Bridge of Birds (The "Master Li" and "Number Ten Ox" books. Book 1) By Barry Hughart

All the children in the village of Ku-fu between the ages of eight and thirteen are dying of plague. Number Ten Ox is sent armed with five thousand copper cash to find a wise man to explain how a plague can count. He is refused by all the wise men with signs of a wide unblinking eye for not having anywhere near enough money. Just as he is about to give up he finds a drunken wise man under the sign of a half-closed eye. Just as he is about to leave he sees on the wall a flower diploma that signified that seventy-eight years ago the wise man had been awarded first place among all the scholars in china. The wise man when awoken agrees to help his surname s Li and his personal name is Kao and there is a slight flaw in his character. As Master Li and Number Ten Ox go through madcap adventures can they find the cure in time to save the children and can they solve a deeper thousand-year-old mystery?

This book was really funny with lots of fantastic characters none better then the criminally inclined wise man master Li. I think my favourite part was when they con the Magnet Merchant and describe the preparation of none fatal Porcupine. I think this book would appeal to Terry Pratchett fans, as the humour is of a similar tone especially books like Interesting times and Thief of Time.