James Gong: The Chinese dragon by Paul Collins
Perhaps your school and home library are low on or lacking martial arts books. Perhaps the teachers/ librarians/parents responsible for developing the collection are unfamiliar with martial arts and virtual reality gaming let alone with virtual fight clubs. Perhaps the young people at your school are only mildly acquainted with fantasy and science fiction...
Enter Paul Collins - award winning writer. He has a blackbelt in both taekwondo and ju jitsu, has trained with the Los Angeles Hell Drivers and served in the army with 2 Commando Coy. This gives him the credentials to write a book like James Gong: The Chinese Dragon. One of Collin's most recent awards was the 2021 Leila St John award which is presented for services to children's literature in Victoria. Teacher notes and units of work are available for some of his books and Collins himself tours schools captivating audiences wherever he goes. His writing style is likewise - captivating. Having written over 140 books for children and young people he is a worthy recipient of an award that recognises service to children's literature.
James Gong:The Chinese Dragon presents a vocabulary challenge to the reader who is a novice in the world of martial arts and virtso fighting but the sheer pace and enthusiasm of the protagonist soon crashes through this barrier. Basically the virtso player sits behind a console and lets a hologram do the fighting for them. This holographic replica - or virtual somatic construct - virtso for short - does martial arts stunts in combat. Games can be for solo, duel or multiple players. Players become obsessed. Such is the growth of this form of entertainment/sport around the world that the software development industry behind it has grown exponentially. VR has become so convincing that players can buy suits which really feel the impact of the virtual punches and kicks through sensors and the pain can render a player unconscious. Mobsters now gamble on the outcome of games and the dens in which they are played attract violence and lowlife characters.
The story is told through the first person narration of likeable James Gong, our 12 year old hero. From the start, 'My name is James Gong, but I reckon you know that...' James invites the reader in to the action and into his thoughts. This is an engaging narrative style for young people. James is like a friend talking to the reader, bouncing off the reader throughout the whole story. After some solo fight disasters, James teams up with Ming Lee, the undisputed virtual martial arts best player and their fight, the preparation for it and the machinations around it are brilliant and courageous. Extortion, blackmail, robbery, cheating, lying, bargaining - it's all there. This novel is very, very contemporary - complete with QR codes, Covid and the latest cutting edge technology. The action is rapid and punchy. There is a sense of immediacy and snappy decision making. The protagonists are clever, high achieving and competitive young people.
Collins addresses many other themes in this clever little book. Jame's problems with family, school life, money, divided loyalties and bullies are ongoing and require all of his attention even as he prepares for a dangerous game against threatening opposition. His growing relationship with Ming is gently handled by Collins. It's a coming of age story in a hi-tech modern world.
The gaming world is an interesting new world for young people to learn about. The story is quite beguiling and provides insight into the world of virtual reality and artificial intelligence in a very exciting and entertaining way. James Gong:The Chinese Dragon and other Paul Collins books may be just the hook for previously reluctant readers.
Like the real life gaming world itself, the fantasy worlds created by Paul Collins in his books may become quite addictive. Important morality and life lessons underlie the storylines.
Recommended.
Themes: Martial arts, VR, Teamwork, Mobsters, Bullies, Family.
Wendy Jeffrey