The Eye of the Tiger (Mass Market Paperback)

by Wilbur Smith (Author) "It was one of those seasons when the fish came late..." (more)
Key Phrases: jemmy bar, tiger throne, crash boat, Mister Harry, Sherry North, Suleiman Dada (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A bonanza of excitement!"--New York Times

"Action is the name of Wilbur Smith's game and he is a master."--The Washington Post Book World

"Action follows action..mystery is piled on mystery...tales to delight the millions of addicts of the gusty adventure story."--Sunday Express

"Raw experience, grim realism, history, and romance welded with mystery and the bewilderment of life itself." --Library Journal
-- Review

Review

"A bonanza of excitement!"--New York Times

"Action is the name of Wilbur Smith's game and he is a master."--The Washington Post Book World

"Action follows action..mystery is piled on mystery...tales to delight the millions of addicts of the gusty adventure story."--Sunday Express

"Raw experience, grim realism, history, and romance welded with mystery and the bewilderment of life itself." --Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

---

Product Details Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (April 15, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312979398 ISBN-13: 978-0312979393 Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,097 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
It was one of those seasons when the fish came late. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
jemmy bar, tiger throne, crash boat, scuba set, inshore channel, grand harbour, fighting chair, air bottles, fire coral

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mister Harry, Sherry North, Suleiman Dada, Fred Coker, Manny Resnick, Wave Dancer, Turtle Bay, Gunfire Reef, Jimmy North, Gunfire Break, Miss Sherry, Old Men, Inspector Daly, Peter Daly, Big Gull Island, Harry Fletcher, Mike Guthrie, Lord Nelson, Uncle Dan, Admiralty Wharf, Sister May, Great Mogul, Loma Page, Miss North, Missus Eddy

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 3 books:

• River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
• Men of Men (Ballantyne Novels) by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter
• Forget It by Bill James on page 41

 

32 books cite this book:

• Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
• The Diamond Hunters by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
• Wild Justice by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
• Blue Horizon (Courtney Family Adventures) by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
• Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Wilbur Smith in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)

See all 32 books citing this book

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Eye of the Tiger/ Hungry as the Sea by Wilbur Smith

Discusses:

• jemmy bar
• tiger throne
• crash boat

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	68% buy the item featured on this page: The Eye of the Tiger 4.4 out of 5 stars (32) $7.99
	9% buy Men of Men (Ballantyne Novels) 3.8 out of 5 stars (12) $7.99
	9% buy A Falcon Flies (Ballantyne Novels) 3.0 out of 5 stars (2) $7.99
	7% buy The Angels Weep 4.1 out of 5 stars (8) $7.99

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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews 5 star:  (18) 4 star:  (8) 3 star:  (6) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 27 of 28 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST ADVENTURE STORIES EVER, October 8, 1998 By  [e-mail] (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews This review is from: Eye of the Tiger (Hardcover) Having read nearly all Wilbur Smith's books, and having spent my entire teenage years with a Wilbur Smith book close at hand, (and being a writer myself) I feel entitled to say a few words about "Eye of the Tiger" and Wilbur Smith in general. First of all, "Eye of the Tiger" is one heck of a great read -- I must've read it 15 times myself, and have given it to all my friends (and girl-friends!) to read at one time or another. Harry Fletcher (the main character) is like an old friend to me; I feel I know the guy. And what a great guy he is, too! And as for the story, well it just zings along so smartly you'll be in heaven. What I love so much about Wilbur Smith is that (at his best) his language and description borders on literature, though HE doesn't agree, I'm told. This is not the case with all his books, however, and in recent years I have been disappointed. But most of the first 20 books he wrote are marvels of story telling, and one day I look forward to picking them up and starting all over again. It'll be a pleasant reminder of those dreamy teenage years. And quite frankly, after having read Hemingway and Melville and other giants of the adventure genre, I'm never so happy as when I'm immersed in a Wilbur Smith novel. If you have never had the pleasure, I envy you; you have some richly rewarding discoveries ahead. Thank you, Wilbur Smith for countless hours of reading ecstasy. Andy Todes (Born in South Africa, 1971, raised in Australia, currently living in the United States). 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Cussler, you'll love Smith!, January 28, 2003 By  Pooh Guy (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews When a friend found out that I am a big fan and avid reader of the Dirk Pitt novels, he said "if you like Cussler, you'll love Wilbur Smith." I followed his advice and tried out Eye of the Tiger. This is the first Wilbur Smith novel I've read, and it definitely will not be the last. I'm definitely hooked! Why am I so hooked? It's an engrossing page-turner, it has lots of lively action, the bad guys are eminently hate-able without being cartoonish, the heros are believable and all the more lovable because they have such human foibles, and everything in the story is so believable. The hero (Harry Fletcher) is a manly-man who is able to think and fight his way out of apparently impossible situations, yet at the same time never comes across as an invincible superman. I think I also like him so much is that he is a reluctant hero. Circumstances are forced upon him, rather than him being sent in to save the world because he's the only one who could do it. In some ways, he is almost like Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea, except that Wilbur Smith likes for his Hero to come out ahead in the end. But I think the part that I most appreciated was that there were so many unpredictable surprises and twists, yet in hindsight, all the clues were there. Let me explain. My wife refuses to watch a movie with me the first time she sees it, because the clues are so ibvious that I usually figure out who dunnit or what the big surprise will be early on, and can explain why. Either that, or I get mad because the clues are never presented at all and the hero figures it out only through knowledge of some totally arcane trivia or by way of some clue that the author never actually presents to us in the book (or movie). This sucks! At least give me a chance. Not so with this book! There were some wonderful twists that I found myself very happy to see because, in hindsight, the clues were all there, and it was totally valid for the hero to catch them, and I should have caught them to. For example, I didn't have to know about Flame Coral to draw the same conclusion Harry drew - I should have understood the implications of the other diver not knowing what it was. (You'll understand once you read the book). Bottom line: my friend was right. If you like Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, you WILL definitely like Wilbur Smith's Eye of the Tiger. I have already ordered a bunch more of Wilbur's books to add to my stack of Cussler novels. 10 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Adventure Story!, April 15, 2001 By  Yours truly, "Sheri" (Valley Village, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews Reading this book was like reading Crichton or early Grisham except there was also something old-timey about it, too - like reading H. Rider Haggard, Conan Doyle, Dumas, Burroughs or Jules Verne for the first time when you were a kid. Sheer pleasure. It was a winner, a completely engaging book - and it went on my shelf of books worth re-reading. The kind of book you smile about, remembering how enjoyable it was to read.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff from Smith but not one of his best The Eye of the Tiger lacks the depth and high narrative qualities of his best works; however, it is a good, entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages with interest... Read more Published 9 months ago by C. Stephans 5.0 out of 5 stars Cussler only wishes he could write like this. I'll admit that I love the "Manly men of the sea" genre. I have read every Cussler book written. Clive and now his son, have a great formula and they stick with it. Read more Published 14 months ago by Ace Azar 4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of action Wilbur Smith's "The Eye of the Tiger" is a solid, action-packed adventure story featuring a reformed thief, hidden treasure, two lovely ladies, loyal friends, powerful enemies and... Read more Published 18 months ago by DWD 5.0 out of 5 stars Slow Start but Powerful Finish The starting of this book was slow but the speed increased as I went deeper into the book. This is truly another work of art by Wilbur Smith and I give it a lot of credit. Read more Published on May 27, 2006 by Davidee 5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding adventure fiction. I enjoyed this book as much or more than I have all of the other works by Mr. Smith in my collection. Read more Published on May 21, 2006 by Harley H. Puthuff 3.0 out of 5 stars An action-crammed story Harry Fletcher lives a quiet life on St Mary's Island and he takes charters on board "Wave Dancer" for fishing and diving. Angelo and Chubby are his two assistants. Read more Published on June 30, 2005 by Philippe Horak 3.0 out of 5 stars Close to Cussler but not quite there This was my first Wilbur Smith novel. It falls just short of the talent that Cussler has. While I'm not so disappointed that I won't read more of him, there's just something... Read more Published on April 16, 2005 by Judson T. Hanson 4.0 out of 5 stars Great, believable action book! A lot of fun... I really enjoyed this book - it was easy to read and follow, even the fishing terms (and I don't fish), and moved swiftly. Read more Published on January 6, 2004 3.0 out of 5 stars not bad, not great.... my first attempt at wilbur smith since reading river god which was great. this was just ok. fast paced, but not much too it. Published on October 26, 2003 by Jeffrey Roberts 4.0 out of 5 stars Great Deep Sea Mystery This is a great book by Wilbur Smith! I have read other books by him, and this is definitely one of my favorites! Read more Published on October 2, 2003 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (April 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312979398
• ISBN-13: 978-0312979393
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,097 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST ADVENTURE STORIES EVER, October 8, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye of the Tiger (Hardcover)

Having read nearly all Wilbur Smith's books, and having spent my entire teenage years with a Wilbur Smith book close at hand, (and being a writer myself) I feel entitled to say a few words about "Eye of the Tiger" and Wilbur Smith in general. First of all, "Eye of the Tiger" is one heck of a great read -- I must've read it 15 times myself, and have given it to all my friends (and girl-friends!) to read at one time or another. Harry Fletcher (the main character) is like an old friend to me; I feel I know the guy. And what a great guy he is, too! And as for the story, well it just zings along so smartly you'll be in heaven. What I love so much about Wilbur Smith is that (at his best) his language and description borders on literature, though HE doesn't agree, I'm told. This is not the case with all his books, however, and in recent years I have been disappointed. But most of the first 20 books he wrote are marvels of story telling, and one day I look forward to picking them up and starting all over again. It'll be a pleasant reminder of those dreamy teenage years. And quite frankly, after having read Hemingway and Melville and other giants of the adventure genre, I'm never so happy as when I'm immersed in a Wilbur Smith novel. If you have never had the pleasure, I envy you; you have some richly rewarding discoveries ahead. Thank you, Wilbur Smith for countless hours of reading ecstasy. Andy Todes (Born in South Africa, 1971, raised in Australia, currently living in the United States).

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Cussler, you'll love Smith!, January 28, 2003

By	Pooh Guy (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews

When a friend found out that I am a big fan and avid reader of the Dirk Pitt novels, he said "if you like Cussler, you'll love Wilbur Smith." I followed his advice and tried out Eye of the Tiger. This is the first Wilbur Smith novel I've read, and it definitely will not be the last. I'm definitely hooked!

Why am I so hooked? It's an engrossing page-turner, it has lots of lively action, the bad guys are eminently hate-able without being cartoonish, the heros are believable and all the more lovable because they have such human foibles, and everything in the story is so believable.

The hero (Harry Fletcher) is a manly-man who is able to think and fight his way out of apparently impossible situations, yet at the same time never comes across as an invincible superman. I think I also like him so much is that he is a reluctant hero. Circumstances are forced upon him, rather than him being sent in to save the world because he's the only one who could do it. In some ways, he is almost like Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea, except that Wilbur Smith likes for his Hero to come out ahead in the end.

But I think the part that I most appreciated was that there were so many unpredictable surprises and twists, yet in hindsight, all the clues were there. Let me explain. My wife refuses to watch a movie with me the first time she sees it, because the clues are so ibvious that I usually figure out who dunnit or what the big surprise will be early on, and can explain why. Either that, or I get mad because the clues are never presented at all and the hero figures it out only through knowledge of some totally arcane trivia or by way of some clue that the author never actually presents to us in the book (or movie). This sucks! At least give me a chance.

Not so with this book! There were some wonderful twists that I found myself very happy to see because, in hindsight, the clues were all there, and it was totally valid for the hero to catch them, and I should have caught them to. For example, I didn't have to know about Flame Coral to draw the same conclusion Harry drew - I should have understood the implications of the other diver not knowing what it was. (You'll understand once you read the book).

Bottom line: my friend was right. If you like Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, you WILL definitely like Wilbur Smith's Eye of the Tiger. I have already ordered a bunch more of Wilbur's books to add to my stack of Cussler novels.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Adventure Story!, April 15, 2001

By	Yours truly, "Sheri" (Valley Village, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

Reading this book was like reading Crichton or early Grisham except there was also something old-timey about it, too - like reading H. Rider Haggard, Conan Doyle, Dumas, Burroughs or Jules Verne for the first time when you were a kid. Sheer pleasure. It was a winner, a completely engaging book - and it went on my shelf of books worth re-reading. The kind of book you smile about, remembering how enjoyable it was to read.