Mr. Hughart wrote three of the most charming fantasy novels you could hope to find: Bridge of Birds, The Story of the Stone, and Eight Skilled Gentleman. He died August 1, and I am very sad. There were hints in the three books he wrote about other stories, but they were never written, or at least, they were never published.
Master Li and Number 10 Ox, raise a bowl or two at One-Eyed Wong’s for the man who chronicled your adventures.
Ah, they were (at least) never published. He had three different publishers, none of whom seem to have treated him very well.
I have never heard of him. I will add him to my TBR.
I read The Story of the Stone in Jr. High. I loved it and went back and found the other two later. No. 10 refers to other journals in the books, but they were never written. I can’t find it now, but I read somewhere that the author felt that if he wrote anymore books, they would basically just be more versions of the same story. I really respect that. This was not a series with an overarching storyline. Each book easily stands alone. I have read too many series where the author falls into a predictable pattern and just keeps writing the same story over and over again. (looking at you Flinx).
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There were plans for about 4 more, with Ox and Kao dying in the confrontation with the White Serpent. See the link in my second post, which goes to an interview where he describes what happened to that plan.
Well, crap. He was a great writer, and I love his books.
On the plus side, while my “Birds” and “Stone” are well-thumbed, I was unaware of the existence of “Eight Skilled Gentlemen”. So I guess his estate is about to be richer by a few dollars…
Reading that interview, I do wonder if he had unsuccessful relationships with his publishers because he was a bit acerbic, perhaps? Very much gives off a “not suffering fools gladly” vibe.
But it would have been nice to get another four books
Morgyn, your thread was how I learned of his death.
Because I live in earthquake country, there is an emergency kit by my bed, and tucked in with the radio, flashlight, water purification tablets, and other essentials, there is one paperback book, because I can last longer without a roof than without something to read. That book is Bridge of Birds, and I sometimes imagine myself in a group of fellow displaced and bored residents, angling the pages to catch the light and speaking these words: “I shall clasp my hands together and bow to the corners of the world.”
Farewell, Barry.
That’s sad. *Bridge of Birds *is one of my most beloved books.
I had forgotten all about him, but I really, really enjoyed them a while ago. RIP.
Crap, crap, crap. I loved Bridge of Birds. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. Jack Vance, John Bellairs and now Barry Hughart. Crap.
Very sad on hearing this news. His series easily in my top ten of favorite books, too few and too wonderful for words.
If one hasn’t read his forward to the collected edition on Amazon it gives some insight into a tortured creative mind.
Hughart was huge in the 1980s, when every person who discovered him immediately turned to everybody they knew and insisted that they read his books. I’m sorry - but not surprised - to hear about his problems with publishers. As someone who has dealt with publishers I can assure you that they are all insane.
Oh, that’s sad. Three of my favorite books. At one point, one of the drafts of Bridge of Birds could be found on line and it’s dramatically different…
Always wished he’d published more.
One of my favorite authors. I was disappointed that he never extended the Number Ten Ox series, but it bears rereading quite well. I was very happy when it became available on Kindle.
I wonder if anyone has movie or tv rights for the series. At least in my mind, the book series could be serialized as a show very well. The characters are vivid, the plot is engaging, and backdrop is refreshingly non-Western-fantasy.
I put him in the same box as Roger Zelazny (especially Lord of Light), who I also miss.
Unfortunately, Jackie Chan is now too old to play Ox.
And Yuen Siu-tien is too dead to play Master Li.
James Hong is still alive. I think the man who brought Lo Pan to life could handle Li Kao.
Dyslexic me read Humphrey Bogart. I thought, ‘Surely he’s been dead for tong lime!’
A gifted writer.
We are poorer without him.
Good call, yes.