THE KAISHO

By Eric Lustbader

Pocket Books (1993)

Reviewed by Robert Thompson 9/24/93

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THE KAISHO is a continuation of the Nicolas Linnear series. Before reading it, you really should read the previous books in the series; THE NINJA, THE MIKO, and WHITE NINJA. While the first two books stand alone, this one and the previous one do not.

Nicolas Linnear is an "All-American Boy" who just happened to have an oriental mother and grew up in Japan. He is the master of several forms of martial arts, a wealthy businessman who is an executive/co-owner of a very important Japanese electronics manufacturing firm.

This was one of Lustbader's least satisfying "contemporary" novels. It is a fairly decent story, but not as exciting as I expected from him. The tale is very convoluted as usual, with several different subplots occurring all over the globe at once. However, these subplots are connected by a thread of contrived coincidences. There are several flashbacks in this story to earlier times (the Occupation of Japan after WWII, and the Vietnam conflict) that provide the background and motivation for what is happening today.

Nicolas is called to redeem a promise made by his father 45 years earlier to a man who is now the "Kaisho" (the boss of all the bosses of the Yakuza-(the Japanese Mafia)). At the same time, Nicholas is the target of a rabid anti-Japanese U.S. Senator using his influence to ruin his business. I lost count of how many conspiracies were going on at once; the American Mafia is also involved. Nicholas is being betrayed by several people that he thought were friends, and is being aided by some who he believed were his enemies. All the convolutions of the plot notwithstanding, this story is quite predictable.

Now, despite my criticism of this book, I am looking forward to reading the forthcoming sequel: FLOATING CITY--- While Nicholas defeats his current nemesis, the story is not really resolved. It seems that some of the betrayals were not necessarily betrayals and there are a few new romances that may have interesting outcomes. A lot of the subplots are up in the air-

For instance, Where is the Kaisho- He disappeared halfway through the book, and has yet to turn up.

All in all, while the story is not really bad, if you want to read it, get it from the library or wait 'til it comes out in paperback. It ain't worth the $21.95 for the hardback.
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