97 of 99 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good overall, better than Quest & Triumph of the Sun for sure!, June 2, 2009
First, I've read all of Wiber Smith's books. Every single one. So now I have to wait until he published new ones to get my fix. I'd consider this one above average, but not fabulous. Its better than his last two, but not as good as the earlier books in the Courntey or Ballantyne series.
Second, be aware the some of these early reviews on Amazon are plants. They either come from the publisher or other promoters. Mine does not.
Third, Assegai is a good book that is more in-line with Smith's work. Its back to the bacis of developing Africa, the relationship between Whites and Blacks, and between the Germans, Boers and British. Compared to some of Smith's other works I'd consider this one average. If you've read any of his African series featuring the Courtney's or Ballantyne, this is a similar concept all over again.
For readers new to smith, I loved the first three books of the Egyptian series, (River God, Seventh Scroll & Warlock). The last one, Quest, was terrible and shifted way to far into mysticism. Avoid it.
Triumph of the Sun was not very good. It was fine until about the last 50 pages, when it became clear the editor must have phoned up Smith and said "We need the book ASAP", because instead of the story playing out, he just summarized everything into a conclusion. Even the narative changed to speed things up. The long build up to a climax was completely deflated.
I would definately recommend the Courtney Series and their spin offs. The original series begins with "When the Lion Feeds". The entire second series of the Courtney's That begins with "Buring Shore" is also great. In the third series, the first three nautical books are also excellent, (Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon). All of the books in the series are classic Wilbur Smith books that are epics. They start with one generation and moves through the centuries. Kind of a modern War & Peace played out in several books. Having read all the series, you really get a feel for the economic and social development in sub-saharan Africa, the race issues, and gold/diamond development. They are very captivating and informative.
In conclusion, Assegai is typical Wilbur Smith, but for weeks of excellent reading, start with his earlier Courtney and Ballantyne series. You can't go wrong. Wikipedia has a good description of his series. I read them out of order, with a few of his stand alone novels in between. But the ones I did read in order, were even more compelling because you follow the characters or their offspring through the generations.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different Branch of Courtney Family, May 19, 2009
While Wilbur Smith writes engrossing novels, his real talent is in the description of his native Africa. One only has to read a few chapters of any of his novels to understand his love for his native land. Assegai does not fail in this regard. The descriptions of the hunts for African game are enough to make the reader feel he/she is on safari with Leon Courtney.
The time line of this novel falls just before the beginning of World War I. Readers who have followed the Courtney saga will recognize this to be about the same time frame as The Burning Shore. As there is no mention of Sean Courtney or Michael Courtney in this novel, one has to assume it is the family name, but the English Courtneys, not the South African Courtneys. Penrod Ballantyne, Leon Courtney's uncle, was featured in The Triumph of the Sun.
For those who are new to Wilbur Smith's work, and from reading some of the other reviews there are people who have not discovered Smith, I would suggest that you start the Courtney series with Birds of Prey, not necessarily When the Lion Feeds (the first Courtney book Smith penned). Then move to Monsoon, Blue Horizon and then pick up the beginning, When the Lion Feeds, The Sound of Thunder and A Sparrow Falls. Then the reader can move to The Courtneys of Africa series.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Glimmerings of vintage Smith, May 20, 2009
I think Smith's best books were written in the 60s and 70s. Shout at the Devil, Cry Wolf, Diamond Hunters and Eye of the Tiger were Smith at his best. Starting in the 80s however, Mr. Smith's writing took on a political bent, his view of the ideal world, and his obvious nostalgia for the long dead British Empire and its past glory.
Assegai starts off in a fairly promising manner, but soon lapses into cliched circumstances. There are glimmerings of vintage Smith, the elephant and lion hunts, the poetic description of his much beloved Africa etc, but somehow it all seems forced this go around. The pace seems to pick up somewhat in the latter half, but then again, the characters seem paper thin and don't hold your interest for long.
I do miss the dry humor from his earlier books. Who can forget the lovable rascals from 'Shout at the devil' or 'Cry wolf'? In my opinion, that was Smith at his very best. Sadly, I suspect he's now past his prime, and like an aging wine left too long in the cellar, his newer efforts only maintain glimmers of their former glory.
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