Satori

De: Don Winslow

Narrado por: Holter Graham

Nicholai Hel - genius, mystic, and the perfect formidable assassin - was first introduced to listeners in Shibumi, the classic number one best seller by master storyteller Trevanian. Now critically acclaimed author Don Winslow continues Hel's story for the first time in this all-new, blockbuster thriller.

Prepare to meet the world's most dangerous man....

It is the fall of 1951, and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu, or "naked kill," is fluent in seven languages, and has honed extraordinary "proximity sense" - an extra-awareness of the presence of danger. He has the skills to be the world's most fearsome assassin and now the CIA needs him.

The Americans offer Hel freedom, money, and a neutral passport in exchange for one small service: to go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive chaos, violence, suspicion, and betrayal while trying to achieve his ultimate goal of satori - the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.

©2010 Don Winslow (P)2011 Hachette Audio

Shibumi/Satori...Bravo

I've read Shibumi Thrice, Satori has many characters, I had to reach back to Shibumi to keep up

Wrong Narrator. Not a bad story...

Not the right narrator for this. Should have had someone with some weight like RC Bray.

The story was interesting, not great. There are better Winslow stories.

flawless

Since this was a thematic departure in some ways for Don Winslow I didn't have very high expectations.
I was not very familiar with Shibumi or it's author Trevanian when I started Satori. Now I can't wait to read it.
Hel is a truly fascinating and layered character and, admittedly not having read Shibumi yet, I would guess Winslow has done Trevanian proud with his recreation.

Entertaining

The subnotes and attention to detail were of Trevanian quality. Heil is likeable indeed

Better than I could have imagined!

Excellent prequel to Trevanian’s “Shibumi!” Really hope Don Winslow will agree to write more novels based on Nicholai Hel.

What a strange story

What did you like best about Satori? What did you like least?

I am a Winslow fan.
To appreciate this good, one really must read Trevainien's Shibumi first. And THAT's a weird book as well. Both books center around a James Bond type raised in the orient and schooled in eastern philosophy. It was an interesting character. Shibumi kind of became almost cartoonish after awhile. Still, I found it enjoyable and worthwhile. Satori is kind of further examination of the main character through a smaller period of his life. So Winslow must have been attempting to meld his fine style with that of Trevainian and it was odd. there was not nearly so much of the eastern philosophy in this book but it was also more of an action thriller. As much as I love Winslow's work, this is not his best. It was interesting to see how one might adjust one's style to fit another's, but I missed the cartoonish over-the-top personalities of Shibumi.

Would you recommend Satori to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to friends who are really engaged by action thrillers based on conspiracies within conspiracies.

Which character – as performed by Holter Graham – was your favorite?

Graham did multiple accents quite well. I would look for him again.

Winslow

Don Winslow writes, like I like to read. Complex characters, deviously deep plots, heroes you like and jerks you don't.
I will have to listen again, because I was "cleaning", but couldn't split my attention to the advantage of "work VS listening".
That only happens when I'm listening to a great book.

Satori

You captured the nature of the original. Domo. I will research your literature. I'm happy you were brave enough to explore such a daunting task.

Better than its predecessor

This is not meant to discourage people from reading Shibumi, that book is great and it's obviously your first and most thorough introduction to Nicholai Hel. However, it does get a bit long-winded at times particularly with the spelunking- even though it does tie in the plot at the climax of the story (it still got long).

This chapter of the story, by Don Winslow, is paced a bit better for today's reader in my opinion. It's a bit leaner on excruciating detail and more driven by a faster paced story line. All that said the two stories, while told by two separate author, almost 30 years apart, comes off as being very cohesive. Together these two books tell a fascinating story about a fascinating protagonist. I highly recommend both books!

Intriguing spy thriller

Satori is an outstanding book covering the era between conflicts in Asia. Nicholas Huel is charismatic character that pulls you in and leaves you not wanting to listen. The story is full of twists and turns that brings you into however slightly into the Asian cultures. Great book