For something completely different by FPW, read The Fifth Harmonic.

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Just wait and see how Black Wind finishes ... although I was really sad at the end because this was one of those books I could have read for ever and ever.

For me, the story dictates the style. BW demanded this style. And, while I feel it's some of my best work, the book was a commercial flop.

I will never understand how Black Wind was a commercial flop. I would agree it is some of your best work. I have to ask how much, if at all, Clavell's novels influenced your cultural understanding of Japan? Also as an aside, I was watching a documentary "zeitgeist" a 9/11 conspiracy documentary, which touched on the theme of both baiting the japanese into the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as the translation delay. I thought it was intriguing to see that theme arise in "pop culture.". Are documentaries pop culture? Black Wind was a phenomenal read, and I did not find your writing style veered from your other works. I would say the characters were supremely defined and their voices naturally dictate how the book feels. The scene where Slater turns away from Okumo in the alley literally made me cringe. The only other book that ever made me do that was the rape scene in Kite Runner. Intense.

PS - As I said I am a little more than half way through. So if this post is premature and the monsters/killers and/or Jack-type characters are yet to show up, please don't spoil it for me.

Spoke to soon! I think By the sword is almost a sequel to Black Wind. I personally loved Black Wind. that being said Steve I find it strange that your confused that FPW could write out of genre. Writers are story tellers and the story comes before genre. Genre is generally a marketing tool, Authors tend to care less about than publishers. ha-ha.