Tripmaster Monkey

One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years • From the acclaimed author of The Woman Warrior and China Men comes a novel centered on the life of a Chinese-American hippie and aspiring playwright as he explores the complexities of identity, culture, and artistic ambition.

"A dazzling leap of imaginative sympathy [and] narrative magic."—The New York Times Book Review

Wittman Ah Sing is a young Chinese-American hippie in San Francisco during the late sixties. Named after America's quintessential poet, indomitably garrulous and free-spirited, Wittman is as American as James Dean. Yet he also bears a strking resemblance to Monkey, the trickster-saint of Chinese legend who helped bring the Buddhist scriptures from India.

Driven by his dream of writing and staging an epic production of interwoven Chinese novels and folktales, Wittman embarks on an extraordinary journey through an era as fantastic as his ambition. Tripmaster Monkey is by turns surreal; exuberantly charged with spectacle, violence, and Chinese "talk-story"; and wildly, bitterly funny. Kingston's masterful storytelling brings to life the struggles and triumphs of a young man caught between two worlds on a quest for self-discovery and cultural reconciliation.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs