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Post by siuyiu on Sept 25, 2018 2:31:04 GMT
kyc that sucks! if you don't mind reading e-versions of wuxia novels, both seven swords and the bride are available via: here and here. obviously, it's always a good idea to own. if you are curious about other authors and their works, the main site is here. Siuyiu, I don't think that I can avoid buying the books! I won't read e-books if I can avoid them, and I hope these novels deserve their reputation. I will read Haodoo books for rare novels, but I think I shall buy them. Thanks for the links anyway! i totally support you buying the books! one can never have too many books! you will have to ask yenchin if the novels deserve their reputation! bride is def on my list of "to reads".
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Post by kyc on Oct 5, 2018 5:56:50 GMT
What follow are the reviews of two short LYS novels, Longhu dou Jinghua (《龍虎鬥京華》) and Feifeng Qianlong (《飛鳳潛龍》), which are contained in the same volume of my edition. Minor spoilers. -------------- Longhu dou Jinghua (《龍虎鬥京華》, "The Dragon and Tiger Duels in the Capital") was LYS's debut novel, first serialized in 1954. It was written immediately after the famous Macao duels between two martial arts sects which was heavily covered by the Hong Kong and Macao press then. LYS's friend, the editor-in-chief for Sin Wun Pao, thought it would be good publicity for LYS, and started serializing the novel one day after the duels concluded. Longhu dou Jinghua is commonly considered the pioneering work of "New School" wuxia, which later included Jin Yong's (Louis Cha) and Gu Long's works. This book is perhaps underappreciated now. It remains a fine novel, if a little unruly in structure and rough-hewn (i.e. not as "polished" as JY's edited fiction). Its companion novel is Caomang Longshe Zhuan (《草莽龍蛇傳》, "Legend of the Rustic Outlaws" - this is the best I can translate ), which fills in with the adventures of Ding Xiao and the Yihetuan (aka the Boxers). The novel suffers from minor faults. The style is a bit rough and uneven, the structure loose. Sometimes LYS uses difficult, literary terms, but when he describes the love relationship, it is almost as if he's treating the readers as kids. There are a lot of simple explanations. The loose structure can be attributed to "multiple protagonists" feature of earlier wuxia novels. They aren't as tightly knitted as most JY novels. If you can get past these, you will be treated with a fine wuxia work. The characters are well delineated, the main plot and pacing are good. No one would mistake this work as LYS's best, but the potential is there for all to see. It runs its companion work very close. Furthermore, the adorable protagonist of the succeeding novel, Ding Xiao (丁曉), makes an appearance here. The plot follows the entanglements of the "Ding" school Taiji Sect with the Manchu establishment as its two masters are killed, culminating in a fight between the sect and the pro-Qing elements of the Yihetuan. The main love triangle, even though LYS explains to the readers like they were kids, is memorable, if a little brief. After all, this is a short wuxia novel of 12 chapters. The final two chapters were clearly inspired by the Macao duels, where the focus is on duels on stage. The novel also gives a very sympathetic look at the Boxers. One of LYS's tutors was a Taiping Tianguo historian, and I suspect LYS had more of an "insider's view" of the organization. However, it's now too long past to know if this perspective of Yihetuan is objective or not. Another point to note. In my short review of Caomang Longshe Zhuan, I said that it is pro-Han, anti-Manchu and anti-foreigner. LYS explains his view more thoroughly in this earlier novel. He has sympathy for Manchu common people, but none for the Qing regime, whom he depicts as exploitative and cruel. So maybe I misunderstood LYS there. Conclusion: The underappreciated debut novel of LYS and "New School" wuxia, Longhu dou Jinghua has many merits. Some might cavil over its structure or its unevenness. Nevertheless, for its interesting slant on Chinese history and its characterful cast, it ought to be read by every LYS lover.
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Post by kyc on Oct 5, 2018 6:10:35 GMT
Feifeng Qianlong (《飛鳳潛龍》, "The Flying Phoenix and the Espionage Dragon")
------
This is clearly the most Gu Long-esque of LYS novels, as well as LYS's shortest work. It is better classified as a novella. Like in Gu Long, it's memorable for making one keep guessing.
Short paragraphs, simple words... although clearly influenced by Gu Long (serialized in 1966, about when Gu Long first gained fame), Feifeng Qianlong remains very much a LYS work, especially in his depiction of the love relationship.
It has to be said this book does encapsulate LYS's love perspective well. In the short LYS novels I've read so far, politics doesn't interfere with the love affairs between people of warring countries, even though they end usually tragically. Furthermore, LYS portrays their tormented psychology very well, more successful than JY does with Zhao Min for example.
The ending does have its shock factor. I feel it's a much better novella than JY's Yuanyang Dao, and very much worth reading. This book would make an excellent movie, since it's short and suspenseful. It appears it had been adapted as a movie before, in 1981, as The Spy in the Palace.
Conclusion: LYS's shortest wuxia work is also a suspenseful tribute to Gu Long, and the love relationship in it is memorable and heartrending. Worth reading for that alone.
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Post by reinafu on Oct 5, 2018 9:03:45 GMT
Feifeng Qianlong (《飛鳳潛龍》, "The Flying Phoenix and the Espionage Dragon") ------ This is clearly the most Gu Long-esque of LYS novels, as well as LYS's shortest work. It is better classified as a novella. Like in Gu Long, it's memorable for making one keep guessing. Short paragraphs, simple words... although clearly influenced by Gu Long (serialized in 1966, about when Gu Long first gained fame), Feifeng Qianlong remains very much a LYS work, especially in his depiction of the love relationship. It has to be said this book does encapsulate LYS's love perspective well. In the short LYS novels I've read so far, politics doesn't interfere with the love affairs between people of warring countries, even though they end usually tragically. Furthermore, LYS portrays their tormented psychology very well, more successful than JY does with Zhao Min for example. The ending does have its shock factor. I feel it's a much better novella than JY's Yuanyang Dao, and very much worth reading. This book would make an excellent movie, since it's short and suspenseful. It appears it had been adapted as a movie before, in 1981, as The Spy in the Palace. Conclusion: LYS's shortest wuxia work is also a suspenseful tribute to Gu Long, and the love relationship in it is memorable and heartrending. Worth reading for that alone. If I'm not mistaken, this book has also been adapted as a TV series. www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/ProductDisplay.do?prrfnbr=5823368&prtype=0www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/ProductDisplay.do?prrfnbr=5712330&prtype=0Oh, I just realize that the titles of the series is Fei Tian Qian Long and not Fei Feng Qian Long, so, maybe I'm mistaken... Can you confirm or not ?
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Post by kyc on Oct 5, 2018 10:58:40 GMT
Feifeng Qianlong (《飛鳳潛龍》, "The Flying Phoenix and the Espionage Dragon") ------ This is clearly the most Gu Long-esque of LYS novels, as well as LYS's shortest work. It is better classified as a novella. Like in Gu Long, it's memorable for making one keep guessing. Short paragraphs, simple words... although clearly influenced by Gu Long (serialized in 1966, about when Gu Long first gained fame), Feifeng Qianlong remains very much a LYS work, especially in his depiction of the love relationship. It has to be said this book does encapsulate LYS's love perspective well. In the short LYS novels I've read so far, politics doesn't interfere with the love affairs between people of warring countries, even though they end usually tragically. Furthermore, LYS portrays their tormented psychology very well, more successful than JY does with Zhao Min for example. The ending does have its shock factor. I feel it's a much better novella than JY's Yuanyang Dao, and very much worth reading. This book would make an excellent movie, since it's short and suspenseful. It appears it had been adapted as a movie before, in 1981, as The Spy in the Palace. Conclusion: LYS's shortest wuxia work is also a suspenseful tribute to Gu Long, and the love relationship in it is memorable and heartrending. Worth reading for that alone. If I'm not mistaken, this book has also been adapted as a TV series. www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/ProductDisplay.do?prrfnbr=5823368&prtype=0www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/ProductDisplay.do?prrfnbr=5712330&prtype=0Oh, I just realize that the titles of the series is Fei Tian Qian Long and not Fei Feng Qian Long, so, maybe I'm mistaken... Can you confirm or not ? I've read the series synopsis and it seems to be a different work.
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Post by kyc on Jan 27, 2019 14:30:08 GMT
I've just finished reading Sanhua Nüxia (《散花女俠》) ("The Blossom-Scattering Heroine"?) by Liang Yusheng, the sequel to the more famous Pingzong Xiaying Lu (《萍踪俠影錄》). It's a thick one-volume novel that reads like a 2-volume Jin Yong (e.g. The Book and the Sword; The Sword Stained with Royal Blood). I have not yet read the earlier novel. I think I'm in serious trouble and in need of great help. I am poisoned by Liang Yusheng. Even Gu Long and Jin Yong never did so much to me. What a great wuxia novel! I must read Pingzong Xiaying Lu because of this. How rare is a wuxia novel with a true female protagonist! And how well done! I'm almost ready to write a poem for it like Liang Yusheng, except that I can't. The protagonist of the novel is Yu Chengzhu (于承珠), the female pupil of the master swordsman Zhang Danfeng (張丹楓) and whose father is the patriotic official Yu Cheng (于謙), treacherously executed by the Emperor after he regains the throne. The backstory of the Ming Emperor Qizhen (祁鎮), Zhang Danfeng and Yu Cheng is detailed in the earlier novel Pingzong Xiaying Lu. The novel is too complicated for a simple synopsis. Basically it is the adventures of Yu Chengzhu and a crop of patriotic rebels who rose against the sinister Qizhen. They are headed by the highly skilled leader of the Beggar Sect, Bi Qingtian (畢擎天), who has ambitions to become the new Emperor. He is also interested in Yu Chengzhu, although she is not interested in him. There are a host of highly skilled characters, including Zhang Danfeng, who make appearances throughout the novel. You can complain about some things, like the pacing, which is hectic sometimes--faster paced than Jin Yong definitely--or the slight disorganization of the prose. Liang Yusheng, compared to his peer Jin Yong, is less organized, giving some the impression he is the lesser writer. However, I will definitely refute this idea. The novel is distinguished for the love triangles/love rectangles that the female protagonist Yu Chengzhu becomes involved in. She at first falls for the handsome, but conceited and show-offy Tie Jingxin (鐵鏡心). Tie Jingxin also falls for her. But later she discovers his flaws and slowly her attention turns to the honest, unostentatious Ye Chenglin (葉成林). The trio's entanglements and the involvement of new "love interests" complicate the issue. If there is one thing Liang Yusheng is better than Jin Yong, it's his depiction of love relationships and Sanhua Nüxia really pushes this to the fore. Not only is Yu Chengzhu more attractive to me than any of Jin Yong's heroines, her love interests are far more interesting as well. It's not about many girls always liking the male protagonist for no rhyme or reason. I am made to guess whether Yu Chengzhu will eventually end up with Ye Chenglin or Tie Jingxin. Actually Tie Jingxin isn't that bad, but Liang Yusheng makes him look worse than he is (he is after all still very young and people can make mistakes). The novel touched me enough to move me to the brink of tears several times. I give you two excepts from the novel to illustrate its strengths: Yu Chengzhu asking her teacher Zhang Danfeng how to choose between her two potential suitors, using hidden analogies:于承珠忽道:「師父,你喜歡江南園林裡的玫瑰花,還是喜歡這裡的大青樹?」張丹楓又是怔了一怔,忽然好似從眼光中猜到了于承珠心頭的秘密,微微笑道:「兩樣我都喜歡。玫瑰花令人賞心悅目,大青樹可以供人乘涼遮蔭。」于承珠道:「不,假如只許你選擇一樣呢?」凝眸望著師父,那情形就像孩子遇到難題,要請大人給他一個決定。 張丹楓想了一會,笑道:「這就要看各個人的性情了。比如說,若是沐燕,我想她會更喜歡玫瑰花。」于承珠點了點頭,只聽得張丹楓道:「不過,若說到對人類的用處,那自是大青樹有用得多了。」于承珠又點了點頭。張丹楓忽地笑道:「其實你再過兩年,再想想這些也還不遲。」 Yu Chengzhu asking Ye Chenglin about whether a girl should remain unmarried for her dead lover, a fundamental difference between Liang Yusheng and Jin Yong!于承珠道:「我是討論。葉大哥,古禮說女子該從一而終,若是未曾婚配,相愛的人先死了,也該從一而終麼?」葉成林見她問得認真,也認真答道:「那自然也是因人而別。願守便守,不願守的便不守。」于承珠道:「依你之見,是守的好?還是不守的好呢?」葉成林道:「設若我是那個死了的人,我死後若有知道,必願我心愛的人我到比我更適當的人,免得她孤苦伶汀,淒涼過世。咦,你今晚怎麼問得這樣奇怪?」于承珠抿嘴一笑,道:「多謝你通情達理之言,令我頓開茅塞。是啊,是不該讓她鬱鬱寡歡,淒涼過世!」 葉成林詫異之極,叫道:「咦,你到底說的是誰?」于承珠道:「是我一位知心的姐妹,日後你就知道。」葉成林不喜理人閒事,雖是覺得奇怪,聽過也就算了。眼光一瞥,但見于承珠遙望遠方,呆呆出神,似是有幾分悲傷,又似有幾分喜悅,良久,良久,始歎口氣道:「這裡好冷,好冷!」 This novel is several notches above all the earlier Liang Yusheng novels I have read. All the earlier ones seem so like apprentice work now. Conclusion: A definite hit. If you like strong heroines and moving, tantalising love relationships, read this novel. 4.5/5 moving toward 5/5 toward the end.
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Post by reinafu on Jan 27, 2019 22:33:33 GMT
Reading your very interesting comment makes me eager to finally find a while to watch the series Chronicles of the shadow swordsman ; I think that it's the Englich translation of Pingzong Xiaying Lü, right ?
Do you know if the novel you just read Sanhua Nüxia has also been adapted as a tv series ? It would be interesting to watch it if it exists, since I'll never get the chance to read any of the two novels...Unless there are any English translations ?
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Post by kyc on Jan 28, 2019 1:38:35 GMT
Reading your very interesting comment makes me eager to finally find a while to watch the series Chronicles of the shadow swordsman ; I think that it's the Englich translation of Pingzong Xiaying Lü, right ?
Do you know if the novel you just read Sanhua Nüxia has also been adapted as a tv series ? It would be interesting to watch it if it exists, since I'll never get the chance to read any of the two novels...Unless there are any English translations ?
Yes, that's right, that's the translation. Pingzong Xiaying Lu should be a great novel; LYS called it his favorite book and Zhang Danfeng his favorite protagonist. There are many TV adaptations of Pingzong, including the famous 1985 one starring Damian Lau Chung Yan and Michelle Yim. Sanhua Nüxia has been adapted as a two-part HK movie in 1961. However, I have neither seen it nor heard its reviews. I am right now toying with the idea of translating this novel. It's not short, so it should take up a long time--maybe as long as half a year or even one full year. I guess this is the merest I can do for a writer I admire intensely. Then, I will put the translation up at Spcnet and here. Hopefully it might spur more online translations of LYS. Don't know if this idea is feasible or not.
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Post by siuyiu on Jan 28, 2019 4:46:59 GMT
kyc that would be amazing if you could translate SHNX! we definitely need more exposure of LYS's works to the english-speaking world! regarding PZXYL, be aware that it's all about zhang danfeng. while yun lei is no shrinking violet, she's not the central character and is overshadowed by ZDF. i'm very curious to know what you think of the story, so i hope you'll consider reading it soon! yenchin could probably comment more expertly on this, but i believe that of LYS's stories, PZXYL ranks high on the list of greats, along with the seven swords and jade bow stories. and, of course, white haired demoness.
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Post by kyc on Jan 28, 2019 9:32:34 GMT
kyc that would be amazing if you could translate SHNX! we definitely need more exposure of LYS's works to the english-speaking world! regarding PZXYL, be aware that it's all about zhang danfeng. while yun lei is no shrinking violet, she's not the central character and is overshadowed by ZDF. i'm very curious to know what you think of the story, so i hope you'll consider reading it soon! yenchin could probably comment more expertly on this, but i believe that of LYS's stories, PZXYL ranks high on the list of greats, along with the seven swords and jade bow stories. and, of course, white haired demoness. I want to read Seven Swords badly, but my library refuses to purchase the book. Hence the situation with the public libraries here is that there are copies of every LYS novel except his two most popular, Seven Swords and The White-Haired Demoness. If forced maybe I will resort to reading them online. I will try two chapters of SHNX and see if I can do it or not, factoring in the time. However, I won't put it online unless I complete the entire book (36 chapters). I will feel stressed if I put a few chapters and am continually bugged to complete the translation. I just went to read some online comments/mini reviews of SHNX, and a lot of people don't like it. One guy calls it the "worse wuxia novel that I have ever read" because, in his opinion, Yu Chengzhu is a prig who has the audacity to reject Tie Jingxin who has done so much for her. Another guy (don't know if it was the same person or not) rewrote parts of in the style of Jin Yong, making the villain Bi Qingtian (who also liked Yu Chengzhu) a hero in the style of Qiao Feng and Yu Chengzhu in the style of Guo Fu (in his own words). Hey, hey. With one day's hindsight, I can say that SHNX isn't the perfect wuxia novel. Some parts are boring (especially the beginning), there are too many named characters in too short a time (I think as many as 60), the pacing at times is too hectic. But what it does it does very well. So finally it depends on whether you find Yu Chengzhu a prig or not, whether you feel she can and should reject a man who she sees the flaws too clearly. The same reviewer calls Liang Yusheng a prig. So one man's meat is another man's poison.
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Post by siuyiu on Jan 28, 2019 23:50:34 GMT
kyc i suspect people keep stealing these two novels so the library is refusing to buy replacements. your best bet is probably to read the e-book, despite your hatred of the medium. unless, of course, you're willing to splurge and buy copies to own. as for loving or hating any novel, it's down to personal taste. and mood. and time of life. your preference (or lack thereof) of a novel is allowed to change with time. a book you never cared for may suddenly speak to you at a certain stage in life as a result of experiences. so, my point is: don't take anyone else's reviews as dogma. try your hand at translating--i found it too insurmountable a task and only managed to do a brief summary of the chapters for PZXYL. wishing you luck in getting further!
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Post by kyc on Jan 29, 2019 3:31:16 GMT
siuyiu, yes, you are right about caring too much for someone else's opinion. As for stealing books, I don't think that's the reason. There are complete sets of LYS in every library and I don't think book stealing has ever been a problem here. The punishment if caught is too great. When I recommended this book half a year ago and then complained about my recommendation being ignored via email, the response was that I should have given them the edition, not just the author and book title. But even so, it has been 2 months since they took up the case. Still no indication that they have even purchased the books. About the translation, you people will probably hear about this half a year later, unless I mention I give up on the translation...
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Post by siuyiu on Jan 29, 2019 3:53:26 GMT
kyc oh dear. well, you just may need to look into alternative sources. good luck! and keep us posted about the translation!
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Post by kyc on Apr 23, 2019 5:54:46 GMT
As luck would have it, my libraries decided to purchase The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness, after months of bugging. So, after several Gu Longs and Wang Dulus, I'm ready for my Liang Yusheng getaway again.
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Review of The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness (《白髮魔女傳》, 1957-58).
What a superb novel. Better than all the other Liang Yusheng novels I've read by a considerable margin.
The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness is the prequel to The Legend of the Strange Heroes beyond the Pass (《塞外奇俠傳》) and Seven Swords Descend Mount Heaven (《七劍下天山》). These novels were written about a year before, almost concurrently. They form the "Mount Heaven Trilogy" of Liang Yusheng's works. Seven Swords Descend Mount Heaven, like The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness, is thought as one of the author's masterpieces. Strange Heroes beyond the Pass isn't really spoken in the same breath as the two subsequent works.
The chronology is: The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness --> The Legend of the Strange Heroes beyond the Pass --> Seven Swords Descend Mount Heaven
I've read and commented on Strange Heroes beyond the Pass before. It's much shorter and certainly not as well written as The White-Haired Demoness. The White-Haired Demoness is a totally different kettle of fish. It tells of the ill-fated love between Lian Nichang (練霓裳), a superbly skilled female swordswoman with an eccentric temperament, and Zhuo Yihang (卓一航), the chief disciple of the Wudang Sect who later succeeds as Sect Leader. Although Lian Nichang is definitely the female protagonist, Zhuo Yihang has to share the limelight with Yue Mingke (岳鳴珂), who is the best swordsman (equal to Lian Nichang) in the entire book. Yue Mingke is both gutsier and more highly skilled than Zhuo Yihang, but his love is equally ill-fated. For the sake of first-time readers, I will not reveal any more spoilers.
The language of White-Haired Demoness is more literary than Jin Yong's. It sent me scrambling to my dictionary dozens of times each chapter. It evens out the more inconsistent style in his earlier books. By now, Liang Yusheng has fully mastered the genre. A better traditional wuxia novel (aside from one or two cavils) cannot be imagined. The book is not particularly long (two volumes) but packed with incidents... its death scenes will make many readers tear. Its exploration of male-female relationships is beyond what Jin Yong has achieved--at least in my opinion. I've always rated LYS above JY in writing about women and romantic love. This novel vindicates my opinion.
Lian Nichang is a very interesting creation, suckled by a wolf mother and reared by Yue Mingke's teacher's wife. She has no parallel in JY universe: self sufficient, more highly skilled than the rather wimpy Zhuo Yihang, far braver in her pursuit of love. That she and Zhuo Yihang aren't really compatible has often been said. But still, the tragic love affair breaks your heart.
Zhuo Yihang is as indecisive as JY's Zhang Wuji but you also sympathizes with him. He makes braver decisions in the end, but they come too late. Their love story is continued in Seven Swords.
Where the novel succeeds most is in the proliferation of major and minor characters, many memorable. The pig-headed Five Elders of Wudang, Tie Feilong (鐵飛龍), Wang Zhaoxi (王照希), Gongsun Daniang (公孫大娘), Jin Duyi (金獨異), Tie Shanhu (鐵珊瑚), Xiong Tingbi (熊廷弼), Li Tianyang (李天揚), Murong Chong (慕容沖) are all, in one way or another, memorable. A couple of them leave their evil ways, two die for their love. That this novel is half as long as a four-volume JY novel, boasting almost as many memorable characters, is a testament to LYS's writing prowess.
LYS's poetry is mesmerizing, and he litters them throughout the book. The young Hamaya, Yang Yuncong, Chu Zhaonan and Xing Longzi make their appearances in this novel, integrating the novel fully with the rest of the Tianshan series.
This novel and many others remind me of JY's debt to LYS. Fei Hongjin probably inspired Huo Qingtong, the Five Elders of Wudang inspired the Quanzhen Sect, Huo Tiandu and Ling Muhua, Wang Chongyang and Lin Chaoying. The influences are endless... [Huo Qingtong comes before Fei Hongjin, so probably the two writers influenced each other... ]
Verdict: A superb traditional wuxia novel, probably the best you can imagined by LYS in a two-volume format. A sense of freneticism aside, it has a slew of well delineated major and minor characters. I cannot wait to read Seven Swords after this. 5/5
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Post by Admin on Apr 25, 2019 3:23:35 GMT
As luck would have it, my libraries decided to purchase The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness, after months of bugging. So, after several Gu Longs and Wang Dulus, I'm ready for my Liang Yusheng getaway again. ------------------ Review of The Legend of the White-Haired Demoness (《白髮魔女傳》, 1957-58). What a superb novel. Better than all the other Liang Yusheng novels I've read by a considerable margin. LYS's poetry is mesmerizing, and he litters them throughout the book. The young Hamaya, Yang Yuncong, Chu Zhaonan and Xing Longzi make their appearances in this novel, integrating the novel fully with the rest of the Tianshan series. This novel and many others remind me of JY's debt to LYS. Fei Hongjin probably inspired Huo Qingtong, the Five Elders of Wudang inspired the Quanzhen Sect, Huo Tiandu and Ling Muhua, Wang Chongyang and Lin Chaoying. The influences are endless... [Huo Qingtong comes before Fei Hongjin, so probably the two writers influenced each other... ] Verdict: A superb traditional wuxia novel, probably the best you can imagined by LYS in a two-volume format. A sense of freneticism aside, it has a slew of well delineated major and minor characters. I cannot wait to read Seven Swords after this. 5/5 kyc : I read this novel in my native language, therefore I lost the mesmerizing poems. I wonder if you could share some of the poems here please...
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