Whirlwind (novel)

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Whirlwind
1987 paperback edition
Author James Clavell
Language English
Series Asian Saga
Genre(s) Historical fiction, Novel
Publisher William Morrow
Released 1986
Media Type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Preceded by Noble House
Followed by last book of series

Whirlwind is a novel by James Clavell, first published in 1986. It forms part of The Asian Saga and is chronologically the last book in the series.

Set in Iran in 1979, it follows the fortunes of a group of Struans helicopter pilots in the turmoil surrounding the fall of the Iranian monarchy and the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Like many of Clavell's novels, it is very long and is composed of many interweaving plot strands involving a large cast of characters, as well as a detailed portrayal of Iranian culture. It is notable as the only book in the Asian Saga that is not completely set in the Japan-Hong Kong-China region.

Whirlwind is the only book in The Asian Saga that is out of print.

[edit] Escape

A much shorter version of the story, focussing on a single pair of characters, was published in 1994 as Escape: The Love Story from Whirlwind. The back cover of the first edition bore a message from the author humorously dedicating the book to anyone who had ever complained that his books were too heavy.


The Asian Saga of James Clavell
Shogun | Tai-Pan | Gai-Jin | King Rat | Noble House | Whirlwind
Related novel: Escape: The Love Story from Whirlwind
In other languages