Rating: 
Summary: One of my all time favorites
Review: I have always been a Jeffery Archer fan, (Kan & Able, Prodigal Daughter, As the Crow Flies) until I was introduced to Wilbur Smith. Birds of Prey is a classic novel. It is well written, suspenseful and has quite a bit of history incorporated into this novel. You won't want to put it down!
Rating: 
Summary: Light reading
Review: An enjoyable enough read -- although like some other reviewers, I am somewhat skeptical of the accuracy of Smith's research. The characters are fairly one dimensional and the "bad guys" are prototypical.Beyond that, it is entertaining -- kinda like a summer action flick -- lots of action, not much substance. Kid Alert! This novel has some extremely graphic sex scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: Eloquently written swashbucking adventure
Review: My first experience reading a Wilbur Smith novel was an overwhelmingly positive one. Smith does a first rate job in painting a descriptive verbal landscape of the world in 1667 through the eyes of protagonist Hal Courtney, son of the captain of a royal commissioned English privateering vessel. We get transported from the ocean drenched decks of a battle tested "pirate" ship to depths of a Dutch colonial dungeon in Africa in following the adventures of Hal, his father Sir Francis and his shipmates. Smith spins a tale of comradeship, loyalty and betrayal which had this reader thirsting for revenge against the enemies of the heroes. Of course, all ends relatively well for the "good" guys with enough unfinished business to pave the way for a sequel. I am anxiously looking forward to reading that sequel "Monsoon".
Rating: 
Summary: Incompetent Historical Fiction
Review: The flyleaf says this book is "meticulously researched". Let me tell you, in areas where I happen to have expertise this guy is absolutely clueless. There are several gross examples where he demonstrates conclusively that he has no idea whatsoever how square-rigged ships work. In addition, the details of naval conflicts range from the dubious to the impossible.
Given this incredible ignorance about things where I know the score, I am very dubious about a good deal of the other military stuff. In particular, although I am not expert, I think that his versions of how people fight with swords is not reasonable or even in some cases physically possible.
His characters are also extremely one-dimensional, and his plotting is pathetic. Gets very predictable after a while.
Oh yeah -- although Prester John is a myth, and I suppose one can have some freedom with what one does with a myth -- he transposes it some THREE HUNDRED YEARS. Sort of like meeting Daniel Boone in downtown Chicago having a conversation with Mayor Daley and Jimmy Hoffa -- and being told, "Well, it's his descendant and his family lived in the Kentucky woods for a loooong time without anybody knowing." Nuts.
If you enjoy this kind of book (and I usually do), I suggest you try the series by Terry Goodkind (starting with Wizard's Rule). Similar thematic material, better plots, much more interesting and realistic characters -- and the fantastic stuff like dragons is explicitly labelled as magic. Unlike Hal's ship which is supposed to be a square-rigger but actually has to have turbine-powered props to do what is claimed.
Rating:
Summary: "Birds of Prey"
Review: Having been a sailor in the U.S. Navy I enjoy all stories pertaining to the sea. I especially enjoy tales of old sailing ships and it makes me glad that I wasn't born in those days. Sir Francis Courteney and his son, Hal--the main characters in "Birds of Prey"--were believable to me. I thought the plot was good, but that it left me hanging and wanting more.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I've read nearly every novel by Wilber Smith. This is the only one that has ever disappointed me. The characters were boring and the story was very predictable. There are many other authors that write this type of novel much better. Smith should stick to modern themes.
Rating:
Summary: Swashbuckling action bonanza
Review: Set on the southern coast of Africa in the 17th century, this is an exciting tale of a young man who braves villains and the elements to rescue the people he cares about. Action galore, brave deeds and derring-do abound. The author obviously researched his subject in great detail, and has created a convincing and entertaining story that will keep the reader glued to the book. He writes like a modern-day Edgar Rice Burroughs (which is a compliment). I should point out that this is not really a naval adventure ala Patrick O'Brian or C.S. Forrester. Only about a third of the book takes place at sea. This is more like a really long old-fashioned adventure movie, with a good splash of graphic violence and a bit of lurid sex thrown in.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book ever.
Review: I thought that this book has all the neccessary ideals in it to make a classic. It has action romance and lots of atmosphere and makes this an essential purchase for all action fanatics or anyone who wants a good read.
Rating:
Summary: The Master Story Teller of South Africa surpases Forester
Review: Wilbur Smith has written an adventure story of the high seas that surpases even the greatness of C. S. Forester. It is set ceturies earlier than the standard Forester novel and gives us some family background for the primary characters in some of his most notable novels. If you haven't read every single novel by Wilbur Smith, you have missed a treat.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable history lesson.
Review: What an enjoyable read. True escapism, you almost feel the sea spray on your face and if you read this book on a train, the motion could lull you into to thinking your on the deck of the ship. School curricular would do well to think about using this text, leaving certain aspect's out, to enhance history lessons covering that period of time. My only regret is that I read 'Monsoon' first, which was the sequel, even so this was, again, most enjoyable.
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