Search Worlds Without End

As with other Kai Lung novels, the main plot serves primarily as a vehicle for the presentation of the gem-like, aphorism-laden stories told by the protagonist Kai Lung, an itinerant story-teller of ancient China. In Kai Lung's Golden Hours he is brought before the court of the Mandarin Shan Tien on charges of treason by the Mandarin's confidential agent Ming-shu. In a unique defense, Kai Lung recites his beguiling tales to the Mandarin, successfully postponing his conviction time after time until he is finally set free. In the process he attains the love and hand of the maiden Hwa-Mei.

Contents:

• ix - About Kai Lung's Golden Hours and Ernest Bramah: Teller-of-Tales - essay by Lin Carter
• 1 - The Encountering of Six Within a Wood - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 9 - The Inexorable Justice of the Mandarin Shan Tien - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 13 - The Story of Wong Ts'in and the Willow Plate Embellishment - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 32 - The Degraded Persistence of the Effete Ming-shu - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 36 - The Story of Ning, the Captive God, and the Dreams That Mark His Race - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 60 - The Inopportune Behaviour of the Covetous Li-loe - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 61 - The Story of Wong Pao and the Minstrel - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - short story
• 69 - The Timely Intervention of the Mandarin Shan Tien's Lucky Day - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 72 - The Story of Lao Ting and the Luminous Insect - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 88 - The High-Minded Strategy of the Amiable Hwa-mei - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 92 - The Story of Weng Cho; or, The One Devoid of Name - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - short story
• 105 - Not Concerned with Any Particular Attribute of Those Who Are Involved - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 108 - The Story of Wang Ho and the Burial Robe - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 125 - The Timely Disputation Among Those of an Inner Chamber of Yu-ping - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 129 - The Story of Chang Tao, Melodious Vision and the Dragon - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 153 - The Propitious Dissension Between Two Whose General Attributes Have Already Been Sufficiently Described - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 156 - The Story of Yuen Yan, of the Barber Chou-hu, and of His Wife Tsae-che - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 179 - The Incredible Obtuseness of Those Who Had Opposed the Virtuous Kai Lung - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 183 - The Story of Hien and the Chief Examiner - [Kai Lung] - (1922) - novelette
• 208 - Of Which It Is Written: "In Shallow Water Dragons Become the Laughing-Stock of Shrimps" - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story
• 214 - The Story of the Loyalty of Ten-teh, the Fisherman - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - novelette
• 214 - The Out-Passing Into a State of Assured Felicity of the Much-Enduring Two with Whom These Printed Leaves Have Chiefly Been Concerned - [Kai Lung] - (1900) - short story

The book is broken up into 3 sections, "The Protecting Ancestors", "The Great Sky Lantern" and "The Bringer of Good News". Each section contains linked stories.

In the first, Kai Lung's village has been pillaged by the evil Ming Shu, and not only have his house and garden been destroyed, his wife has also been taken away. It is left to the story-teller's wits to think of a plan to defeat Ming Shu, and reclaim his property.

In the second part, Kai Lung overhears a neighbor using an improper analogy, and decides to educate him by providing an example of a properly composed piece of prose.

In the third part, Kai Lung receives the distinction of being allowed to practise his craft before any official within three and a half li of his residence, provided that official is not engaged in important business at the time, and is authorized to style himself as "Literary Instructor to the Shades of Female Ancestors". He then finds a suitable occasion to launch into one of his narratives.