This is another of the 14 Allan Quatermain tales from the pen of that great adventure fantasist, H. Rider Haggard. This novel is a direct continuation of "Allan and the Holy Flower," and it does help to have read the previous book. Also referenced are other Quatermain novels such as "Marie," "Child of Storm" and "Allan's Wife," and while a knowledge of these earlier books will make for a richer experience, "Ivory Child" can certainly be read on its own. In this one, Quatermain goes on a quest to find his buddy's kidnapped wife (in that respect, it is similar to "Holy Flower"), but also gets involved in a lost tribe's civil war. Thrown into the mix are a gigantic and evil elephant god, a monster snake guardian (the possible inspiration for all those snake gods in Robert E. Howard's Conan tales), several great battle scenes, psychic visions, drug use, a hailstorm, Egyptology, a shooting competition, a sandstorm, etc. Haggard throws quite a bit into this one to ensure a good time. And for fans of Hans, Quatermain's heroic and amusing Hottentot sidekick, this one provides quite a little tearjerker ending. It's all wonderfully pulpy and quite amusing; a ripping good yarn, as they used to say. So seek this one out on Amazon it'll reward your efforts!
