Customer Reviews

Monsoon: Pt.1 (Windsor Selections)

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sometimes the Courtney clan goes looking for trouble and sometimes it finds them, but throughout this book, all of the various members of the clan are in a turmoil of one kind or another to the great entertainment of the reader.

While Monsoon is a sequel to Birds of Prey, it is also a prequel to the many other books of the Courtney family that Mr. Smith wrote some time ago, beginning with When the Lion Hunts, I believe. There should be at least one more book to complete the time line to the Sean Courtney era and beyond, maybe more. Tom and Dorian Courtney are worthy parts of the Courtney lineage and they encounter, between the pages of this book, more perils than Pauline ever thought of. The action is fairly non-stop, both on land and on sea; the romancing is intense when it occurs; deceit and treachery are constant companions, some bad things happen to good people and some very bad things happen to some very bad people. No one does this type of story better than Wilbur Smith and he still has the hop on his fastball.

MONSOON continues the swashbuckling saga of seagoing adventurer Hal Courtney begun in BIRDS OF PREY, also reviewed by me (5 stars) on this website.

As MONSOON opens, Hal has been landlocked on his English country manor for a couple of decades. He's fathered 4 sons (William, Tom, Guy, and Dorian) by three different wives, all now dead. Yearning for one last seafaring exploit, he accepts a commission from the reigning British monarch, William III, and the East India Company to mount a punitive expedition to the Indian Ocean to eradicate a band of cutthroat pirates, led by the evil Jangiri, that have lately taken sore toll of Company shipping and profits. So, leaving his heir, William, to manage the family holdings, Hal sails away on the "Seraph" with his three youngest sons and his three old comrades from BIRDS, Aboli, Ned Tyler and Big Daniel, to confront the buccaneers off the coast of East Africa in the waters surrounding the Spice Islands.

During the first several pages of MONSOON, we're introduced to son Tom, who's persuaded a saucy scullery maid to share her amorous favors with him and his fraternal twin Guy, while the younger Dorian stands watch. And where is this steamy tryst taking place? Why, on his grandfather's sarcophagus in the burial crypt of the estate chapel, of course. This startling introduction of Tom to the reader should presage the fact that, by the end of the book, he's the main character and hero. Well, subtlety is not one of author Wilbur Smith's strongpoints.

I sometimes think that Smith develops his plots by stream of consciousness writing. He zigzags flamboyantly from one outrageous situation to the next. In the MONSOON storyline, Hal, Tom and their faithful companions go from sea to land, and back again, doing all that Guy Stuff that Manly Men do: seducing (or being seduced by) willing young beauties, battling with corsairs and slavers, rescuing damsels in distress, capturing much treasure, slaughtering infidels, vanquishing assorted evil doers in single combat, and killing elephants for their tusks. (This last activity will outrage African wildlife preservationists everywhere.) However, whether the tapestry of his tale calls for bravery, cowardice, fratricide, homicide, vengeance, love, lust, betrayal, loyalty, greed, generosity, or just plain serendipity, Smith weaves with a panache and energy that make for fabulous escapist reading.

MONSOON has an ending that I thought just a bit too precipitate. But, it's evidence of another sequel in the works. And, even though I'll be the first to admit that this series is pure trash, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the next volume.

Simply stated, Monsoon is a page turner in the clasic style of Wilbur Smith. Birds of Prey was wonderful, and Smith begins Monsoon where Birds of Prey left off, without missing a beat. The narrative is riveting - I couldn't put the book down, and was sad to see it come to an end. This was the perfect read while soaking in the sun on a tropical beach. I hope we do not have too long to wait until Smith treats us to the further adventures of the Courtney family!

To add my two cents worth to a comment from an earlier reviewer of this book...Wilbur Smith is the best novelist writing today..period!!"Monsoon"is a worthy sucessor to "Birds of Prey" and another welcome (but too long in coming...) addition to the "Smith list" "Monsoon" continues the story of the early Courntey seafarers, Sir Henry and his sons, Tom Guy and Dorian. As is common in Smith's book there is a bit of tension (shall we say) between some of the brothers. Sir Henry, after 4 years away from the sea, must undertake, at the crowns request, an extremely dangerous undertaking, and takes his sons along on the voyage with consequences for all, including death, loss of fortune and capture and more adventures than any 4 men should have to undertake. This book takes the Courtney's to Africa for the first time, and Smith's love and awe for this land shows in every line.When he describes the beauty and granduer and yes..violence of the "Dark Continent" you can see and feel it as you find yourself walking along with his characters..(telling which characters and the circumstances would be giving away too much of the plot..)If you have never read a Wilbur Smith book, deny yourself no longer..hurry down to your bookstore or amazon..or even your library and get this book..then read the other 26 books..and discover why Wilbur Smith fans are so loyal..but Mr. Smith, if you should read these lines..PLEASE dont make your readers wait two years for the next one....

It is the best of the wilbur smith novel!. There is no writer that I know of who can write about adventure based on the african continent the way Smith does it.

I was born in Zanzibar and when Mr Smith paints the picturesque harbour of Zanzibar I can see his vivid and graphic description just matches my own memory of the Zazibar harbour.

Overall the story is extremely tense and will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can.

I hope we do not have to wait for a long time to get the sequel

Words cannot do Wilbur Smith's books justice. His stories take my breath away. This one had me enthralled from start to finish. The only book I have read that is better than this is The Sunbird, also written by Smith.

Because I loved this book so much, I believe I have become a Smith fan for life. I am reading "The Seventh Scroll," and when finished have waiting for me "Birds of Prey." Sorry I couldn't have read "Birds of Prey" first, but Smith is such a captivating author, that it won't be much of a break in pattern.

Monsoon is a book that cannot be put down once the reader begins it. The characters, Hal, Tom, Dorian, Guy, Black Billy, Aboli, and all the rest do not only come alive in your hands, but stay with you for days after the book has been put down. The story is not only educational (in the style of Michner) but exciting and completely interesting. This is a book I would recommend to any reader of fine literature.

MONSOON is a feast of a breath taking story of the heroic days of tall ships, written with immense beauty of style. The finely chiselled characters and details jump at you from the pages, enthralling, ever moving on. It's a rare feat of reading pleasure as your mind paints for you a breathtaking vision that rings true and could never be matched by film or any other media. I read this novel, never once having the urge to watch TV. When I finally turned the last page I felt a deep loss that I had come to the end of the book. I hope Wilbur Smith is busy with his next book, I can't wait. MONSOON makes out of any reluctant reader of novels a consummate bookworm. If you think that the purchase price of the book daunting, it's likely the best value for money you'll ever encounter.

Monsoon is the best historical fiction novel I've read in quite a long time. The talented author develops his characters masterfully, with a very plausible plot. One can't help becoming wrapped-up in the lives of the characters, and following developments with baited breath. One thing about this author is he doesn't have a lot of grey characters... its quite easy to empathize with the 'good guys' and despise the 'bad guys' in his yarns.

The rich colorful detail provided by Smith, about the background settings of events, is a characteristic of this author. He paints the setting masterfully, using the pallette of evocative words to invite you into his reality. Highly recommended!!!

For any Wilburn Smith fans this book is a delightful story that builds a tale of seafaring adventures and challenges, and develops the English based family roots for the well-known Courtneys of Africa.