Lou-Lan and Other Stories — Yasushi Inoue

The six stories, translated by two outstanding translators from the Japanese, exemplify Inoue's skill at both evoking an historical atmosphere and telling a gripping tale, and they will convey to a Western reader exactly why Inoue was one of the most popular writers in Japan today. The majority of the stories may be generally classified as "historical fiction," but, more precisely, they are extremely well-researched forays into remote geographical areas and little-known periods of history.

The title story, "Lou-lan," recounts the turbulent history and final disappearance of an ancient city in Central Asia. "The Sage" and "Princess Yung-t'ai's Necklace" also recreate the tempestuous past of continental Asia. The remaining three stories--"The Opaline Cup," "Passage to Fudaraku," and "The Rhododendrons"--are set in Japan. The first of these is about a pair of cups that were treasured by an ancient king and are brought together after being separated for over a thousand years. The second is a narrative centering around a custom that arose in a remote Buddhist temple, whereby the abbot was cast adrift in a boat to die at sea. And the third is a masterly characterization of an old scholar reminiscing about his life.