The Ninja (novel)

infobox Book |
name = The Ninja


image_caption = Cover to the 1990 mass market paperback edition
author = Eric Van Lustbader
country = United States
language = English
genre = Thriller, Crime novel
publisher = M Evans & Co
release_date = April 1980
media_type = Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
pages = 442 pp (hardcover edition)
isbn = ISBN 0871313146 (hardcover edition)

"The Ninja" novel was written in 1980 by Eric Van Lustbader and is a tale of revenge, love and murder. The author blends a number of known themes together: crime, suspense and Japanese martial arts mysticism. The book is divided into five parts, called "rings," as an apparent homage to Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings.

Plot summary

It is initially set in Japan following the end of World War II and follows the story of Lustbader's hero Nicholas Linnear, a man raised by Anglo-Chinese parents.

As a youth, Linnear is introduced to the world of "aikido", "kenjutsu", and "iai-jutsu" at a local "dojo" also attended by his cruel and violent cousin Saigō. Linnear is a natural and soon becomes adept, much to the annoyance of Saigō. During a training exercise Nicholas and Saigō duel and Nicholas defeats him. Saigō is enraged and leaves swearing revenge.

When they next meet Saigō is a considerably more skilled martial artist than Linnear and defeats him quickly. Saigō then brutally rapes Nicholas and his girlfriend Yukio before kidnapping and murdering her. Later we learn Saigō has joined a "Kuji-kiri ryu" in order to learn black ninjutsu and has become a "ninja".

Linnear himself soon becomes introduced to "Aka i ninjutsu", or the red, ostensibly "good" side of ninjutsu.

The "ninja" are introduced not as magical or almost mythical people, but rather as supreme martial artists who have reached the highest level and seek to progress further. It is suggested that by becoming "ninja" they strive to advance to an even higher plane, gaining skills such as "haragei", or sensing the surrounding world in a different manner. However, we soon learn this is not without a high personal cost.

Many years later, Linnear has moved to America and leads a peaceful academic existence. After quitting his job in advertising, he meets a beautiful, if disturbed, woman called Justine with whom he falls in love. This peace is shattered when a prominent local businessman is murdered in an extremely unusual manner (by a poisoned "ninja shaken"). The local police are baffled and consult Nicholas as he is known to be an authority on oriental studies. Linnear quickly realises that a "ninja" is the murderer and the next target is his new girlfriend's father, Raphael Tomkin, whom he begins working for as a bodyguard, although not without persuasion. Linnear also befriends Lew Croaker, a local detective.

Linnear's investigations reveal Saigō is the "ninja" and this puts him on a deadly collision course with his cousin.

Characters

Linnear and Saigō are portrayed as opposites. Linnear is a little cold, hero and Saigō is a violent and dangerous foe. Both are equally skilled in their disciplines, differing only in the philosophy that drives them. Both men are troubled. Saigō battles with his inner demon of self-doubt, often resorting to mind-expanding drugs, whilst Nicholas is a man torn between two worlds and feeling he belongs to neither.