Making Sense of the Flying Dagger Series
There was a period of about a decade, between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s, when Gu Long wrote a number of separate but inter-connected novels that featured the well-known Flying Dagger of Little Li. Since the time-line featured in the stories is different from the chronological order in which they were written, readers often wonder when and how they should begin reading these works. Here is a guide...
1.
多情剑客无情剑 (Duo1 Qing2 Jian4 Ke4 Wu2 Qing2 Jian4)
The First Dagger of the Wind and the Cloud (1970)
a.k.a. Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword
The story of Li Xunhuan (李寻欢).
** Check it out! **
2.
边城浪子 (Bian1 Cheng2 Lang4 Zi3)
Bordertown Wanderer (1976)
The story of Ye Kai (叶开), Li Xunhuan's disciple, and Fu Hongxue (傅红雪).
** Check it out! **
3.
九月鹰飞 (Jiu3 Yue4 Ying1 Fei1)
Flying Eagle in the Ninth Month (1974)
More about Ye Kai, post-Bordertown.
** Check it out! **
4.
天涯明月刀 (Tian1 Ya2 Ming2 Yue4 Dao1)
Horizon, Bright Moon, Sabre (1975)
More about Fu Hongxue, post-Bordertown.
** Check it out! **
5.
飞刀, 又见飞刀 (Fei1 Dao1 You4 Jian4 Fei1 Dao1)
The Flying Dagger Again (1977)
About the descendants of Li Xunhuan and his nemesis, Shangguan Jinhong.
With thanks to TigerWong.
References:
www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=14171
www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=14441
www.spcnet.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=364497&postcount=2