Blue Horizon

Blue Horizon is a typical Wilbur Smith book. An engaging storyline set against the sweeping panorama of colonial Africa is ruined by ridiculous cliché-ridden dialogue straight out of a Mills and Boon novel. Even worse are the repulsive, gloating descriptions of the needless slaughter of wild animals for fun. Like most Wilbur Smith heroes, Jim Courtney can't look at a "magnificent beast" without wanting to kill it.
Escapist entertainment that will sicken any civilised reader.

first disappointment (3/8 people found this helpful)

I have always enjoyed Wilbur Smith novels but this one is such a disappointment. It is so similar to others he has written and I feel there is nothing new in this one. It is therefore so predictable and in the end, I even got a little bored with it! Come on Wilbur, you can do better!

nothing new (0/1 people found this helpful)

I have to agree with some other reviews here - I have read it all before and its just more of Smiths usual recipe - the goodies are very good and are accomplished sailors, horsemen, hunters, traders and linguists, are physically perfect and fall in love at first sight of their equally perfect counterparts (groan) and the baddies are very bad and cruel. Its all just a bit too naive and fantastical compared to his other books.

Wilbur does it again! (5/5 people found this helpful)

Wilbur Smith never seems to run out of ideas. In "Blue Horizon" he takes us to South Africa(a favorite stomping veldt!). It's the early 18th century and we find the Courtney family (the next generation following "Monsoon") set for further adventures. Complex as "Dynasty" and any daytime soap opera when it comes to a myriad of characters and all the given possibilities of what their actions and reactions might incur.

Jim Courtney is set to make further success in the Cape of Good Hope colony, but, like Odysseus, a sea storm occurs blowing a ship full of Dutch female convicts into port, and from there Jim certainly rides the waves, saving the life of the most seductive prisoner (of course) just in the nick of time. Thus begins a few navel maneuvers of their own.

That facetiously said, of course, "Blue Horizon" is vintage Wilbur Smith. His legions of fans expect nothing else and they get it, in full gale force, in this long (and perhaps drawn out) story. Expect to lots of elephants, nefarious Dutchmen, treacherous Bushmen, lusty women, virtuous women (well, at least one!), conniving Englishmen---the whole littany of "baddies." But what Wilbur Smith adventure would not have these characteristics? Wilbur Smith is Wilbur Smith, for better or for better, and graphic descriptions and local color abound. Smith does get a bit verbose and that can be tiring, but in general his yarns are worth the effort.

Pleasantly surprised (8/9 people found this helpful)

After reading some of the more negative reviews of this latest from Smith I was unsure of what to expect from my favourite author. I'm still working my way through all his books but loving every word he produces so far.

Blue Horizon did have a few de ja vu moments from his other books but this didn't stop it from being impossible to put down for a second! Just when you think his adventures couldn't have any new twists to them, he comes up with a corker.

It would be the wee hours of the morning and I'd be thinking, I really should get some sleep. I'll put it down after this chapter (you know how it is!) and some new twist in the story would keep my eyes glued to the pages.

Enough of my ramblings, Blue Horizon follows the offspring of Tom and Dorian Courtney through their African adventures. Always compelling, always inspiring.

Wilbur Smith

Reader Reviews:

OK if you enjoy daft speeches and dead animals (5/12 people found this helpful)

first disappointment (3/8 people found this helpful)

nothing new (0/1 people found this helpful)

Wilbur does it again! (5/5 people found this helpful)

Pleasantly surprised (8/9 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories