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Literature
    Keywords: Culture & History, Books & Publications

The fiction listed here makes references to the game of Go, and may in some cases rise to the level of true literature (especially Kawabata's Master of Go).

Go-centric Fiction or Containing Major References to Go

1999
First Kyu by Dr. Sung-Hwa Hong
La Joueuse de Go by Shan Sa, ed. Grasset (German: "Die Go-Spielerin"; Dutch: "De Go Speelster"; English: "The Girl Who Played Go", Chatto & Windus)
1995
Go by Uyemoto, a novel.
The Takamoku Joseki (a short story) by Sara Paretsky (published in Windy City Blues)
1982
Komoku by Daniel Gilbert, short science fiction story in a collection edited by Fred Saberhagen. Go has inspired a computer game. Unfavorable review.

PatG - This story is found in a collection of chess related shorts - Pawn to Infinity. It reflects 1980's American fears of Japanese economic power and thus seems rather racist on first reading. The message is infact far more subtle. Nice biological metaphors for the Goban.

1979
Shibumi by Trevanian
1951
Meijin ("Master of Go") by Kawabata Yasunari
undated
Isle of Woman (Geodyssey, Saga 1) by Piers Anthony. T'ang (chapter 16) is a story with significant Go content.
Limbo System by Rick Cook, science fiction; Go is key to the action.
The Chessboard Cherry Tree (traditional folktale tr. by R. Gordon Smith); the story, unlike the title, gets the game right.
The Ear-Reddening Move of Shusaku by Jonathon Wood. Mystery short story

Minor References

2002
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, a very minor reference: 'the besieger turned besieged, as in a game of go' on p. 449 of the (European?) paperback edition.
A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong. A murder mystery featuring the same detective and setting as Death of a Red Heroine below. More extensive go references.
2001
Gust Front by John Ringo
2000
Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong. A murder mystery set in post-Mao China. The principal detective mentions go (weichi) briefly in a meaningful way.
1999
Distraction by Bruce Sterling
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
[ext] "In the Beginning was the Command Line" by Neal Stephenson
1997
[ext] Mr Nice by Howard Marks
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. In both Chapter 2 (p. 28) and Chapter 33 (p. 398) a game of Go is being played in the background.
1995
Endymion by Dan Simmons. Aenea, the 12 year old messiah, is said to be "excellent at chess, good at Go and deadly at poker".
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson (very minor reference)
1994
Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. Banks. At the end of Chapter 3 it says "Less do boat tings, he lafs. Weel go 4 a wok but weel take di portibil Go board wif us & 1/2 a game ovir a nice long lunch @ a rathir nice restoront i no. Good idear, Mr Zoliparia. Thas a fine ole complicatid game, that Go. Rite! Ahl get di Go, den wheel go! he lafs, & he jumps up & heds indoars. Drink up yoor t! he shouts."
1993
Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan: There is a game called "Stones" played by a character or two that sounds suspiciously like Go. (The author has confirmed that the game is in fact Go.)
Gai-Jin by James Clavell, a novel of Japan. "The august ones (Shogun Nobusada and his wife Princess Yazu) are bathing as usual, ... after which they will dine as usual, play Go as usual and so to bed."
Grey Area by Will Self, short stories. Two references: "Being one of the only eight people in London is like some massive game of go. No, go isn't the right analogy at all, because people - whether controlled or not - are more than mere counters."(in Between the Conceits) In the story Incubus, some food is compared to "edible go counters" IIRC, but I don't seem to find the reference just now.
1989
Demons at Rainbow Bridge by Jack Chalker. Two references: "A colonial claim is made by a rival out on a frontier that is crucial in our galactic game of Go." and "That is all it is to you people, isn't it? A game of Go. But the stones are people, not stones, and you can't see that."
1986
Queenmagic, Kingmagic by Ian Watson, a novel, has a fantasy game based on Go.
1985
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein. A minor reference to Go in a list of standard computer games.
Walking on Glass by Iain Banks, science fiction novel. In it, "Open-plan Go" takes place on an infinite board.
1984
The Planiverse: Computer Contact with a Two-Dimensional World by A.K. Dewdney. Go in a straight line.
1976
Even Cowgirls get the Blues by Tom Robbins: Minor reference to Go played by Japanese men interned in the USA during World War 2. (p. 181 in my fairly recent No Exit Press edition)
1973
Forever War, a famous Sci-fi masterpiece by Joe Haldeman. During one of his year-long journeys through space, the main character learns how to play.[1]
Runaway Horses, by Yukio Mishima (original title "Honda". Tiny reference in a metaphor on p. 179 of my Vintage International translation: "He sensed its presence like a stone that he could place on a Go board wherever he wished.")
1972
The Gold at Starbow's End by Frederick Pohl, a science fiction novella, and a collection by the author.
1969
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin
1943
The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse ("Das Glasperlenspiel" sometimes mistitled "Magister Ludi"): faint metaphorical connection to Go.

The following entries are undated:

  • Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, translated by Edward G. Seidensticker
  • Starborne by Robert Silverberg, a science fiction short story later expanded into a novel.
  • Starplex by Robert Sawyer mentions Go with shell and slate stones, in passing.
  • Silk Road by Jean Larsen. Fantasy novel where the protagonist was once a stone in a Go game between Gods.
  • Chung Kuo by David Wingrove, series of eight novels; uses Go as a metaphor. Set on a mildly distopian future Earth.
  • Jian and sequel Shan by Eric van Lustbader. Two thriller novels, though the knowledge of Go is flawed.
  • The Chinese Lake Murders by Robert van Gulik. Ancient China.
  • Four Into One by Damon Knight, short story, incidental mention.
  • Prima Belladonna by J.G. Ballard, short story, minor content.

Unverified, minor or unknown Go content:

  • Spring Moon: A Novel of China by Bette Bao Lord
  • The Wayfarer: Kojin by Soseki Natsume
  • Jaran by Kate Elliot and three other books in the series: An Earthly Crown, His Conquering Sword, and The Law of Becoming.
  • Falling In Place by Ann Beattie
  • Because Of The Cats by Nicholas Freeling
  • Rim by Alexander Besher
  • Shike by Robert Shea
  • The Case Of The Sliding Pool by E.V. Cunningham (Go cover of paperback)
  • To The Spring Equinox And Beyond by Soseki
  • The Wayfarer by Soseki
  • Light And Darkness by Soseki
  • Kokoro by Soseki
  • Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane (Star Trek)
  • Moonheart by Charles De Lint
  • Stand On Zanzibar by John Brunner
  • Shockwave Rider by John Brunner
  • The Fourth House by Martin Gross
  • The Court Of The Lion by Cooney & Altieri
  • The Ship Who Searched by Mccaffrey & Lackey
  • Split Infinity by Piers Anthony
  • Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Leguin
  • Host by Peter James
  • Sanshiro by Soseki
  • Life a User's Manual by Georges Perec
  • A void by Perec
  • The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell
  • Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Lo Kuan-Chung
  • A Rage in Heaven by Yamato
  • Zanzibar Cat by Joanna Russ

[1]Hans: I have read "Forever War" in the german translation but can not remember that go is mentioned. Can you give (approximately) the page number?



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