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Summary: fh gh g fh gf
Review: yuhfhfhdd h fh
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Summary: Captivating.
Review: I could not put it down!!! It is a magnificent epic
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Summary: Trying again . . .
Review: This is the fourth time I've attempted to place a review of this book on-line. Well maybe the fourth is the charm.This tale's a sweeping adventure about English (and other) pirates in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic along the southern African coastline during the days of English-Dutch colonial conflict in the 17th century. The first quarter of the book, unfortunately, is tiresome as it's rife w/cliches: the noble Sir Francis Courtney ("pirate" captain and knight of the order of something or other), his eager and bright-eyed young son Hal, the Afican sidekick and all around noble savage, Aboli, and, of course, all the de rigour bad guys (the lovely and sexually sadistic Katrina, her fat malevolent husband, the Dutch governor, the treacherous first mate, the evil pirate captain and comrade, etc.). But, oddly enough, the tale does catch fire once the characters get mixed up with one another and end up in Cape Town. Although the plot is mechanical and the characters little more than cardboard cut-outs, the writing (including sharp descriptions of the African flora and fauna, life aboard ship and lots of taut action) does have a certain zing to it. I did find the evil and thick headed Dutch colonel (in the service of the fat governor) somewhat annoying (though he was the "perfect" villain w/his shaved pate and waxed moustachios -- shades of Simon LeGree!) and I thought the torturer, Slow John, another bit of overkill, if you'll pardon the "sort-of-pun." But Smith can write action scenes -- when he's not larding the plot with villains and nefarious encounters, along with one cliche after another (lots of duels to the death, ambushes, daring escapes, fierce sea battles, etc.). His female love interests are also so perfect and so wooden you'll think them puppets. (I can't remember the names or very much else about the two lovely gals who give up everything for the dashing young Hal except that each is lovelier than all other fair maids in the world and, of course, loyal and self-sacrificing to the core.) In fact there's too much here generally. One action scene after another drives this plot. Reminded me of the worst of television. But, oddly, and I have to admit this here, it kept me reading. Aside from the nicely turned phrases and descriptions of the terrain and the action, or perhaps because of this, the book does hold the reader to it. So what if the characters are barely real? The prose is peppy (after the early parts, I must hasten to add) so, in sum, I think I can see why Smith manages to make a living at this stuff. But it doesn't hold a candle to the great pirate literature of the past (am thinking of Sabatini's Captain Blood here, or Stevenson's Treasure Island). On the other hand, the gratuitous sex and mayhem perhaps speaks more to our modern sensibilities. I was a little troubled by the double climax which seemed to throw away a wonderful confrontation between hero and villain at the end . . . after the book had, to all intents and purposes, already come to a crashing and fiery halt. But I guess Smith just figured he had to get that one last duel into the mix. And couldn't forego the earlier climax for it. So what the hey, give 'em two! The reader probably won't know the difference anyway! Three stars for this one, on the basis of a strong and dynamic narrative engine. Nothing more. -- S. W. Mirsky
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Summary: High adventure
Review: Wilbur Smith is a great storyteller. In Birds of Prey he tells the story of young Hal Courtney who is learning the craft of sailing from his stern father. His father's hard discipline will turn out well for the lad as he faces treachery, uncharted lands and seas, and a confrontation of cultures. The setting of this novel is around southern Africa. Smith's research into sailing seems quite throrough as well as his attention to the areas around the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century. Smith does give his plot away at the beginning, but that does not prohibit the reader from enjoying the playing out of the plot - and sometimes a few surprises as well. This is good reading.
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Summary: GREAT!!! Right to the last word of the last paragraph.Thanks
Review: Your characters are alive and well.You had to have been there to write about them,Of course you weren"t but they ALIVE.I will read the rest of your novels.Thanks
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Summary: The latest "best" book by a favorite author.
Review: Since the late 60's and a chance encounter with "When the Lions Feed" in a used book store, this author has delivered the year's best tale of factual adventure or informative history every year. Birds of Prey is no exception. The book is pure Smith in it's historical perspectives of a time little considered by most modern readers. Refreshing, exciting, engrossing and with the rich feel of truth.
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Summary: Adventure, adventure, adventure!!
Review: Birds of Prey gave a true realistic depiction of the voyages along the African coast. Kept me reading at an easy rate, always lokking forward to more. At times the vocabulary was difficult--particularly the toungue of a seaman--however, once I mastured this language, the book became even better. The growing up of Sir Hal and the shadows of the Great Aboli were two strong characters that took control of the flow of the book. This book is strongly recommended for anyone that would like to learn about the voyages of seaman that almost depict pirates.
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Summary: Birds of Prey's ending felt too rushed.
Review: While I was deeply engrossed by this novel, one of the characters' deaths seemed like an afterthought of the author. The final and most important duel of the novel wasn't noble or suspenseful, but rather anti-climactic. And the book contained a few scenes of "self love" that could've been tastefully omitted.
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Summary: Another page-turner by the author of The River God.
Review: Wilbur A. Smith did it again with Birds of Prey. I couldn't put down the first two books by this author, The River God and The Seventh Scroll, and Birds of Prey was no exception. I fell in love with the Courteneys, and I want more!
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Summary: Another excellent book from Wil Smith
Review: As ever an good book from one of my favorite authors. It took a while to get going but then I couldn't put it down till I'd finished it
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