Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was (The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, #1)

by Barry Hughart

“Li Kao may have a slight flaw in his character but the book has none. I recommend it unconditionally and I predict Barry Hughart has quite a future as a fantasy writer.”—Anne McCaffrey

When the children of his village were struck with a mysterious illness, Number Ten Ox sought a wiseman to save them. He found master Li Kao, a scholar with a slight flaw in his character. Together they set out to find the Great Root of Power, the only possible cure.

The quest led them to a host of truly memorable characters, multiple wonders, incredible adventures—and strange coincidences which were really not coincidences at all. And it involved them in an ancient crime that still perturbed the serenity of Heaven. Simply and charmingly told, this is a wry tale, a sly tale, and a story of wisdom delightfully askew. Once read, its marvels and beauty will not easily fade from the mind.

The author claims that this is a novel of an ancient China that never was. But, oh . . . it should have been!

• ISBN10: 0345321383
• ISBN13: 9780345321381
• Publish Date: 12 April 1985 (first published 21 February 1985)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Ballantine Books Inc.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345321381

Reviews

[ibeforem]

This is a book that my husband brought into the relationship. It was something he read in college and thought I should read, so I added it to the queue. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by it. I was expecting some sort of obtuse, hard-to-read, Chinese fable style tale. Instead, I got a very funny, very farcical, very easy to read fantasy novel. It was really a quite delightful story.

“My surname is Li and my personal name is Kao, and there is a slight flaw in my character.”