Classic adventure from Wilbur Smith.
The Sunbird
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"When it comes to historical fiction, Smith is without rival."--"Tulsa World"
"Each time I read a new Wilbur Smith I say it is the best book I have ever read--until the next one."--"Times Record News "(Wichita Falls, TX)
"Each time I read a new Wilbur Smith I say it is the best book I have ever read--until the next one."--"Times Record News "(Wichita Falls, TX)
Book Description
'I scrambled onto my knees, pushing the automatic rifle forward to cover one flank. In that instant they opened on us. The air around me was torn by the sound of a thousand bull whips, while the gunfire sounded like a stick dragged swiftly across a corrugated-iron fence.' A hazy aerial photograph and a sinister curse are the only clues Dr Ben Kazin has before he stumbles on the archaeological discovery of a lifetime. Beneath the red cliffs of Botswanaland a magnificent unknown civilization has remained buried for millenna. But the magic of uncovering a lost culture is harshly interrupted by the violence of terrorists, love, intrigue and the breathtaking secrets of centries...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By JPR
Format:Hardcover
Only the 2nd stand alone i've read of Wilbur. I must admit that when starting this book, i had quite high expectations since i'd heard it was one of his best.
I can say now that i was not disappointed in the slightest. In fact i was even taken aback a little by its brilliance. This is definitely one book not to miss out on.
Split into 2 parts, the 1st is set in the modern era (1970's) in Southern Africa. We follow the gifted, intelligent but physically deformed (Hunchback) Dr. Ben Kazin and his rich and handsome friend Louren. They share a passion for lost civilisations and archietecture. So when the red cliffs of Botswanaland show a potental sectet to an ancient civilisation and culture, Dr. Kazin thinks that this could be the one, the chance of a liftime, to realise his dreams. Both set of to try and uncover any leads. These efforts are constantly disrupted by many things, namely Terrorists, Violence, Greed and Love.
Even if this doesn't sound like your cup of tea, the way Wilbur writes it eventually weaves some kind of magic spell on you and you are swept into the world of these 2 characters and their dreams. The main character Ben is brought to life so well that you begin to share his passions, happiness, weakness and ambitions with him.
The 2nd part of the book goes back 2000 years and introduces us to the civilisation of Opet. Here our main hero is a courageous, well loved priest/war veterain named Huy Ben-Amon. His close friend is the King of Opet, Lannon. Their civilisation rules the southern continent but a potentially hostile enemy is lurking in the North. Due to their cruelty and complaciency overall as a society, Opet comes under threat by a seemingly unstoppable and relentless foe.
... Read more ›20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I have read the Sunbird three times until now (once in English and twice in Greek) and every time I finish it I want to read it again. Admittedly the beginning isn't very exciting. After a certain point though Smith's narration attains some kind of magic and you find yourself in another dimension. The writing is so natural and balanced that makes the book almost a classic. The story also is wonderful and manages to appeal like an ancient Greek tragedy or a Shaekspearean play. The characters, especially Dr. Kajin, are so well given that make you share their passions, weaknesess and ambitions. 'The Sunbird', I think, is the kind of book that all the equivalent should have as reference.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Smith shows just how good a writer he really is. This amazing example of his work brings together the exitement of modern day Africa and the emotions of his lead character perfectly, before throwing them back in time where we see the brilliance of his creative mind sending them into their carthaginian past. I could not put it down. Excellent, fantastic, perfect. Need I say more?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The Sunbird is the standard by which all other books of this genre should be measured. Wilbur Smith's dark tale of reincarnation and doomed love is riveting. Smith has us wishing we were fighting beside Huy Ben-Amon as he goes into battle. Africa is described as being harsh and unforgiving, but with a beauty that is breathtaking. The author gives us everything we could ask for in this type of book. Simply put, Wilbur Smith's greatest novel.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mild spoilers
Well probably some 30 years from my first read of this epic book I find myself submitting a review of it after breaking my own unwritten rule of never re-reading a book. I ended up on this road after drawing up a short list of books I would have given 5 stars to had I been into reviewing at the time (or in this case had amazon and the internet existed!) after a discussion with another reviewer. (Cheers JPS)
As a teenager this book absolutely blew me away. It seemed to have everything a young man ever fantasised about between its covers:- wild untamed Afrika, beautiful and willing woman, full pitched battle and the lifestyle of the rich and famous! Well all the usual Wilbur Smith ingredients really. What set this book apart from the other WS classics of the same era was it's telling of two tales, one tale set in the present day and the other set over a thousand years earlier, just after the final punic war. A further twist is that main players are essentially re-born versions of themselves, and that the modern tale in someways shadows the events of the past. In the modern day Dr Ben and his fabulously rich mentor have uncovered an ancient city whilst a thousand years earlier a new King takes control of the same City in it's pomp after it's inhabitants fled Carthage and the iron shod rule of the Romans. You with me?
However the biggest and best twist for me is that the main hero, our own Dr Ben Kazin / Huy Ben-Amon is a hunch back! As other regular readers of WS know all his heroes are staggeringly handsome, intelligent, rich, super tough and natural leaders of men... oh and invariably called Courtney! So this was quite a departure at the time.... Read more ›
Well probably some 30 years from my first read of this epic book I find myself submitting a review of it after breaking my own unwritten rule of never re-reading a book. I ended up on this road after drawing up a short list of books I would have given 5 stars to had I been into reviewing at the time (or in this case had amazon and the internet existed!) after a discussion with another reviewer. (Cheers JPS)
As a teenager this book absolutely blew me away. It seemed to have everything a young man ever fantasised about between its covers:- wild untamed Afrika, beautiful and willing woman, full pitched battle and the lifestyle of the rich and famous! Well all the usual Wilbur Smith ingredients really. What set this book apart from the other WS classics of the same era was it's telling of two tales, one tale set in the present day and the other set over a thousand years earlier, just after the final punic war. A further twist is that main players are essentially re-born versions of themselves, and that the modern tale in someways shadows the events of the past. In the modern day Dr Ben and his fabulously rich mentor have uncovered an ancient city whilst a thousand years earlier a new King takes control of the same City in it's pomp after it's inhabitants fled Carthage and the iron shod rule of the Romans. You with me?
However the biggest and best twist for me is that the main hero, our own Dr Ben Kazin / Huy Ben-Amon is a hunch back! As other regular readers of WS know all his heroes are staggeringly handsome, intelligent, rich, super tough and natural leaders of men... oh and invariably called Courtney! So this was quite a departure at the time.... Read more ›
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
hard going
I have read all Wilber Smith books and enjoyed them but the Sunbird was very hard going. hard to keep up with the plot
Published 5 days ago by driver me
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Sunbird
This is the book that first turned me on to Wilbur Smith when I first read it many years ago.
Reading it for the second time I discovered that it had lost none of its... Read more
Reading it for the second time I discovered that it had lost none of its... Read more
Published 14 days ago by J. M. Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for fans of the River God series
I am a fan of Wilbur Smith, but only of his River God series. I enjoy the basis in archaeology and ancient times, so the Sunbird is an ideal book with its first half focusing on... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Menaka T Piyaratna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Wilbur winner
The plot runs quickly in typical Wilbur Smith fashion and the author's love of the place in very evident in his detailed descriptions of the landscape and wildlife.
Published 23 days ago by Bob Richards
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must to read
a tippical wilber smith classic great read that keeps you guessingtill the end off the book one off his best
Published 29 days ago by colin bradbury
5.0 out of 5 stars
third time I have read this book
third time I have read this book over a thirty year span and each time enjoyed it as is if reading it for the first time,the switch from present to past is like reading a different... Read more
Published 2 months ago by eileen moore
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Sunbird
I read this book many years ago, and thought it was worth reading again.
I enjoyed it just as much the second time. Read more
I enjoyed it just as much the second time. Read more
Published 2 months ago by JEAN WATERS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
A fantastic read. Wilbur Smith is a wonderful writer. I couldn't put the book down. Magnificent story telling. Worth every one of its 5 stars.
Published 2 months ago by Max Asiwe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Far fetched but kept you turning pages
I remember reading this book years ago and it stuck in my mind so ordered for my kindle . A good yarn .It was much more interesting in the second part.
Published 2 months ago by howdy
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
it is a book i have read many times and i lent to someone who did'nt return it this was a replacement it is a very enjoyable book
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Joy Simmonds
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