Prisoners of the Sun (The Adventures of Tintin)

Rating:
Summary: The conclusion of what may be the greatest Tintin adventure
Review: "Prisoners of the Sun" concludes the epic Tintin adventure that begins in "The Seven Crystal Balls." The Sanders-Hardiman Ethnographic Expedition had returned from a trip to Peru and Bolivia exploring Inca burial chambers when all seven members fell into comas induced by mysterious crystal balls. Tintin is already involved in the mystery when Professor Calculus is kidnapped and put aboard a steamer bound for Peru. With Snowy and Captain Haddock in tow, Tintin arrives in South America ready to rescue his friend and solve the mystery of the curse of the Incas. This involves a journey through the Andes Mountains and the jungles of the rain forest. There is seriousness to what happens in "The Seven Crystal Balls" and "Prisoners of the Sun" that reflects a significant turning point in Hergé's work. The point that Europeans need to respect the cultures of other peoples is not only explicitly articulated by Tintin in these volumes, but is reinforced by the attention to details he puts into Tintin's visit to foreign lands. The ability of Hergé to grow as a storyteller over the course of his distinguished career is impressive and these stories deserve the accolades they have received and the affection with which they have been embraced by generations of readers. I have always liked his foray into science fiction with the two-part Moon story, but Hergé never did anything any better than this Incan epic. "Prisoners of the Sun" also has one of Hergé's best running gags: no, not the perpetual confrontations between Captain Haddock and the llamas, but the attempt by the Thom(p)sons to use dowsing to help solve the case.

Rating:
Summary: DEFINETLY THE VERY BEST TINTIN BOOK
Review: I am a huge Tintin fanatic and have read just about every book. This book stands out because it is a great follow-up to the seven crystal balls that has myth, adventuring, danger, and "BLISTERING BARNICALS," Capitan Haddock the hilarious friend of Tintin. A five star book for sure!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful the first time...
Review: The first time I read this one (when I was about ten) I absolutely LOVED it - the way the adventure overtakes Tintin & Haddock so quickly, the Peruvian roads, the mystery and 'hiddeness'of the Inca temple, and the way it reached civilization only in rumours and whispers - but now I've found I've read it so much that the feelings have faded a bit; so, don't overdo it!