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emjay24's review against another edition
1.0
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.
jbrito's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
paul_cornelius's review against another edition
3.0
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.
darkstar_pl's review against another edition
3.0
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.
shahrun's review against another edition
4.0
Wilbur Smith has taken me by surprise again! I really enjoyed this and now think this is one of my favourites by him. Still set in Africa, complete with danger, grizzly and grafficaly told deaths and romance, but not on a boat! I really didn't know what twists and turns would carry the charachters onto the next disaster, just that disaster would surely be awaiting them!
dani_readz_bookz's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
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