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The Quest
 
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The Quest (Paperback)

by Wilbur Smith (Author)
2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £5.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

The Quest + Warlock + The Seventh Scroll
Price For All Three: £15.57

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  • This item: The Quest by Wilbur Smith

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  • Warlock by Wilbur Smith

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  • The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith

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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Pan Books; Reprint edition (3 April 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0330412728
  • ISBN-13: 978-0330412728
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13.2 x 4.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,861 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #7 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > S > Smith, Wilbur

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Product Description

Product Description
Wilbur Smith returns with the eagerly awaited sequel to his thrilling Egyptian series. Following on from "River God", "The Seventh Scroll" and "Warlock", "The Quest" continues the story of the "Warlock", Taita, wise in the lore of the ancient Gods and a master of magic and the supernatural. Egypt is struck by a series of terrible plagues that cripple the Kingdom, and then the ultimate disaster follows. The Nile fails. The waters that nourish and sustain the land dry up. Something catastrophic is taking place in the distant and totally unexplored depths of Africa from where the mighty river springs. In desperation Pharoah sends for Taita, the only man who might be able to win through to the source of the Nile and discover the cause of all their woes. None of them can have any idea of what a terrible enemy lies in ambush for "The Warlock" in those mysterious lands at the end of their world.

About the Author
Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. He became a full-time writer in 1964 after the successful publication of WHEN THE LION FEEDS, and has since written over thirty novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books are now translated into twenty-six languages.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Quest
52% buy the item featured on this page:
The Quest 2.2 out of 5 stars (127)
£5.99
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Assegai 4.1 out of 5 stars (79)
£9.00
The Seventh Scroll
11% buy
The Seventh Scroll 4.4 out of 5 stars (34)
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8% buy
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Customer Reviews

127 Reviews
5 star:
 (15)
4 star:
 (12)
3 star:
 (15)
2 star:
 (21)
1 star:
 (64)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.2 out of 5 stars (127 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Pathetic title for a pathetic novel, 21 April 2007
By M. T. Gibbs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Quest (Hardcover)
First let me say this, I am a huge Wilbur Smith fan and have read almost all his work and especially enjoyed the Egyptian novels.

However this book feels more like a cheap imitation of one of his than the real thing. If I hadn't read his previous work I would have thrown it down in disgust as fantastical rubbish.

I have nothing against fantasy novels and enjoy reading them, but this takes it too far. We are supposed to believe that Taita and other 'long livers' have been around for thousands of years? And as for the childish nonsense about 'the truth' and 'the lie'- well, it would be funny if it wasn't contained in what is supposed to be an adult novel.

I finished reading it only on the authors reputation and the one redeeming feature - his wonderful description of events and setting. But as for the events themselves? Maybe Smith should stick to what he does best, writing entertaining but generally historically accurate books. Magic was present in his previous books I know, but for me in 'The Quest' magic seems to be more common than reality, and without reality Smith has created a childish and unbelivable work of fiction.

If this book had been realised by a new author it would have been panned by everyone who read it - it only gets good reviews on Smith's reputation and as far as I'm concerned didn't deserve to be published. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, it's not the worst book I've ever read, but it is so far below the standard I expect from this quality author that I can't stand to see it get such a mixed reception.

Don't buy this book, stick to his earlier work. But if you really want to read it wait until it comes out in paperback! Don't waste your money like I did.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Taita - The warlock, 14 Dec 2007
By Claudia "claudiasfs" (Almada, Portugal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Quest (Hardcover)
This is book 4 about Taita. The eunuch surgeon that starred on River God. The Taita of River God and The Seventh Scroll, is different from the Taita in Warlock and in The Quest.

In the first two books Taita is a man with high intelligence, a surgeon and advisor to Queen Lostris. With these two books, one can see Taita has a man that lived in ancient Egipt, plausible.
But with Warlock and The Quest, we are presented with other subjects, as magic, auras, potions.

I've read reviews giving one star to this book, because it presents things that aren't real, that aren't possible. But the wonder of Taita, is that we see is growth as a spiritual man, a sourcerer and I've loved this character so much that I do want happiness for him, and love.

If you don't want to be faced with the realm of impossibility, and like the books of Wilbu Smith due to his accuracy with history, with the ideia that the characters he wrote could be real, then this is not a book for you. But if you like to read about things that are fantasie, about love and wish to see Taita get what he deserves, then give this book a try. I did and I don't regret it.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars What a complete disappointment, 30 April 2007
By Mrs. R. S. Jolliffe ((IOW, UK)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Quest (Hardcover)
I absolutely loved the other WS novels in the Egyptian series. Taita has always been such a loveable character- intelligent, wise but essentially human.

What happened in The Quest? His character has completely changed and I kept thinking to myself "no, Taita wouldn't do that".

The book was grossly over-sexed to the point when it was bordering on stupid. I agree with the previous reviewer- it is practically paedophilic at times.

It was just so unbelieveable, explicit and over-mystical. I did not enjoy it. What a waste of my time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best
I particularly enjoyed the other Egyptian stories. This time I was not as captivated as this story seemed too far fetched and not 'historically Egyptian' enough. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Mr Ledger

2.0 out of 5 stars Wierd. Why?
I have been an avid reader of Wilbur Smith for many years. I have read all of his books and some more than once. However this will be one I wont read again. Read more
Published 2 months ago by CerberusUK

1.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the worst Wilbur Smith book
I read this book recently, after giving up on it the first time round. Now I know why, it must be the worst Wilbur Smith book ever and I have to agree with previous reviewers that... Read more
Published 2 months ago by L. J. Whittaker

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
This was the first Wilbur Smith book I have read and I really enjoyed it. Yes it is a fantasy novel (which I enjoy) and a few of the things going on are possibly a bit silly, but... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jonkwan

1.0 out of 5 stars A rip off of H Rider Haggard
Wilbur Smith should be ashamed of himself. This book is a rip off of the books by H Rider Haggard ("She" and " Allan Quatermain"). Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. J. D. Rumble

2.0 out of 5 stars A rare disapointment from Wilbur Smith
Like many other reviewers here I am an avid fan of WS. I have hugely enjoyed his Courtney series. The previous titles in the Egyptian Series were also very impressive with River... Read more
Published 5 months ago by P. Zardoshti

1.0 out of 5 stars Wilbur Smith: The Quest
This is by far the worst Wilbur Smith book I have ever read! I could not believe that this book was written by the same man that wrote books such as A Sparrow Falls. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Joseph Benjamin

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
The best of the egyption books so far, couldn't put the book down. Find it hard to believe other readers didn't enjoy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Fee

1.0 out of 5 stars rubbish
loved the previous books in this series. i wonder if this one was ghost written? very dissapointing and i think the 1st time in years i've had to give up on a book without... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Daniel Perkin

1.0 out of 5 stars what a shame
I love Wilbur smith's books, but this one fell far short of his previous novels. it was far too magical, and far far too far fetched. Read more
Published 8 months ago by H. Franks

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