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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
WHY would you translate the character names into english instead of just using pinyin.
that aside, this was a fun introduction to wuxia novels. i’ve watched many chinese dramas with wuxia elements in it but (am somewhat ashamed to say) had never read a wuxia book before, and i was pleasantly surprised by how fun this first book of the series was and how easy it was to power through. it's no pinnacle of profundity, but legend of the condor heroes is exactly the kind of series you read to be transported out of your own world for a while. i might pick up a version by a different translator when i continue the series though…
that aside, this was a fun introduction to wuxia novels. i’ve watched many chinese dramas with wuxia elements in it but (am somewhat ashamed to say) had never read a wuxia book before, and i was pleasantly surprised by how fun this first book of the series was and how easy it was to power through. it's no pinnacle of profundity, but legend of the condor heroes is exactly the kind of series you read to be transported out of your own world for a while. i might pick up a version by a different translator when i continue the series though…
adventurous
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A bit slow to get into and the translated Chinese of certain martial arts moves and character names takes some getting used to, but overall a great coming of age story with awesome kung fu action. Can’t wait to continue the series!
I couldn't figure out the good vs bad guys for the first 100 pages, but then didn't care because the story suddenly engrossed me. The inclusion of strong, complex female characters is a huge plus. I appreciate the list of characters at the beginning, but wish the translation also included a map. I eagerly wait for next 11 (!) volumes.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve found this with other books translated from Chinese as well. There is a ‘matter of fact’ quality to the writing that isn’t super engaging. It almost reads like a book report. But there are some very funny moments, and the plot clips along-so many characters-, and old Guo Jing is such a lovable, honest, sweet dummy. And girls get to do something sometimes! Cool.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Classic Jin Yong (and 300 million copies sold means something!) and I have loved the books and (one) of the dramas based on the books since I was a young. Lots of sentimental value revisiting this for a third time. Reread value is hight. It's not high-brow and it's not not morally grey -- you're good or your bad, black or white. If you love martial arts in the fantasy vein, Lord of Rings crossed with martial arts, this is the best of class. It even has poetry and songs, just like Tolikien's Lord of the Rings. (It takes place in an alternate reality 1237AD China)
There are no complex characters -- they're all kind of stereotypical -- but that's because the trope was invented by Jin Yong. The characters aren't nuanced, they're really black or white, no grey, and they always have a memorable characteristic that you come to love -- especially Eastern Heretic, Lotus, Western Poison, the Northern Beggar King, and, my favorite, the naughty urchin.
It's really important to get a good translation though. I read some bad attempts before I found a good one -- makes all the difference. The translations (of all four books) I read, were all Translated from the Chinese by Gigi Chang
The other translations I read were terrible. Only this one worked well for an English audience.
There are no complex characters -- they're all kind of stereotypical -- but that's because the trope was invented by Jin Yong. The characters aren't nuanced, they're really black or white, no grey, and they always have a memorable characteristic that you come to love -- especially Eastern Heretic, Lotus, Western Poison, the Northern Beggar King, and, my favorite, the naughty urchin.
It's really important to get a good translation though. I read some bad attempts before I found a good one -- makes all the difference. The translations (of all four books) I read, were all Translated from the Chinese by Gigi Chang
The other translations I read were terrible. Only this one worked well for an English audience.
This is a translation of perhaps the most popular book ever written in China. These are the tales that inspired the Bruce Lee movies. Filled with matters of honor, revenge, love and respect, this is adventurous and loaded with scenes featuring the martial arts. It is a story of heroes.
Originally written in the 1950s, the text reflects this. Always hard to articulate how and why language is different at different times in history. While this is strong in heroic endeavors, it is light on emotional depth. The values are a bit different from American values, too.
Readers will learn about real periods of Chinese history which is cool. I think this will appeal mainly to male readers and younger ones at that who might have visions of glory and reigning supreme. The good guy always wins, both with his wits and his might.
Originally written in the 1950s, the text reflects this. Always hard to articulate how and why language is different at different times in history. While this is strong in heroic endeavors, it is light on emotional depth. The values are a bit different from American values, too.
Readers will learn about real periods of Chinese history which is cool. I think this will appeal mainly to male readers and younger ones at that who might have visions of glory and reigning supreme. The good guy always wins, both with his wits and his might.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This first volume in the English edition covers the first nine chapters, whereas the first volume of the Chinese edition that I own includes the first ten chapters. I've read up to chapter nine and am thus reviewing this book first, even though my practice has been to read each chapter in Chinese first before reading the English rendition.
And it truly is a rendition. Especially in the first couple of chapters, when I could be bothered to compare line by line and paragraph by paragraph, it often felt like the translator was retelling the story rather than changing the language used to convey it. Sometimes this produces less awkward sounding phrases. But it also means that the feeling of Jin Yong's original prose doesn't come across the same way. I found that the impression left on me by the characters differed vastly when reading in the two different languages. I suspect this will have an outsize impact on readers who can only read this story in English and are reliant on this translation.
The main thing that bugs me, though, is the translator's decision to translate (most of) the characters' names. Instead of the main protagonist's father being Guo Xiaotian, he's Skyfury Guo. Instead of the main antagonist's father being Yang Tiexin, he's Ironheart Yang. Their mums are Lily Li (not only ridiculous-sounding in English, but also not really accurate, since her name, Ping, means duckweed) and Charity Bao. Dear gods. Just keep the pinyin and put the name meanings in a glossary. This is like if I were translating a book in English and decided to change "John Smith" to the Chinese equivalent of "Smith God-is-gracious". You see how that's excessive?
Even as someone who is a new fan to this series, I find myself kind of saddened that this is the "official" English translation. There are some small merits to it but I think it could have been a lot better.
And it truly is a rendition. Especially in the first couple of chapters, when I could be bothered to compare line by line and paragraph by paragraph, it often felt like the translator was retelling the story rather than changing the language used to convey it. Sometimes this produces less awkward sounding phrases. But it also means that the feeling of Jin Yong's original prose doesn't come across the same way. I found that the impression left on me by the characters differed vastly when reading in the two different languages. I suspect this will have an outsize impact on readers who can only read this story in English and are reliant on this translation.
The main thing that bugs me, though, is the translator's decision to translate (most of) the characters' names. Instead of the main protagonist's father being Guo Xiaotian, he's Skyfury Guo. Instead of the main antagonist's father being Yang Tiexin, he's Ironheart Yang. Their mums are Lily Li (not only ridiculous-sounding in English, but also not really accurate, since her name, Ping, means duckweed) and Charity Bao. Dear gods. Just keep the pinyin and put the name meanings in a glossary. This is like if I were translating a book in English and decided to change "John Smith" to the Chinese equivalent of "Smith God-is-gracious". You see how that's excessive?
Even as someone who is a new fan to this series, I find myself kind of saddened that this is the "official" English translation. There are some small merits to it but I think it could have been a lot better.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No