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The Quest (Hardcover)

by Wilbur Smith (Author)
2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
Price: £11.79 & 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
Total RRP: £34.97
Price For All Three: £21.32

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  • This item: The Quest by Wilbur Smith

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Warlock by Wilbur Smith

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  • The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 503 pages
  • Publisher: Macmillan; First Edition edition (5 April 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1405005807
  • ISBN-13: 978-1405005807
  • Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.2 x 5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 153,069 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #43 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
59% buy the item featured on this page:
The Quest 2.2 out of 5 stars (131)
£11.79
Assegai
17% buy
Assegai 4.0 out of 5 stars (117)
£6.35
The Seventh Scroll
10% buy
The Seventh Scroll 4.4 out of 5 stars (38)
£4.74
River God
8% buy
River God 4.9 out of 5 stars (76)
£4.79
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Customer Reviews

131 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (12)
3 star:
 (15)
2 star:
 (21)
1 star:
 (66)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.2 out of 5 stars (131 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
77 of 79 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)   
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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30 of 31 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)   
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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78 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Not the Taita I've known., 9 April 2007
By A. Hobson (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
As an avid Wilbur Smith fan who has held River God as my most loved book for years, I looked forward to The Quest from the moment it was announced a new Taita novel was on its way.
However now that Ive managed to read it I find myself incredibly disappointed with the huge differences between Smith's usual style and this.
No longer our slightly vain, not so modest early Taita or even the enigmatic older Magus Taita. We now have a young, all powerful warrior Taita in a story involving outlandish magics, modern day genetic manipulation, long dead characters resurrected with noticable differences, and extended 'sex battles'.
Not only does Taita gain immense magical power and manage to regrow his entire genitals and the virginity that cost him the loss of them in River God but also discovers the reincarnation of his decades dead love, Lostris (who has mysteriously become a blonde), who also has immense magical power and conveniently falls in love.

No sign of the flaws that made Taita into the wounded hero that so appealed originally. No sign of the undying love Lostris bore for Tanus her entire lifetime until her death. No sign of the rich storyline that I love so dearly about Smith's other novels or the well developed and thought out characters.


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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful
Without doubt the worst Wilbur Smith book i have read - what happened was it ghost written? Totally ridiculous story when added to the previous in the Taita books
Published 1 month ago by Ian E. Parkinson

5.0 out of 5 stars The Quest
I have now completed my collection of Wilbur Smith books, but The Quest was one of the best for action, in fact everything, although a bit bloody in parts, and away from S. Read more
Published 2 months ago by mrs n marshall

1.0 out of 5 stars What a massive disappointment
I've been reading Wilbur Smith's books for about 30 years and he's one of the few authors whose books I will always buy new because he rarely disappoints. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Heather

5.0 out of 5 stars I just lovesd this book and was upset when it was finished. I don't know what other people who have read this book are on about
I just loved The Quest and was quite upset when I had finshed reading it. I don't know what other readers are going on about. Read more
Published 4 months ago by FRANCES WILSON

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible
It really is as bad as others say.
The first books in this series are excellent but this one was either knocked out in a hasty weeks work or ghostwritten by someone who... Read more
Published 6 months ago by mtp

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 7 months 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 9 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 9 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 10 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 11 months ago by Mrs. J. D. Rumble

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