Satori

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Nicholai Hel - genius, mystic, and the perfect formidable assassin - was first introduced to listeners in Shibumi, the classic number one best seller by master storyteller Trevanian. Now critically acclaimed author Don Winslow continues Hel's story for the first time in this all-new, blockbuster thriller.

Prepare to meet the world's most dangerous man....

It is the fall of 1951, and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu, or "naked kill," is fluent in seven languages, and has honed extraordinary "proximity sense" - an extra-awareness of the presence of danger. He has the skills to be the world's most fearsome assassin and now the CIA needs him.

The Americans offer Hel freedom, money, and a neutral passport in exchange for one small service: to go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive chaos, violence, suspicion, and betrayal while trying to achieve his ultimate goal of satori - the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.

©2010 Don Winslow (P)2011 Hachette Audio

Not the usual Winslow

When I started this book I really didn't understand that this was a prequel to Shibumi, which I've not read. I just jumped in thinking I was going to listen to another fantastic Don Winslow novel. It just didn't grab me the way his work usually does. It took a good three or four hours for me to get settled in. Once I got that far I began to enjoy it.

Now I understand the main character was trained and raised essentially has a Japanese (I think it was Japanese, I wasn't quite hooked yet in that part) warrior, but the repeated reference to his "proximity sense" seemed a little over-the-top. All I could think of when I heard it was "Spidey sense". It just seemed a little ridiculous.

After listening to the authors notes at the end it became clear to me why this novel seemed different in someway. Being a prequel to Shibumi the story and characters were not the usual organically inspired by Winslow. It seems he had boundaries to stay within.

I wouldn't say I'm anxious to listen to Shibumi but it might be worth a credit. The narrator could make or break it. This narrator did a good job, not spectacular but good.

Amazing blend

I read many many times and it was over fun to listen a book at every single moment if I can. I wish and hope for 3rd book, thank you Don Winslow..

A great story very well written . I highly recommend it for ski ages . Well done Don

A great story which is very well written. It completely captures the reader. Well done Done

Excellent follow up to an amazing story

I absolutely loved the story Shibumi by the author Trevanian and I was concerned that this follow-up story about the primary character would be less enjoyable because it's written by Don Winslow a completely different author. Nevertheless, Don has done an exceptional job with this story. I was personally unable to tell that it was written by someone other than the original author of Shibumi. if you've read and enjoyed the book Shibumi you need to listen to this one. It is truly an exceptional story, very well, written with excellent character development and a master's touch in presenting the storylines and in handling all of the conflict and action sequences. Highly recommended.

enjoyed the story

was a little apprehensive about this book. read two reviews one favoable and the other not. I found the book, though not as good as shibumi, did satisfy my need to know more about nicholas heli. I would have really enjoyed if I had read satori first.

excellent tribute

Does justice to Hel and,I think, to Trevanian himself...Which I thought was impossible. Superbly done!

SHIBUMI first then SATORI

What a wonderful time I have had with both! Thank you for such an excellent adventure. I have loved all of the books I’ve read by Don Winslow, he is my favorite author of a very male genre and this is so different from the cartel trilogy which is wonderful but having read SHIBUMI first I was so happy to have had more of Mon. Hel. This book was a wild and exotic ride truly a sequel and utterly appreciated, thank you Mr. Winslow.

Great Listen, Good Story

Well written adaptation of sorts, Winslow is great, Trevanian is better at his own story.

Great first half, but went on way to long

Somewhere around chapter 120-something I found myself wanting to get to the end. The story got old. The first half moves great and I would read this just for that part. You can get the rest of the story by listening to the first minute of the chapters past 120. If Don had closed out the story sooner, I'd rate it a 4-5.

Wow...Don Winslow's Shibumi prequil is captivating

The world of a young 26 year old Hel comes alive.

Shibumi is a masterpiece of contemporary spy thiller. Those who read it will never forget it.
Trevanian was a master author. Now gone
we are re introtuced back into the mind and life
of Nicholai Hel. Mr Winslow writes in away
to compliment Shibumi without a false sence of
trying to be a Trevanian, there is only one.
But the reader is still met with a familiar tone
to make this prequil another masterpiece
thank you Don Windslow...we had missed
Nicholai for decades.