Rating: 
Summary: wasnt too impressed
Review: The story has good action and likeable characters but some details bothered me. Like when Taita, the protagonist, disguised himself as a priest, he wore a wig, when in fact, Egyptian priests went completely bald. The number of blond and green eyed characters didnt really convince me either, not in ancient egypt. And another thing that startled me was that the Ethiopian king, was referred to as 'fair skinned'. Also, according to Smith, the Ethiopians spoke Ge'ez when in reality that language hasnt been recorded at the time. And contrary to what was written here, iron wasnt introduced by the Ethiopians, it was introduced by the Hittites about a thousand years later than the setting of 'River God.' i would have enjoyed the book if it was a bit more accurate.
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Summary: One of My All Time Favorites
Review: Just wanted to be one more person to give this book a great rating.Wilbur wrote an amazingly intricate book with everything for everyone - a love story, war, intrigue, history and an epic that covers a huge expanse of time. My favorite was introduction of the wheel into society when the Hysocks invaded Egypt. You can't help but like Taita since his heart and loyalty is to those you like best in the story!
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Summary: Best Book Written
Review: This was one of the best books I've read in 10 years. It was almost as if I were apart of the story. Could hardly put the book down. Highly recommemded. Don't know if you could find a better book on the market today.
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Summary: Absolutley astonishing, the best book I've ever read!
Review: So some people may quibble that the historical facts are inacurate, but when the book is as stirring and as emotional as this who cares! It centres around three characters Taita; the eunuch slave with a notourious reputation and a heart of gold, Tanus; the mighty warrior hero and Lostris the Princes and, what you could call the "star" of the novel. Smith takes us on a journey through Egypt; which are depicted with such astonishing detail that after a while the setting almost surrounds you and thus are able to feel every heat wave and hear every chariot or dessert bird that flows from the fictional surroundings. From here Taita narrates you through his life and makes you feel for everything he describes about. Never has there been such a monumental character invented; you feel and breath for him, you eventually will feel as you have known him all of his life...which you have! It would take an eternity for me to say to you how magnificent each sentance and paragraph is, so I'll just say this: You will end up knowing the characters so well that you'll feel everything they do. You get to know the land so well that you will be emersed in the atmosphere. And because of this, you will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster of Godzilla like proportians. It has one of the most emotional scenes I have ever read. But if it wasn't as well written or as brilliantly portrayed as this IS than you would never feel such kind of emotion. So I have to say a massive thumbs up to Wilbur Smith for such an awe inspireing novel and two thumbs up for anyone who has the sense to take the time out to read one of the best books ever written!
Rating:
Summary: A Rollicking Good Read
Review: Wilbur Smith is my favourite author, and though i do not take the liberty of proclaiming myself as being an authority on the topic, I must say that he is certainly a very competent and interesting author. Completely in control of his story, the characters locales and denouements, Smith has written a racy read dated three thousand years in history. This is exactly the kind of novel that bibligraphs and book afficianado's would love to read and more importantly own as part of a collection. Smith transports you into a world of Egyptian pharoes, demure and inviting princesses, court eunuchs, mighty charioteers and mightier princes. The landscape is sartorially masculine, evoking poetic descriptions of the Egyptian countryside, chivalrious generals their awed subjects. The central plot revolves around the life of an egyptian brave called Tanus and his bid for the kingdom of Egypt. Essentially written in the style of a saga, the book seeks to explore relationships between rulers and the ruled, Kings and their whims, warring tribes and their expeditions to annex territory. In a clamouring, almost teneable manner, the author tries to relate todays modernity - the struggles at the food stand, the fights for power, the skirmishes for territory, the coups and the sabotages - to a story set in an ancient time and a forgotten locale. It is essentially a story on the nature of man - his desire to excel, the laudation of his achievements, the consequent jealousy and envy, the intrigue and finally an exploration into the mind of the treachorous saboteur. A wonderfully structured book, this story os neither part of the Courtney family saga nor that of the Ballantynes. It is a standalone and regular smith readers need not worry about continuity and other such attendant wories of a sequel. Memorable
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Summary: A totally compelling read... :)
Review: Simply amazing. The history is, however, put off. The background info at the end was shocking! Simply, it was giving me goosebumps! OI! I must say you should read this definatly!
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Summary: great transcription of the scrolls excavated on nile valley
Review: This is ubdoubdtely the greatest story on the ancient egypt. For the readers who found taita the narrator too pompous, it can only be said taita's nobility nobility, self-abnegation and sacrifice far too surpass his occassional venture into self-praise. If the scrolls are true, then taita's role in bringing the glory back to a vanquished egypt is the most significant - and he continues to serve three generations of the ancient egypt as a slave. I have read most of wilbur smith's book. He is simply an authority on africa. This book has raised my opinion of wilbur smith if that were possible. One suggestion: after u finish reading the book. please do read the Author's Note on pages 661-662.
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Summary: Wilbur Smith sure knows how to tell a story!
Review: Within weeks of each other, two people who know of my eclectic interests gave me this book. Neither of them knew that although Wilbur Smith was once (20 years ago) my favourite author, I'd long gone off him (too many dead elephants). For many years, I've affectionately remembered one of his early books, "The Sunbird", as being my favourite of his works. I'm loathe to re-read it, as his story-telling skills have improved over the years, something I realised when desperate for something to read, I grabbed one of the copies from where they sat on my shelves, side by side. It must be remembered that Wilbur Smith is a writer of adventure stories. He is not, and doesn't pretend to be, a historian. That being said, he's masterly drawn from history and complemented it with his vivid imagination in this adventure set in ancient Egypt. The "first person" in this story is Taita, perhaps one of the most capable and arrogant central characters ever developed. Taita was a slave, but that was really in name only - his talents and abilities allowed him to enjoy a large degree of freedom. A stunningly handsome man, among his many skills Taita was a poet, painter, architect, doctor, politician, Svengali. However, first and always foremost, Taita was a eunuch. Taita's incredible abilities and achievements were tempered by the sad fact he could never gain the prize he desired most, the reciprocation of his adoration for Lostris, his mistress. Ironically, his position was only possible because because of his lack of manly parts. The opulent life of the ancient Egyptian nobility and royalty is vividly brought to life - you can almost smell it on the pages. Many witers have achieved that. What sets "River God" apart, however, is when the story takes a turn with the Hyksos invasion, where the Egyptians, their military might long unchallenged, met more than their match. The Hyksos, with their horses and chariots, proved to be an opponent the Eqyptians had no idea how to battle - the Egyptians didn't even have the wheel at that stage. To buy time, they employed that age-old military strategy - retreat. And what a retreat! We all know the Nile is one of the Earth's mightiest rivers, but most of us have never seen it, and perhaps don't realize the true magnitude of the incredible path it has cut through Africa on it's never-ending journey to the Mediterranean. It's almost impossible to imagine the scale of the retreat, the thousands upon thousands of soldiers, slaves and common people who accompanied the court in an effort to find a safe place to use as a platform for a counter-attack. The retreating Egyptians had to drag all their stuff (they were no light packers!) and themselves up the Nile's many cataracts, where the sheer cliffs and savage terrain denied them access to the banks. Fortunately, among his many skills, Taita was also an engineer, coming up with masterly ways to negotiate the river, even as he was designing a better chariot. Horses stolen from the Hyksos were bred and trained, soldiers learned to ride, drive chariots, and learned a completely different way to wage war. Then in the relative safety of the grasslands of the upper reaches of the Nile, they met new and different challenges, bitter losses and desperate setbacks. Thank goodness Taita was always there to save the day. Other authors have come up with these larger than life characters, brimming with unbelievable abilities and incredible talents (Gary Jennings' memorable Thorn, central character in "Raptor" comes immediately to mind) - sort of historical super-heroes. Looking at the evidence that has been left by ancient civilisations, I reckon they must have had at least some people of extraordinary talent and abilities, but the magnitude of Taita's skills, all wrapped up in one man, is pretty hard to accept. Some people cannot look past that, and the historical inaccuracies that this type of fiction engenders. However, I would urge you to suspend disbelief and enjoy this for what it was always intended to be - a jolly good, well written, completely absorbing adventure story, set on a grand scale, when life on Earth was so different to ours. When you've finished, run out and get "The Seventh Scroll" to find out how Taita's efforts protected his secrets for thousands of years; another adventure of mammoth proportions.
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Summary: An Egyptian Masterpiece
Review: River God is a marvelous story of ancient Egypt whichencompasses perhaps a thirty year period, approximately 4000 years ago. The central character is very unusual; a eunuch slave, who narrates this first-person novel. It is his story, and also that of the lovers; Lostris, Queen of Egypt and Regent for her son; and Tanus, a magnificent warrior. It is also the story of Egypt when this nation was divided into upper and lower Egypt, with separate rulers. Although fictional license always prompts departures from precise facts, Smith does keep his story within general historical facts and dates; and the picture he paints of Egyptian life is mesmerizing and unforgettable. As with any first-person tale, it plods in places, but the irrepressible slave Taita sweeps you along with his magnificent tale, and although it's not my favorite Wilbur Smith novel, Taita is certainly his most unforgettable and beloved character. Smith departs from the norm in several respects in this bold novel. He explores the depths of total love; irrespective of sex and lust and manhood. His character is more of a "man" in his thoughts and deeds and his love for his mistress than any other hero we might imagine. He is a remarkable character. He is a true genius, and his preoccupation with his own qualities is done superbly and with humor; as an engaging example of how those who write about their own place in history hate to ignore their own special values. This book has everything. The introduction of the wheel to ancient Egypt, and its importance in battle and life. Slavery and brutality; and the mindset of a people so civilized but so ancient in their beliefs and knowledge. Taita is such a magnificent character that his presence continues in the present-day sequel to this book, The Seventh Scroll. This book thrills you and makes you sad; again and again, tells a story which is unforgettable; told by a man who is equally so. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Rating: 
Summary: Great except for Taita.
Review: This is the first book I have read by Wilbur Smith. I loved the backdrop of ancient Egypt and most of the characters were beautifully portared. However, the story teller and main character Taita drove me crazy! He says that he is the best artist, doctor, architect, inventor, etc, etc that was ever seen in the Egypt. Give me a break. Smith has a great talent with words and his battle scenes are spectacular. If you are interested in historical fiction about ancient Egypt then read this book. If stories were the main character are so high on themselves bother you than don't read this book.
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