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The Black Stallion #15
The Black Stallion and Flame
While flying to a race, Alec Ramsay and the Black’s plane crash-lands in the stormy Caribbean. Chance brings the Black to the hidden island home of the giant red stallion, Flame. Such a small island can only support one alpha male. But before the two can fight–a fight that can only result in the death of one–a new danger appears. Together, can the stallions defeat the deadly foe which threatens the lives of the entire herd of wild horses?
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
35 people are currently reading
1541 people want to read
About the author
Walter Farley
169 books1,035 followersWalter Farley's love for horses began when he was a small boy living in Syracuse, New York, and continued as he grew up in New York City, where his family moved. Young Walter never owned a horse. But unlike most city children, he had little trouble gaining firsthand experience with horses-his uncle was a professional horseman, and Walter spent much of his time at the stables with him.
"He wasn't the most successful trainer of race horses," Mr. Farley recalled, "and in a way I profited by it. He switched from runners to jumpers to show horses to trotters and pacers, then back to runners again. Consequently, I received a good background in different kinds of horse training and the people associated with each."
Walter Farley began to write his first book, THE BLACK STALLION, while he was a student at Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School and Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, and
finished it while he was an undergraduate at Columbia University. It was published by Random House when he was 26. He used his first advance to go traveling and after that hardly stopped longer than it took him to write another book. He traveled and lived in Mexico, Hawaii, the South Seas, most of the South American countries, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe.
The appearance of THE BLACK STALLION in 1941 was hailed by enthusiastic boys and girls all over the country. An avalanche of mail urged Mr. Farley to write more about Alec Ramsey and the Black. But World War II intervened. Mr. Farley went into the US Army, where he spent the next five years. Most of the time he was assigned to Yank, the army weekly magazine, and he was also trained in the Fourth Armored Division.
After the war Walter Farley resumed the adventures of Alec and the Black with THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS. This was followed by SON OF THE BLACK STALLION. Then Mr. Farley tried his hand at a story about a new boy, Steve Duncan, and a new horse, Flame, in THE ISLAND STALLION. Mr. Farley's readers were just as delighted with this book as his others.
Mr. Farley went on to write many more stories about the two stallions, and about other horses as well. Children of all ages have found Farley titles to enjoy, since many of the later stories were written for Mr. Farley's own children when they were too young to read his Stallion novels. And older readers and adults have been gripped by his fictionalized biography of America's greatest Thoroughbred, Man O'War. Walter Farley's titles reached a grand total of 34. The 21 Black Stallion and Island Stallion stories are still in print and selling steadily. His readers respond with passion, writing him thousands of letters and emails every year. In May 1949, the first Black Stallion Club was founded, in Kentucky. Mr. Farley designed a membership button for it; the button was in constant demand among his readers for years. The Black Stallion books were so popular in the late 1940s and '50s that they York Times annual list of best-selling children's books. Three nationwide Black Stallion contests were held. Walter Farley's books have been published abroad in more than 20 countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Israel, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaya, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada.
All his life Walter Farley remained a keen spectator of the racing scene, and he enjoyed nothing more than hobnobbing with horse trainers and other professional horsemen. It is thanks to these people that his books are so full of authentic details of raising and training horses. When not busy working or traveling, Mr. Farley liked to ride dressage and high school Lippizaner horses. He also sailed and sometimes raced his 35-foot auxiliary sloop "Circe."
Mr. Farley and his wife Rosemary, had four children: Pam, Alice, Steve, and Tim, whom they raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and in a beach house in Florida. In addit
"He wasn't the most successful trainer of race horses," Mr. Farley recalled, "and in a way I profited by it. He switched from runners to jumpers to show horses to trotters and pacers, then back to runners again. Consequently, I received a good background in different kinds of horse training and the people associated with each."
Walter Farley began to write his first book, THE BLACK STALLION, while he was a student at Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School and Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, and
finished it while he was an undergraduate at Columbia University. It was published by Random House when he was 26. He used his first advance to go traveling and after that hardly stopped longer than it took him to write another book. He traveled and lived in Mexico, Hawaii, the South Seas, most of the South American countries, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe.
The appearance of THE BLACK STALLION in 1941 was hailed by enthusiastic boys and girls all over the country. An avalanche of mail urged Mr. Farley to write more about Alec Ramsey and the Black. But World War II intervened. Mr. Farley went into the US Army, where he spent the next five years. Most of the time he was assigned to Yank, the army weekly magazine, and he was also trained in the Fourth Armored Division.
After the war Walter Farley resumed the adventures of Alec and the Black with THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS. This was followed by SON OF THE BLACK STALLION. Then Mr. Farley tried his hand at a story about a new boy, Steve Duncan, and a new horse, Flame, in THE ISLAND STALLION. Mr. Farley's readers were just as delighted with this book as his others.
Mr. Farley went on to write many more stories about the two stallions, and about other horses as well. Children of all ages have found Farley titles to enjoy, since many of the later stories were written for Mr. Farley's own children when they were too young to read his Stallion novels. And older readers and adults have been gripped by his fictionalized biography of America's greatest Thoroughbred, Man O'War. Walter Farley's titles reached a grand total of 34. The 21 Black Stallion and Island Stallion stories are still in print and selling steadily. His readers respond with passion, writing him thousands of letters and emails every year. In May 1949, the first Black Stallion Club was founded, in Kentucky. Mr. Farley designed a membership button for it; the button was in constant demand among his readers for years. The Black Stallion books were so popular in the late 1940s and '50s that they York Times annual list of best-selling children's books. Three nationwide Black Stallion contests were held. Walter Farley's books have been published abroad in more than 20 countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Israel, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaya, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada.
All his life Walter Farley remained a keen spectator of the racing scene, and he enjoyed nothing more than hobnobbing with horse trainers and other professional horsemen. It is thanks to these people that his books are so full of authentic details of raising and training horses. When not busy working or traveling, Mr. Farley liked to ride dressage and high school Lippizaner horses. He also sailed and sometimes raced his 35-foot auxiliary sloop "Circe."
Mr. Farley and his wife Rosemary, had four children: Pam, Alice, Steve, and Tim, whom they raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and in a beach house in Florida. In addit
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 13, 2012
And finally, what you’ve all been waiting for: THE BLACK AND FLAME MEET! [dramatic music]
So seriously, I’m beginning to think that Farley was very bored of writing these stories. He really seems to have gone off the deep end. At least there were no extraterrestrials this time. Instead, he incorporates a plane wreck, the idea that the Black would bypass multiple islands and instead find the secret hidden sea entrance of Flame’s island, a rabid vampire bat, and the mysterious beyond-comprehension bond between the Black and Alec.
So I am unable to discover the answer to a question that I have: if a non-rabid vampire bat bites an animal, the animal doesn’t usually die because the bat doesn’t drink enough of its blood. However, in Farley’s book, the animals bitten by the rabid vampire bat die immediately, but the bat lives for a long time with the disease. It seems to me as though the bitten animal shouldn’t die immediately, but rather should just contract rabies and die of that several days later. But since Farley is apparently no longer interested, at this point in the series, in making sense, we’ll let that pass.
The book was also a gyp because the Black and Flame never fight OR race, so we still have no idea which stallion is THE BEST.
There are only four books left in this series. I hope I survive.
So seriously, I’m beginning to think that Farley was very bored of writing these stories. He really seems to have gone off the deep end. At least there were no extraterrestrials this time. Instead, he incorporates a plane wreck, the idea that the Black would bypass multiple islands and instead find the secret hidden sea entrance of Flame’s island, a rabid vampire bat, and the mysterious beyond-comprehension bond between the Black and Alec.
So I am unable to discover the answer to a question that I have: if a non-rabid vampire bat bites an animal, the animal doesn’t usually die because the bat doesn’t drink enough of its blood. However, in Farley’s book, the animals bitten by the rabid vampire bat die immediately, but the bat lives for a long time with the disease. It seems to me as though the bitten animal shouldn’t die immediately, but rather should just contract rabies and die of that several days later. But since Farley is apparently no longer interested, at this point in the series, in making sense, we’ll let that pass.
The book was also a gyp because the Black and Flame never fight OR race, so we still have no idea which stallion is THE BEST.
There are only four books left in this series. I hope I survive.
February 16, 2022
Once again, Alec and The Black have to survive a plane crash and are separated afterwards. Alec and Henry manage to survive in a lifeboat with the plane crew, while The Black swims to safety and meets Flame on a remote island.
After reading several bad reviews of this book, I wasn't sure I would like it. The plane crash seemed a bit constructed, and the plane crash or shipwreck theme has also been used too many times in this series. Obviously The Black and Alec have more lives than a cat, any other human or horse would have died in the first book.
Once Alec and Black find themselves on different islands, the story picks up and becomes very interesting. I liked the idea of Black and Flame teaming up to kill the vampire bat, and that the connection between Alec and Black is so deep that Alec can literally feel that Black is still alive and on Azul.
I remember reading this book as a kid, and I would definitely read it again.
After reading several bad reviews of this book, I wasn't sure I would like it. The plane crash seemed a bit constructed, and the plane crash or shipwreck theme has also been used too many times in this series. Obviously The Black and Alec have more lives than a cat, any other human or horse would have died in the first book.
Once Alec and Black find themselves on different islands, the story picks up and becomes very interesting. I liked the idea of Black and Flame teaming up to kill the vampire bat, and that the connection between Alec and Black is so deep that Alec can literally feel that Black is still alive and on Azul.
I remember reading this book as a kid, and I would definitely read it again.
Read
March 9, 2020I have finished reading this book. In the end, the horses were happy and enjoyed their days in their new stables on the Island.
March 7, 2016
Still trying to decide exactly what I think about this book. It has the problem that a lot of the other Black Stallion books seem to have, which is sometimes I feel like the author is running out of ideas. In this case I was frustrated that he felt the need to once again have the Black and Alec involved in a plane crash, although I realize it was just a plot device to bring the Black together with the wild Flame. From there he introduces the conflicts in the story: Alec looking for his horse, a rabid vampire bat flying around, and the contest between the two stallions. The vampire bit was kind of interesting, and the author did actually delve into some biology of the bat, which I liked. The relationship between the stallions was pretty unrealistic, but I didn't really want to see them kill each other either, so I get why the author did it. Just kind of a weird tangent story for this series.
September 5, 2012
9/2012 Oh, man. I re-read this before I noticed it was on my never-again shelf. Seriously: never again! This one is crammed full of cliches and ridiculousness. Stay away.
8/2011 Didn't hold up so well, sadly. A rabid vampire bat? Rilly? *sigh* So many things wrong here, starting with the bat's behaviour. No, no, no!
All the Flame books disappointed me this go-round, and they won't be staying on the shelf any longer.
8/2011 Didn't hold up so well, sadly. A rabid vampire bat? Rilly? *sigh* So many things wrong here, starting with the bat's behaviour. No, no, no!
All the Flame books disappointed me this go-round, and they won't be staying on the shelf any longer.
July 30, 2011
Absolutely an excellent read. But I wonder if two stallions could be able to get along in certain situations like that. The fact that the Black can come back and forth from the wild and due to the fact that the love for Alec is so strong it touches me deeply.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2014
I recently found this book among my childhood keepsakes. In rereading it again 40+ years later It obviously doesn't hold up to the same level of entertainment it did as a young girl. An apparent favorite, if I had reviewed it then, I no doubt would have given it 5 stars.
December 18, 2019
I remember really liking it as a child, maybe around 4th grade or so. I loved the adventure of the hidden island and maze-like caves.
December 4, 2022
If you get a chance to read this, you definitely should. I recommend this book, and whoever may be reading this, I give you the opportunity of a lifetime to read the Black Stallion series, and be excited for this excellent piece of artwork.
Summary:
Alec, Henry, a groom, The Black and a couple mares are taking a plane over the Atlantic. In a bad hurricane, Alec, Henry and the pilots are in a raft going one direction, the Black and his mare going the other (the groom was not so lucky). Alec and the rest end up on Antago island, the Black and his mares find the way into Azul island. On Antago, livestock is being tortured by a rabid vampire bat. On Azul, The Black and Flame have some business to settle. Who wins the herd? But both of them have equal experience and the victor is not clear. On Antago, Alec and Henry join a veterinarian and a police officer in finding and shooting the vampire bat, but in the process, the. Bat flies away and makes a temporary home in a boat. Unfortunately for Alec and Henry this is the boat they are taking to look on nearby islands for the Black. The Bat gets out onto Azul island, and Flame and The Black must work together to save themselves and their mares. Will them and the mare be okay? And will Alec ever see the Black again?
Summary:
Alec, Henry, a groom, The Black and a couple mares are taking a plane over the Atlantic. In a bad hurricane, Alec, Henry and the pilots are in a raft going one direction, the Black and his mare going the other (the groom was not so lucky). Alec and the rest end up on Antago island, the Black and his mares find the way into Azul island. On Antago, livestock is being tortured by a rabid vampire bat. On Azul, The Black and Flame have some business to settle. Who wins the herd? But both of them have equal experience and the victor is not clear. On Antago, Alec and Henry join a veterinarian and a police officer in finding and shooting the vampire bat, but in the process, the. Bat flies away and makes a temporary home in a boat. Unfortunately for Alec and Henry this is the boat they are taking to look on nearby islands for the Black. The Bat gets out onto Azul island, and Flame and The Black must work together to save themselves and their mares. Will them and the mare be okay? And will Alec ever see the Black again?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
For not knowing this was a book in a fairly lengthy series, I went into this book new without any information on how it would be. I really enjoyed it for what it was - a fiction book tailored to the younger audience about mainly one horse and his boy more than the Black and Flame. It is just barely over 200 pages in 60's edition so I can see where it would have more interesting to see more of a fight or one at all between Flame and the Black, and also maybe more story plot in the book. However, I enjoyed this book for a quick read/cleanser book after another book I read. That and another crossed of my "25 in 2025" list and physical TBR list.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
September 11, 2023
2.5 stars. Ugh. Not good. The books featuring Flame and have been awful, and this is only slightly better than the aliens within a dream fiasco. It felt like Farley wrote with one hand on his typewriter and the other held out for his check - there's no real engagement from the author, and it shows.
This book still doesn't answer the "who's better" question, which was the stated premise of the book. The "villain" was laughable, and The Black's inner monologue was too much - it didn't ring authentic.
Cash grab. I don't recommend to any but the most devoted fans of the series.
This book still doesn't answer the "who's better" question, which was the stated premise of the book. The "villain" was laughable, and The Black's inner monologue was too much - it didn't ring authentic.
Cash grab. I don't recommend to any but the most devoted fans of the series.
March 5, 2022
In this book, Alec and the Black are involved in another plane crash. They both survive and find themselves washed up on the island that is home to Flame. I have to say that the Flame related books are okay, but certainly not my favorites. Black and Flame are clearly enemies, as wild intact stallions are, but before they can fight each other, they come together to protect the wild herd. Overall, the book was good, just not one of my favorites in the series.
August 6, 2024
Even with its very obvious attempts at building tension and fear (I don't think vampire bats can snarl, and also a rabid bat will be sluggish and only bite you if you attempt to handle it; they don't fly around crazily and bite you), this was miles better than the previous two books. It feels like Walter Farley was actually enjoying himself.
May 12, 2017
loved every book in this series....my best friend Laura and I couldn't read them fast enough
March 21, 2018
Loved this novel as a child.
February 18, 2019
This series needed 3 books and then done but it isn’t horrible.
March 15, 2020
So, this book is pretty good. Some times it can get a little boring but overall it is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
December 2, 2020
Another plane crash...but oh well the story was great.
Read
July 26, 2023SKW to BHW
July 6, 2024
Enjoyable read. One I missed in my child reading years. Read now with an adult mindset and still enjoyed a good if not simple story of a boy and his horse.
August 18, 2024
My favorite horses - together at last.
October 14, 2024
I loved the Black Stallion books as a kid and found this in a little free library and couldn't resist. Pretty much how I remembered. Quick read but still good
October 4, 2025
Love this series
August 17, 2014
I was never a fan of Flame's books. The first one was okay, but after that things kind of went far down hill. That said, I think of this one more as the Black's story than Flame's. Still, there comes a time when enough is enough and you have to say we've visited the island for the last time, otherwise the getting there feels a little forced. I don't have much trouble getting past that in this book, though. Even though it is a little contrived, the action moves along and we get to imagine the things happening on the pages with such clarity that it feels as if you are there. It is maybe not the best of the series, but it certainly isn't the worst.
Farley always writes good adventure stories. When picking up a book like this you have to remember it is meant to be an adventure, not a historically factual work, nor is it meant have a base in scientific fact. When you pick up a science fiction book about Star Trek, you don't do it and then spend your time grumbling about the fact that none of the space travel stuff makes sense. When you watch Back to the Future, you don't argue about time travel, you just enjoy the show. Likewise with the Black's books. If you really love the series, if you really love the old-time adventure style stories, you let yourself get caught up in the action, not the details. If you do find yourself preferring fact over fun, then maybe this particular adventure series isn't the thing for you. Most fans of Walter Farley and the Black will be certain to keep it in their library and relive it again and again.
Farley always writes good adventure stories. When picking up a book like this you have to remember it is meant to be an adventure, not a historically factual work, nor is it meant have a base in scientific fact. When you pick up a science fiction book about Star Trek, you don't do it and then spend your time grumbling about the fact that none of the space travel stuff makes sense. When you watch Back to the Future, you don't argue about time travel, you just enjoy the show. Likewise with the Black's books. If you really love the series, if you really love the old-time adventure style stories, you let yourself get caught up in the action, not the details. If you do find yourself preferring fact over fun, then maybe this particular adventure series isn't the thing for you. Most fans of Walter Farley and the Black will be certain to keep it in their library and relive it again and again.
August 23, 2015
Um, a vampire bat. And a plane crash into the ocean.
Some of this was just...not really...likely. I don't want to say it's implausible or that it couldn't have happened, because it could have, stranger things have happened, it's just highly unlikely. I wish he would have found a more...realistic, though I hesitate to use the term, way of bringing the two together for the first time.
I did believe Flame and the Black teaming up against the bat because even in animals, a common enemy is a uniting force. And I'm glad any , even if that made this book yet another pointless installment in the series. The worst parts of my imagination not being included was all that salvaged the book from otherwise being one star.
Some of this was just...not really...likely. I don't want to say it's implausible or that it couldn't have happened, because it could have, stranger things have happened, it's just highly unlikely. I wish he would have found a more...realistic, though I hesitate to use the term, way of bringing the two together for the first time.
I did believe Flame and the Black teaming up against the bat because even in animals, a common enemy is a uniting force. And I'm glad any , even if that made this book yet another pointless installment in the series. The worst parts of my imagination not being included was all that salvaged the book from otherwise being one star.
August 5, 2016
While I always love reading about The Black Stallion, my favorite times are those between him and his beloved boy Alec. The Black Stallion and Flame keeps them separated for most of the story, and so it's not as enjoyable for me as some of the other books in the series. Even so, I couldn't skip it in a reread of the series.
The Black Stallion and Alec Ramsey find themselves crashing into the sea once more. This time they are separated, and both fight for their lives in this sort-of-thrilling adventure. Again, not as much excitement as in the past because we've seen all this happen before. We've seen Flame fight another stallion, we've seen the Black and Alec shipwrecked, and we've seen them both fight against nature and man to be reunited.
The Black Stallion and Alec Ramsey find themselves crashing into the sea once more. This time they are separated, and both fight for their lives in this sort-of-thrilling adventure. Again, not as much excitement as in the past because we've seen all this happen before. We've seen Flame fight another stallion, we've seen the Black and Alec shipwrecked, and we've seen them both fight against nature and man to be reunited.
October 2, 2015
I suppose it was inevitable for Walter Farley to have his two most famous creations -- the Black Stallion and the Island Stallion -- meet in not one, but two books, where the stallions compete in the two things they are best at -- fighting and racing. Here is the fighting challenge book.
I absolutely adored this book as a kid, but as an adult I cannot help but wince at how Farley turned the series into a caricature of itself. Here's another plane crash, another stallion fight, yada yada. And, to top it all off, the two are brought together by none other than a vampire bat.
Those who have some of the old horse picture books from the now defunct Octopus Press will recognize the photo used as the basis for Ruth Sanderson's lovely cover painting.
I absolutely adored this book as a kid, but as an adult I cannot help but wince at how Farley turned the series into a caricature of itself. Here's another plane crash, another stallion fight, yada yada. And, to top it all off, the two are brought together by none other than a vampire bat.
Those who have some of the old horse picture books from the now defunct Octopus Press will recognize the photo used as the basis for Ruth Sanderson's lovely cover painting.
May 9, 2016
Loved the book when I was a child. Walter Farley had a way of speaking to me. His horse books have an odd romantic aspect to them that helped develop my appreciation for horses as a youngster. I'd recommend any Farley book to youngsters growing up. Today they speak to a different day and time. A better day and time, when things were simpler; society, ethics, and people's belief in a concept of right.
September 23, 2015
Walter Farley is a great author and makes the Black Stallion books great. The black has seen Flame before but now they meet and what a meet it is. This book kept me reading and guessing. It will captivate you and hold you till the end. Another great by Mr. Farley. Recommended for anyone who loves the Black Stallion series.
April 24, 2009
Ohh, I loved this book as an 11 year old. I even wrote an (in retrospect) extremely amatuerish fanfiction for it, back before fanfiction.net even existed... The idea of the Black and Flame squaring off in a fight tickled me...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews