I finished reading this novel today, my third in two weeks, and now I feel it is my duty to share my thoughts and feelings on this 1978 offering with you all, as well as setting up a poll for you to share your own feelings.
YET AGAIN I have thoroughly enjoyed reading a book by Wilbur Smith. Whilst reading through it and becoming more and more engrossed in it and indeed, you could say that I became HUNGRY for more!!!
The action begins right at the start with the expedition to save the Golden Adventurer and I could feel the claustrophobia of the Warlock and the terror of he stranded passengers who Samantha tries to save so vividly that I was no longer reading a book but I was there with the characters enduring it all alongside them. Wilbur's way of writing is so deep and engrossing that every one of his novels I have had the pleasue of reading has succeeded in pulling me in and taking me along for the ride.
First things first - The first section onboard Warlock. I immediately took to David Allen and Beauty Baker as complex and developed characters who I could easily believe really existed, both 100% loyal and dedicated. Some of Baker's quotes raised a smile as I was reading. These are definitely two men I would like to have on my team. The Trog was an excellent character too, but why did I begin to think of him as the tug's medium?
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the pacing. After the long (but not boring) expedition the novel took off like a rocket when Duncan Alexander, a man who - although he is not a terrorist or a fanatic - relly does rise to the limits of evil - makes his entrance. A great deal of suspension is also mixed in for good measure, particularly whenever Nick comes into contact with his obsessive ex-wife. At times I felt like crying out: "Don't do it! Keep away from her!" and Peter's involvement towards the end really had he hairs standing on the back of my neck.
The Golden Dawn, although not a living being, is also a central character and when reading the descriptions of her sheer size I could only picture the Knock Nevis (once the world's largest operational ship) in my mind and the confrontation she has with Samantha's fishing boat had me so close to the edge of my seat I was in severe danger of falling off.
Just a quick word about the finale - WHAT AN AMAZING CLIMAX!! I had some truly fantastic movie-like images in my head during the last 50 pages or so.
Overall, 10/10