Customer Reviews

The Raiders (Compass Press)

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A sequel to "The Carpetbaggers," "The Raiders" is not as good as its predecessor. However, it is one of Harold Robbins' better novels, especially in comparison to the dreck he had been cranking out since 1980. "The Raiders" kicks off in 1951, with Jonas Cord dodging a subpoena to a Senate hearing (and driving his wife Monica to divorce him -- again). With the help of his longtime friend/father figure Nevada Smith (now in his seventies), he finds a safe haven in, of all places, Las Vegas. Jonas, ever on the lookout to make still more money, becomes intrigued by the casino gambling biz, not only buying the casino and hotel in which he's holed up, but building one of his own. It's while exploring the viability of a casino in Cuba that he learns of an illegitimate son he sired with Sonja Batista, one of the many women he's bedded. (Given Jonas' hyperactive sex life, it's surprising that he has only *one* illegitimate child.) It's the relationship between this newly discovered son, nicknamed Bat -- from Batista -- and his domineering father that make up the bulk of the book, Bat struggling to prove himself yet retain his independence while his father generously appoints his son to high positions in his empire only to second guess -- often overrule -- Bat's decisions. The relationship between father and son becomes more contentious as they pursue ventures in TV production and casino gambling, but it's their tangle with the Mafia that could prove deadly.

There are side trips along the way into various characters' back stories, some of which are interesting, some not so much. As is to be expected from Robbins, there's lots of sex. However, given that from the mid-1970s forward many of Robbins' books read like letters in Penthouse Forum, he shows relative restraint here. Unapologetic male chauvinism is another Robbins staple, but even Larry Flynt would bristle at the hostile portrayal of women in "The Raiders." In Robbins' world, women are either vindictive harpies or compliant sex goddesses, and all are slaves to the male member. This includes Jonas Cord's legitimate daughter Jo-Ann, who is pretty much dismissed as a spoiled drunk, by her parents and by Robbins. Father and son frequently end up sharing the same woman, though not at the same time (like I said, Robbins is relatively restrained this time out). Jo-Ann does seduce her half-brother, however.

Only a few of Robbins' novels -- "A Stone for Danny Fisher," "The Carpetbaggers" -- have come within spitting distance of possessing literary merit. "The Raiders" isn't one of them. But while the book is trash, it's better than most of the trash Robbins wrote during the latter half of his career.

Over the past several books, what you get is an increasing level of raunch, pure and simple. It's really wierd to say that, because I'm no prude. I was a line soldier in the Sexual Revolution. Okay, the story line in a Robbins book is usually strong--I only know of a couple which are really weak in this way. But Jonas and his part-Latino son both enjoy the favors of two different actresses who work for them, plus the son is successfully seduced by his half-sister. You could excuse that from a couple of guys who go by the Casanova credo "why should I make one woman miserable when I can make several women happy?", but both of these guys have real girlfriends who they respect and who respect them. It was a given in "The Carpetbaggers" that the Cord family aren't exactly poster children for maturity--this book makes them seem positively adolescent. The celebrated decadence of Hollywood is almost a cliche--this book goes a long way to reinforce that image.

Dissapointing, especially since I thought you couldn't go wrong with Robbins writing about Hollywood. I really didn't like any of the characters, except for a couple of the women. Most of the females were evil sluts and the men were pigs who treated the women like dirt. Also, I was hoping it would have more Hollywood dish. I thought there was supposed to be a part of the book based on the real life murder of Johnny Stompanato (Lana Turner's lover) by her duaghter Cheryl. Guess I had it confused with another book. Also, there is a character, a young dancer named Margit that I have a horrible feeling is supposed to be based on Ann-Margret. If so, Robbins should be ashamed of himself. If you're going to read a Robbins novel, don't start with this one or it will probably be the last one you read...that is if you are able to force yourself to finish it.

This novel is a sequel to The Carpetbaggers. It is very predicable with the usual sex. Jonas Cord Jr. is a younger version of his father or should I say Howard Hughes. Harold Robbins career peaked when he penned, A Stone For Danny Fisher.

Enjoyed every line, every page, every chapter. I could not put this sequel down. I cannot get enough of Robbins' novels!