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Jack Courtney Adventures #3

by Wilbur Smith, Christopher Wakling

Dobrodružství Jacka Courtneyho se uzavírá!

Ve třetím díle série se Jack s kamarády Amelií a Xanderem a opět i bratrancem Calebem vydává na dobrodružnou výpravu za polární kruh. Pod záminkou pomoci Jackově matce s environmentálním projektem chtějí naši hrdinové natočit film o aktivitách jedné podezřelé společnosti. Ta jim celou expedici ale zároveň financuje. Opravdu jí na srdci leží udržitelné zdroje energie, jak tvrdí? Nebo je v tom něco mnohem temnějšího? Zatímco Jack spolu s přáteli jezdí se psím spřežením, rybaří pod ledem, řídí sněžné skútry a spí ve vlastnoručně postaveném iglú, začínají je postihovat různé nehody včetně Calebova zápasu se smečkou vlků. A mohou vlastně důvěřovat Jonnymu Armfieldovi, který celý výlet zorganizoval?

Vydejte se s Jackem na nekonečné arktické pláně a zjistěte, co mají tajemní investoři vlastně za lubem.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade

296 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2022

About the author

Wilbur Smith was a prolific and bestselling South African novelist renowned for his sweeping adventure stories set against the backdrop of Africa’s dramatic landscapes and turbulent history. Born in 1933 in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he grew up in South Africa, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich environment and tales of African history. His early years were shaped by his experiences in the wilderness, which later became a defining element in his fiction.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.

Reviews

[Ryan Mizzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shockwave is a fantastic addition to the new wave of children’s cli-fi books. The novel from Wilbur Smith and co-author Chris Wakling, is the third in the Jack Courtney series, which focuses on environmental issues. The Courtney name will be familiar to fans of Wilbur Smith, and the Courtney saga of books is one of the longest running in publishing history.

Shockwave takes readers north to the Arctic, traversing both Finland and Norway. The protagonist Jack Courtney, along with his friends Amelia and Xander, convince Jack’s mum and her friend Jonny Armfield, to let the three children travel to the Arctic to produce an environmental film about climate change.

Johnny Armfield is providing his services to a new organisation who claim to want to expand into renewable energy and say they will be exploring the region for potential windfarm and nuclear energy opportunities. It’s this new organisation who offer to sponsor the film. However, nothing is as it initially seems. The company has a strong interest in gas fields, and there is a deadly plan afoot which the children must work to uncover. Should they fail, their lives and that of the mysterious Johnny Armfield will be at stake.

In Shockwave, we learn about the melting Arctic icepack, as well as the shift into renewable energy. Importantly, readers are exposed to the strong pushback of fossil fuel interests, who use various tactics, including greenwashing to pretend that they care and are switching to greener energy, while continuing to make enormous profits from fossil fuels.

It’s fantastic to see Wilbur Smith, on the front cover of a cli-fi book. Ultimately, it's books like these that could just change the world.

My full review of Shockwave can be read on my blog: www.ryanmizzen.com/book-review-shockw...

[K Ramaesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been used to a different style of Wilbur Smith books even when multiple co-authors penned, this book was a bit of a disappointment

[latifah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the plot, and I liked that it wasn’t too long of a book. However, there were some points that were slightly boring to me but maybe it was because this is a children’s book.

[Rich Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at the level of other WS books. Disappointing.

[Helma · Rating 4 out of 5]

At some point in the story I got bored but there was always something around the corner that made it more fun.

[Beverley Fowlston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Jack Courtney, lacked the suspense of the previous two.

[Giota]

«Κεραυνός» ή «χιονοστιβάδα»;
Όποια και αν είναι η επιλογή, το δίδυμο είναι το ίδιο, επιτυχημένη συνταγή για best seller: Wilbur Smith & Chris Wakling!
Δεν υπάρχει αμφιβολία ότι το βιβλίο είναι ένα καλό δώρο, ειδικά για αυτή την περίοδο των γιορτών. Οι μικροί μας φίλοι, όπως και εμείς οι μεγαλύτεροι, αγαπούν και εκείνοι ιστορίες γεμάτες περιπέτεια, δράση, ένταση και… κίνδυνο.
Ο αγαπημένος μας Wilbur Smith σε συνεργασία με τον Chris Wakling, μάς χάρισε δύο ενδιαφέροντα βιβλία εφηβικής και νεανικής λογοτεχνίας, που δεν έχουν να ζηλέψουν σε τίποτα τα αντίστοιχα ενηλίκων του συγγραφέως.
Και στα δύο πρωταγωνιστής είναι ο Τζακ Κόρτνεϊ, ένας 14χρονος που αγαπά τη φύση και έχει έντονες ανησυχίες. Έχει ζήσει όλη του τη ζωή στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, αλλά ακολουθεί τους γονείς του σε αποστολές για την προστασία του περιβάλλοντος.
Ο «Κεραυνός» (εκδόσεις Bell) εκτυλίσσεται στη Ζανζιβάρη, όπου ο Τζακ με την παρέα του θέλουν να προστατεύσουν τα κοράλλια και αναζητούν χαμένους θησαυρούς. Το σκάφος τους όμως καταλαμβάνεται από πειρατές και οι μικροί μας φίλοι προσπαθούν να αποδράσουν με κάθε τρόπο. Άραγε θα τα καταφέρουν;
Με πολύ ωραία γραφή, παρουσιάζονται στο βιβλίο θέματα όπως η εκμετάλλευση των παιδιών, ο πόλεμος, η πειρατεία, αλλά και η φιλία και τα υψηλά ιδανικά.
Η «Χιονοστιβάδα» (επίσης από τις εκδόσεις Bell) μάς ταξιδεύει στην Αρκτική, πάλι σε εξερευνητική αποστολή με τη μητέρα του, αυτή τη φορά στα χιόνια. Και εδώ όμως κάτι δεν πάει καλά.. Έχει όλη η ομάδα τον ίδιο στόχο, την προστασία του περιβάλλοντος; Ή κάποιοι το χρησιμοποιούν ως πρόσχημα για σκοτεινούς σκοπούς;
Πρόκειται για ένα αντιπροσωπευτικό βιβλίο της ανερχόμενης κατηγορίας cli-fi , καθώς περιγράφονται ενδιαφέροντες τρόποι για εξοικονόμηση ενέργειας, αλλά και μικρά πράγματα που μπορούμε να κάνουμε στην καθημερινότητα, αυξάνοντας την οικολογική μας συμπεριφορά και συνείδηση.
Εσείς ακόμα σκέφτεστε τί δώρο θα πάρετε στους μικρούς μας φίλους;

https://www.clevernews.gr/keraynos-i-...