The Wilbur Smith Discussion Forums

The order to read the Ballantyne's is:

A falcon Flies
Men of Men
The Angels Weep
The Leopard Hunts in the Darkness

HTH.

I've only read the first two so yeah... but it seems that everyone favours the Courtney series. Is there a reason? I enjoyed the Ballantyne books, but I couldn't say that I liked them better than the Courtney series... they're about equal in my books.

It seems the Courtneys are more the favoured family, they did receive the earliest introduction to the readership so that could be why they are more popular with most people.. just guessing though.

Yeah, it definately does seem the Courtneys are more popular. IMHO, the 2 Ballantynes I have read compare to the "middle" Courtneys. But, they don't come close to the birds of prey, monsoon and blue horizon sub trilogy - which for many new/younger readers will be the first WS books they pick up and will judge all the others by.

It may also be because WS is telling the semi-sort-of history of Zimbabwe through the Ballantyne familes. For some, the reading may get a little heavy, and with too many historical references.

I thought it strange to be reading about Cecil J. Rhodes, personally. He was an actual player in the history of Southern Africa, but not everyone will know that. So the meaning of what WS is trying to put across may be lost to some.

Yeah, I found that quite strange too...it made me do a bit of research into him.

Not sure about people not knowing who he is tho - I would assume that most people over here in the UK would know the name and the country. Maybe that's just the UK tho, a lot of our History taught at school is about the old Empire and Commonwealth etc...

... and now with Triumph of the Sun the Courtneys and the Ballantynes come together

Hey Guys,

Im currently still reading through the Courtney's and wondering weather i should read the Ballantynes first before i read triumph of the sun. Anyone give me some advise? Ive read all the courtneys bar Birds of Prey (currently reading) Blue Horizon and Monsoon and obviuosly Triumph of the sun

Hey Bids, you can carry on with the Courtney series including Triumph of the Sun with no problems. Triumph has barely any relation with any of Wilburs books so far and the plot and characters are completely detached from anything gone before. So you could leave the Ballantynes for another time if you so wish.

Cheers Monsoon, Yeah i plan on finishing all the Courtney's however im gona be a little lost when ive finally finished them. Ive grown quite attatched to the Courtney family

Right now i reckon you are in amongst his best books! Make sure Monsoon comes before Blue Horizon though.

Geez that was quick. Yeah im bout 100 pages through Birds of prey and its getting quite good. Found it a little difficult going from Africa to the Seas but im warming to it.

In my opinion the first two "Men of Men", "A falcon Flies" are good historic fiction, but the gem is the third ."The Angels Weep" is the best book Wilbur Smith has ever wrote. He managed to sum up the whole end of the colonial era, when you think about it this is the world that our author came from. I was too young and unaware to know of these events but when I finished I was depressed for days feeling the death of Rhodesia. The greatest writers can take you to an unfamiliar time and a place, and can make you feel it, taste it, and care. The fourth book "The Leopard Hunts In Darkness" goes along with "A time to Die" in the Courtney books as looks at the post colonial Africa.

Wow, Angels weeps sounds amazing! Best he's ever wrote? Thats high praise indeed. Just started Falcon now so looking forward to working my way through the Ballantynes

I need to purchase Angel's weep yet... and all this talk about it is making me look forward to Christmas break when I'll have some time to read.

I've read all of WSs books except 2. My husband and I are now re-reading them. He's begun the Courtneys and I've just finished reading all 4 Ballantyne books. Couldn't put them down. They are just as good the second time around. Am beginning to work out a Ballantyne family tree plus a Kumala family tree.

Hey Dee, welcome to the forum!

Son of the Silver Fox wrote:The fourth book "The Leopard Hunts In Darkness" goes along with "A time to Die" in the Courtney books as looks at the post colonial Africa.

Completely agree with you there - I'm reading "Leopard" at the moment and I'm findind it very similar to "A Time to Die" (in a good way), similar style of plot and characters. Good stuff!

I just started over with the Courtney Novels in the order which they were written. I read the first three and thoroughly enjoyed them, Finally got a copy of "Dead Leaves Two Years In The Rhodesian War" and allowed myself to get sidetracked with that. Have now started Power Of The Sword. Saving and Savoring The Ballantynes like Desert.

Power of the Sword is a great book, as they all are really. I've only read them in order that they were published (with the exception of A time to die) i now think that it doesn't matter which order you read them in. As for the Ballentynes...i've only had a brief taste of Falcon flies, and enjoyed that but had to leave it for River God. From what i got, i don't think it will hit the hights of the Courtney series.