The Story of the Stone

by Barry Hughart

Book Overview

Here is the stirring sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning The Bridge of Birds, the story of a magnificent China that never was and two unforgettable characters who must solve a series of strange, mystical murders. Reprint from Foundation.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553282786
• ISBN13: 9780553282788
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Spectra Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Second Best Book You've Never Read

This is Hughart's second book, and the second Master Li and Number Ten Ox adventure. And while this book doesn't have quite the sheer delight of the first, "Bridge of Birds," it is still a wonderful adventure set in the same mythical China. And this novel confirms what you suspected after "Bridge of Birds" - Hughart is no fluke.Chinese peasant Number Ten Ox, Master Li's client in the first book, is his assistant now, and troubled because it appears ancient Master Li may drop dead before another worthwhile mystery comes along. Ox need not have worried. The Abbot of the monastery in the Valley of Sorrows arrives with a tale of murder, terror and the return of the Laughing Prince, the lunatic despot who ruled the Valley of Sorrows 750 years earlier. How can Master Li resist the temptation? How can we resist?Once again Master Li and Number Ten Ox must solve a mystery, and once again the mystery is fringed with the supernatural, homicide and genuine, laugh out loud developments. Along the way they meet some truly memorable characters, including Grief of Dawn, a young lady with a deeply mysterious past, and Moon Boy, a sound master and an entirely marvellous creation.Perhaps the best invention is the characters' mind trip through the Chinese Hell, which makes the efforts of Orpheus and Dante look pretty pitiful in comparison. The ending is less of a stunner than "Bridge of Birds," but this story is a little more mature and tightly crafted than "Bridge." The only fair criticism of "Stone" is that Hughart only wrote one more book, "Eight Skilled Gentlemen." There have to be Master Li stories not yet told; I wish Mr. Hughart would write them.A wonderful story, amusing and moving, that exposes the reader to parts of Chinese mythology in the nicest possible way. Exceptionally well written. Highly recommended.

great!

i read this book many, many years ago when i was a kid--found it at the public library and have read it twice since then. this book is a true adventure and the author does a wonderful job of painting both character and setting. i just found out he's written other novels and can't wait to pick them up. it's been about 10 years since the first time i read this work, and i still find it as enchanting as i first did.

Great book!

I discovered this book as part of one of those book club deals several years ago -- you know the kind that send you books and charge you if you don't return them by a certain date. In this case, it was a blessing. I enjoyed the characters, the locations, the colors and the twists that unfolded in the story. If you can find it, it's definitely a must-read. Since then, I've collected the only other books that I know this author has produced: "Bridge of Birds" and "Eight Skilled Gentlemen". They are as enjoyable as this one.

Glorious!

The Laughing Prince - long dead - has returned to life. As he was homicidally mad, this is not regarded as a good thing. So Master Li and Number Ten Ox have once again to lurch around ancient China to solve the mystery. Expect wit, wisdom, intrigue, general mayhem, a cast of crazy characters - and an absolutely brilliant read.