Rating: 
Summary: Hmmmm....
Review: A fascinating peek into the mind of a racist historical revisionist. The author's mind, that is, rather than his characters (though his main characters certainly echo his sentiments).I found "The Sunbird" to be a fairly well-written, moderately entertaining archeological adventure read, along the lines of the "Indiana Jones" movies but set in South Africa. However, like other reviewers, I had to smile (and eventually frown) at the rather ridiculous overdrawing of the caricatures...er, characters. To sum it up simply, whilst pointing out Smith's hidden agenda - White people - talented, brilliant, rich and beautiful!
Blacks (Smith's term) - evil, traitorous, country-stealing terrorists. Having grown up in the deep south, but having lived in New York for the last 20 years, I began feeling a sick sense of Deja Vu within the first 40 pages of Smith's book. The deep, abiding, and often unconscious racial prejudice which permeated much of the south in the 50's and 60's (and still today to a degree) is evident all through this book. And, not only racial prejudice, but prejudices in general towards women and class structure are also in attendance. I love a good yarn, and Wilbur Smith seems certainly seems capable of spinning one. However, whenever I can detect an agenda behind the book driving its story, characters and dialogue, I tend to resist. Especially when the agenda is something as hateful as apartheid. I picked this book up on a whim in a supermarket, not knowing Smith's work or the fact that this book, while being printed in 2002, was written almost 30 years ago. Knowing his worldview and how it appears in his writing, I won't be reading another. Interesting side note - Regarding my earlier comment about "deep, abiding, and often unconscious racial prejudice" - many of my older friends and relatives still living in the south would probably comment upon reading this book, "What racism??" They were brought to mind while reading some of the other reviews of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Sunbird
Review: A page turner from the very beginning, another fine book by Wilbur Smith. You can feel the excitement and be swisked away to the times and places the novel is set in. Historical adventure at its best.
Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant story
Review: Although people may say that the story is predictable, that the characters are cardboard and as deep as a petri dish, sometimes we need it. If you want a little magical escapism with heroes, heroines, villains, love and war, then this is the book for you. I can guarantee you that it will spirit you away for the length of your read. Buy it, you will get your moneys worth.(I've read mine four times over!!)
Rating:
Summary: Sunbird Shines
Review: Back in the 70's, I saw a friend so engrossed in reading a book that he wouldn't take time to talk or even to eat. When he finished with Sunbird,he gave it to me and said, "Now you'll find out why I've been so preoccupied with this book." After only a few pages, I learned why Sunbird is one of those rare books that leaves your heading spinning. It can only be termed "remarkable." I have just introduced my husband to Wilbur Smith and he is currently engrossed in "Birds of Prey." I told him about "Sunbird" last night and now want to totally hook him on Wilbur Smith by giving him a copy of the best book I have ever read, "Sunbird."
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, but flawed in its intent.
Review: By far my favorite of Wilbur Smith's books. The plot is a bit fanciful; a man who is scorned professionally as an archaeologist and who carries a chip on his hunchbacked shoulder, his beautiful assistant, his wealthy friend and patron who protects him, bankrolls him, steals his girl. The characters are not exactly innovative and fit well within Smith's genre types. However what makes this book worth repeated reading is the device of using two separated times starring the basically the same characterizations and scenes. The picture of a great ancient civilisation, its norms and culture, its history and glory and its ultimate tragedy is painted in bold confident brush strokes on the canvas of Africa. The descriptions are vivid, the imagination bold. One experiences the vignettes in the lives of Huy Ben Amon and Tanith as mush as Benjamin Kazin and Sally Benator. One rejoices as their lives take shape and love blooms, one mourns as they stumble towards the final tragedy. But moving as it is, the book is fatally flawed by Smith's overt use of it as an allegory for the battle fought by the blacks against the whites of Zimbabwe and South Africa. His sympathies with the latter are evident as he mourns the destruction of a system that though evil, is "better than its proposed replacement". A book to marvel at and enjoy, but beware of his hidden agenda.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of W. Smith novels. A CLASSIC.
Review: Do not be put down by claims of racism writing (this is as silly as putting "Robinson Crusoe" on the same list).
The plot is magnificent and the pace tremendous, Up there with Verne, Salgari and all other masters of adventure.
A book to read over and over.
Rating:
Summary: I'm so glad they have reprinted this book!
Review: I am a huge Wilbur Smith fan. "River God" is the best novel I have ever read. Be sure you read "River God" before you read "Seventh Scroll". If you like "River God" and "Seventh Scroll" you will also love "The Sunbird". It is very similar in theme and is its own sequel in the fashion of "River God" and "Seventh Scroll". If you have read all the Wilbur Smith books like I have, you'll yearn for more, but it takes him years to come up with a new book these days. Now that many of his books are being reprinted, I am finding lots of fellow admirers of Mr. Smith. When you just can't wait for Wilbur to come up with another one, you might look at "Churchill's Gold" by James Follett. It is very similar in style and quality to most of the Courtney series.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best in my collection
Review: I have a 1st edition of this book and have read it more than 10 times since the 70's. I wish I could articulate the impact this book has on me each time I read it - perhaps after the next reading! By the way- the cover on the current reprint, although taken from one of the events in the book, totally misrepresents the story line to any potential reader.
Rating:
Summary: Must read it again
Review: I have read this book twice only. My daughter has just reached the age where it would be appropriate for her and, while feeding her hunger for books, I remembered how good this book is. The second time I read it in a single sitting following a party where I didn't drink and I was waiting for everyone else to wake up. They woke, got on with the day and left me there reading. It is that gripping. It's a big book by the way, must be 8 hours or so of continuous reading. I loved the story device of having the same characters inhabit different bodies through the two parallel stories and hated finishing it. So now I'm going to buy another copy and read it again.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest story I have ever read in my life
Review: I have read thousands upon thousands of books in my lifetime, but never have I read such a magnificent story as this in all of my 36 years. I first picked up this book at the age of 19, and have read it probably half a dozen more times since then. It is the only book that I have read more than once. Probably geared toward males in general, and not for the weak of heart or stomach. If you don't enjoy this book, you're probably either partially illiterate, lacking honor, courage or some other desirable personality trait. The Croatian reviewer below probably read a bad translation of the book, or has been mentally affected by the recent ethnic conflicts in his country.
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