Can you recommend some fiction samurai books for beginners?

Sure. 'The Book of Five Rings' by Miyamoto Musashi is a good start. It's short and gives a concise view of the samurai's martial and philosophical ideas.

For beginners, 'The Book of Five Rings' is quite accessible. It's short and straightforward, yet it imparts a lot of the fundamental samurai concepts. 'Cloud of Sparrows' is also a good pick. It has an exciting plot that can draw in new readers and introduce them to the world of samurai, with its battles, honor, and traditions.

'Samurai Shortstop' by Alan Gratz is a more modern take on samurai stories. It combines the traditional samurai values with the experiences of a modern - day baseball player in Japan. It's an interesting read that shows how the samurai spirit can be relevant in different contexts.

Sure. 'Musashi' by Eiji Yoshikawa is a great one. It tells the story of Miyamoto Musashi, a famous samurai, in a very engaging way. Another is 'Shogun' by James Clavell, which combines samurai culture with a great story set in feudal Japan.

I really like 'Cloud of Sparrows' by Takashi Matsuoka. It's a story full of adventure and intrigue. It follows a group of characters, including samurai, as they navigate the dangerous and changing world of feudal Japan. The descriptions of the samurai's actions and their code of honor are really well - done.

There are quite a few. 'Cloud of Sparrows' by Takashi Matsuoka is a wonderful samurai fiction book. It combines elements of mystery, love and samurai values. 'The Samurai's Garden' by Gail Tsukiyama is also a great choice. It shows a different side of samurai - influenced life, not just the battles but also the relationships and the cultural aspects. And of course, 'Akira Kurosawa's Dreams' which is inspired by samurai stories and has a very unique narrative style.

Sure. 'Shogun' by James Clavell is a great one. It combines the elements of the samurai culture in feudal Japan with the perspective of a Westerner, which has some cowboy - like traits in terms of being an outsider in a strange land. Another is 'The Last Samurai' by Helen DeWitt. It tells a story that involves samurai values and also has a character with a somewhat cowboy - like determination.

Another is 'Taiko' by Eiji Yoshikawa as well. It features samurai in the context of the Sengoku period. It's full of political intrigue, battles, and the code of the samurai. The story weaves together many characters' fates and gives a great look into that era.

I would also suggest 'Cloud of Sparrows' by Takashi Matsuoka. It's set in 19th - century Japan and involves samurai. It has a great mix of adventure, romance, and historical details. The characters are well - developed and the story gives a good sense of what life was like for samurai during that period.

Also, 'Tales of the Otori' series by Lian Hearn is great. It has elements of magic along with the traditional samurai adventure. The main character has to navigate through a world full of political intrigue, battles, and the discovery of his own identity as a samurai - like figure.