The second (at least chronologically) in Clavell's Asian saga, where the focus is not on Japan and the Toranaga shogunate, but the birth of Hong Kong and the battle of two rival trading companies. Here again, Clavell's character development and forays into plots and subplots plays out masterfully and again I found myself bound to this book. While in theory, Shogun was the beginning of the saga, Tai Pan pretty much sets the stage for the bulk of the later books and, in my opinion, is required reading before setting off the explore Gai Jin and Noble House.
This is one of my "top five" favorite novels.
