The Sunbird

I'd somehow managed to not read a single Wilbur Smith book until three months ago, when on a whim I picked up the first in the Courtney series. I liked this so much that I worked through all of the Courtneys (all three arcs), the Ballantyne series, and am now reading all of Wilbur's standalone novels. The Sunbird is thus the 22nd Wilbur Smith book that I've read in the past twelve weeks.The book is divided into two parts. The first tells the story of an experienced archaeologist (who happens to be a hunchback), who could easily be a distant relative of Indiana Jones. Ridiculed by some in the profession for his belief that that there was once a Phoenician settlement in Botswana, he goes in search of the lost city of Opet when he sees what he thinks is proof of the city's existence in some aerial photographs. He's accompanied (and funded) by his rich friend Louvren, and his female assistant with whom, inevitably, he is in love. The book's name comes from Louvren's nickname for his friend - the Sunbird.For me, this first part of the story wasn't convincing. It was obvious that he would uncover the city (it's not giving any spoilers to say this), and on the way there are a series of struggles, with reluctant natives and with terrorists. The latter seemed shoehorned in just for effect, and approaching halfway through the book, I was on the verge of giving up as I didn't really care about any of the characters, and it seemed to be a typical Smith story - but just not as good.However, it was only when reaching the 'end of part one' that I realised that the book is split into two sections. The second goes back in time almost 2000 years and tells the story of the end of the city's life, and how it fell - coincidentally, a key player in this is also a hunchback, also nicknamed the Sunbird. This is where the book came into life for me, as I was gripped by the story of the city, in what I consider to be perhaps the best 200 pages that I've so far read by Smith. The detail is fantastic, the story convincing, and one can scarcely believe the brutality of what happens - although complete fiction, however, it's easy to picture these events (or similar events) taking place at some point in the distant past.If the book had consisted purely of part two (ie was set in the ancient city, with no reference to the modern day), then I'd be giving this five stars - more, if I could, it's that good. However, given that part one was a disappointment, I can only give it four stars. If you do read this, and find part one disappointing, then stick with it; it's more than worth it. I'm now looking forward greatly to reading Smith's River God Egyptian series; if that series set in ancient times is half as good as part two of the Sunbird, it will be very good indeed.

This book did not disappoint. As always with Wilbur Smith's novels, I enjoyed it from start to finish. I liked the way the second half of the book told the real story of what actually happened.

A rather long-winded account of much the same story, taking place 2000 years before. Interesting idea, but clunkily executed by this usually excellent story-teller. It was, however, a relatively early Wilbur Smith and I got the impression he was still finding his feet.

Wilbur smith is always a good read. This tale had all the right mystery ingredients and a lot of very interesting historical and sociological material woven in.

Mild spoilersWell probably some 30 years from my first read of this epic book I find myself submitting a review of it after breaking my own unwritten rule of never re-reading a book. I ended up on this road after drawing up a short list of books I would have given 5 stars to had I been into reviewing at the time (or in this case had amazon and the internet existed!) after a discussion with another reviewer. (Cheers JPS)As a teenager this book absolutely blew me away. It seemed to have everything a young man ever fantasised about between its covers:- wild untamed Afrika, beautiful and willing woman, full pitched battle and the lifestyle of the rich and famous! Well all the usual Wilbur Smith ingredients really. What set this book apart from the other WS classics of the same era was it's telling of two tales, one tale set in the present day and the other set over a thousand years earlier, just after the final punic war. A further twist is that main players are essentially re-born versions of themselves, and that the modern tale in someways shadows the events of the past. In the modern day Dr Ben and his fabulously rich mentor have uncovered an ancient city whilst a thousand years earlier a new King takes control of the same City in it's pomp after it's inhabitants fled Carthage and the iron shod rule of the Romans. You with me?However the biggest and best twist for me is that the main hero, our own Dr Ben Kazin / Huy Ben-Amon is a hunch back! As other regular readers of WS know all his heroes are staggeringly handsome, intelligent, rich, super tough and natural leaders of men... oh and invariably called Courtney! So this was quite a departure at the time. Of course his best mate Louren/ King Lannon is staggeringly handsome ,rich etc etc but he is not the main player, is not called Courtney and to some degree is the bad guy.(Debate this if you wish)The thing I loved about the story was the complex nature of the relationship with Ben/ Huy and his nemesis Timothey/ Timon. A man who is first student then traitor (? again debate) and black rebel. It's funny re-reading this book all these years later with a much stronger sense of who I am in relationship to the world and history I found myself largely rooting for Timon and frustrated with Ben's slavish following of his King. Whereas earlier I had marvelled at his loyalty and willed him to win his war.Of course the book was written pre apartheid and in a somewhat un PC style that jarrs far more now than it did back in the less enlightened seventies and Smith has generally written from the Anglo-afrikaan's perspective with the black characters usually being loyal servants or at best charismatic bad guys. This book I think is more complex than that.I have already 'spoilt' far more than I like to so I will say no more about the plot. I think the style of this book has aged a little and isn't as action packed as modern equivalents. But it is a complete tale in one volume which is something you don't get very often now and it is the work of an author who was very much at the top of his game. His love for Africa shines though all his best work (so does his love of big game hunting too). I have only scored it 4 stars this time, though much of my enjoyments was affected by essentially knowing what happens but this remains an unusual and highly readable classic and sadly Smiths later works are rather pale ghosts of his novels of this era.I picked up my copy for a penny plus postage as this was first released in '72 (which probably means no one will ever read this review!) but if you are you can't go wrong at that price can you?

Brilliant twist to an extremely interesting tale

I don’t like split stories

My husband loves these books can’t go wrong with this author