Rating:  Summary: A rousing adventure tale set in WWI Africa Review: A terrific adventure novel set in the first dark days of WWI. Great characters, some nasty Germans, sharp dialog and an exciting raid on a German warship that was based on actual hair-raising events. Darn good film with Lee Marvin, check it out.
Rating:  Summary: Marvelous characterizations. Review: Flynn O'Flynn is an American that has been living for years as a poacher in the veldts of East Africa. Sabastian Oldsmith is a 22 year old lad from England out to make is fortune in Australia, who ends up partnered with O'flynn in another of his money making schemes, against the lands of the German Kaiser. With the initiation of WW II the 'hostilities' between the Germans and O'Flynn is instantly escalated to new deadly levels, and with the murder of Olsmith's new baby daughter, O'Flynn's granddaughter, Germany has started a 'personal' war the results of which it can't conceive. A war of revenge that could be disastrous for the German Navy...
Rating:  Summary: Marvelous characterizations. Review: Flynn O'Flynn is an American that has been living for years as a poacher in the veldts of East Africa. Sabastian Oldsmith is a 22 year old lad from England out to make is fortune in Australia, who ends up partnered with O'flynn in another of his money making schemes, against the lands of the German Kaiser. With the initiation of WW II the 'hostilities' between the Germans and O'Flynn is instantly escalated to new deadly levels, and with the murder of Olsmith's new baby daughter, O'Flynn's granddaughter, Germany has started a 'personal' war the results of which it can't conceive. A war of revenge that could be disastrous for the German Navy...
Rating:  Summary: The only Wilbur Smith book I will never read again. Review: I have read Wilbur Smith's books for years and have (almost always) enjoyed them greatly, even tremendously ("The Sunbird"). However, this book is the exception; Mr. Smith must have written it during a very difficult time in his life because it is almost incredibly depressing in that at the end EVERYBODY DIES! I have also long been interested in the Great War in East Africa, and I thus had high hopes for this book. But... it was just too dark & depressing. Although other books have had dark & depressing elements (and even endings), none has been so downbeat. I have kept it just to remind me that even Wilbur Smith has a klinker to his credit.
Rating:  Summary: The only Wilbur Smith book I will never read again. Review: I have read Wilbur Smith's books for years and have (almost always) enjoyed them greatly, even tremendously ("The Sunbird"). However, this book is the exception; Mr. Smith must have written it during a very difficult time in his life because it is almost incredibly depressing in that at the end EVERYBODY DIES! I have also long been interested in the Great War in East Africa, and I thus had high hopes for this book. But... it was just too dark & depressing. Although other books have had dark & depressing elements (and even endings), none has been so downbeat. I have kept it just to remind me that even Wilbur Smith has a klinker to his credit.
Rating:  Summary: Well wasn't this a disappointment!!!!!! Review: I've only read a couple of Wilbur A Smith's book, but have enjoyed them. I realize he will use violence and heartbreak to help the story to fit within the historical period and regional area he's writing about. However this book went way over the top. I could only imagine he must have been in a lousy mood when he wrote the ending.The book starts off quite well introducing us to the characters. Although one of the main characters, O'Flynn, has your typical "Smith" qualities, he is also rather a cad. Brave for one instace cowardly in another. Always looking out only himself no matter who it hurts whether it's his daughter, his partner Sebastian, or his faithful companion Mohammed. The adventure in the book is exciting and does keep you on the edge of your seat. Part II is about rage and revenge, with each character tetering on madness. The pace continues to build to an explosive climax. Sounds I liked the book, right? Well I did until the end. There is no satisfaction here. Yes I know Smith tends to kill off a hero or two, however usually the book ends with a somewhat happy, or at least normal, ending. Not here. Quite simply: EVERYBODY DIES. The good, the bad, and even the ugly. The villian doesn't even die horribly. He just vanishes. You sit reading the last couple of pages feeling depressed and empty. I bought this book in London to read on a flight back to Los Angeles. I just left it on the plane. Take my advice. Smith has so many better books than this. If you're looking for something along this line, try his book "Cry Wolf". It's just as exciting and also has a clever and satisfying ending.
Rating:  Summary: They did'nt live happily ever after in this one:) Review: If your tired of all the unrealistic 'and they lived happily ever after' crap, this is it. This book is a spliff laced with hard reality. O'Flynn is a drunk Irish American Elephant hunter living in Mozambique, who crosses paths with the ruthless Askari in German Tanzania. This book is like a reminder that in life hapiness is always short lived. And he sets it up so well! If this is the first Wilbur Smith book you're gonna read, your not wasting your time.I give this book 3 stars just because I'm comparing it to other Smith books I've read. O.k, i'ts not his best, but It's still good. Get this experience under your belts kids, you won't regret it.
Rating:  Summary: Infanticide and assorted gore (again) Review: Smith is sick. "The Angeles Weep" contains a disgusting murder of an unborn fetus, and this book has the immolation of an infant girl. There is the usual assortment of other blood and gore, of African animals, indigenous people, and whites. It may be historically accurate, but it isn't my thing. I have helped future possible readers of this book by destroying it. Once again, I emphasize: this author needs professional help dealing with his bloodlust.
Rating:  Summary: Bloody Funny Book Review: This work is another brilliant action/adventure story from Wilbur Smith. While it did have Mr. Smith's typical assortment of blood and violence, what made it stand out so much to me was O'Flynn's hilarious antics.
Rating:  Summary: Not for the Infantile and Imbecile !!! Review: Unarguably, this book is yet an other one of Mr.Smith's Captivating Best ! If you lack the flair for adventure,this book is definitely not for you.This is in retaliation to 'someone' who openly derogated Mr. Smith and his works.Although,some of his works may reflect ruthless gore and lots of violence, the fact is that one being able to imajine and be involved deeply with the scenes and characters as described by him only proves how vivid and clear his descriptions are.When it comes to 'describing',Wilbur Smith is invincible.It requires deeper imajination and reading in between the lines than just racing through plain text to enjoy Mr.Smith's works.'Thou shalt not blameth,if thou not understandeth. I Would reverse the allegations on Smith and would confidently say that you'll never get bored of any book by Wilbur Smith!
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