Eagle in the Sky

[Nefer]

I know I said I don't like WS's stand-alones, but I actually enjoyed this one too! The quiz questions made me remember how much I did like it

David's character was very nicely crafted - particularly enjoyed the portrayal of him after he looses his physical hotness in the fire. Didn't think WS would scar his main man that way, but it just goes to show, you never know with Mr. Wilbur

I liked the history lesson too, as I don't know much about the Israel-Palestine thing. The only other book I got some info. on the topic was from one by Jeffrey Archer... I forget the name of it right now, I'll look it up on my bookshelf & post it up later.

[Phils_jd]

Yes I must agree with you. I found it interesting. I dont rate it very high maybe a 6 or 6.5. I found the part of the Book about his development and then disfigurement very good, maybe 8 not sure about a 9, but when he comes home and sets up home with his wife or girlfriend I thought it was written by someone else - it was shit.

[Monsoon]

I really liked the book and thought it was the most emotionally moving one that WS has written. Then again i did read it at a slightly sad time in my life so that may have had something to do with it. I think i might have even gone just over an 8 and given this one a 9.
The Arab/Israeli conflict i have studied in depth during my student years and to this day i really don't know where people are coming from when they are so anti-Isreali, most of whom don't seem to know the history of it all. Anyway that's a real hot potato so its best to keep away.

[Nichiren]

i found that this is one of the most agonizingle beautiful books i have read. so much feeling and passion is thrown around that i was left with one feeling after reading it. 'wow'

[Son of the Silver Fox]

This on is a good beach read, something fun to plow through when the brain is in neutral. The plot is pretty thin, but in the right context still fun.[spoiler]Young, handsome,shiftless, millionaire playboy meets Israeli beauty and her brother while vacationing on the continent and immediatley falls in love. He follows her to Isreal becomes a Ace jet pilot and wins the girl, only to lose her and get his face burned off after his reckless piloting causes the death of the brother...trials and tribulation and wins the girl again, happily off into the sunset. 6 out of 10[/spoiler]

[Jo Fitz]

This was the first Wilbur I read. My dad lent it to me when i was about sixteen. It completely blew me away. The most beautiful and moving love story i have ever read. It will always be one of my favourites of all time.
This book started my obsession with Mr Smith. I have now read all his books. some of them such as this one, half a dozen or more times.
I am so addicted..........

[Monsoon]

It completely blew me away. The most beautiful and moving love story i have ever read.

Hey another one like me who found this book to be a pretty emotional one

[Thilo]

....about the Israel-Palestine thing. The only other book .....

If someone wants to read good story books which - in the same way as WS puts the story within a specific historic context – uses this theme, you can read books of Herman Wouk (The Hope and follow up The Glory). Leon Uris also have good one’s – Especially Exodus and The Haj.

[Alysha]

Aww really, I cant believe so many people didnt rate this book? It's prob my second fave W.S book (behind R.G) - i thought it was so lovely, i think I cried...
I guess im a soppy romantic

[Matbow]

I read this just before Christmas and to me, this book proves that Wilbur needs to write a thriller set in modern times - the first half of the book with the jet planes, terrorism and other "modern-ish themes" was brilliantly written!

I was slightly concerned with the initial direction of the novel, I have my own views about the Israeli/Palestinian issue and it appeared that Wilbur was talking the viewpoint which somewhat contradicted my own. I now understand how many native Africans and Boers could quite easily become offended by some of Wiburs books. It's not that Wilbur writes things that aren't true - Arab's did (and still do) terrorise Israel, but there was no explanation why they were taking these actions.

Anyway, back to the book. Once I'd "got over" my initial objections I really did enjoy it and I found it really hard to put down. The bit where the planes crashes and the main character dude (I can't remember his name) gets burned alive was excruciatingly brilliant - I was squirming in my seat.

I didn't enjoy the second half of the novel as much and I found it pretty predictable, with Wilbur reverting back to his formula of Africa, hunting and a couple building a homestead. It's not that it became a bad book, just that it became a little too girly for my liking!

Not a bad book, the first half was excellent - with a bit more historic detail of Israeli conflict in the first half and less predictable mushy stuff in the second half this could have been one of my favourite Wilbur books...as it is I'm giving it a 7 out of 10.

[Danny Ramone]

This one is one of my favorites, i am another one who found a sense of loss myself when David's life pretty much fell down around him.

If I may offer my own opinion on the whole Israel/Palestine thing. I think it is a conflict that will never have a moral winner, that is to say no side will ever be right. This is the same conflict that has been going since the crusades. I noticed WS uses jewish people in a few other books maybe there is a slight bias?

[kinko64]

I just finished the book. I thought it was brilliant, but not as brilliant as say, the sunbird. I liked the lovestory angle en the way the main character gets mutilated kept me up wat past my bedtime. The second part of the novel (as someone else already stated) is a bit the good old wilbur smith formula, however this didn't bother me.

[sharyjoon2]

I first read this book when I was 12 and for some reason i read it again at 47. It's a really 'nice' book and I do thin that WS could have done more with the story line. I get the feeling he started the book with the intention of writing something really special and half way through got bored and rushed it to the finish.
The ending is poor but may work well in a film . I am surprised the book has not been made into a film - it's a much better movie script than a book.

[johnrogers]

I first read this book when I was 12 and for some reason i read it again at 47. It's a really 'nice' book and I do thin that WS could have done more with the story line. I get the feeling he started the book with the intention of writing something really special and half way through got bored and rushed it to the finish.
The ending is poor but may work well in a film . I am surprised the book has not been made into a film - it's a much better movie script than a book.

Hi shayjoon

I have read all of Wilburs standalones and I like them a lot.My fave is Sunbird by a long shot - the storyline had all the componets,secret civilizations,hidden cities,treasure,etc.Eagle In The Sky was a great book as well.

[Morwenna]

Its not unusual for me to become emotionally involved in Wilbur Smith's books but this one was in a class of its own.

Never do I sneak a look at the end of a book but I did whilst reading 'Eagle in the Sky' because I was so heartbroken and thought I couldn't finish it.

I've recommended it to several people as an introduction to WS.


It is indeed interesting how an author of the stature of Wilbur Smith can induce such polarised opinions from his readers but imho that is the real skill of The Masterstoryteller.

[EarlyBirdie]

Since I read fiction novels to be entertained, I really enjoyed this book. David's disconfiguration is a typical WS surprise to the extent that it made me unsure of how the book would end and that's always a plus in any novel.