Outside Reading: SHIBUMI

[Joe Varo]

Well, since I finished my latest re-read of _Gravity's_Rainbow_ about a
couple/few weeks ago, have my copy of _Mason_&_Dixon_ on order at
MediaPlay (the wife is an asst mgr there so we get a good employee
discount), I've been contenting myself with relatively light reading, kind
of giving my brain a rest in preparation for what I hope will be a
strenous, though pleasant M&D reading experience.

One of the books that I picked up was _Shibumi_, by Trevanian.  I read it
the first time back around 1980 or so, remembered liking it quite a bit,
and being in the mood for a good thriller figured I'd give it a re-read.

The reason that I mention this is that on this reading I seem to be
picking up some Pynchonian undertones; not really so strong that I call it
allusive of Pynchon, just a general "feel".

In _Shibumi_ you've got the Mother Company, this shadowy intelligence
organization essentially run by multinational oil cartels and also the
protagonist, Nicholai Hel, a sort of nationless, likable (if not even
moral) assassin with allegiance to no particular group and who is a
nemesis of the Mother Company. 

Therefore, Mother Company = a less nebulous Them and Nicholai Hel = The
Counterforce.

Anyway, just some thoughts.  If anyone out there is looking for a light
thriller to read, _Shibumi_ is a good one.

Joe