukendar, how his legend precedes him as he and Taizu travel towards the capital, his awareness that this is a double-edged sword that might get others killed � it’s very good. It’s a slick commentary on the issues with placing our faith in legends who turn out just to be men—with all the fallibility and foibles of age!
I doubt The Paladin will sit with me for a long time. We’ll see how I feel about the other Cherryh novels I pick up in the months to come! But it’s an example of how a novel can still be a solid work of story even when it doesn’t personally grab me the way I want.
Originally posted on , where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Shoka, once Lord Saukendar and swordmaster to the Emperor, lives in self-imposed exile on a mountain on the outskirts of Chiyaden while the young Emperor continues to be overshadowed by a tyrannical regent. His peace is disturbed by Taizu, a peasant girl on the cusp of womanhood. She has crossed the empire in search of the fabled Saukendar and is determined to have him teach her the art of the sword, despite her unfortunate gender and Shoka’s own desire for solitude. Taizu’s goal is no less than the killing of Gitu, the Emperor, and Ghita, the Regent. As you might imagine, she gradually wins over Shoka, but things don’t quite turn out the way either would expect.
I loved the start of this book. It feels a bit like an ancient legend, you know? Determined, plucky youth convinces the grouchy old master to take her on so that she can train for her revenge. All the ingredients are here. Cherryh’s style, at least in this novel, is incredibly lush and descriptive—the dialogue is sparse, but she spends a lot of time on setting, as well as on what’s going through Shoka’s head. The narrator is quick to highlight that Shoka is past his prime, both in age and in political will. Similarly, Taizu’s revenge plot is absolutely bananapants—something Shoka never fails to point out to her—and the way Cherryh handles this later in the story is pretty good.
I could have done without all the lust on Shoka’s part. I have come to expect that from fantasy novels written by men, and perhaps from Tanya Huff, so this was a bit of a surprise. It’s not quite lechery, I suppose, on Shoka’s part, but it just weirds me out, the way it goes beyond addressing the elephant in the room and turns into a kind of fixation for him.
Nevertheless, the first half of the book is quite the training montage. The second half turns into what I can only describe as military fantasy, and that’s where the novel starts to lose me. I had trouble following some of what was going on—there were a lot of names of people and places, a lot of discussion of tactics and difficult situations, and not a lot of moments for our protagonists to pause and work things out. When we finally get to meet the Emperor and his evil Regent, it feels hollow because we don’t really know either of these people. They were just names to us, and then their encounter with Shoka and Taizu is all too brief.
At the same time, as I said earlier, I really respect Cherryh’s storytelling chops. Even as I felt my interest flagging, I could see the wonderful story structure and thematic elements at play. The way that Shoka must shift back into his old persona of Saukendar, how his legend precedes him as he and Taizu travel towards the capital, his awareness that this is a double-edged sword that might get others killed � it’s very good. It’s a slick commentary on the issues with placing our faith in legends who turn out just to be men—with all the fallibility and foibles of age!
I doubt The Paladin will sit with me for a long time. We’ll see how I feel about the other Cherryh novels I pick up in the months to come! But it’s an example of how a novel can still be a solid work of story even when it doesn’t personally grab me the way I want.
Originally posted on , where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
March 12, 2021
Master Shoka (aka Lord Saukendar) fled the intrigues and betrayals of the Imperial Court nine years ago to live a hermit's life beyond its borders & (he thought) beyond its coils. Then Taizu, a peasant girl whose village and family have been slaughtered by vassals of the Imperial Regent, shows up at his door wanting to be trained so she can revenge herself.
The Paladin is one more iteration of the reluctant teacher-determined student story and one's enjoyment of it depends more upon what one thinks of the author's skill than anything else. In this case, Cherryh is a fine writer; anyone who's read my review of will know she's one of my favorites (half my favorite SF characters are from her books).
The first half of the novel is the best part as we see Shoka and Taizu's relationship develop. The second half follows them as Taizu heads back into the Empire accompanied by a reluctant Shoka. Their appearance is the spark that sets off a long simmering rebellion.
The Paladin was a favorite of mine back in the days of my misspent youth. Today, I'd probably be less generous in my rating - three stars, but I'd still recommend it, especially to Cherryh fans looking to read her earlier and less well known work.
The Paladin is one more iteration of the reluctant teacher-determined student story and one's enjoyment of it depends more upon what one thinks of the author's skill than anything else. In this case, Cherryh is a fine writer; anyone who's read my review of will know she's one of my favorites (half my favorite SF characters are from her books).
The first half of the novel is the best part as we see Shoka and Taizu's relationship develop. The second half follows them as Taizu heads back into the Empire accompanied by a reluctant Shoka. Their appearance is the spark that sets off a long simmering rebellion.
The Paladin was a favorite of mine back in the days of my misspent youth. Today, I'd probably be less generous in my rating - three stars, but I'd still recommend it, especially to Cherryh fans looking to read her earlier and less well known work.
January 19, 2010
I'm of two minds about C.J. Cherryh's The Paladin. It starts out promisingly, with the peasant girl Taizu arriving at the mountain hideaway of Saukendar, exiled swordmaster, and begging him to teach her to fight. Unwillingly, he accepts her as a pupil, and the first half of the book explores the training and their growing relationship. I found this section entirely engrossing. It's all from Saukendar's point of view, and it's fascinating to watch him reluctantly grow to accept and even care for Taizu, and to watch her develop from an untrained girl into a woman warrior.
Then, about halfway through, Saukendar and Taizu leave his retreat in order to carry out Taizu's revenge on the Emperor's Regent, who despoiled her homeland. For me, it was all downhill from there. The book lost its tight focus on the relationship which was the center of the first half, and although it remained important, of course, it was replaced with politics and geography that just never made sense to me (though it's perfectly possible that this was merely a visualization problem on my part). I was so enthralled by the beginning of The Paladin that the less focused (or differently focused, I suppose) ending was a disappointment, but I'd recommend it nonetheless, at least for the first half.
Then, about halfway through, Saukendar and Taizu leave his retreat in order to carry out Taizu's revenge on the Emperor's Regent, who despoiled her homeland. For me, it was all downhill from there. The book lost its tight focus on the relationship which was the center of the first half, and although it remained important, of course, it was replaced with politics and geography that just never made sense to me (though it's perfectly possible that this was merely a visualization problem on my part). I was so enthralled by the beginning of The Paladin that the less focused (or differently focused, I suppose) ending was a disappointment, but I'd recommend it nonetheless, at least for the first half.
January 25, 2013
I forced myself to finish this one because it counts for my Women of Genre Fiction challenge, but I wasn't very happy about it. This isn't a great introduction to C.J. Cherryh's work, I think: it's a standalone fantasy-ish alternate history-ish story, which would normally be right up my alley. It's even a break from the medieval European fantasy that gluts the genre, based on Chinese culture and history (so far as I can tell). It has a strong female protagonist who becomes a swordswoman. And if she'd been the main character -- or more accurately, the point of view character -- I'd have loved it, I think.
I was encouraged to finish reading it, anyway, by Jo Walton's . I do like her point about turning the traditional story around -- telling it from the female protagonist's point of view would be the expected way to do it. I like the realism of it, the military training that is described in a way that makes you feel it, but without detail where it can slip from lack of research. I did enjoy the world, the training, Taizu's determination, the details of caring for horses and sleeping on the ground and snatching sleep for fear of bandits.
But I didn't find the "love story" Walton mentions nearly so compelling. From the start, Shoka thinly veils from himself and the reader that he wants to rape Taizu, and that he believes it won't be his fault if he does. It's all the male excuses for rape ever -- "she tempted me just by existing", "I haven't had sex in so long I need it", "what did she expect when she shacked up alone with a lonely guy?" (despite his promise to her that he's not expecting her to have sex with him) -- and, just, ugh. A certain amount of it I can put down to culture, and a certain amount I can see as part of a character's journey, but I don't feel like Shoka really made that journey. He did develop as a character somewhat, becoming part of the world again, but his attitudes to women didn't change, only his attitude to a single woman.
Taizu is an amazing character in herself -- dogged, intelligent, brave, and at the same time not perfect, struggling with herself and with Shoka and with her past. She does have a journey, going from being a farmer-girl bent on revenge to being a swordswoman who is, quite honestly, more suited to the "Way" Shoka talks about than he is. He worries about her dishonouring him, but she would never. All the dishonour comes from Shoka himself.
Anyway, once I got about two thirds of the way through, I began to enjoy it more. As Shoka begins to trust Taizu, he becomes that bit more likeable, the story that bit more dynamic, though I could've lived without him constantly calling her a fool or acting like she can't take care of herself. Clearly, she can.
So, in summary, it's worth reading for Taizu, if you like slow building stories about military training and eventual revenge. I think the closest comparison is to Across The Nightingale Floor (Lian Hearn), which I loved when I read it. But be warned: rapey!
I was encouraged to finish reading it, anyway, by Jo Walton's . I do like her point about turning the traditional story around -- telling it from the female protagonist's point of view would be the expected way to do it. I like the realism of it, the military training that is described in a way that makes you feel it, but without detail where it can slip from lack of research. I did enjoy the world, the training, Taizu's determination, the details of caring for horses and sleeping on the ground and snatching sleep for fear of bandits.
But I didn't find the "love story" Walton mentions nearly so compelling. From the start, Shoka thinly veils from himself and the reader that he wants to rape Taizu, and that he believes it won't be his fault if he does. It's all the male excuses for rape ever -- "she tempted me just by existing", "I haven't had sex in so long I need it", "what did she expect when she shacked up alone with a lonely guy?" (despite his promise to her that he's not expecting her to have sex with him) -- and, just, ugh. A certain amount of it I can put down to culture, and a certain amount I can see as part of a character's journey, but I don't feel like Shoka really made that journey. He did develop as a character somewhat, becoming part of the world again, but his attitudes to women didn't change, only his attitude to a single woman.
Taizu is an amazing character in herself -- dogged, intelligent, brave, and at the same time not perfect, struggling with herself and with Shoka and with her past. She does have a journey, going from being a farmer-girl bent on revenge to being a swordswoman who is, quite honestly, more suited to the "Way" Shoka talks about than he is. He worries about her dishonouring him, but she would never. All the dishonour comes from Shoka himself.
Anyway, once I got about two thirds of the way through, I began to enjoy it more. As Shoka begins to trust Taizu, he becomes that bit more likeable, the story that bit more dynamic, though I could've lived without him constantly calling her a fool or acting like she can't take care of herself. Clearly, she can.
So, in summary, it's worth reading for Taizu, if you like slow building stories about military training and eventual revenge. I think the closest comparison is to Across The Nightingale Floor (Lian Hearn), which I loved when I read it. But be warned: rapey!
May 9, 2021
At first, I thought this was written prior to the first Foreigner book, as the pacing and language were quite similar, but less fully developed. This is basically a Mulan story told from the perspective of her mentor. The first two thirds were immersive, balancing her training and his desire to remain isolated from the world. The setting and backstory are revealed slowly, each piece falling into place smoothly.
The final third switches to the actual challenge, and unfortunately, the young woman gets set to the side for much of it. The tactics and intrigue were first rate, but Taizu is missing. The resolve is clever, but way too simple.
This is a one-off, and worth reading if you enjoy Cherryh's unique writing, but this is not her best story-telling.
The final third switches to the actual challenge, and unfortunately, the young woman gets set to the side for much of it. The tactics and intrigue were first rate, but Taizu is missing. The resolve is clever, but way too simple.
This is a one-off, and worth reading if you enjoy Cherryh's unique writing, but this is not her best story-telling.
July 25, 2012
An intense but fun novel about a young woman in a Japan-ish fantasyland and her relationship with the retired swordsman who reluctantly trains her. Nowhere near as cliched as you might imagine, and full of marvelous training sequences. Not a fantasy except in the sense of taking place in a country that doesn't exist.
October 15, 2024
I really didn't know what to expect going in. For me C.J.Cherryh is almost always a sure bet.
Strangely it was more a historical romance than fantasy or scifi. It's not really historical but it borrows so much from historical China, that it's not really fantasy although I put it on that shelf.
And because it's coming from that kind of past culture when women had little power, there's a lot of constraining expectations on being a woman. Even the H, Saukendaur, is a bit of a mysogonist prick for the majority of the book. But he does change and really the thing that saves him from my condemnation, is that Taizu is utterly unimpressed with him as a romantic possibility.
He's 40 and a little lame from a fighting injury, now living as an outcast, though he grew up as a nobleman and was a famous swordsman. Taizu is a peasant girl of 18 who seeks him out to teach her how to fight so she can find revenge for the slaughter of her entire extended family and most of her village.
The first 2/3 of the story is the careful dance of the two as they get to know each other. He is positively loquacious compared to Taizu. She shows no interest in him sexually either, much to his dismay. She is unfailingly honest and forthright, making sure he sticks to all his promises. She is driven and doesn't want to be distracted. For over a year he teaches her and she does all the menial chores. And he has to admit, she is probably his best student ever. And still he can't see her ever winning her revenge because she is a girl.
Some people might find this part of the book slow, but it was a nice building of character so you would have a pretty good idea of what they are thinking when all the action and craziness ensues in the last third.
spoilery stuff about their rocky and unusual relationship
romantic safety.
Strangely it was more a historical romance than fantasy or scifi. It's not really historical but it borrows so much from historical China, that it's not really fantasy although I put it on that shelf.
And because it's coming from that kind of past culture when women had little power, there's a lot of constraining expectations on being a woman. Even the H, Saukendaur, is a bit of a mysogonist prick for the majority of the book. But he does change and really the thing that saves him from my condemnation, is that Taizu is utterly unimpressed with him as a romantic possibility.
He's 40 and a little lame from a fighting injury, now living as an outcast, though he grew up as a nobleman and was a famous swordsman. Taizu is a peasant girl of 18 who seeks him out to teach her how to fight so she can find revenge for the slaughter of her entire extended family and most of her village.
The first 2/3 of the story is the careful dance of the two as they get to know each other. He is positively loquacious compared to Taizu. She shows no interest in him sexually either, much to his dismay. She is unfailingly honest and forthright, making sure he sticks to all his promises. She is driven and doesn't want to be distracted. For over a year he teaches her and she does all the menial chores. And he has to admit, she is probably his best student ever. And still he can't see her ever winning her revenge because she is a girl.
Some people might find this part of the book slow, but it was a nice building of character so you would have a pretty good idea of what they are thinking when all the action and craziness ensues in the last third.
spoilery stuff about their rocky and unusual relationship
romantic safety.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
One of my favorite comfort read books which has stood the test of time. Setting is a peasant-lord society inspired by China with a weak emperor, cunning court officials who are really in power, rebellious lords, and a peasantry pushed past its limits. Our hero, Shoka is pulled back to deal with things he would prefer to forget when a peasant girl becomes his pupil in swordsmanship.
From a quick overview of some of the reviews that have ranked this book poorly - I don't think they understand the book or what it is trying to achieve.
This is a very much a "flip trops upside down" book. Shoka starts out being sexist because he lives in a sexist society. Men hold the power. Men do things. Women stay at home. But as he gets pulled into a drama of rebellious noblemen, it is Taizu who he trusts and turns to, who really understands him. Since the book follows his thoughts, we see him having to readjust everything he was taught in order to accept Taizu for who she is.
Evident is the master-student relationship that you see in so many marital arts movies. If you think Taizu is treated poorly, go watch Kill Bill.
This isn't a book from Taizu's viewpoint, it is from a 40+ year old man who grew up in court where ladies did nothing but plan behind their teacups. In this fantasy world, it strikes an authentic note that Shoka (Saukendar) thinks of Taizu first as a female that he can dominate and who would eventually come to some sort of understanding of a physical partnership, especially as he is far above her social standing, and he is her master.
While he may think it - he never takes advantage of her. And it's clear from his thoughts he also knows that if he did, Taizu would never forgive him. But if you think a man who has been alone for 9 years on a mountain is not going to think about sex when he is living with a woman, well, go back to reading those fantasy books where a 16 year old girl can lift a 30 pound sword and kill all the experienced swordsmen and not ever break a sweat.
When this book was first published there was a huge wave (as there is now) of female fantasy heroes doing impossible things with their sword. Orphaned girls taking on full grown men who had been swordsmen for decades and mowing them down because she is The One. You still see this baloney in fantasy today - but they throw in "magic" as the solution - or she's a vampire, shapeshifter, fae etc...
I definitely see this book as a backlash to that assumption. Shoka is trained at the highest level, so yeah, he doesn't see how a girl can achieve that. But in the end, he must admit she has not only potential, but after two years is realizing it.
The first half of the book deals with how Taizu becomes Shoka's apprentice, her training, and Shoka examining his past. All of this is the set up for the second half of the book when they leave the mountain for Taizu for her to wreck her vengeance.
The second half of the book, Shoka shows his growth. He lets go of his imagined love, takes charge and rams his plan forward (when before he had been far more passive in politics), and he and Taizu's relationship not only becomes intimate, but you also see them working as a team. Shoka takes Taizu's advice several times without making a big deal about it, something he did not on the mountain (for example, when he injures his knee).
The second half is also the big pay off. It has some laugh-out-loud scenes for me (such as the one with Master Yi and the sweetmeats) and it shows that Shoka is not above subterfuge. I also like how his small band causes so much mayhem in the city as they try to figure out a plan for the rebellion to suceed.
For me, a very satisfying book all around.
NOTE: It needs a cover that has not been "white-washed" (something the author had no say-so so shame upon the publisher).
From a quick overview of some of the reviews that have ranked this book poorly - I don't think they understand the book or what it is trying to achieve.
This is a very much a "flip trops upside down" book. Shoka starts out being sexist because he lives in a sexist society. Men hold the power. Men do things. Women stay at home. But as he gets pulled into a drama of rebellious noblemen, it is Taizu who he trusts and turns to, who really understands him. Since the book follows his thoughts, we see him having to readjust everything he was taught in order to accept Taizu for who she is.
Evident is the master-student relationship that you see in so many marital arts movies. If you think Taizu is treated poorly, go watch Kill Bill.
This isn't a book from Taizu's viewpoint, it is from a 40+ year old man who grew up in court where ladies did nothing but plan behind their teacups. In this fantasy world, it strikes an authentic note that Shoka (Saukendar) thinks of Taizu first as a female that he can dominate and who would eventually come to some sort of understanding of a physical partnership, especially as he is far above her social standing, and he is her master.
While he may think it - he never takes advantage of her. And it's clear from his thoughts he also knows that if he did, Taizu would never forgive him. But if you think a man who has been alone for 9 years on a mountain is not going to think about sex when he is living with a woman, well, go back to reading those fantasy books where a 16 year old girl can lift a 30 pound sword and kill all the experienced swordsmen and not ever break a sweat.
When this book was first published there was a huge wave (as there is now) of female fantasy heroes doing impossible things with their sword. Orphaned girls taking on full grown men who had been swordsmen for decades and mowing them down because she is The One. You still see this baloney in fantasy today - but they throw in "magic" as the solution - or she's a vampire, shapeshifter, fae etc...
I definitely see this book as a backlash to that assumption. Shoka is trained at the highest level, so yeah, he doesn't see how a girl can achieve that. But in the end, he must admit she has not only potential, but after two years is realizing it.
The first half of the book deals with how Taizu becomes Shoka's apprentice, her training, and Shoka examining his past. All of this is the set up for the second half of the book when they leave the mountain for Taizu for her to wreck her vengeance.
The second half of the book, Shoka shows his growth. He lets go of his imagined love, takes charge and rams his plan forward (when before he had been far more passive in politics), and he and Taizu's relationship not only becomes intimate, but you also see them working as a team. Shoka takes Taizu's advice several times without making a big deal about it, something he did not on the mountain (for example, when he injures his knee).
The second half is also the big pay off. It has some laugh-out-loud scenes for me (such as the one with Master Yi and the sweetmeats) and it shows that Shoka is not above subterfuge. I also like how his small band causes so much mayhem in the city as they try to figure out a plan for the rebellion to suceed.
For me, a very satisfying book all around.
NOTE: It needs a cover that has not been "white-washed" (something the author had no say-so so shame upon the publisher).
January 17, 2013
I blush to admit it, but I was thinking Andre Norton and her usual coming-of-age female protagonists when I grabbed this book off the “new book� shelf at the library (which is where the librarians put various books on display, whether they are new or not). Consequently, I was a bit surprised as I got into the book about the slightly risqué relationship between the two major figures. To tell the truth, it had been so long since I had read any of Cherryh’s other books (the only one I could think of offhand was Down Below Station) that I had forgotten everything except a general feeling of liking for her work. I have now refreshed my memory by visiting her very interesting Website, however, so I do not expect to make that error again--and I shall be looking for others of her books that I have not read.
Let me start by expressing surprise that this has not been made into a movie. That might be because the action moves slowly for the first half of the book, necessarily. I did not find that at all bad, but I suspect a film director might be looking for more action. The remainder of the book then leaps into full action, however, for as much as any film director is apt to want, so I remain puzzled as to why someone has not seen the film potential.
The Paladin of the title is an aging warrior in a far off mythical country that is given an Asian flair and might be China of a bygone age. Now in his forties, Shoka Saukendar has been living alone with his aging horse on top of a mountain on the outskirts of the empire for twelve years, after escaping from repeated assassination attempts when the young emperor assumed the throne and feel under the power of an evil advisor. Because of his great reputation, young men from noble houses all over the empire have come to seek his training throughout the past decade, but he has always turned them away, and no one knows that part of the reason is that he was badly wounded in his last battle and now walks with a limp. Now, however, comes a 16-year-old farm girl, Taizu, who has lost her family in the most recent grab for power by the evil regent, her face horribly scarred by her own close escape, and she has walked half way across the empire, avoiding all the bandits and pitfalls along the way, to seek his training so that she can get revenge. Saukendar is not interested in her plight, but she turns out to be incredibly stubborn as well as resourceful, and the end result is that he agrees to train her for a year, in return for which she will do all the household duties but she adamantly refuses to sleep in his bed. He does not expect this situation to last very long, but--did I say she was incredibly stubborn? At the end of the year, he demonstrates to her that she is not ready to take on the world, so she agrees to stay another year, insisting that he is not teaching her well enough. By the end of the second year, Saukendar is more in love with his student that he is willing to admit, but she adamantly insists on going back to her homeland to seek revenge--and so, of course, nothing will do but that he must put on his old suit of armor and go with her to take on the world.
That’s the first half of the book. The rest tells the story of what happens when a still remembered warrior reappears in the world and starts interacting with bandits, trade caravans, and military groups, all of whom start looking for him as the rumors begin to fly, and all of whom are too quick to overlook the now beautiful young woman who has spent two dedicated years learning how to be a warrior.
Let me start by expressing surprise that this has not been made into a movie. That might be because the action moves slowly for the first half of the book, necessarily. I did not find that at all bad, but I suspect a film director might be looking for more action. The remainder of the book then leaps into full action, however, for as much as any film director is apt to want, so I remain puzzled as to why someone has not seen the film potential.
The Paladin of the title is an aging warrior in a far off mythical country that is given an Asian flair and might be China of a bygone age. Now in his forties, Shoka Saukendar has been living alone with his aging horse on top of a mountain on the outskirts of the empire for twelve years, after escaping from repeated assassination attempts when the young emperor assumed the throne and feel under the power of an evil advisor. Because of his great reputation, young men from noble houses all over the empire have come to seek his training throughout the past decade, but he has always turned them away, and no one knows that part of the reason is that he was badly wounded in his last battle and now walks with a limp. Now, however, comes a 16-year-old farm girl, Taizu, who has lost her family in the most recent grab for power by the evil regent, her face horribly scarred by her own close escape, and she has walked half way across the empire, avoiding all the bandits and pitfalls along the way, to seek his training so that she can get revenge. Saukendar is not interested in her plight, but she turns out to be incredibly stubborn as well as resourceful, and the end result is that he agrees to train her for a year, in return for which she will do all the household duties but she adamantly refuses to sleep in his bed. He does not expect this situation to last very long, but--did I say she was incredibly stubborn? At the end of the year, he demonstrates to her that she is not ready to take on the world, so she agrees to stay another year, insisting that he is not teaching her well enough. By the end of the second year, Saukendar is more in love with his student that he is willing to admit, but she adamantly insists on going back to her homeland to seek revenge--and so, of course, nothing will do but that he must put on his old suit of armor and go with her to take on the world.
That’s the first half of the book. The rest tells the story of what happens when a still remembered warrior reappears in the world and starts interacting with bandits, trade caravans, and military groups, all of whom start looking for him as the rumors begin to fly, and all of whom are too quick to overlook the now beautiful young woman who has spent two dedicated years learning how to be a warrior.
November 17, 2013
Cherryh is one of my favourite authors, and this is one of my favourites of her (many) books.
In some ways it's not a typical Cherryh book, as some of the usual characteristics of her style are absent or muted: most noticeably there's far less emphasis than usual on the internal thought processes of the protagonists. Most of her books could never be described as action-oriented - even the more recent volumes in the Foreigner series, which have tended towards more excitement, are still built around the evolution of Bren's thinking as he puzzles out what is happening and what his next steps should be; and some such as the famous Cyteen consist of almost nothing else.
Which is not a criticism - I've read and enjoyed virtually everything Cherryh has written and automatically pick up her new stuff as it comes out.
But The Paladin has a very different feel and satisfies a different mood - it's as close to escapism as Cherryh gets. Much more action than usual, the progression of a novice through combat training, the description of the ad hoc revolt the hero is forced into leading - even a romantic element, though as others have said that does have some elements that can seem creepy (I choose to read it more as a concession to realism). All while still delivering good characterization and believable motivations.
In some ways it's not a typical Cherryh book, as some of the usual characteristics of her style are absent or muted: most noticeably there's far less emphasis than usual on the internal thought processes of the protagonists. Most of her books could never be described as action-oriented - even the more recent volumes in the Foreigner series, which have tended towards more excitement, are still built around the evolution of Bren's thinking as he puzzles out what is happening and what his next steps should be; and some such as the famous Cyteen consist of almost nothing else.
Which is not a criticism - I've read and enjoyed virtually everything Cherryh has written and automatically pick up her new stuff as it comes out.
But The Paladin has a very different feel and satisfies a different mood - it's as close to escapism as Cherryh gets. Much more action than usual, the progression of a novice through combat training, the description of the ad hoc revolt the hero is forced into leading - even a romantic element, though as others have said that does have some elements that can seem creepy (I choose to read it more as a concession to realism). All while still delivering good characterization and believable motivations.
April 8, 2014
I like Cherryh, and I think this is her best book. It isn't exactly a fantasy, since there is no magic, although the male protagonist uses other people's belief in magic, as he uses every other tool he can find. It isn't exactly a historical novel, since the author has created her own map and society based on some mix of Chinese and Japanese.
The male protagonist is a brilliant, bitter man who has surrendered long ago—gone into exile to get out of a corrupt political struggle which he cannot win, become a hermit. Assassins have occasionally been sent to kill him, and died—he is very good at killing people. Nobody has bothered for a long time, since he obviously isn't going to come back and rejoin the game.
And then a peasant girl shows up, demands that he take her as an apprentice and teach her the skills she needs to get revenge on the people who destroyed her village and injured her. He refuses. She succeeds in compelling him to change his mind. And, eventually, in pulling him into the struggle that he had long ago abandoned.
A brilliant, moving story about two very able and complicated people. It's the reason that Cherryh was one of the three people I dedicated my first novel to.
(The date I finished reading the book is a guess)
The male protagonist is a brilliant, bitter man who has surrendered long ago—gone into exile to get out of a corrupt political struggle which he cannot win, become a hermit. Assassins have occasionally been sent to kill him, and died—he is very good at killing people. Nobody has bothered for a long time, since he obviously isn't going to come back and rejoin the game.
And then a peasant girl shows up, demands that he take her as an apprentice and teach her the skills she needs to get revenge on the people who destroyed her village and injured her. He refuses. She succeeds in compelling him to change his mind. And, eventually, in pulling him into the struggle that he had long ago abandoned.
A brilliant, moving story about two very able and complicated people. It's the reason that Cherryh was one of the three people I dedicated my first novel to.
(The date I finished reading the book is a guess)
April 12, 2019
Como todas las novelas de Cherryh, "PaladÃn" no defrauda en ningún momento. Muy entretenida, ambientada en un reino que recuerda al Japón antes de la unificación, la historia va aumentando en complejidad hasta el final.
Una novela para una tarde de lluvia, de las que primero te entretienen y despues te enseñan que bajo la superficie puede ocultarse un mensaje más profundo.
Una novela para una tarde de lluvia, de las que primero te entretienen y despues te enseñan que bajo la superficie puede ocultarse un mensaje más profundo.
November 11, 2011
When I can wrench myself out of the story long enough to contemplate craft, this book is a stunning example of how to build and reveal character without ever entering that character's pov.
This book straddles genres. Fantasy, with Asian-flavoured world building. Adventure, yes. Redemption. Revenge. Love story. Yes!
This book straddles genres. Fantasy, with Asian-flavoured world building. Adventure, yes. Redemption. Revenge. Love story. Yes!
August 19, 2012
This fantasy novel is set in a world that is very clearly inspired by East Asian culture and history. It is the story of Shoka, an exiled member of the nobility and master swordsman, and Taizu, the young girl who shows up at his mountain retreat. Scarred mentally and physically by the political turmoil and violence of the outside world, she convinces Shoka to teach her so that she can take revenge against those who destroyed her home and her formerly peaceful life. Shoka initially resists the idea, but does teach her, and she proves to be an exceptionally talented student. As Taizu's skill grows, so does a tender and complex relationship between her and Shoka. This is a very familiar and well-tread plotline, yet Cherryh largely avoids making it trite or cliched. She has a wonderful talent for combining action and adventure with thoughtfulness and introspection. From what I've read of her other novels, this is a pretty consistent feature of her style, and here it is the main thing that keeps a well-worn story fresh.
November 15, 2009
Okay. For the first two thirds or so, this was a full-on five-star book. It was a completely awesome story of a reclusive master swordsman who lives on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, and this girl who comes and insists he train her.
Totally great. I love an apprentice story, which is basically a makeover story (and I have probably said before that I LOVE makeover stories), and the characters were interesting and behaved like normal, stupid people.
AND THEN, just when things are getting good, they go off and get caught up in an EXTREMELY BORING WAR that lasts for the entire rest of the book. Seriously, I read the first part in one day and the rest took me almost a week to finish. sigh.
Totally great. I love an apprentice story, which is basically a makeover story (and I have probably said before that I LOVE makeover stories), and the characters were interesting and behaved like normal, stupid people.
AND THEN, just when things are getting good, they go off and get caught up in an EXTREMELY BORING WAR that lasts for the entire rest of the book. Seriously, I read the first part in one day and the rest took me almost a week to finish. sigh.
June 6, 2010
I really like this book. The first half is amazing but the second half hares off on a political maneuvering/war thing that wasn't near as interesting. When I reread it, I usually skim the second half.
February 5, 2018
Picking up The Paladin has been an interesting experience. It’s an older standalone fantasy book that was first published in 1988 and has since been largely forgotten, I believe. The author is the fantastic C.J. Cherryh, of whom I’m a fan. She has an amazing collection of work, and if one hasn’t read her yet, one probably should at least sample her work.
I’ve had the mass-market paperback for years now, and it was one of the few fantasy books I read back when I was in middle school. My memories of my first read-through are vague. I remembered a strong warrior and a woman who comes to train with him. I specifically remember a scene where he orders her to carry water up a hill and back down to strengthen her.
I didn’t remember (and was probably too young to notice) just how much of the book was openly sexual. Strangely enough, I didn’t remember that the book was set in an east-asian themed land either.
This book can be best be divided into two halves (although not formally). The book follows a self-exiled swordmaster named Shoka and a female pupil, Taizu, who longs to study under him. Roughly, and without trying to give too much away, the first half of the book is about the two’s training and developing relationship, and the back half becomes a quest.
The first half is tight and beautifully written. Love or hate the characters (and its perhaps likely you’ll do both), the first half is filled with the insight and wisdom that I believe defines Cherryh’s work. The second half quickly becomes a confusion of names and events, that while not poor, don’t match the promise of the first half.
If you’re interested in non-medieval European fantasy, this is certainly a solid option. The first half, in particular, is very well done. However, if you’re looking to dive into Cherryh’s work, I might perhaps suggest a different starting point.
I’ve had the mass-market paperback for years now, and it was one of the few fantasy books I read back when I was in middle school. My memories of my first read-through are vague. I remembered a strong warrior and a woman who comes to train with him. I specifically remember a scene where he orders her to carry water up a hill and back down to strengthen her.
I didn’t remember (and was probably too young to notice) just how much of the book was openly sexual. Strangely enough, I didn’t remember that the book was set in an east-asian themed land either.
This book can be best be divided into two halves (although not formally). The book follows a self-exiled swordmaster named Shoka and a female pupil, Taizu, who longs to study under him. Roughly, and without trying to give too much away, the first half of the book is about the two’s training and developing relationship, and the back half becomes a quest.
The first half is tight and beautifully written. Love or hate the characters (and its perhaps likely you’ll do both), the first half is filled with the insight and wisdom that I believe defines Cherryh’s work. The second half quickly becomes a confusion of names and events, that while not poor, don’t match the promise of the first half.
If you’re interested in non-medieval European fantasy, this is certainly a solid option. The first half, in particular, is very well done. However, if you’re looking to dive into Cherryh’s work, I might perhaps suggest a different starting point.
March 9, 2023
Cherryh's fantasy novels (not sure this is technically fantasy; there's no magic or monsters) are usually a notch above the usual in the genre, and this is no exception.
Her world is well thought out (as always with Cherryh), a kind of feudal China with no shortage of political intrigue and unrest. There's much to do about honor, revenge, strategy, swords, and above all, a master and apprentice foundation that leads to a big adventure in the last half of the novel.
But of course Cherryh's tale is a bit more than the usual training montage, as the old master openly courts and attempts to seduce his charge, a young woman bent on revenge. We hear his thoughts and hers on the matter, and it plays out like it probably would in real life, making me wonder if it was based on some colleague's clumsy attempts with Cherryh. I'm sure she suffered similar grief from many a male writer and editor during her career.
The realism of the conflicts in the relationship between the master and apprentice make all that comes later all the more anxious and gripping. The discerning reader will care about both characters, Taizu and Saukendar, and want them to be better, and do better. They both make choices with repercussions well beyond themselves, which they are slow to recognize.
Cherryh has some other fun twists, comments on the nature of revenge and what it gets you, the value of honor and friendship, simplicity, and perhaps most of all, meditations on which parts of life are actually the most significant and important. Makes you long for a lonely mountain and someone to share it with.
Her world is well thought out (as always with Cherryh), a kind of feudal China with no shortage of political intrigue and unrest. There's much to do about honor, revenge, strategy, swords, and above all, a master and apprentice foundation that leads to a big adventure in the last half of the novel.
But of course Cherryh's tale is a bit more than the usual training montage, as the old master openly courts and attempts to seduce his charge, a young woman bent on revenge. We hear his thoughts and hers on the matter, and it plays out like it probably would in real life, making me wonder if it was based on some colleague's clumsy attempts with Cherryh. I'm sure she suffered similar grief from many a male writer and editor during her career.
The realism of the conflicts in the relationship between the master and apprentice make all that comes later all the more anxious and gripping. The discerning reader will care about both characters, Taizu and Saukendar, and want them to be better, and do better. They both make choices with repercussions well beyond themselves, which they are slow to recognize.
Cherryh has some other fun twists, comments on the nature of revenge and what it gets you, the value of honor and friendship, simplicity, and perhaps most of all, meditations on which parts of life are actually the most significant and important. Makes you long for a lonely mountain and someone to share it with.
September 21, 2019
I own at least two copies of this novel, including this book club hardcover, and have read it a half dozen times. A true swashbuckler, this book is all about the swordplay and Robin Hood style trickery as two outcasts go up against an army.
July 2, 2021
Usually I tend to give Cherryh’s work 5 stars, but this one ended too abruptly. The first half of the book set up our protagonists Lord Saukendar, called Shoka and Taizu, a farmer girl who wishes to avenge her family. What starts off as Shoka trying to appease an apparently grief-maddened young woman turns into two years of apprenticeship. The next large chunk deals with Taizu, having learned as much as she could, decided to get the whole vengeance thing on the road—with Shoka as an unwelcome side-kick and back seat sensei (with a slight yearning for vengeance himself on those that precipitated his self-exile). Meanwhile, a relationship other than student/master develops here, but it really seems less than ‘true love� and more ‘we’re both so screwed up that no one else would touch us�.
And then boom! Crammed in a very short space we have Taizu and Shoka achieving their goals, then suddenly finding out that the Emperor of Chiyaden was not so much a puppet master, but a puppet in need of saving (which they do), and after that we are given a very happy ending—all which is a little too much. It feels like originally there was a sequel planned, but then plans suddenly changed for whatever reason. Too bad, I’d like to read more about our leads and the land of Chiyaden.
And then boom! Crammed in a very short space we have Taizu and Shoka achieving their goals, then suddenly finding out that the Emperor of Chiyaden was not so much a puppet master, but a puppet in need of saving (which they do), and after that we are given a very happy ending—all which is a little too much. It feels like originally there was a sequel planned, but then plans suddenly changed for whatever reason. Too bad, I’d like to read more about our leads and the land of Chiyaden.
April 30, 2021
First of all I want to say that I'm not against trying another book by this author. Having said that, there are several reasons I chose to give it two stars, and it seems other people agree with at least a few of those.
To begin with, the first half is deeply bogged down with unnecessary, repetitive details about the past of the protagonist in this fictional world that is both over-explored and under-defined despite taking up almost 400 pages in total.
Every page is loaded with one-to-two inch thick paragraphs about Shoka's regrets, his urges, his injuries, his lifestyle, etc. The first couple times would be character development; after that, I call it padding.
Although the story is told from the perspective of Shoka, the 40-year-old man who trains a peasant girl to kill some sort of feudal lord who destroyed her home and family, the majority of Shoka's focus is centered on his student, Taizu, which causes it to be a sort of combination of first and third-person, or maybe a double-third-person.
This portion of the book - excluding the sort of disturbing tension between them which could eventually be taken as a kind of Stockholm Syndrome - is otherwise a pretty standard story of training under a reluctant teacher who retired decades ago, which is serviceable, and eventually endearing, at which point it's completely swept away and replaced with a journey I originally thought would be rewarding.
In reality the second half of the book is a huge mess. It's constantly peppered with names of people and locations numbering in the dozens that I have no reason to care about, considering the book will be over in less than 200 pages at this point. If they were small references intended for flavor, I'd have no problem, but the book expects you to either study the map at the beginning and write short bios about every name that appears, or keep checking the earlier pages to remind yourself, because the characters' relation to these is important to understand any of the logistics of the situations they end up in.
And since the book is as short as it is, the characters never end up spending more than 20 pages in one location or situation, which isn't exactly a great incentive to write your own wiki. The author doesn't even really spend time to describe the locations, which makes the problem even worse.
One more thing before spoilers- The author really seems to love the word "had" and doubles up on it with more frequency than I've ever seen. It's technically grammatically correct but it became distracting.
Okay, spoiler.
By the end of all this, with all the time they spend building up to it, you expect a huge or exciting, or at least thematically satisfying climax, but no. The whole reason for the training in the first half of the book and the journey through dangerous territory in the second half is settled in a couple of the shortest paragraphs in the entire story. I don't even think Gitu (the supposed antagonist) gets to say three words in the story's 383 pages. It's a total let-down, but by this point it was a chore to get through, so it honestly felt like I was being relieved of some kind of responsibility.
Again, there are other books I'd like to read from this author but this one was a very bad first impression.
To begin with, the first half is deeply bogged down with unnecessary, repetitive details about the past of the protagonist in this fictional world that is both over-explored and under-defined despite taking up almost 400 pages in total.
Every page is loaded with one-to-two inch thick paragraphs about Shoka's regrets, his urges, his injuries, his lifestyle, etc. The first couple times would be character development; after that, I call it padding.
Although the story is told from the perspective of Shoka, the 40-year-old man who trains a peasant girl to kill some sort of feudal lord who destroyed her home and family, the majority of Shoka's focus is centered on his student, Taizu, which causes it to be a sort of combination of first and third-person, or maybe a double-third-person.
This portion of the book - excluding the sort of disturbing tension between them which could eventually be taken as a kind of Stockholm Syndrome - is otherwise a pretty standard story of training under a reluctant teacher who retired decades ago, which is serviceable, and eventually endearing, at which point it's completely swept away and replaced with a journey I originally thought would be rewarding.
In reality the second half of the book is a huge mess. It's constantly peppered with names of people and locations numbering in the dozens that I have no reason to care about, considering the book will be over in less than 200 pages at this point. If they were small references intended for flavor, I'd have no problem, but the book expects you to either study the map at the beginning and write short bios about every name that appears, or keep checking the earlier pages to remind yourself, because the characters' relation to these is important to understand any of the logistics of the situations they end up in.
And since the book is as short as it is, the characters never end up spending more than 20 pages in one location or situation, which isn't exactly a great incentive to write your own wiki. The author doesn't even really spend time to describe the locations, which makes the problem even worse.
One more thing before spoilers- The author really seems to love the word "had" and doubles up on it with more frequency than I've ever seen. It's technically grammatically correct but it became distracting.
Okay, spoiler.
By the end of all this, with all the time they spend building up to it, you expect a huge or exciting, or at least thematically satisfying climax, but no. The whole reason for the training in the first half of the book and the journey through dangerous territory in the second half is settled in a couple of the shortest paragraphs in the entire story. I don't even think Gitu (the supposed antagonist) gets to say three words in the story's 383 pages. It's a total let-down, but by this point it was a chore to get through, so it honestly felt like I was being relieved of some kind of responsibility.
Again, there are other books I'd like to read from this author but this one was a very bad first impression.
October 7, 2018
The problem here is that the central relationship, between the sword-master Shoka and his apprentice Taizu, is just too sketchy. Shoka is at least twice the age of the 16-year old Taizu; Shoka is a lord, Taizu is a peasant; Shoka is the master, Taizu is the student; Shoka is the hero, Taizu the worshipper; probably there are one or two other power dynamics involved that I’m forgetting about. Plus, Shoka (from whose perspective the story is told) keeps thinking about possibly raping her: he doesn’t, which is good, and it’s clearly also a device for complicating the picture of him as the titular Paladin, but it’s still skeevy, especially since he does end up essentially bullying her into sleeping with him. And since the first two-thirds of the book is basically just Shoka and Taizu, it’s impossible to avoid the uncomfortable aspects of their relationship, even during the training-montage scenes, which Cherryh handles quite well. The result is that once they’re off the mountain, things are happening, and Shoka and Taizu are operating on a more equal footing (except for the part where Shoka spreads rumors that she’s a demon in order to make the enemy afraid), a bad taste remains. Also, though it's a minor point, Shoka spends a lot of time anguishing over things, worrying that something is going wrong, etc., etc.: this, again, is intended to demonstrate that he’s not the perfect knight of legend, and adds tension, but after a while it starts to bleed over into whinging and grates on my nerves. The main issue is that one can’t help but get the impression that Cherryh is making things on hard as Taizu as possible to justify the fact that it’s her who will be saving the day, and not a boy: similarly, her choice of Shoka’s viewpoint seems intended to hide the fact that it’s Taizu, and her desire for revenge, who really drives the story forward. Definitely not one of Cherryh’s best, in my opinion.
March 14, 2023
I re-read The Paladin recently because it's been re-released, the cover blurb interested me, and I wanted to see if I liked it better this time. Once again I didn't like it as much as I do most of Cherryh's work, but at least now I have a better idea why.
Shoka is an ass. He is utterly a product of privilege and his culture, which is based on the China of centuries ago, but an ass nonetheless. It sucks that Taizu has to depend on him and his whims for weapons and strategy training. I know that his ass-itude makes the book feel more accurate--since he does belong to a different culture, mores change, and the American attitude toward women and peasantry at least pays lip service to the idea that they are thinking people with rights--but I don't want to read about this man and his assumptions and delusions. He's not pleasant to spend time with.
Taizu manages to be a full-bodied person even though she's seen only through Shoka's prejudiced eyes, good job, and the plot doesn't make their relationship take quite the route that it would in many stories, but my desire to smack Shoka's head against the wall until he listened made The Paladin a less enjoyable reading experience.
Shoka is an ass. He is utterly a product of privilege and his culture, which is based on the China of centuries ago, but an ass nonetheless. It sucks that Taizu has to depend on him and his whims for weapons and strategy training. I know that his ass-itude makes the book feel more accurate--since he does belong to a different culture, mores change, and the American attitude toward women and peasantry at least pays lip service to the idea that they are thinking people with rights--but I don't want to read about this man and his assumptions and delusions. He's not pleasant to spend time with.
Taizu manages to be a full-bodied person even though she's seen only through Shoka's prejudiced eyes, good job, and the plot doesn't make their relationship take quite the route that it would in many stories, but my desire to smack Shoka's head against the wall until he listened made The Paladin a less enjoyable reading experience.
June 4, 2012
As much as I love Cherryh's science fiction, my favorite books by her are the Rusalka series. This book feels a lot like those, although perhaps not nearly as stellar.
In addition to the world-building (a semi-China or Japan) and the general feel of the book, what I liked the most was the way Cherryh chose to use the problematic guy as the protagonist. It would have been oh so easy to write this story from the point of view of the young girl, but instead, we follow the less sympathetic man, who still manages to appeal to the reader.
As a side note, I just read this interesting factoid on Wikipedia: "Cherryh (pronounced "Cherry") appended a silent "h" to her real name because her first editor, Donald A. Wollheim, felt that "Cherry" sounded too much like a romance writer." I've been struggling with her name for decades!
In addition to the world-building (a semi-China or Japan) and the general feel of the book, what I liked the most was the way Cherryh chose to use the problematic guy as the protagonist. It would have been oh so easy to write this story from the point of view of the young girl, but instead, we follow the less sympathetic man, who still manages to appeal to the reader.
As a side note, I just read this interesting factoid on Wikipedia: "Cherryh (pronounced "Cherry") appended a silent "h" to her real name because her first editor, Donald A. Wollheim, felt that "Cherry" sounded too much like a romance writer." I've been struggling with her name for decades!
April 8, 2013
Enter a world where Emperor's reign and justice is the gleam of a well-honed blade. In an alternate land of ancient china, the Empire of Chiyadan has fallen to ruin...mercenaries run amok, villages burned to the ground, and the land is dominated by a cruel regent. In all of this, Saukendar (a.k.a. Shoka), one of the greatest swordsman the Empire has ever known, dwells in exile on a lonely mountain top. Until the day, that is, a young stranger enters his midst, pleading with him to pass on the skill and art of war. In a curious twist, this stranger, Taizu, is in actuality a young peasant girl,orphaned by the warlord Gitu and seeking revenge for the slaughter of her family. Showing remarkable skill, Taizu soon seduces Shoka, drawing him into her scheme to bring justice to the realm. A classic Cherryh, The Paladin is a clever twist on the "rise of a hero" tale.
December 1, 2019
8/10 en 2007. Media de los 13 libros leÃdos de la autora : 8/10
Me llevo yo bien con la Cherry. Casi siempre entretenida de leer, me quedo con “Hermanos de tierraâ€� o “PaladÃnâ€�. Y de series la de Citeen (la de Chanur tb está bien). La chica ha ganado creo que 4 Hugos, que no es poco.
Solo me ha defraudado suyo “La puerta de Ivrel�.
En esta fantasÃa medieval-chino-japonesa tenemos a la tÃpica joven que busca venganza y se entrena para ser la re-ostia (y, ¡oh, sorpresa!, lo consigue).
Muy entretenido de leer. Si es que ya digo que a mà la Cherry me gusta.
Me llevo yo bien con la Cherry. Casi siempre entretenida de leer, me quedo con “Hermanos de tierraâ€� o “PaladÃnâ€�. Y de series la de Citeen (la de Chanur tb está bien). La chica ha ganado creo que 4 Hugos, que no es poco.
Solo me ha defraudado suyo “La puerta de Ivrel�.
En esta fantasÃa medieval-chino-japonesa tenemos a la tÃpica joven que busca venganza y se entrena para ser la re-ostia (y, ¡oh, sorpresa!, lo consigue).
Muy entretenido de leer. Si es que ya digo que a mà la Cherry me gusta.
November 25, 2011
I read this after I voted for it in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club poll for December, it looks like it doesn't have much chance of being picked and I a huge fan of CJ Cherryh, Asian culture and ancient warfare. This book didn't disappoint, it really could have been split into two books the first a master/apprentice tale and the second an action packed war story. I'd recommend this book highly to fans of The Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn.
September 1, 2014
I found the book to be slow, it was a real struggle to finish the book. Not fantasy, just a "historical fiction" set in a fictional world. The author's view point on men in general made the book tough to swallow. I'm all for realistic characters, but the old warrior just ended up being very one dimensional.
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