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The Dark of the Sun
Bruce Curry is the leader of a mercenary band with the dubious support of three white officers. His mission is to relieve a mining town cut off by the fighting and to retrieve a priceless consignment of diamonds. Ranged against his ill-disciplined unit are bandits, guerillas and hostile tribes that infest the land. But there is another, even deadlier enemy - one of his own men...
267 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
368 people are currently reading
1453 people want to read
About the author
Wilbur Smith
320 books4,396 followersWilbur 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
June 3, 2015
‘The Dark of the Sun’ from Wilbur Smith is an action adventure novel, which is tremendously fast paced but extremely brutal and violent in narration.
Set against the backdrop of Baluba Rebellion, ‘The Dark of the Sun’ narrates the nightmarish journey of a trainload of mercenaries, led by the hero ‘Bruce Curry’, through the province of Katanga during the chaotic days of the Congo Crisis. Armed with a mission to liberate ‘Port Reprieve’ - a diamond-mining town inhabited with women and children - cut off by the fighting and retrieve a priceless consignment of diamonds, ‘Bruce Curry’ and his band of mercenaries travel through extremely difficult terrain and hostile territories plagued by a multitude of opposition in the form of rebels, bandits and UN peacekeeping forces.
All around ‘Port Reprieve’ the Congolese rebels and numerous bands of heavily armed local militia are leaving a massive trail of murder, pillage and rape so that Curry and his men are hard pressed for time in their mission. Braving harsh jungles teeming with Baluba rebels with their deadly arrows, marauding bandit forces with modern assault weapons and UN fighter planes, Curry and his band of mercenaries reach ‘Port Reprive’. They load the civilians and diamonds on the train and try to travel back to the safety of Katanga with the hostiles hot on their heels. What follows is a gripping tale of vicious action with brutal fights against the hostiles, betrayal among his band and a sub plot of romance, which can keep the reader glued to the book.
The novel is extremely fast paced and the number of twists and turns in the plot helps it to keep a constant level of excitement with the reader. The grim atmosphere with a sense of impending danger in which Wilbur Smith shrouds the narrative sits well with the overall mood of the novel. It should be noted that the action sequences in this novel are packed with gruesome graphic details of aggression and savagery - of a nature that can be quite upsetting, which may not be suitable for a reader who is squeamish about violence. The racist dialogs and actions by the characters which reflect the colonial time-frame of this novel also can seriously offend some readers. If as a reader, you are only looking for a well-knit tale of brutal, gritty action with doses of romance and betrayal then ‘The Dark of the Sun’ won’t disappoint you.
For those who love extremely violent thriller movies, the 1968 movie adaptation of ‘The Dark of the Sun’ by Jack Cardiff will be a flick worth watching.
Set against the backdrop of Baluba Rebellion, ‘The Dark of the Sun’ narrates the nightmarish journey of a trainload of mercenaries, led by the hero ‘Bruce Curry’, through the province of Katanga during the chaotic days of the Congo Crisis. Armed with a mission to liberate ‘Port Reprieve’ - a diamond-mining town inhabited with women and children - cut off by the fighting and retrieve a priceless consignment of diamonds, ‘Bruce Curry’ and his band of mercenaries travel through extremely difficult terrain and hostile territories plagued by a multitude of opposition in the form of rebels, bandits and UN peacekeeping forces.
All around ‘Port Reprieve’ the Congolese rebels and numerous bands of heavily armed local militia are leaving a massive trail of murder, pillage and rape so that Curry and his men are hard pressed for time in their mission. Braving harsh jungles teeming with Baluba rebels with their deadly arrows, marauding bandit forces with modern assault weapons and UN fighter planes, Curry and his band of mercenaries reach ‘Port Reprive’. They load the civilians and diamonds on the train and try to travel back to the safety of Katanga with the hostiles hot on their heels. What follows is a gripping tale of vicious action with brutal fights against the hostiles, betrayal among his band and a sub plot of romance, which can keep the reader glued to the book.
The novel is extremely fast paced and the number of twists and turns in the plot helps it to keep a constant level of excitement with the reader. The grim atmosphere with a sense of impending danger in which Wilbur Smith shrouds the narrative sits well with the overall mood of the novel. It should be noted that the action sequences in this novel are packed with gruesome graphic details of aggression and savagery - of a nature that can be quite upsetting, which may not be suitable for a reader who is squeamish about violence. The racist dialogs and actions by the characters which reflect the colonial time-frame of this novel also can seriously offend some readers. If as a reader, you are only looking for a well-knit tale of brutal, gritty action with doses of romance and betrayal then ‘The Dark of the Sun’ won’t disappoint you.
For those who love extremely violent thriller movies, the 1968 movie adaptation of ‘The Dark of the Sun’ by Jack Cardiff will be a flick worth watching.
October 28, 2019
Wilbur Smith's second novel is set in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo during a tumultuous time in it's history- the short-lived government of Moishe Tshome in 1963 and the Baluba Rebellion. Bruce Curry and his group of mercenaries are hired by President Tshome to head to Port Reprieve and bring out the people living there and retrieve millions of $ in diamonds. It is a roller-coaster and sometimes gruesome ride that the reader takes with this group. The Baluba are portrayed as a very cruel and cannibalistic tribe. Besides fighting the Baluba, there is also internal strife among some of the main characters. I would hope we would all have someone like Sgt "Ruffy" in our corner during any crisis, especially one that is life-threatening!
Interestingly ( for the time of writing), there is a short paragraph towards the end that illuminates the internal struggles between different tribes in the country that reminds one that it isn't always about European oppression of various African tribes, although history certainly has way too many examples of abusive & oppressive practices by European colonists throughout Africa.
Interestingly ( for the time of writing), there is a short paragraph towards the end that illuminates the internal struggles between different tribes in the country that reminds one that it isn't always about European oppression of various African tribes, although history certainly has way too many examples of abusive & oppressive practices by European colonists throughout Africa.
December 3, 2014
A novel about mercenaries operating for Katanga, written by Afro-centric historical thriller writer Wilbur Smith just promised too many savory ingredients (prepared by a master chef) for me to resist. I haven't researched this yet, but I have a strong suspicion the Bruce Willis flick Tears of the Sun was adapted from this yarn--updated from the early 1960s to about 2003, changed from mercenaries to SEALs, and some other tweaks.
(It turns out what I have is an abridged version, so my comments may not apply to unabridged versions.) Uncharacteristically for Smith, he completely ignores the politics of the historic backdrop and focuses solely on the immediate plot: Mercenary commander Bruce Curry (a Rhodesian) is tasked to rescue a small community of Belgians who've been cut off by the cannibalistic Balubas. More importantly (to the warring powers-that-be) there's a stash of diamonds among the refugees. More importantly (to Commander Curry) there's a hot French widow among them, too.
Initially the plan is for Curry and his Mercs (diseased-but-faithful Sergeant-Major Rofi, ostracized alcoholic surgeon-turned-soldier Mike Haig, loose-cannon type "A" psycho Wally Hendry, and a couple platoons of gendarmes) to put the civilians on a train and ride with them to safety in Katanga. At first it goes along quite well. Even UN fighter aircraft fail to stop the train. But, c'mon folks, this is Wilbur Smith. Nothing can go well for long. An enemy field gun takes out the locomotive, then Curry has a few more bridges to cross (sometimes literally) while encountering various flavors of adversity along the way.
Used to Smith's doorstop-sized epics, I found this to be an unusually quick read. Perhaps because this is just a straightforward adventure tale with a small cast of characters taking place in a short period of time. I almost felt a little cheated that it ended so quickly.
The good thing about this book's brevity is that the author minimized scenes that test the squeamishness of his readers (for a non-horror author, Smith seems to enjoy the gruesome side of violence, if not the macabre, in most of his books). There was a gross moment when Curry was sobering Haig up in one scene; and a combat amputation made me grit my teeth --though he thankfully went into no gory details.
I would not call this Smith's best, or his worst. IMO it could have benefited from a bit more action or fleshing out, but even when he doesn't give 100%, he is still a heap good adventure writer.
(It turns out what I have is an abridged version, so my comments may not apply to unabridged versions.) Uncharacteristically for Smith, he completely ignores the politics of the historic backdrop and focuses solely on the immediate plot: Mercenary commander Bruce Curry (a Rhodesian) is tasked to rescue a small community of Belgians who've been cut off by the cannibalistic Balubas. More importantly (to the warring powers-that-be) there's a stash of diamonds among the refugees. More importantly (to Commander Curry) there's a hot French widow among them, too.
Initially the plan is for Curry and his Mercs (diseased-but-faithful Sergeant-Major Rofi, ostracized alcoholic surgeon-turned-soldier Mike Haig, loose-cannon type "A" psycho Wally Hendry, and a couple platoons of gendarmes) to put the civilians on a train and ride with them to safety in Katanga. At first it goes along quite well. Even UN fighter aircraft fail to stop the train. But, c'mon folks, this is Wilbur Smith. Nothing can go well for long. An enemy field gun takes out the locomotive, then Curry has a few more bridges to cross (sometimes literally) while encountering various flavors of adversity along the way.
Used to Smith's doorstop-sized epics, I found this to be an unusually quick read. Perhaps because this is just a straightforward adventure tale with a small cast of characters taking place in a short period of time. I almost felt a little cheated that it ended so quickly.
The good thing about this book's brevity is that the author minimized scenes that test the squeamishness of his readers (for a non-horror author, Smith seems to enjoy the gruesome side of violence, if not the macabre, in most of his books). There was a gross moment when Curry was sobering Haig up in one scene; and a combat amputation made me grit my teeth --though he thankfully went into no gory details.
I would not call this Smith's best, or his worst. IMO it could have benefited from a bit more action or fleshing out, but even when he doesn't give 100%, he is still a heap good adventure writer.
April 18, 2022
Bello, libro di terra (per chi conosce W.Smith sa che ne scrive anche di mare), i miei preferiti, descrive l’Africa in modo spettacolare.
November 7, 2018
4.2/5
Being a huge fan of the 1968 film starring Rod Taylor, I considered myself lucky when I spotted this and another Wilbur Smith book, The Diamond Hunters, in my local Giant Tiger when I only went there to get new sticks of deodorant.
I started reading it immediately and comparing it favourably to the film that I adore. There are many differences between the two but the plot structure remains the same. We follow Bruce Curry, leader of a group of mercenaries on a mission into the jungles of Katanga to rescue a small mining town from swarms of tribal warriors and militants, and relieve them of their diamonds in the process. Of course, there's always gotta be that one guy to spoil the show, and that one guy is a member of Curry's own band of mercs--an evil, repulsive man that Curry knows he'll have to lock horns with sooner or later.
Smith's prose is cheesy and dated at times, especially where the romantic subplot is concerned (the movie actually executed this particular aspect better), and Lieutenant Wally Hendry is a classically repulsive cheeseball as the secondary antagonist and Curry's main foil. The battle scenes are intense, well-written, and brutal. The dialogue is so-so; sometimes it works, and other times it reminds me that the film adaptation lifts very few lines from the book for good reason. There are times where Smith's skill in his craft comes to light, where you can feel the sweltering heat of the jungle and smell the various smells (most of them unpleasant) that the characters encounter.
This is a bleak, nihilistic story, even moreso than the film, which itself is probably the most violent PG-rated film I've ever seen. Smith does a great job with handling it and maintaining a situational, unlucky-set-of-circumstances feel to it that doesn't come off as artificial and exploitative. He wants you to feel the hopelessness of Curry and his men's situation, and often, you do.
I recommend both the film and the book. They're both grand adventures, if one can handle the raw violence and brutality contained with them, and the repulsive nature of the secondary antagonist (the film changes his name and makes him an ex-Nazi officer, which is probably a bit more on-the-nose than Smith had intended--or is it?). Rarely do I see a film adaptation and read the original source material and find that despite their differences, each version compliments each other as beautifully as Dark of the Sun. I look forward to the other Smith novel I bought with this one.
Being a huge fan of the 1968 film starring Rod Taylor, I considered myself lucky when I spotted this and another Wilbur Smith book, The Diamond Hunters, in my local Giant Tiger when I only went there to get new sticks of deodorant.
I started reading it immediately and comparing it favourably to the film that I adore. There are many differences between the two but the plot structure remains the same. We follow Bruce Curry, leader of a group of mercenaries on a mission into the jungles of Katanga to rescue a small mining town from swarms of tribal warriors and militants, and relieve them of their diamonds in the process. Of course, there's always gotta be that one guy to spoil the show, and that one guy is a member of Curry's own band of mercs--an evil, repulsive man that Curry knows he'll have to lock horns with sooner or later.
Smith's prose is cheesy and dated at times, especially where the romantic subplot is concerned (the movie actually executed this particular aspect better), and Lieutenant Wally Hendry is a classically repulsive cheeseball as the secondary antagonist and Curry's main foil. The battle scenes are intense, well-written, and brutal. The dialogue is so-so; sometimes it works, and other times it reminds me that the film adaptation lifts very few lines from the book for good reason. There are times where Smith's skill in his craft comes to light, where you can feel the sweltering heat of the jungle and smell the various smells (most of them unpleasant) that the characters encounter.
This is a bleak, nihilistic story, even moreso than the film, which itself is probably the most violent PG-rated film I've ever seen. Smith does a great job with handling it and maintaining a situational, unlucky-set-of-circumstances feel to it that doesn't come off as artificial and exploitative. He wants you to feel the hopelessness of Curry and his men's situation, and often, you do.
I recommend both the film and the book. They're both grand adventures, if one can handle the raw violence and brutality contained with them, and the repulsive nature of the secondary antagonist (the film changes his name and makes him an ex-Nazi officer, which is probably a bit more on-the-nose than Smith had intended--or is it?). Rarely do I see a film adaptation and read the original source material and find that despite their differences, each version compliments each other as beautifully as Dark of the Sun. I look forward to the other Smith novel I bought with this one.
April 3, 2010
My third Wilbur Smith read, following on from EAGLE IN THE SKY and SHOUT AT THE DEVIL.
Be warned, this is a grisly book. The whole plot involves violence and violent situations. In fact, it's one of the most brutal stories I've ever read. Rape, mass murder, bloody battles, torture and even cannibalism - it's all here and described in shocking, unflinching detail. Definitely not a book for the faint hearted.
Nonetheless, I loved it. This is a short book and I flew through it. It's an action-adventure template, a 'men on a mission' narrative that rarely slows down. A romantic sub-plot helps humanise the lead characters rather than get in the way of the story.
The setting is the Belgian Congo, and truly it seems one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Renegade armies and flesh-eating tribesmen lurk around every corner, and even the supposed heroes are tormented with evil traits.
There's plenty of action, and it's all fantastically epic stuff. Smith tackles another area of Africa and brings it to life with the same authenticity as in the rest of his books. A favourite of mine, thanks to the lean narrative and no-nonsense thrills.
Be warned, this is a grisly book. The whole plot involves violence and violent situations. In fact, it's one of the most brutal stories I've ever read. Rape, mass murder, bloody battles, torture and even cannibalism - it's all here and described in shocking, unflinching detail. Definitely not a book for the faint hearted.
Nonetheless, I loved it. This is a short book and I flew through it. It's an action-adventure template, a 'men on a mission' narrative that rarely slows down. A romantic sub-plot helps humanise the lead characters rather than get in the way of the story.
The setting is the Belgian Congo, and truly it seems one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Renegade armies and flesh-eating tribesmen lurk around every corner, and even the supposed heroes are tormented with evil traits.
There's plenty of action, and it's all fantastically epic stuff. Smith tackles another area of Africa and brings it to life with the same authenticity as in the rest of his books. A favourite of mine, thanks to the lean narrative and no-nonsense thrills.
January 17, 2022
As much as I tried, I could not shake the images of Rod Taylor, Jim Brown, and Yvette Mimieux from my mind as I was reading Wilbur Smith's story of the Congo Crisis of the first half of the 1960s. And, in fact, the 1968 film overwhelms Smith's 1965 novel. It's a much superior effort. And perhaps it is because it substitutes the romance between Bruce Curry and Shermaine Cartier with one that takes place with the friendship between Rod Taylor's Curry and Jim Brown's Ruffo. Not to mention that even while Smith created a superb villain with Wally Hendry in the novel, the level of evil in the man doesn't begin to match that which resides within the film's Peter Carsten's Henlein, an ex-Nazi who adorns himself with a swastika while committing murder and other atrocities.
The book deserves credit for the atmosphere it creates, as well as the tension and urgency Smith manages to put into the plot. For the most part. Alas, when the story lapses into the romance between Curry and Shermaine, then "bog down" becomes an insufficient description of things. Yes, Smith wants this to be a story of redemption. But the cost of doing so is to rob the story of its integrity. It is especially despairing to see Ruffy (the Ruffo of the film) simply disappear from the resolution of things. Smith just didn't know how to end his story. And he robs it of meaning.
The book is every bit as violent as the film. Maybe more so. But the film has a stronger since of authenticity. It has a better read on the nature of people and a superior view of jaded mercenaries trying to find a scrap of morality in their actions--and failing.
The book deserves credit for the atmosphere it creates, as well as the tension and urgency Smith manages to put into the plot. For the most part. Alas, when the story lapses into the romance between Curry and Shermaine, then "bog down" becomes an insufficient description of things. Yes, Smith wants this to be a story of redemption. But the cost of doing so is to rob the story of its integrity. It is especially despairing to see Ruffy (the Ruffo of the film) simply disappear from the resolution of things. Smith just didn't know how to end his story. And he robs it of meaning.
The book is every bit as violent as the film. Maybe more so. But the film has a stronger since of authenticity. It has a better read on the nature of people and a superior view of jaded mercenaries trying to find a scrap of morality in their actions--and failing.
November 29, 2012
Wilbur Smith is an internationally best-selling writer of adventure and intrigue potboilers set in contemporary and historical times. This was my first (and likely last) exposure to his writing. Smith, at least in this early novel, comes across as a man of his time and place, with notions and prejudices shaped by his upbringing in white-ruled apartheid Rhodesia. The Dark of the Sun, published in 1965, was his second novel (he’s now up to 33). Within the first 25 pages of this 282-page paperback, I encountered the following echoes of times past:
Page 1: "Jesus!" growled Wally Hendry from the bed. "I’ve had just about a gutsful of this nigger army."
Page 2: "After three months of fighting a bunch of greasy little Gurkhas I was looking forward to a bit of fun . . . "
Page 25: "Shut up, damn you," Bruce roared and swung his open hand against the head of the gendarme beside him, but the man hardly noticed it. His eyes were glazing with the infectious hysteria to which the African is so susceptible; he had snatched up his rifle and was holding it across his chest; already his body was beginning to jerk convulsively as he chanted.
I made it to page 75, at which point I finally realized Smith was not joking and really believed the booga-booga stereotypes he was passing on. Historically interesting but deeply offensive. I find it hard to believe this sort of shit is still in print.
Page 1: "Jesus!" growled Wally Hendry from the bed. "I’ve had just about a gutsful of this nigger army."
Page 2: "After three months of fighting a bunch of greasy little Gurkhas I was looking forward to a bit of fun . . . "
Page 25: "Shut up, damn you," Bruce roared and swung his open hand against the head of the gendarme beside him, but the man hardly noticed it. His eyes were glazing with the infectious hysteria to which the African is so susceptible; he had snatched up his rifle and was holding it across his chest; already his body was beginning to jerk convulsively as he chanted.
I made it to page 75, at which point I finally realized Smith was not joking and really believed the booga-booga stereotypes he was passing on. Historically interesting but deeply offensive. I find it hard to believe this sort of shit is still in print.
January 16, 2015
Not one of Smith's better books. Stilted story, predictable plot, stereotyped characters, no prose to please, dry and tasteless in the memory. Nothing learned, good guy gets girl who bad guy rapes, mercenaries, diamonds in the jungle, that sort of thing. So why did I read it? Because it was the only English language book on the trade shelves on Chumbe Island. Good one to leave behind for the next reader addict.
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August 4, 2011This was Wilbur Smith's second novel, and is a stand alone. It is an historical fiction covering the conflict in the Congo during the 1960's. It has great action (although I saw the various conflicts for the protagonist coming from a mile away on this one). I like the way Wilbur Smith writes, and it is fun reading his novels in chronological order. I look forward to the rest of his books.
June 1, 2023
Novela apasionante, síntesis perfecta de aquellos relatos clásicos de aventuras y bélicos que hicieron las delicias de generaciones en la segunda mitad del siglo pasado.
El relato, eso sí, es duro y descarnado, impregnado de una sensación constante de desasosiego, de certeza de que todo se irá al carajo en el momento menos pensado. Y quizá ahí radica buena parte de su atractivo, aparte de en las excelentes descripciones que compone Smith.
Dicho esto... ¿Un posible punto negativo? La historia de amor, menos creíble que el conjunto. Y, aun así, merece la pena.
Por cierto, a quienes se atrevan con ella les recomiendo que vean la película 'Último tren a Katanga', que se basó en este texto... Aunque con licencias. Es aún más dura, aunque no tan sólida, que el libro, pero igualmente meritoria.
El relato, eso sí, es duro y descarnado, impregnado de una sensación constante de desasosiego, de certeza de que todo se irá al carajo en el momento menos pensado. Y quizá ahí radica buena parte de su atractivo, aparte de en las excelentes descripciones que compone Smith.
Dicho esto... ¿Un posible punto negativo? La historia de amor, menos creíble que el conjunto. Y, aun así, merece la pena.
Por cierto, a quienes se atrevan con ella les recomiendo que vean la película 'Último tren a Katanga', que se basó en este texto... Aunque con licencias. Es aún más dura, aunque no tan sólida, que el libro, pero igualmente meritoria.
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November 29, 2021 “UN—Merde!”
The second novel by Wilbur Smith is not part of any series and is a great introduction to the author. The U. N. is a minor character with no real supporting role much like the real life group that claims to be peacekeepers while never really managing to keep anything peaceful.
Bruce Curry and his band of mercenaries are trying to stay alive in a tribal war during the Congo Crisis of 1960 - 1965 as Belgium is leaving their jungle colonies. The mercenary group is a mixture of African, Belgian, English, and other nationalities. A kind of miniature U. N. peacekeeping force in it's own way.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj2CuIK...
The Chinese and Russians are trying to gain a foothold in Africa during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the African leadership is more than willing to surrender to the occupation of Communist Forces just as they did to the Nazis in WWII.
The second novel by Wilbur Smith is not part of any series and is a great introduction to the author. The U. N. is a minor character with no real supporting role much like the real life group that claims to be peacekeepers while never really managing to keep anything peaceful.
Bruce Curry and his band of mercenaries are trying to stay alive in a tribal war during the Congo Crisis of 1960 - 1965 as Belgium is leaving their jungle colonies. The mercenary group is a mixture of African, Belgian, English, and other nationalities. A kind of miniature U. N. peacekeeping force in it's own way.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj2CuIK...
The Chinese and Russians are trying to gain a foothold in Africa during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the African leadership is more than willing to surrender to the occupation of Communist Forces just as they did to the Nazis in WWII.
September 5, 2024
"C'è stata più d'una nascita, qui, stanotte. Ho ricominciato a ridere, ho provato la necessità di ridere ancora, e il desiderio di piangere. Una donna e un bambino: tutto il senso che ha la vita".
Se siete amanti dell'avventura ecco il libro che fa per voi (e non è un caso che Wilbur Smith sia il mio autore preferito).
L'ombra del sole, datato 1965, è uno dei primissimi libri dello scrittore sudafricano. I suoi libri di successo sono ancora lontani nel tempo, ma in questo ci sono già tutti gli elementi cari a Smith: avventura, amore, amicizia, tradimenti, caccia e, soprattutto, i grandi paesaggi africani.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Se siete amanti dell'avventura ecco il libro che fa per voi (e non è un caso che Wilbur Smith sia il mio autore preferito).
L'ombra del sole, datato 1965, è uno dei primissimi libri dello scrittore sudafricano. I suoi libri di successo sono ancora lontani nel tempo, ma in questo ci sono già tutti gli elementi cari a Smith: avventura, amore, amicizia, tradimenti, caccia e, soprattutto, i grandi paesaggi africani.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
April 13, 2023
Che delusione. Erano anni che, a parte “il dio del fiume”, non leggevo qualcosa di suo e…orrore. Non mi è piaciuto quasi per niente. Descrizioni non efficaci: non si capisce per niente quello che spiega. A tratti sembra scritto da un bambino poi, diventa stucchevolmente sdolcinato inutilmente, e in alcuni punti volgare.
Scelte da parte del protagonista assurde, insensate e ingenue, e incredibilmente stupide. La storia non sarebbe nemmeno brutta e ci sono alcune battute nei dialoghi, che strappano un sorriso ma, nient’altro. Sono scioccata 😟 , è sempre stato così? Se si, io da “giovane” avevo pessimi gusti! 🫣😅
Scelte da parte del protagonista assurde, insensate e ingenue, e incredibilmente stupide. La storia non sarebbe nemmeno brutta e ci sono alcune battute nei dialoghi, che strappano un sorriso ma, nient’altro. Sono scioccata 😟 , è sempre stato così? Se si, io da “giovane” avevo pessimi gusti! 🫣😅
February 7, 2018
I saw the movie many moons ago and it was completely over-the-top. Machete attacks, male rape, cynicism, greed and ignorance in prodigious amounts. The movie differs a bit including a former Nazi mercenary as part of the group who continues to wear his Iron Cross after WW2 and in Africa.. That character seems to be a mix of the real soldiers of fortune Siegfried Müller and Rolf Steiner. Apologies, I digress.
The book is also over-the-top. The thriller genre was just maturing so this reads more like a sensational serial. The romantic side story is dross and the fact that some mercenaries have no military background strains credibility. Author Smith's later work is more recommended as is the novel, The Dogs of War, and the film, The Wild Geese. Cry Havoc!
The book is also over-the-top. The thriller genre was just maturing so this reads more like a sensational serial. The romantic side story is dross and the fact that some mercenaries have no military background strains credibility. Author Smith's later work is more recommended as is the novel, The Dogs of War, and the film, The Wild Geese. Cry Havoc!
May 20, 2020
I always enjoy Wilbur Smith novels, they are always well researched and the storey lines are always well thought out, and exciting.They keep you interest throughout the novel from beginning to the end. I've read a few of his book and this was probably my least favourite. That being said it was still thouroughly enjoyable. His characters are a bit stereotypicle. Macho man and the the woman are usually weak at the knees with his male masculinity. Some of the mushy corny romance was a bit much at times. Overall a good action packed read!
Solid three star 😀
Solid three star 😀
July 20, 2023
peccato che nel libro che ho letto mancavano 40 pagine
però mi è piaciuto lo stesso
però mi è piaciuto lo stesso
September 10, 2021
Güzel bir kitaptı. Adı üstünde Maceracılar, Güney Afrika'da başarmak istediklerinle çatışmaların arasında kaldıklarının mücadelesinin bir yüzü. Kamplar savaşlarla değil, arkadaşlıklarla inşaa edilmeli, dilerim böyle olur.
<> Sabırsızlık Daima Zayıf Yönlerimden Biridir.
Okumuş olduğum elimdeki WILBUR SMITH'in Maceracılar romanının 2. baskısıdır Eylül/(1981). Altın Kitaplar Yayınevi'nden çıkma altın gibi bir kitap ya da elmas mı demeliyim.
Kitabımız akıcı başlamadı(öylede ilerledi) ama kendini okutmaya adamış bir kitaptı çünkü her sayfada karakterler arasındaki diyaloglar mevcut ve
bu diyalogların arasında kitaptaki macera ve mücadeleyi takip etmekle geçen okuma serüveni okuru okumaya sevk ediyordu.
Kitabı okumam bir işkencenin rayından merak etme rayına oturdu ama dediğim gibi beni süründürdü biraz ama yine de güzeldi.
Acının güzelliklerinden biriydi, sürünürken benden kopabilecek birçok ümit vardı ama duygularımı güçlendiren ve şu hayattaki okuma serüvenimi pekiştiren bir okuma oldu.
Kitabımız bir mücadeleyi bir savaşı konu alıyordu. Bahsi geçen ve roman boyunca başlangıcı olup mutlu sonla biten mücadelenin içinde mutlaka iyiler ve
kötüler vardı ama kimin için kim iyi veya kötü bilemeyeceğim. Romanın başkahramanından(Bruce) yola çıkarsak mücadeleyi bırakmayan ve zafere ulaşanlar iyilerdi.
Savaş konulu bir romandı. İlkel hayatına devam eden Balubalar'a yer veren romanımız okurlarını beyaz ve siyahın kanlı mücadelesine tanıklık ettiriyordu,
yaşam mücadelesi aslında bir bakıma aç gözlülük ve yıkımla gelen hazdan yaratım olan zevkti.
(Kitaptan):
Kötülüğü bulduğum yerde ortadan kaldırmamı istiyorsun, Ey yaşlı budala bunun yüz kafası olduğunu ve her kestiğine karşılık yerinde yüz tane daha kafa belirdiğini bilmiyor musun?
Bunun aynı zamanda senin içinde de bulunduğunun farkında değil misin? Kötülüğü yok edebilmek için kendini de ortadan kaldırman gerektiğini anlayamıyor musun?
Demek istiyorum ki; İnsan her şeyin başı ve sonu olarak tarihte yerini almaktadır, iyi okumalar dilerim.
<> Sabırsızlık Daima Zayıf Yönlerimden Biridir.
Okumuş olduğum elimdeki WILBUR SMITH'in Maceracılar romanının 2. baskısıdır Eylül/(1981). Altın Kitaplar Yayınevi'nden çıkma altın gibi bir kitap ya da elmas mı demeliyim.
Kitabımız akıcı başlamadı(öylede ilerledi) ama kendini okutmaya adamış bir kitaptı çünkü her sayfada karakterler arasındaki diyaloglar mevcut ve
bu diyalogların arasında kitaptaki macera ve mücadeleyi takip etmekle geçen okuma serüveni okuru okumaya sevk ediyordu.
Kitabı okumam bir işkencenin rayından merak etme rayına oturdu ama dediğim gibi beni süründürdü biraz ama yine de güzeldi.
Acının güzelliklerinden biriydi, sürünürken benden kopabilecek birçok ümit vardı ama duygularımı güçlendiren ve şu hayattaki okuma serüvenimi pekiştiren bir okuma oldu.
Kitabımız bir mücadeleyi bir savaşı konu alıyordu. Bahsi geçen ve roman boyunca başlangıcı olup mutlu sonla biten mücadelenin içinde mutlaka iyiler ve
kötüler vardı ama kimin için kim iyi veya kötü bilemeyeceğim. Romanın başkahramanından(Bruce) yola çıkarsak mücadeleyi bırakmayan ve zafere ulaşanlar iyilerdi.
Savaş konulu bir romandı. İlkel hayatına devam eden Balubalar'a yer veren romanımız okurlarını beyaz ve siyahın kanlı mücadelesine tanıklık ettiriyordu,
yaşam mücadelesi aslında bir bakıma aç gözlülük ve yıkımla gelen hazdan yaratım olan zevkti.
(Kitaptan):
Kötülüğü bulduğum yerde ortadan kaldırmamı istiyorsun, Ey yaşlı budala bunun yüz kafası olduğunu ve her kestiğine karşılık yerinde yüz tane daha kafa belirdiğini bilmiyor musun?
Bunun aynı zamanda senin içinde de bulunduğunun farkında değil misin? Kötülüğü yok edebilmek için kendini de ortadan kaldırman gerektiğini anlayamıyor musun?
Demek istiyorum ki; İnsan her şeyin başı ve sonu olarak tarihte yerini almaktadır, iyi okumalar dilerim.
June 15, 2019
Classic, read like the best of action movies. The mercenaries have a mission in the Congo to retrieve diamonds in a dangerous, warlord's territory, while fighting off the local primitive tribesmen. Each of the characters have a back story that is slowly revealed as to why they have ended up in their current place. There's intrigue, subplots, romantic interest, driving ambition, terror & slaughter, that has you pulling for the protagonist and his band, and the final show down, one to one.
It sounded so much like a film that I looked it up and yes, there it was (1968). Hollywood stripped it of all nuance, the love interest is now a blond bombshell and it's mostly action and explosions, jungle cannibals in outrageous costume. Just read the book - it's sooo much better.
It sounded so much like a film that I looked it up and yes, there it was (1968). Hollywood stripped it of all nuance, the love interest is now a blond bombshell and it's mostly action and explosions, jungle cannibals in outrageous costume. Just read the book - it's sooo much better.
November 22, 2015
A gritty, action-packed story set during the civil war in the Congo. A group of gendermes and mercenaries must rescue a group of people and diamonds from Port Retrieve, travelling through enemy territory by train and road. Struggles within the group and from threats without. The enemy are tribesmen from other factions and they show no mercy to man, woman or child. Scary to think of what is happening. An interesting story that takes your breath away at times (3.5 stars)
January 23, 2022
L'ombra del sole è un romanzo per certi versi semplice, per altri crudo. La consapevolezza che oggi non avrebbe avuto facile pubblicazione, a causa dei temi, delle parole e dei sottintesi della mentalità degli anni '60 mi ha permesso di assorbirlo da un determinato punto di vista. La trama è lineare e coesa, ma il punto debole (come ho già notato leggendo Wilbur Smith) sono i personaggi, fortemente stereotipati. Trigger warnings: violenza, descrizioni grafiche, st*pro.
July 10, 2012
Pretty good boy's own adventure yarn from the master of those types of books. Details are vague as I read it many years ago but remember enjoying it at the time though not the staying power of other Smith works.
February 22, 2014
I LOVE Wilbur Smith. This is one of his very first books and it just doesn't have what the later ones do. This reminds me of Dirk Pitt novel instead. It's not horrible but not good enough for me to force myself to read when there's so many other good books out there. Couldn't finish it.
July 6, 2023
(Italian first, English below)
È il quarto libro di Wilbur Smith che leggo e finora, purtroppo, è quello che mi ha entusiasmato di meno. La sua maestria nel tenere il lettore incollato alle pagine è sempre impeccabile, così come lo sono le descrizioni dettagliatissime e le metafore che rendono perfettamente la scena. Tuttavia, se comparato a Figli del Nilo, La Notte del Leopardo o La Spiaggia Infuocata, le avventure da far rizzare i capelli si susseguono in un tempo così ristretto e così velocemente che sembra quasi manchi un pezzo del libro. Inoltre, di Wilbur mi fa sempre storcere il naso quell'accenno di misoginia e razzismo che, quando è parte integrante dei dialoghi dei personaggi è sicuramente lecito, ma quando sembra venire dall'autore in persona mi lascia un po' l'amaro in bocca, perché non capisco quanto appartenga alla mente dei personaggi e quanto a quella dello scrittore. Leggere i suoi romanzi non è sempre facile, la violenza è descritta in maniera così vivida ed efficace che spesso bisogna prendersi una pausa dalla lettura e riprendere contatto con la calma della realtà. Nonostante tutto, ripeto, la maestria di Wilbur rimane, secondo me, imparagonabile.
-
(premise: I read this in Italian, so the author's writing style might be a little altered by the translation, and my opinion might have been different if I had read it in its original language)
This is my 4th Wilbur Smith book, and it somehow crushed my expectations a little. I sought the excitement, the thrill, the suspense. There was some of that, yes, but not enough. Compared to 'The Leopard Hunts in the Darkness', 'Warlock' and 'The Burning Shore', this one lacks something. Half of the plot was almost predictable (you can immediately tell he's going to fall in love with Shermaine, that the native rebels are going to attack them, that he falls into the river...), and the adventures happen in such a short time that it feels like a part of the book is missing. The ending wasn't satisfactory, either. Furthermore, with Wilbur Smith's novels I can never tell if the misogynistic/racist comments hide the author's view or are just a way to show how the characters' brain works. When they're included in dialogues or interior monologues, that's completely fine and legit, but what about when they are not? I don't want to accuse the author personally, but I still feel a little uncomfortable reading some of those. On the bright side, he's mastered the art of description, the metaphors he uses can convey the message efficiently and are somewhat poetic. His narrating style is amazing, even though the most violent scenes are hard to digest for their cruelty and vividness. All in all, this novel is definitely not one of Smith's best books, not one of my favourites either, it lacks a bit of plot and often stereotypes the characters, but it's readable nonetheless, mainly because his writing style is impeccable.
È il quarto libro di Wilbur Smith che leggo e finora, purtroppo, è quello che mi ha entusiasmato di meno. La sua maestria nel tenere il lettore incollato alle pagine è sempre impeccabile, così come lo sono le descrizioni dettagliatissime e le metafore che rendono perfettamente la scena. Tuttavia, se comparato a Figli del Nilo, La Notte del Leopardo o La Spiaggia Infuocata, le avventure da far rizzare i capelli si susseguono in un tempo così ristretto e così velocemente che sembra quasi manchi un pezzo del libro. Inoltre, di Wilbur mi fa sempre storcere il naso quell'accenno di misoginia e razzismo che, quando è parte integrante dei dialoghi dei personaggi è sicuramente lecito, ma quando sembra venire dall'autore in persona mi lascia un po' l'amaro in bocca, perché non capisco quanto appartenga alla mente dei personaggi e quanto a quella dello scrittore. Leggere i suoi romanzi non è sempre facile, la violenza è descritta in maniera così vivida ed efficace che spesso bisogna prendersi una pausa dalla lettura e riprendere contatto con la calma della realtà. Nonostante tutto, ripeto, la maestria di Wilbur rimane, secondo me, imparagonabile.
-
(premise: I read this in Italian, so the author's writing style might be a little altered by the translation, and my opinion might have been different if I had read it in its original language)
This is my 4th Wilbur Smith book, and it somehow crushed my expectations a little. I sought the excitement, the thrill, the suspense. There was some of that, yes, but not enough. Compared to 'The Leopard Hunts in the Darkness', 'Warlock' and 'The Burning Shore', this one lacks something. Half of the plot was almost predictable (you can immediately tell he's going to fall in love with Shermaine, that the native rebels are going to attack them, that he falls into the river...), and the adventures happen in such a short time that it feels like a part of the book is missing. The ending wasn't satisfactory, either. Furthermore, with Wilbur Smith's novels I can never tell if the misogynistic/racist comments hide the author's view or are just a way to show how the characters' brain works. When they're included in dialogues or interior monologues, that's completely fine and legit, but what about when they are not? I don't want to accuse the author personally, but I still feel a little uncomfortable reading some of those. On the bright side, he's mastered the art of description, the metaphors he uses can convey the message efficiently and are somewhat poetic. His narrating style is amazing, even though the most violent scenes are hard to digest for their cruelty and vividness. All in all, this novel is definitely not one of Smith's best books, not one of my favourites either, it lacks a bit of plot and often stereotypes the characters, but it's readable nonetheless, mainly because his writing style is impeccable.
March 24, 2021
There are many that aren't on principle going to want to read a novel where the main hero is a white Rodesian mercenary with the enemy he has signed on to face an ill disciplined army of raping, drunken Congolese. And after the demise of that enemy, the return journey through the jungle sees the returning soldiers and refugees attacked by some pretty cardboard cut out savages complete with snake venom arrows and cannibalistic attitudes. But there is some balance in the proceedings. Of the four white officers leading the mission, all have various psycholgical issues themselves. One is the drunk ex surgeon trying to overcome his demons. Another the coward who learns courage to save his comrades (the fact that said coward is a homosexual may again cause concern to some!). And then there is Wally Hendry, in fact the most evil character of all, an insubordinate sociopathic child killer. Lastly, the officer commanding is struggling to maintain his composure as he sweats out the memory of a recent failed marrriage. He falls for one of the mixed race refugees the platoon is rescuing and she for him. She is not too far removed from the old movie damsel in distress and seems to want to do nothing more than get food for her rescuer. There are some slightly cheesy romantic passages of the"oh Bruce, oh Bruce variety". There is also one strong, amusing, very reliable black African sergeant, who is Bruce's real right hand man in the proceedings. The out and back structure is effective, the action sequences are highly exciting and aside from the aforementioned occasional cheesy bits , they move smoothly from one set piece to the next, making this a genuine old fashioned page turner.
November 19, 2023
4.5 Stars
Dark the Sun by Wilbur Smith.
Wilbur Smith books were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up. As I grew older and went looking for more ‘interesting’ things to read, Mr. Smith was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I gravitated to. I read everything he had written up to that point, and then through the years I kept up with each new release. It had been many years since I last read one of his books, but in the past few months have found myself exploring them once more.
Wilbur Smith is one of my mother’s favourite authors, so reading this was a bit of a bittersweet experience for me as my mother passed away over a year ago, and I have been making my way through her extensive book collection, deciding which to keep and which to rehome. I also decided that reading each one could play a part in my reading challenge, as well as a way to pay tribute to my mother who was such a voracious reader..... This meant that I have reread a lot of books that I also have in my own collection- but, nonetheless, have enjoyed yet again. These books has stirred up a lot of memories, but I am forever grateful that mum passed on her love of reading to me.
Mr. Smith has a great knack for writing a great suspenseful and exciting read, and even though my tastes have evolved as I have gotten older, I still really enjoyed revisiting this book/series.
So if you are an action/adventure buff and want a book that will hold your attention and that you can immerse yourself in- then this may be the book for you!
Dark the Sun by Wilbur Smith.
Wilbur Smith books were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up. As I grew older and went looking for more ‘interesting’ things to read, Mr. Smith was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I gravitated to. I read everything he had written up to that point, and then through the years I kept up with each new release. It had been many years since I last read one of his books, but in the past few months have found myself exploring them once more.
Wilbur Smith is one of my mother’s favourite authors, so reading this was a bit of a bittersweet experience for me as my mother passed away over a year ago, and I have been making my way through her extensive book collection, deciding which to keep and which to rehome. I also decided that reading each one could play a part in my reading challenge, as well as a way to pay tribute to my mother who was such a voracious reader..... This meant that I have reread a lot of books that I also have in my own collection- but, nonetheless, have enjoyed yet again. These books has stirred up a lot of memories, but I am forever grateful that mum passed on her love of reading to me.
Mr. Smith has a great knack for writing a great suspenseful and exciting read, and even though my tastes have evolved as I have gotten older, I still really enjoyed revisiting this book/series.
So if you are an action/adventure buff and want a book that will hold your attention and that you can immerse yourself in- then this may be the book for you!
January 29, 2023
A Two-Fisted Tale About Tough Guys
Wilbur Smith never gives his hero Bruce Curry a break after he and his hand-picked mercenaries on a train ride through the war torn Congo when both tribes and rebels are terrorizing the land. Everything that can go wrong for our hero does! In this respect, “Dark of the Sun” is predictable, but Smith’s description of the action is first-rate since he paints word pictures that are fiercely melodramatic. The novel differs from the MGM movie with Rod Taylor and Jim Brown. First, the novel has a good ending with everything neatly tied up with hero and heroine in each other’s clutches. The Jim Brown character in the book doesn’t die. Smith doesn’t deal the race card and the two characters are not as close as they were in the movie. Andre dies in glory in the book, but he suffers shame in the movie. In the movie, Kenneth Moore played the doctor. The novel makes him an alcoholic with a history who turned his back on medicine and became a mercenary. The movie was a mission oriented melodrama with our heroes being briefed by the president. Instead, in the book, Curry describes their objective to the chief villain. The villain does in fact gun down the two children but he isn’t a Nazi. I prefer Smith’s narrative over the film. Nevertheless, I like the film a lot despite it departures from the text.
Wilbur Smith never gives his hero Bruce Curry a break after he and his hand-picked mercenaries on a train ride through the war torn Congo when both tribes and rebels are terrorizing the land. Everything that can go wrong for our hero does! In this respect, “Dark of the Sun” is predictable, but Smith’s description of the action is first-rate since he paints word pictures that are fiercely melodramatic. The novel differs from the MGM movie with Rod Taylor and Jim Brown. First, the novel has a good ending with everything neatly tied up with hero and heroine in each other’s clutches. The Jim Brown character in the book doesn’t die. Smith doesn’t deal the race card and the two characters are not as close as they were in the movie. Andre dies in glory in the book, but he suffers shame in the movie. In the movie, Kenneth Moore played the doctor. The novel makes him an alcoholic with a history who turned his back on medicine and became a mercenary. The movie was a mission oriented melodrama with our heroes being briefed by the president. Instead, in the book, Curry describes their objective to the chief villain. The villain does in fact gun down the two children but he isn’t a Nazi. I prefer Smith’s narrative over the film. Nevertheless, I like the film a lot despite it departures from the text.
November 6, 2023
A group of African mercenaries, led by 4 white officers and an African Sergeant are ordered to travel into a rebel held area to rescue a group of Belgian settlers and recover the diamonds from the mine at the settlement. Each of the Mercs has his own reasons for being there, and the story has them get ambushed and fight off rebels several times.
They travel on a train, and have to spend some time building a new wooden bridge to repair the old one that had been burnt by the rebels. They get to the town, and discover a large raiding party are headed for the town, so they try and escape, but the rebels get there just as they leave on the train. A shell from artillery hits the train and uncouples the last carriage, which has all the townspeople in it just as they get to the top of a hill, and the carriage rolls all the way back into town, where the rebels slaughter the townspeople.
The Mercs leave a small group guarding the bridge, and head back into the town, where they kill all of the rebels there, and head back to the bridge to head back to their base, but the rebels have ambushed the guards, and destroyed the bridge again.
Eventually, the Mercs get back to base, having lost 3 of the officers, and half of the men to attacks. I skipped quite a few pages at times during this read, and it enforces my dislike for Wilbur Smith's other books, with the exception of Wild Justice.
They travel on a train, and have to spend some time building a new wooden bridge to repair the old one that had been burnt by the rebels. They get to the town, and discover a large raiding party are headed for the town, so they try and escape, but the rebels get there just as they leave on the train. A shell from artillery hits the train and uncouples the last carriage, which has all the townspeople in it just as they get to the top of a hill, and the carriage rolls all the way back into town, where the rebels slaughter the townspeople.
The Mercs leave a small group guarding the bridge, and head back into the town, where they kill all of the rebels there, and head back to the bridge to head back to their base, but the rebels have ambushed the guards, and destroyed the bridge again.
Eventually, the Mercs get back to base, having lost 3 of the officers, and half of the men to attacks. I skipped quite a few pages at times during this read, and it enforces my dislike for Wilbur Smith's other books, with the exception of Wild Justice.
August 25, 2018
Książka znacznie słabsza niż saga Courteneyów. Niektórzy piszą, że to dlatego, że jest to jedna z pierwszych powieści Smitha, ale "Gdy poluje lew" było pierwsze! Ta powieść z kolei nadaje się na wakacyjne czytadło i scenariusz filmu akcji. Jest cały czas poprawnie, ale brakuje mocy - i nie mam tu na myśli wartkiej akcji, tylko czegoś, co sprawia, że inne książki Smitha to wielka literatura porywająca za serce.
Wątki romantyczne pojawiły się w każdej książce Smitha jaką czytałem i wszystkie wydawały mi się bardziej żywe i skomplikowane. Ten z "Katangi" jest żenujący, banalny i prosty - zupełnie jakby ktoś inny to napisał.
Bruce'owi Curry'emu też jest daleko do bohatera pokroju Seana Courteneya, a jego przemyślenia są dość banalne.
Mimo że autor na pytanie o sugerowaną kolejność czytania jego książek odpowiada, żeby czytać je po prostu po kolei, to jednak daruję sobie pojedyncze powieści będące thrillerami i będę kontynuował sagi rodu Courteneyów i Ballantyne'ów.
Wątki romantyczne pojawiły się w każdej książce Smitha jaką czytałem i wszystkie wydawały mi się bardziej żywe i skomplikowane. Ten z "Katangi" jest żenujący, banalny i prosty - zupełnie jakby ktoś inny to napisał.
Bruce'owi Curry'emu też jest daleko do bohatera pokroju Seana Courteneya, a jego przemyślenia są dość banalne.
Mimo że autor na pytanie o sugerowaną kolejność czytania jego książek odpowiada, żeby czytać je po prostu po kolei, to jednak daruję sobie pojedyncze powieści będące thrillerami i będę kontynuował sagi rodu Courteneyów i Ballantyne'ów.
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