I read this book as a ninja obsessed teenager too, back in the 80s. It was quite the awakening for a naive and innocent young man! Thanks for championing this great and underrated book.
Such an iconic book and no one talks about it online. There's no audiobook version of it and there's almost no videos on RUclips about it, and very few discussions on websites other than simply promotions
I also read this book in the 7th grade. I was a Kid obsessed with NINJA'S. The only things that portrayed NINJAS realistically were 1) Lustbader's book 'THE NINJA", 2) James Bond movie YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, 3) James Clavell's SHOGUN tv mini-series, 4) Chuck Norris in the OCTAGON, 5) Anything STEPHEN K. HAYES and 6) FRANK MILLER'S 2-year DAREDEVIL comic book run. Frank Miller's Daredevil with ELEKTRA, STICK and his crew (STONE, SHAFT and CLAW). 7) Frank Miller's 4-part WOLVERINE, Frank Miller Ninja world was awesome back then. GREAT MEMORIES Pensacola FL, NORFOLK and VIRGINIA BEACH. Hawsey's Book Store and TRILOGY COMICS.
Eric Lustbader is fantastic, since 1977 he's published more than 50 books. Some of course are better than others but his two Ninja trilogies are among his very best. For those who don't know Dark Homecoming is a novel that's the tail of a kite on the second trilogy featuring Lew Croaker, introduced in The Ninja. Then there are two short stories that appear only in e-book format: The Death and Life of Nicholas Linnear (2014) as well as The Oligarch's Daughter (2016).
Thanks. At some point I might even learn to string two coherent thoughts together. As for the Ninja Craze, it gave us a lot of bad movies that I am forever thankful for. Gods bless you, Sho Kosugi.
I also used to really like this book (although not so much anymore). It was one of numerous factors that eventually led to me living in Japan. Thanks for the interesting review, looking forward to watching more from your channel.
@@Genpinan I know it was in development hell for years. There was a tv movie starring Michael Beck, I think it was called The Last Ninja, that riffed on several of The Ninja's plot points.
I cannot believe that this book is not on an Audiobook! This book along with Robert Ludlum's novels is the biggest reason we have the modern spy, super agent, hero novels of today( Jason Bourne, The gray man, Mitch Rapp , etc...) The author of the The Ninja( Eric V. Lustbader) took over the writngs of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series after Ludlum's death. I hope Audible or some other company will pay someone ( Jay Snider, George Guidall, Simon Vance, ) to narrate this book and the others in the series.I am sure the profits will justify the production!
I love 'The Ninja.' I read all of Lustbader's books when I was in my teens and when I, like much of society at the time, was obsessed with all things Japanese. I have an audiobook channel now, and am making lots of audiobooks out of 80s and 90s novels (but mostly movie related). I’d love to do 'The Ninja' one day, and have it here on my shelf, but it is a massive book! Would take a LOT of time to record and edit.
I all of Eric Van Lustbader's Ninja novels in the early 90s..I was in my very early 20s..wow.. What a story line.. I immersed myself in the Nicolas Linnear character.. Even the sex scenes was hot... Mmm wish I was 20 again..
Jian and Shan are two of the best characters driven books. I have ever read do something on those two if you have read them and if you haven’t, you should.
I read this book as a ninja obsessed teenager too, back in the 80s. It was quite the awakening for a naive and innocent young man!
Thanks for championing this great and underrated book.
Many thanks.
Such an iconic book and no one talks about it online. There's no audiobook version of it and there's almost no videos on RUclips about it, and very few discussions on websites other than simply promotions
Yeah, a bloody shame it's largely forgotten. It was a such a cultural zeitgeist.
I've been waiting over 20 years for a movie rendition 😢
Many books of the era are forgotten. I remember the books by Marc Olden, too.
I also read this book in the 7th grade. I was a Kid obsessed with NINJA'S. The only things that portrayed NINJAS realistically were 1) Lustbader's book 'THE NINJA", 2) James Bond movie YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, 3) James Clavell's SHOGUN tv mini-series, 4) Chuck Norris in the OCTAGON, 5) Anything STEPHEN K. HAYES and 6) FRANK MILLER'S 2-year DAREDEVIL comic book run.
Frank Miller's Daredevil with ELEKTRA, STICK and his crew (STONE, SHAFT and CLAW). 7) Frank Miller's 4-part WOLVERINE, Frank Miller Ninja world was awesome back then. GREAT MEMORIES
Pensacola FL, NORFOLK and VIRGINIA BEACH. Hawsey's Book Store and TRILOGY COMICS.
Ninja were everywhere, and I was thankful for it.
Thanks for ALL those references! 📚 📚
Read the book a few times in the late 80’s, it was my favourite. Still have it in my bookshelf, different cover though!
Having just revisited it, Ninja really holds up.
Eric Lustbader is fantastic, since 1977 he's published more than 50 books. Some of course are better than others but his two Ninja trilogies are among his very best. For those who don't know Dark Homecoming is a novel that's the tail of a kite on the second trilogy featuring Lew Croaker, introduced in The Ninja. Then there are two short stories that appear only in e-book format: The Death and Life of Nicholas Linnear (2014) as well as The Oligarch's Daughter (2016).
Thanks for the info.
I read The Sunset Warrior back in the day 😮 I think I will give some more of his books like Zero and Miko! Thanks for the video!
Cheers.
I am just hearing about this Book series now, so thank you for the Video on it! 📚 🇯🇵 🥷
You're in for a treat.
I read this book when I was in art school in NYC. I even adapted the final confrontation in comic book form for a class project.
That's cool. Would love to see it.
@@occultdetective jdcomicbooklife.blogspot.com/2009/05/flashback-1-ninja.html
Nice review. I remember the 80s ninja craze! What a weird time. That and the shorter, smaller Australian pop culture bubble.
Thanks. At some point I might even learn to string two coherent thoughts together. As for the Ninja Craze, it gave us a lot of bad movies that I am forever thankful for. Gods bless you, Sho Kosugi.
Read most of the series
Good stuff.
I also used to really like this book (although not so much anymore). It was one of numerous factors that eventually led to me living in Japan.
Thanks for the interesting review, looking forward to watching more from your channel.
Thanks. It's not aged well in many respects, but nostalgia is a cruel mistress.
Sure thing. But I still sometimes wonder how it might have turned out as a movie. I think there was some possibility of this happening.
@@Genpinan I know it was in development hell for years. There was a tv movie starring Michael Beck, I think it was called The Last Ninja, that riffed on several of The Ninja's plot points.
@@occultdetective thanks for letting me know, will try to find it
I cannot believe that this book is not on an Audiobook! This book along with Robert Ludlum's novels is the biggest reason we have the modern spy, super agent, hero novels of today( Jason Bourne, The gray man, Mitch Rapp , etc...) The author of the The Ninja( Eric V. Lustbader) took over the writngs of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series after Ludlum's death. I hope Audible or some other company will pay someone ( Jay Snider, George Guidall, Simon Vance, ) to narrate this book and the others in the series.I am sure the profits will justify the production!
Agree. An audio drama of the Linnear novels would be terrific.
I love 'The Ninja.' I read all of Lustbader's books when I was in my teens and when I, like much of society at the time, was obsessed with all things Japanese. I have an audiobook channel now, and am making lots of audiobooks out of 80s and 90s novels (but mostly movie related). I’d love to do 'The Ninja' one day, and have it here on my shelf, but it is a massive book! Would take a LOT of time to record and edit.
I know the thunderstorm is an effect, but I'm going to choose to believe it's real.
It’s always raining somewhere.
I all of Eric Van Lustbader's Ninja novels in the early 90s..I was in my very early 20s..wow.. What a story line.. I immersed myself in the Nicolas Linnear character.. Even the sex scenes was hot... Mmm wish I was 20 again..
Don't we all :)
The thing that hurts to this day was had Brandon Lee survived... There's your Nicholas Linnear. 😔
Perfect casting.
@@occultdetective everyone's game would have been upped.😔
@@Jojoheartschichi indeed
Jian and Shan are two of the best characters driven books. I have ever read do something on those two if you have read them and if you haven’t, you should.
Oh yeah, I’m a fan.
I never understod why they did not make a Series of movies from this great Books ,mostly the Kashio such a superb book
I agree. Tailor-made for the big screen.
My favourite part of the ninja was the lesbian bathtub scene😊😂
A novel truly meant for the big screen.
Have you read Shibumi?
I did, in the early 90s. Great writing style.
Was thinking that it was sounding like 50 shades of Ninja
Ha. That's funny... and somewhat accurate.