I read it many many years ago and couldn't put it down. Gripping, unexpected, imaginative, exciting! Then I made the mistake of lending it to someone.... Finally found a copy in the State Library of Queensland and read it again recently. fantastic adventure story, yet with a beautiful love story woven into the tapestry. Shogun was a facinating book but a bit hard work in places... Shike will grip you from the start and when it finishes you will hunger for more.