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ELEPHANT SONG
Daniel Armstrong, a world-famous TV naturalist, and anthropologist Kelly Kinnear forge a passionate alliance, and begin the fight against the forces of greed, evil, and corruption that are attacking a land they would both give their lives to save. Combining breathtaking realism and thrilling suspense, the world's master storyteller takes us on a journey deep into the heart of a wild, magnificent continent, threatened forever by the destructive hand of man.
457 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Wilbur Smith
480 books4,122 followersWilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.
His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.
Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.
His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.
Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
May 19, 2023
Jun 23, 1130am ~~ Review asap.
530pm ~~ Wilbur Smith wrote tons of books, many that involved whole families of fictional characters like the Courtneys and the Ballantynes. But he also produced quite a few stand alone titles which are just as thrilling as the series titles were.
When I learned in 2021 that Smith had passed away, I reviewed what titles I had of his and ordered Elephant Song and a memoir. And one of these days I will dig up the four other stand alones I own and reread them. Two are already 'official' but the other two were read pre-GR. There is simply no end to future projects, is there? lol
But now to business: Elephant Song. This is a typical Wilbur Smith book, raw, sometimes brutal, very fast-paced and hard to put down. But you must be prepared for blood in any Smith title, and ES is no exception. It can be heartbreaking, because the book opens with a government-planned cull of elephants in a national park. The idea is that the conservation program was almost too successful: the elephants have multiplied beyond the land's ability to sustain them. There is a group of fifty that have been chosen for slaughter, and every animal in the group must die. The carcasses will be cut up for animal feed, any tusks will be added to the government hoard, stamped as legal for resale an auctioned off in the near future.
Except that both meat and ivory gets stolen first. And all the people of the compound were brutally and quite gruesomely murdered. No witnesses left behind.
Except that our main character, Daniel Armstrong, famous for his documentary films about Africa, had been taping the cull for his latest production. And the head ranger was a lifelong friend. Armstrong has sworn revenge and he is certain he knows who was involved. Will he be able to fulfill his vow to Johnny's spirit? Where in Africa will the trail lead him?
Both Armstrong and the reader know soon enough who The Truly Bad Guy is, but neither of us know when we will all meet again. I was tempted to go for five stars here, but there were some parts that were a bit too easy to predict, too conventional.
But I loved all the scenes about the Bambuti people of the rainforest, better known as Pygmies. In an acknowledgements page at the end, Smith thanks author Colin Turnbull for his book The Forest People, which Smith said was "invaluable in his research for this story". That entire phase of the book was completely unexpected and fascinating, even enchanting.
530pm ~~ Wilbur Smith wrote tons of books, many that involved whole families of fictional characters like the Courtneys and the Ballantynes. But he also produced quite a few stand alone titles which are just as thrilling as the series titles were.
When I learned in 2021 that Smith had passed away, I reviewed what titles I had of his and ordered Elephant Song and a memoir. And one of these days I will dig up the four other stand alones I own and reread them. Two are already 'official' but the other two were read pre-GR. There is simply no end to future projects, is there? lol
But now to business: Elephant Song. This is a typical Wilbur Smith book, raw, sometimes brutal, very fast-paced and hard to put down. But you must be prepared for blood in any Smith title, and ES is no exception. It can be heartbreaking, because the book opens with a government-planned cull of elephants in a national park. The idea is that the conservation program was almost too successful: the elephants have multiplied beyond the land's ability to sustain them. There is a group of fifty that have been chosen for slaughter, and every animal in the group must die. The carcasses will be cut up for animal feed, any tusks will be added to the government hoard, stamped as legal for resale an auctioned off in the near future.
Except that both meat and ivory gets stolen first. And all the people of the compound were brutally and quite gruesomely murdered. No witnesses left behind.
Except that our main character, Daniel Armstrong, famous for his documentary films about Africa, had been taping the cull for his latest production. And the head ranger was a lifelong friend. Armstrong has sworn revenge and he is certain he knows who was involved. Will he be able to fulfill his vow to Johnny's spirit? Where in Africa will the trail lead him?
Both Armstrong and the reader know soon enough who The Truly Bad Guy is, but neither of us know when we will all meet again. I was tempted to go for five stars here, but there were some parts that were a bit too easy to predict, too conventional.
But I loved all the scenes about the Bambuti people of the rainforest, better known as Pygmies. In an acknowledgements page at the end, Smith thanks author Colin Turnbull for his book The Forest People, which Smith said was "invaluable in his research for this story". That entire phase of the book was completely unexpected and fascinating, even enchanting.
February 27, 2022
Μια βόλτα στην καρδιά της Αφρικής!
Ωραίο βιβλίο, αλλά κάνει κοιλιά σε αρκετά σημεία...θεωρώ ότι κάπου 150 σελίδες ήταν αχρείαστες!
Πραγματική βαθμολογία 3*...το 4ο λόγω της αδυναμίας μου στην Αφρική !
Ωραίο βιβλίο, αλλά κάνει κοιλιά σε αρκετά σημεία...θεωρώ ότι κάπου 150 σελίδες ήταν αχρείαστες!
Πραγματική βαθμολογία 3*...το 4ο λόγω της αδυναμίας μου στην Αφρική !
July 30, 2014
This was a page turner, easy to read and with a story I wanted to follow. However, some parts were a bit too far fetched and I couldn't buy into them. The violence was also over the top. The elephant culling scene and its aftermath were atrocious.
May 28, 2022
The only thing I knew about this book ahead of time was that it was set in Africa. The cover quotes suggested "Abounds with action and suspense". And after finishing it... sure, it abounded with action and there was some suspense. But what was this book actually about?!? The actual plot certainly wasn't the mainstay of this book. At it's core I guess it was a revenge plot - which don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good revenge plot. But this was one was way too dark, very random, and unbelievably grandiose. No, I'd say it was ABOUT a period of time in Africa (don't ask me which period of time, no clue - 100 years ago? 50 years ago? yesterday?), some of their unique societal issues, and how it all relates to nature. And yes of course the book opens and closes with actual Elephant Songs. On those merits, it was a pretty good book. I did learn some stuff about Africa. And it was a bit of a page turner, although with 469 pages it wasn't exactly a quick read. So let's address the... elephant... in... the room. You see the rating. 2 Stars. Not a recommendation. I'll go further: Don't read this fucking book. This book is sequenced in like 3 or 4 very distinct phases. And in the very first phase, there is a horrible, fully described scene of sexual violence against children. Deal breaker. I don't care what else the book has going for it. I don't want to read that. I don't want to think about. I don't want you to have to think about it. I don't care if it was a realistic storyline for that place and time. I don't care at all. On those grounds, this book could earn no more than 2 stars from me. If you're only reading this review to decide whether or not to read this book, you're done.
But if you've already read the book, and you're here for the post read break down, Welcome.
Weird book right? We're on Safari. Horrible murder/rapes. REVENGE... nevermind, we're back in London making movies and throwing parties. Wait, now we're back in Africa making friends with Pigmies. And we orchestrated a bloody revolution. Too much right?
I feel like we could have just stuck with the revenge plot. I liked it when Danny Boy was fumbling around the African slums trying to avenge his boy's (brutal) murder. And of course I LOVED when the other park ranger guy hunted down the murder crew in the jungle and ultimately ran them over with his boat one at time. That was one of the highlights of the book! And the worst bad guy got half eaten by a gator! Oh man, good good stuff. Too bad for the peasants that were forced to paddle the bad guys canoes though huh?
Then Daniel catches up to one of the park ranger traitors and tries to cut off his dick! Seriously, loved that part. And of course I HATED that righteous cameraman who came blustering and jambed it all up. I didn't get it - that guy saw all the murdered bodies too right? Why was he like... gotta let the cops settle this one man... It didn't make sense! and it's not like he just abstained, he pulled a gun on Danny right? That part was enraging, and I credit our author for getting me all worked up about it.
Then it's Danny fighting a mountain lion, and killing henchmen. All the early battles with Chetti Singh were great. But I didn't love that Chetti survived the final lion attack. First of all - he's been torturing that cat for YEARS! And the cat just lets him live? Yea right. Secondly, I didn't need Chetti hanging around and being like the THIRD main character in this book. Right? He over stayed his welcome. He was just a local crime lord. They should have let him die in that warehouse.
After all that, Danny goes home to make a movie, and in my opinion this book really goes off the rails. All we needed was a final set up to get in close enough to murder Cheng. Instead we get international espionage. I don't know this for sure, but I assume our author was playing around with two different concepts for a novel. Probably planning out his next two books, one called Elephant Song, and one called Rumble in the Jungle. He wrote up Elephant Song, sent it off to his editor, and started on Rumble in the Jungle. Halfway through RITJ, his editor called and told him Elephant Song was too short, he needed another 200 pages. So Wilbur just jambed RITJ into the middle of Elephant Song and called it day.
Along with the bloated storyline, this book could have benefited from a couple more stable characters. All we got was Daniel. Think about it - who are even the next few main characters? Here's the official list:
1) Daniel Harrison (Steve Irwin)
2) Ning Chong Cheng
3) Chetti Singh
4) Jane Goodall
6) Seepoo
7) Bonnie Mahon (The least realistic character in the whole story?)
8) Michael Harrington (British CIA and fucking useless)
9) Tug Harrison
10) Pirri
Am I wrong? Isn't that a shitty list? Very problematic characters. Sure there are some cute characters in there, who didn't love Seepoo? But what the hell happened to Michael Harrington?!?! He was worse than useless! He should have been the second main character. He should have dropped in a helicopter and helped out or something. LAME. I already ranted about Chetti, but what about Ning Cheng Chong? He just kept getting more and more evil... for no reason? We already hate him. Hated him from the first few chapters. Why did he have to keep sex-murdering girls the whole time. Again, it's like this guy was writing a totally different Sex Predator silence of the lambs serial killer book. Why did he drink snake venom?!?! And why did he have to sex-kill Bonnie. That part of the book turned me off also. Her character didn't make much sense to me. She's really stupid enough to sleep with the militant president of shit-town Africa, film his soldiers murdering people, TELL HIM ABOUT IT, and then give him the film? She wasn't a bad guy in this story. She didn't need to get sex-murdered.
Speaking of Seepoo and Pirri, both of whom I loved. I'd say that's what earned the second star (first star earned from the early chapters vengeance campaign), the lovely little pigmy stories. Cute guys hoping around the forest giggling. Loved em. Plus one star. So yea... Speaking of Pirri - I enjoyed the moment near the end where the author suggested Pirri was going to sell out the revolutionaries training in the forest. But then decided to murder Chetti instead. That was fun. And it was nice to see Chetti get done dirty - but also, he was like some genius crime boss right? Who got tricked into wandering into the forest. Weak.
Anyways, it was cute with Pirri. But not cute when the author pull the same stunt again at the end of the book with the sniper rifle. (Oh did you forget our main character is also a Fucking Sniper in addition to love-able nature channel host?) The whole revolution depends on him taking out Tarriffi with a single sniper bullet. They have back ups and contingencies for every other part of this mission, except for a sniper shot? What? Who planned this. Oh yea, the same fucking guy. And of course he misses his shots, and oh no - is the mission going to fail (with only 10 pages left...)?
It all works out, the MOB ribs Tariffi apart and Daniel get's to murder Cheng in the jungle. But wasn't it weird how like... Jane Goodall was so close to all the fighting at the end? Like, she lives in a secret village deep in the secret jungle... And her only job was to run the radio system for this mission... but they put their radio within walking distance of the hit site for the final Sniper shot? Cheng just like walked into her hut? And he was the only one.... Why didn't Tariffi go that way? The geography of the final scenes didn't make any sense to me. Pirri is a master hunter/murder. He blends into the jungle undetected. No one could sneak up on him... but his brother Seepoo just got pistol whipped? Seepoo didn't have any poison darts for the revolutionary war? No one was watching the door for the radio command center?!?!
Making the plot too grand opens you up to lots of issues like that. I would have liked this book more if it was simpler (and if there just wasn't any sexual violence). And the Molimo was dumb.
But if you've already read the book, and you're here for the post read break down, Welcome.
Weird book right? We're on Safari. Horrible murder/rapes. REVENGE... nevermind, we're back in London making movies and throwing parties. Wait, now we're back in Africa making friends with Pigmies. And we orchestrated a bloody revolution. Too much right?
I feel like we could have just stuck with the revenge plot. I liked it when Danny Boy was fumbling around the African slums trying to avenge his boy's (brutal) murder. And of course I LOVED when the other park ranger guy hunted down the murder crew in the jungle and ultimately ran them over with his boat one at time. That was one of the highlights of the book! And the worst bad guy got half eaten by a gator! Oh man, good good stuff. Too bad for the peasants that were forced to paddle the bad guys canoes though huh?
Then Daniel catches up to one of the park ranger traitors and tries to cut off his dick! Seriously, loved that part. And of course I HATED that righteous cameraman who came blustering and jambed it all up. I didn't get it - that guy saw all the murdered bodies too right? Why was he like... gotta let the cops settle this one man... It didn't make sense! and it's not like he just abstained, he pulled a gun on Danny right? That part was enraging, and I credit our author for getting me all worked up about it.
Then it's Danny fighting a mountain lion, and killing henchmen. All the early battles with Chetti Singh were great. But I didn't love that Chetti survived the final lion attack. First of all - he's been torturing that cat for YEARS! And the cat just lets him live? Yea right. Secondly, I didn't need Chetti hanging around and being like the THIRD main character in this book. Right? He over stayed his welcome. He was just a local crime lord. They should have let him die in that warehouse.
After all that, Danny goes home to make a movie, and in my opinion this book really goes off the rails. All we needed was a final set up to get in close enough to murder Cheng. Instead we get international espionage. I don't know this for sure, but I assume our author was playing around with two different concepts for a novel. Probably planning out his next two books, one called Elephant Song, and one called Rumble in the Jungle. He wrote up Elephant Song, sent it off to his editor, and started on Rumble in the Jungle. Halfway through RITJ, his editor called and told him Elephant Song was too short, he needed another 200 pages. So Wilbur just jambed RITJ into the middle of Elephant Song and called it day.
Along with the bloated storyline, this book could have benefited from a couple more stable characters. All we got was Daniel. Think about it - who are even the next few main characters? Here's the official list:
1) Daniel Harrison (Steve Irwin)
2) Ning Chong Cheng
3) Chetti Singh
4) Jane Goodall
6) Seepoo
7) Bonnie Mahon (The least realistic character in the whole story?)
8) Michael Harrington (British CIA and fucking useless)
9) Tug Harrison
10) Pirri
Am I wrong? Isn't that a shitty list? Very problematic characters. Sure there are some cute characters in there, who didn't love Seepoo? But what the hell happened to Michael Harrington?!?! He was worse than useless! He should have been the second main character. He should have dropped in a helicopter and helped out or something. LAME. I already ranted about Chetti, but what about Ning Cheng Chong? He just kept getting more and more evil... for no reason? We already hate him. Hated him from the first few chapters. Why did he have to keep sex-murdering girls the whole time. Again, it's like this guy was writing a totally different Sex Predator silence of the lambs serial killer book. Why did he drink snake venom?!?! And why did he have to sex-kill Bonnie. That part of the book turned me off also. Her character didn't make much sense to me. She's really stupid enough to sleep with the militant president of shit-town Africa, film his soldiers murdering people, TELL HIM ABOUT IT, and then give him the film? She wasn't a bad guy in this story. She didn't need to get sex-murdered.
Speaking of Seepoo and Pirri, both of whom I loved. I'd say that's what earned the second star (first star earned from the early chapters vengeance campaign), the lovely little pigmy stories. Cute guys hoping around the forest giggling. Loved em. Plus one star. So yea... Speaking of Pirri - I enjoyed the moment near the end where the author suggested Pirri was going to sell out the revolutionaries training in the forest. But then decided to murder Chetti instead. That was fun. And it was nice to see Chetti get done dirty - but also, he was like some genius crime boss right? Who got tricked into wandering into the forest. Weak.
Anyways, it was cute with Pirri. But not cute when the author pull the same stunt again at the end of the book with the sniper rifle. (Oh did you forget our main character is also a Fucking Sniper in addition to love-able nature channel host?) The whole revolution depends on him taking out Tarriffi with a single sniper bullet. They have back ups and contingencies for every other part of this mission, except for a sniper shot? What? Who planned this. Oh yea, the same fucking guy. And of course he misses his shots, and oh no - is the mission going to fail (with only 10 pages left...)?
It all works out, the MOB ribs Tariffi apart and Daniel get's to murder Cheng in the jungle. But wasn't it weird how like... Jane Goodall was so close to all the fighting at the end? Like, she lives in a secret village deep in the secret jungle... And her only job was to run the radio system for this mission... but they put their radio within walking distance of the hit site for the final Sniper shot? Cheng just like walked into her hut? And he was the only one.... Why didn't Tariffi go that way? The geography of the final scenes didn't make any sense to me. Pirri is a master hunter/murder. He blends into the jungle undetected. No one could sneak up on him... but his brother Seepoo just got pistol whipped? Seepoo didn't have any poison darts for the revolutionary war? No one was watching the door for the radio command center?!?!
Making the plot too grand opens you up to lots of issues like that. I would have liked this book more if it was simpler (and if there just wasn't any sexual violence). And the Molimo was dumb.
March 22, 2011
After journeying through the Utopian vs. Dystopian saga of the Hunger Games, I have now entered the dimensions of the Wilbur Smith novels. As a welcoming ceremony for entering a new literary dimension I leaved through the authors Standalone novel, i.e., novel that doesn't form a part of any of his other series...Elephant Song......and I was pleasantly surprised.
So far I have only read a few literary works, young adult, paranormal, fantasy, detection, sci-fi and few more so coming across Elephant Song felt as a coming-of-age novel, as the book focuses on the reality of life and had a much more of adult content than what I had previously read. It is also the first book that I am having a difficulty to write about so bear with me as I try to give words to my thoughts.
Here is how the summary goes:
The rangers closed in, firing steadily. Within minutes all the adult animals were down. Only calves still raced in bewildered circles, stumbling over the bodies of the dead and dying. Six minutes after the first shot, a silence fell over the killing ground on Long Vlei......
In the blinding light of Zimbabwe's Chiwewe National Park, Dr Daniel Armstrong, world-famous TV naturalist, films the slaughter of a herd of elephant. In London, anthropologist Kelly Kinnear is forced into violent confrontation with the shareholders of the most powerful conglomerate in the City of London, warning them of the destruction of an African country.
Now the time has come to act. Together, Armstrong and Kinnear forge a passionate alliance - and begin the fight against the forces of greed, evil and corruption attacking a land they both would give their lives to save........Combining breathtaking realism and thrilling suspense, the world's master storyteller takes us on a journey deep into the heart of a wild, magnificent continent, threatened forever by the destructive hand of man.
When I first bought the book from a book fair in the city, I had no inkling as to what I was about get myself into, Wikipedia pretty tells us the whole story so I had to forgo the urge to see the details about the book and prepared myself to be surprised because I had heard a lot about the particular talent of the Mr. Smith as a master story-teller. And I must say it was pretty much surprising, captivating, dark and all the harsh and cruel realities of life.
It is pretty much clear as to what the story is about from the title, elephants. Specifically the majestic beasts of the African continent. The author takes us on a journey through his pen into the heart of the Africa, its jungles and towards all the hardships faced by its people on a day to day life but it is also a novel that points us to the increasing imbalance in nature resulting from not only economic gains but also by greed. Elephant Song is still an exceedingly well written novel with a well thought out storyline. Many of the scenes invoke rage and disgust, while the scenes such as that which gives the book its name create emotions of deep loss and sadness. This book is not an environmentalist reader, though it does have strong themes of it, nor is it a conservationist reader, though it has strong themes of that as well.
Wilbur Smith through the medium of this book has defended the hunting of elephants and the controlled sale of game products - including ivory - as the only way to save Africa's wildlife. Writing in the an issue of African Safari Magazine, Smith plunges into the controversy over ivory sales which has pitted government, animal rights activists and conservationists against each other worldwide. The South African adventure-novelist says it was atrocious that Kenya burned several million rands (the South African currency) worth of tusks to support a total ban on trade in ivory in an attempt to end poaching. It was like taking money that could have been better utilized for conservation and setting fire to it, he writes.
The book also has strong undercurrent of corruption in the high offices. An African disease or the author's statement that if you have black governments managing their country exclusively for black tribes-people and wildlife becomes undesirable, then we're going to lose it. Smith's argument was that if you try to convince a subsistence farmer with a large family that the elephant or the lion is a beautiful animal and should be conserved, he will think you are out of your mind. The buffaloes graze on the grass that he needs for his cattle, a crocodile probably killed his grandmother and the leopard is killing his goats. You have to prove to him that the wildlife is of value and that it is worth his while to make some sacrifice. He says people will protect the animals if it can be shown that they will benefit from the money earned from hunting or sales of wildlife products.
As to the characters of the story - it is clear that Dr Daniel Armstrong is the protagonist, so he gets a much more page time (can't write screen time because we are reviewing a book). He is seen developing throughout the book as opposed to the others. We first see him doing his job of shooting footage for his new independent “Africa – Dying” series. After a life changing experience we see his life turn about. It is vengeance that drives him to do the things he does for the precious loss of life very close to him. While Kelly Kinnear comes in very late toward the end but it is seen that she also plays a pivotal role in the confrontation that takes place towards the conclusion of the plot.
It is a typical tale of economic gain balanced against the ecology and a bygone way of life. A novel says much of the times that we are in. Greed and personal gain at someone else's expense. Clearly well defined by the blurb on it back cover by the daily mail - "Sex, money, ambition, fear and blood.......and emotional stampede"
So far I have only read a few literary works, young adult, paranormal, fantasy, detection, sci-fi and few more so coming across Elephant Song felt as a coming-of-age novel, as the book focuses on the reality of life and had a much more of adult content than what I had previously read. It is also the first book that I am having a difficulty to write about so bear with me as I try to give words to my thoughts.
Here is how the summary goes:
The rangers closed in, firing steadily. Within minutes all the adult animals were down. Only calves still raced in bewildered circles, stumbling over the bodies of the dead and dying. Six minutes after the first shot, a silence fell over the killing ground on Long Vlei......
In the blinding light of Zimbabwe's Chiwewe National Park, Dr Daniel Armstrong, world-famous TV naturalist, films the slaughter of a herd of elephant. In London, anthropologist Kelly Kinnear is forced into violent confrontation with the shareholders of the most powerful conglomerate in the City of London, warning them of the destruction of an African country.
Now the time has come to act. Together, Armstrong and Kinnear forge a passionate alliance - and begin the fight against the forces of greed, evil and corruption attacking a land they both would give their lives to save........Combining breathtaking realism and thrilling suspense, the world's master storyteller takes us on a journey deep into the heart of a wild, magnificent continent, threatened forever by the destructive hand of man.
When I first bought the book from a book fair in the city, I had no inkling as to what I was about get myself into, Wikipedia pretty tells us the whole story so I had to forgo the urge to see the details about the book and prepared myself to be surprised because I had heard a lot about the particular talent of the Mr. Smith as a master story-teller. And I must say it was pretty much surprising, captivating, dark and all the harsh and cruel realities of life.
It is pretty much clear as to what the story is about from the title, elephants. Specifically the majestic beasts of the African continent. The author takes us on a journey through his pen into the heart of the Africa, its jungles and towards all the hardships faced by its people on a day to day life but it is also a novel that points us to the increasing imbalance in nature resulting from not only economic gains but also by greed. Elephant Song is still an exceedingly well written novel with a well thought out storyline. Many of the scenes invoke rage and disgust, while the scenes such as that which gives the book its name create emotions of deep loss and sadness. This book is not an environmentalist reader, though it does have strong themes of it, nor is it a conservationist reader, though it has strong themes of that as well.
Wilbur Smith through the medium of this book has defended the hunting of elephants and the controlled sale of game products - including ivory - as the only way to save Africa's wildlife. Writing in the an issue of African Safari Magazine, Smith plunges into the controversy over ivory sales which has pitted government, animal rights activists and conservationists against each other worldwide. The South African adventure-novelist says it was atrocious that Kenya burned several million rands (the South African currency) worth of tusks to support a total ban on trade in ivory in an attempt to end poaching. It was like taking money that could have been better utilized for conservation and setting fire to it, he writes.
The book also has strong undercurrent of corruption in the high offices. An African disease or the author's statement that if you have black governments managing their country exclusively for black tribes-people and wildlife becomes undesirable, then we're going to lose it. Smith's argument was that if you try to convince a subsistence farmer with a large family that the elephant or the lion is a beautiful animal and should be conserved, he will think you are out of your mind. The buffaloes graze on the grass that he needs for his cattle, a crocodile probably killed his grandmother and the leopard is killing his goats. You have to prove to him that the wildlife is of value and that it is worth his while to make some sacrifice. He says people will protect the animals if it can be shown that they will benefit from the money earned from hunting or sales of wildlife products.
As to the characters of the story - it is clear that Dr Daniel Armstrong is the protagonist, so he gets a much more page time (can't write screen time because we are reviewing a book). He is seen developing throughout the book as opposed to the others. We first see him doing his job of shooting footage for his new independent “Africa – Dying” series. After a life changing experience we see his life turn about. It is vengeance that drives him to do the things he does for the precious loss of life very close to him. While Kelly Kinnear comes in very late toward the end but it is seen that she also plays a pivotal role in the confrontation that takes place towards the conclusion of the plot.
It is a typical tale of economic gain balanced against the ecology and a bygone way of life. A novel says much of the times that we are in. Greed and personal gain at someone else's expense. Clearly well defined by the blurb on it back cover by the daily mail - "Sex, money, ambition, fear and blood.......and emotional stampede"
September 14, 2024
আফ্রিকার বুকে ঘুরে আসার জন্য উইলবার স্মিথের বইয়ের চেয়ে সেরা কিছু হতে পারে না। হাতির দাঁত পাচার, বন্ধুর খুনের প্রতিশোধ, মানুষের উচ্চাশা, খুনে আচরণে নিরিহ মানুষ-পশুর মৃত্যু; কি নেই এই বইয়ে? ডাঃ ড্যানিয়েল আর্মস্ট্রংয়ের সাথে ঘুরতে ঘুরতে আপনি জানবেন_Our scars tell the story of our resilience.
3.5/5.0
3.5/5.0
October 19, 2012
I don't understand why so many people love this book, maybe it's just me. I really liked it for the first hundred pages or so, I found the scene with the elephans incredibly moving, the plot intrigued me and the main antagonist felt like a well-rounded and intelligent villian. Then it all went downhill...
I could handle the gore and the rape, I expected it in a book like this. People forget how grim reality is. It was the sexual gratification the Cheng felt after seeing Nozu with his brains blown out that made me raise my eyebrows and question if I really could continute to read this book. There was just no need for it. I guess the author may have been worried that the readers might not hate Cheng enough if he was merely a cunning thief and an intelligent businessman. Sigh.
This is definately a book written by men for men, there's a lot of feminising of Danny's (who is definately a Gary Stu, by the way) landcruiser that had me rolling my eyes and the way his sidekick's dialouge was written made me laugh out loud. They were believable characters - if you find James Bond capable of being real person, that is. The only character I really liked was Nozu and I just told you what happened to him.
I might try in the very far future to read Wilbur Smith's Eygptian novels but for now I can say that I am not impressed. I notice that many people like this novel, though so i'll put it down to a difference in opinion.
I could handle the gore and the rape, I expected it in a book like this. People forget how grim reality is. It was the sexual gratification the Cheng felt after seeing Nozu with his brains blown out that made me raise my eyebrows and question if I really could continute to read this book. There was just no need for it. I guess the author may have been worried that the readers might not hate Cheng enough if he was merely a cunning thief and an intelligent businessman. Sigh.
This is definately a book written by men for men, there's a lot of feminising of Danny's (who is definately a Gary Stu, by the way) landcruiser that had me rolling my eyes and the way his sidekick's dialouge was written made me laugh out loud. They were believable characters - if you find James Bond capable of being real person, that is. The only character I really liked was Nozu and I just told you what happened to him.
I might try in the very far future to read Wilbur Smith's Eygptian novels but for now I can say that I am not impressed. I notice that many people like this novel, though so i'll put it down to a difference in opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2019
উইলবার স্মিথ সবসময়ই দারুন আমার কাছে। আগে স্মিথের Ancient Egyptian সিরিজ পড়েছিলাম Makhdum Ahmed এর অনুবাদে। অসাধারণ ছিলো। কিন্তু, এই বইটির অনুবাদ সেইরকম লাগে নি মোটেও। প্রিন্টিংয়ের ভুল আছে অসংখ্য। পড়তে গিয়ে মনে হয়েছে, অনুবাদকের তাড়াহেুড়ো ছিলো। অথবা বাজেটের ঘাটতি ছিলো। কিন্তু, স্মিথের রচনাশৈলী কিংবা বিষয়গুণ বইটাকে কিছুটা হলেও বাঁচিয়ে দিয়েছে। মূল বইটি পড়তে পারলে ভালো লাগবে। :)
May 27, 2017
ছোটবেলায় পড়েছিলাম অন্ধকারাচ্ছন্ন বলা হয় কোন মহাদেশকে?
উত্তর: আফ্রিকা।
আফ্রিকা মানে দারিদ্রতা, অশিক্ষা, কুসংস্কার। আফ্রিকা মানে জংলী নির্মম আধিবাসীদের ভয়ংকর ভূমি। আফ্রিকা মানে অন্ধকার।
কিন্তু উইলবার স্মিথের এই বইটি পড়ে জানলাম আফ্রিকা অন্ধকার নয়, আফ্রিকা হলো আলোর মহাদেশ, সম্ভাবনার মহাদেশ। শুধু কিন্তু আন্তর্জাতিক কিছু পুঁজিবাদী গোষ্ঠী সেই আলোকে আফ্রিকার সাধারণ মানুষের কাছে পৌছাতে দেয়না।
আফ্রিকা মহাদেশের ছোট একটি রাষ্ট্রে যে প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ আছে সেটা বাংলাদেশের মত উন্নয়নশীল দেশের জিডিপির সাথে তুলনাযোগ্য।
বইয়ের নাম: এলিফ্যান্ট সং
লেখক উইলবার স্মিথ
অনুবাদ: মখদুম আহমেদ
প্রকাশনী: ঝিনুক
পৃষ্ঠা সংখ্যা: ৩৫২
প্রথম প্রকাশ: ফেব্রুআরি, ২০০৯
সারাবিশ্বে সাদা সোনা হিসাবে প্লাটিনাম ধরা হলেও আফ্রিকার সাদা সোনা হলো আইভরি (গজদন্ত)। আশির দশক থেকে মাত্র ১০ বছরে এই সাদা সোনার লোভে নির্মমভাবে হত্যা করা হয় প্রায় ১০ লক্ষ হাতি। আর এই নিধনের তথা আফ্রিকার বাস্তুসংস্থানের উপরে ডকুমেন্টারি করতে জিম্বাবুয়ে আসে উপন্যাসটির কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র ড্যানিয়েল আর্মস্ট্রং।
জিম্বাবুয়ের অন্যতম ন্যাশনাল পার্ক চিউইউই এর চীফ ওয়ার্ডেন জনি নজু যে কিনা ড্যানিয়েলের কাছের বন্ধুদের একজন সে ড্যানিয়েলকে তার কাজে বরাবরের মত সহযোগিতা করে। কিন্তু ঠিক সেই সময়ে তাইওয়ানের রাষ্ট্রদূত এসে উপস্থিত হন ব্যক্তিগত কিছ��� সময় কাটানোর জন্য। আর ড্যানিয়েল তার ডকুমেন্টারি শেষ করে ফিরে যাবার পথ ধরে।
কিন্তু মাঝপথে কিছু অশুভ ইংগিত অনুধাবন করে ড্যানিয়েল আবার চিউইউইতে ফিরে আসে। ফিরে এসে সে স্তব্ধ চোখে দেখতে পায়, জনি নজু এবং তার পরিবার নিষ্ঠুর নির্যাতন করে হত্যা করা হয়েছে। সুপ্রিয় পাঠক, আমি জানি আপনার এই পর্যন্ত অনেক অত্যাচারের বর্ণনা অনেক বইতে পড়েছেন তবে জনি নিজুর পরিবারের উপর যে নির্যাতনের বর্ণনা করা হয়েছ নি:সন্দেহে সে বর্ণনা আপনাদের পাঠক হৃদয়ে দীর্ঘস্থায়ী দাগ কেটে রাখবে।
ড্যানিয়েল ফিরে এসে আবিষ্কার করে এই নিষ্ঠুর হত্যাকান্ডের পিছনে কে এবং কারা অবস্থান করছে? সে বিশ্বাস করে এই মানবরূপী পিশাচগুলোকে কোন আইন বা আদালত নয় সে নিজেই দেবে শাস্তি, নির্মম মৃত্যু। অনুসরণ করা শুরু করে মূল পরিকল্পনাকারীকে। কিন্তু ব্যর্থ হয় ড্যানিয়েল। সেই নরপিশাচ যে কিনা বড় একজন বিজনেস টাইকুনের সন্তান ফিরে যায় নিজের দেশে।
কিন্তু ভাগ্য তাকে আরেকটি সুযোগ এনে নেয়। আর সেই আফ্রিকার ছোট্ট একটি প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদশালী দেশ উমোবো। আর তারপর...
ব্যক্তিগত অভিমত:
বইটির অনেকগুলি দিক আছে। আফ্রিকাকে নতুনভাবে চেনার জন্য বইটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। আফ্রিকার প্রায় চারটা দেশের ভৌগলিক এবং সামাজিক অবস্থা সম্পর্কে ধারনা পাওয়া যায়।
আবার খুবই শক্তিশালী একটি থ্রিলার। পাঠককে ধরে রাখে। এখানে নেতিবাচক চরিত্রকে এমনভাবে উপস্থাপন করা হয়েছে যে পাঠকের তার প্রতি বাস্তবিক ঘৃনার সঞ্চার হতে পারে।
এই বইটি পড়ে আরেকবার পাঠকেরা বুঝতে পারবেন। এই পৃথিবীতে যাবতীয় সমস্যার সৃষ্টির পিছনে রয়েছে কতিপয় মানুষের লোভ। যাদের সম্পদ অর্জনের নেশা পৃথিবীটার অধিকাংশ মানুষকে করেছে বঞ্চিত আর অসহায়। ধর্ম কিংবা রাজনীতি হলো সেই লোভগুলো চরিতার্থ করার ভিন্ন ভিন্ন হাতিয়ার।
মখদুম আহমেদের আগে একটা অনুবাদ পড়েছিলাম। এটা দ্বিতীয়। অত্যন্ত সুদক্ষ অনুবাদ।
উত্তর: আফ্রিকা।
আফ্রিকা মানে দারিদ্রতা, অশিক্ষা, কুসংস্কার। আফ্রিকা মানে জংলী নির্মম আধিবাসীদের ভয়ংকর ভূমি। আফ্রিকা মানে অন্ধকার।
কিন্তু উইলবার স্মিথের এই বইটি পড়ে জানলাম আফ্রিকা অন্ধকার নয়, আফ্রিকা হলো আলোর মহাদেশ, সম্ভাবনার মহাদেশ। শুধু কিন্তু আন্তর্জাতিক কিছু পুঁজিবাদী গোষ্ঠী সেই আলোকে আফ্রিকার সাধারণ মানুষের কাছে পৌছাতে দেয়না।
আফ্রিকা মহাদেশের ছোট একটি রাষ্ট্রে যে প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ আছে সেটা বাংলাদেশের মত উন্নয়নশীল দেশের জিডিপির সাথে তুলনাযোগ্য।
বইয়ের নাম: এলিফ্যান্ট সং
লেখক উইলবার স্মিথ
অনুবাদ: মখদুম আহমেদ
প্রকাশনী: ঝিনুক
পৃষ্ঠা সংখ্যা: ৩৫২
প্রথম প্রকাশ: ফেব্রুআরি, ২০০৯
সারাবিশ্বে সাদা সোনা হিসাবে প্লাটিনাম ধরা হলেও আফ্রিকার সাদা সোনা হলো আইভরি (গজদন্ত)। আশির দশক থেকে মাত্র ১০ বছরে এই সাদা সোনার লোভে নির্মমভাবে হত্যা করা হয় প্রায় ১০ লক্ষ হাতি। আর এই নিধনের তথা আফ্রিকার বাস্তুসংস্থানের উপরে ডকুমেন্টারি করতে জিম্বাবুয়ে আসে উপন্যাসটির কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র ড্যানিয়েল আর্মস্ট্রং।
জিম্বাবুয়ের অন্যতম ন্যাশনাল পার্ক চিউইউই এর চীফ ওয়ার্ডেন জনি নজু যে কিনা ড্যানিয়েলের কাছের বন্ধুদের একজন সে ড্যানিয়েলকে তার কাজে বরাবরের মত সহযোগিতা করে। কিন্তু ঠিক সেই সময়ে তাইওয়ানের রাষ্ট্রদূত এসে উপস্থিত হন ব্যক্তিগত কিছ��� সময় কাটানোর জন্য। আর ড্যানিয়েল তার ডকুমেন্টারি শেষ করে ফিরে যাবার পথ ধরে।
কিন্তু মাঝপথে কিছু অশুভ ইংগিত অনুধাবন করে ড্যানিয়েল আবার চিউইউইতে ফিরে আসে। ফিরে এসে সে স্তব্ধ চোখে দেখতে পায়, জনি নজু এবং তার পরিবার নিষ্ঠুর নির্যাতন করে হত্যা করা হয়েছে। সুপ্রিয় পাঠক, আমি জানি আপনার এই পর্যন্ত অনেক অত্যাচারের বর্ণনা অনেক বইতে পড়েছেন তবে জনি নিজুর পরিবারের উপর যে নির্যাতনের বর্ণনা করা হয়েছ নি:সন্দেহে সে বর্ণনা আপনাদের পাঠক হৃদয়ে দীর্ঘস্থায়ী দাগ কেটে রাখবে।
ড্যানিয়েল ফিরে এসে আবিষ্কার করে এই নিষ্ঠুর হত্যাকান্ডের পিছনে কে এবং কারা অবস্থান করছে? সে বিশ্বাস করে এই মানবরূপী পিশাচগুলোকে কোন আইন বা আদালত নয় সে নিজেই দেবে শাস্তি, নির্মম মৃত্যু। অনুসরণ করা শুরু করে মূল পরিকল্পনাকারীকে। কিন্তু ব্যর্থ হয় ড্যানিয়েল। সেই নরপিশাচ যে কিনা বড় একজন বিজনেস টাইকুনের সন্তান ফিরে যায় নিজের দেশে।
কিন্তু ভাগ্য তাকে আরেকটি সুযোগ এনে নেয়। আর সেই আফ্রিকার ছোট্ট একটি প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদশালী দেশ উমোবো। আর তারপর...
ব্যক্তিগত অভিমত:
বইটির অনেকগুলি দিক আছে। আফ্রিকাকে নতুনভাবে চেনার জন্য বইটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। আফ্রিকার প্রায় চারটা দেশের ভৌগলিক এবং সামাজিক অবস্থা সম্পর্কে ধারনা পাওয়া যায়।
আবার খুবই শক্তিশালী একটি থ্রিলার। পাঠককে ধরে রাখে। এখানে নেতিবাচক চরিত্রকে এমনভাবে উপস্থাপন করা হয়েছে যে পাঠকের তার প্রতি বাস্তবিক ঘৃনার সঞ্চার হতে পারে।
এই বইটি পড়ে আরেকবার পাঠকেরা বুঝতে পারবেন। এই পৃথিবীতে যাবতীয় সমস্যার সৃষ্টির পিছনে রয়েছে কতিপয় মানুষের লোভ। যাদের সম্পদ অর্জনের নেশা পৃথিবীটার অধিকাংশ মানুষকে করেছে বঞ্চিত আর অসহায়। ধর্ম কিংবা রাজনীতি হলো সেই লোভগুলো চরিতার্থ করার ভিন্ন ভিন্ন হাতিয়ার।
মখদুম আহমেদের আগে একটা অনুবাদ পড়েছিলাম। এটা দ্বিতীয়। অত্যন্ত সুদক্ষ অনুবাদ।
November 15, 2017
Hopelessly outdated and gratuitously graphic, particularly in the early stages, this is a boys own adventure story for a much older generation. Filled with racism (the Africans are primitive, corrupt or incompetent, the Asians are deceitful, murderous thieves) and sexism (every woman gets a description of her breasts and the treacherous, promiscuous woman deservedly dies due to her own stupidity), only the post-colonial British hero can save the day. Even the ending is stupidly abrupt. The only saving grace is that the author stops short of actually describing the scenes of rape and torture.
August 31, 2024
Wanna get lost in the adventure?
This book has what you need. It was an exciting and eye opening experience. The book takes you on a wild adventure through Africa, focusing on the majestic elephants and the dangers they face from poachers. I was drawn in by the vivid descriptions of the African landscape and the strong sense of danger and urgency throughout the story.
Wilbur Smith's storytelling shows his deep connection to Africa and it shine through, making this a must read for fans of adventure novels and those interested in the thrill of the African nature.
This book has what you need. It was an exciting and eye opening experience. The book takes you on a wild adventure through Africa, focusing on the majestic elephants and the dangers they face from poachers. I was drawn in by the vivid descriptions of the African landscape and the strong sense of danger and urgency throughout the story.
Wilbur Smith's storytelling shows his deep connection to Africa and it shine through, making this a must read for fans of adventure novels and those interested in the thrill of the African nature.
October 20, 2020
This is pretty awful. It's a brutal, sickening violent novel, but the plot is like a 80's action movie. The noble white man comes to save the poor Africans from the depraved evil people. The bad men are incredibly, unbelievably, over the top evil, unless they're English then it's just mercenary evilness, which is much more acceptable.
I don't know why I kept on reading this, I was hoping there would be something to redeem it, but there really wasn't. While it wasn't the worst book I've read, it was a relief to finally get to the completely abrupt ending.
I don't know why I kept on reading this, I was hoping there would be something to redeem it, but there really wasn't. While it wasn't the worst book I've read, it was a relief to finally get to the completely abrupt ending.
October 30, 2019
The Elephant Song has been a re-read for me, after reading it many years ago when I read everything Wilbur Smith. I believe that second time around, I enjoyed it all the more, due to my growing interest in everything African, and consequently the many facets of this story that has been very meaningful for me.
Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a natural history documentary maker, is out to avenge the slaughter of his best friend and his friend's family, Johnny Nzou the warden of Chiwewe National Park in Zimbabwe, by poachers who had come across the Zambesi river from Zambia to steal ivory. The good Dr. Armstrong, reverts back to his military background and becomes the all-action hero, set on destroying all of those responsible, including a Taiwanese ambassador, that is seemingly hard to reach.
Mr. Smith's description of the bush within the game reserves to the impenetrable forest sacred to the charismatic Bambuti tribe, really gives the reader a sense of place, due to his detailed knowledge of contrasting environments to be found on within the African continent.
The book says much about the politics of African countries, and tribalism, and it's links with the Far East. Powerful action from start to finish, I highly recommend this book for anybody who has not enjoyed a Wilbur Smith novel.
Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a natural history documentary maker, is out to avenge the slaughter of his best friend and his friend's family, Johnny Nzou the warden of Chiwewe National Park in Zimbabwe, by poachers who had come across the Zambesi river from Zambia to steal ivory. The good Dr. Armstrong, reverts back to his military background and becomes the all-action hero, set on destroying all of those responsible, including a Taiwanese ambassador, that is seemingly hard to reach.
Mr. Smith's description of the bush within the game reserves to the impenetrable forest sacred to the charismatic Bambuti tribe, really gives the reader a sense of place, due to his detailed knowledge of contrasting environments to be found on within the African continent.
The book says much about the politics of African countries, and tribalism, and it's links with the Far East. Powerful action from start to finish, I highly recommend this book for anybody who has not enjoyed a Wilbur Smith novel.
January 17, 2024
For Wilbur Smith fan's there is no need to say anything, as they know the brilliance of his books. For those who have never read any before, you are in for a treat if you enjoy action, great story plots and the need to get you teeth well and truly into having to know the outcome.
Riveting story from start to finish. The characters are drawn larger than life with pathos, passion and cruelty well balanced. African scenery and wild life are vividly portrayed.
Great book from the Historical Fiction master. Highly recommend 🐘
Riveting story from start to finish. The characters are drawn larger than life with pathos, passion and cruelty well balanced. African scenery and wild life are vividly portrayed.
Great book from the Historical Fiction master. Highly recommend 🐘
October 13, 2023
Gostei muito!
Um livro que nos alerta para a importância de se proteger o meio ambiente e os recursos naturais.
Uma história que envolve muito poder e dinheiro.
"A floresta é o deus dos Bambutis, uma entidade viva que lhes pode oferecer ou recusar os seus dons, conceder favores ou castigar os que desrespeitam as suas leis e lhe fazem mal"
Um livro que nos alerta para a importância de se proteger o meio ambiente e os recursos naturais.
Uma história que envolve muito poder e dinheiro.
"A floresta é o deus dos Bambutis, uma entidade viva que lhes pode oferecer ou recusar os seus dons, conceder favores ou castigar os que desrespeitam as suas leis e lhe fazem mal"
November 4, 2020
Terrific book. While enjoying the adventure this book holds, you will also learn of the many problems that the dark continent is experiencing.
April 23, 2021
Had read it's Urdu translation in local crime magazine.
October 30, 2018
Beautiful Story; Hasty Ending
The thing I have always liked about Wilbur Smith is his attention to detail. He writes about distant cultures and environments and always succeeds in bringing it close to his readers. He succeeds yet again in this highly important story about effects of the brutal deforestation in Africa. The book transports the continent to the reader's living room with all of it's sounds, smells and scenery. While the scenic beauty urges your inner tourist to plan your next vacation to the continent, at the same time you feel pity and rage on the political atrocities and their impact on the poor people.
Another plus for the book is the characterization. Each character leaves exactly the desired impact on the reader. You can relate with the protagonists and you absolutely despise the antagonists. Different African tribes, their sociology and their differences with each other are portrayed effectively. But as far as my favorite character of the book is concerned, its the forest itself. It has been described with such devotion that I couldn't resist to fall in love with it and I literally cringed to read about each tree it loses and each blow it suffers at the hands of money-hungry devils.
Along with all these pluses, the narrative of the book is also highly engaging and keeps you interested for almost 80% of the book. The remaining 20% anyhow, spoils the fun to a large extent. The ending chapters seem hastily concluded. I don't know if its because the first 3 quarters of the book were dragged too much or if the last quarter is not as expanded as it should've been. Looking at the number of pages, I feel that the middle portion of the book probably could've condensed a bit to give that extra space to the ending parts.
Up till the part where it all happens too quickly to allow a satisfactory end to those antagonists who you despised so much; you yearn for a stiffer culmination for them; you yearn to feel more heroism in the revolution against them.
Despite the hasty conclusion, the book still manages to increase my respect for Wilbur Smith as a writer. It sheds a worthy light on the problems of the continent. And it also makes you realize the on-ground hazards of sacrificing the "green" of our planet to accommodate the "grey" of our civilization!
The thing I have always liked about Wilbur Smith is his attention to detail. He writes about distant cultures and environments and always succeeds in bringing it close to his readers. He succeeds yet again in this highly important story about effects of the brutal deforestation in Africa. The book transports the continent to the reader's living room with all of it's sounds, smells and scenery. While the scenic beauty urges your inner tourist to plan your next vacation to the continent, at the same time you feel pity and rage on the political atrocities and their impact on the poor people.
Another plus for the book is the characterization. Each character leaves exactly the desired impact on the reader. You can relate with the protagonists and you absolutely despise the antagonists. Different African tribes, their sociology and their differences with each other are portrayed effectively. But as far as my favorite character of the book is concerned, its the forest itself. It has been described with such devotion that I couldn't resist to fall in love with it and I literally cringed to read about each tree it loses and each blow it suffers at the hands of money-hungry devils.
Along with all these pluses, the narrative of the book is also highly engaging and keeps you interested for almost 80% of the book. The remaining 20% anyhow, spoils the fun to a large extent. The ending chapters seem hastily concluded. I don't know if its because the first 3 quarters of the book were dragged too much or if the last quarter is not as expanded as it should've been. Looking at the number of pages, I feel that the middle portion of the book probably could've condensed a bit to give that extra space to the ending parts.
Up till the part where it all happens too quickly to allow a satisfactory end to those antagonists who you despised so much; you yearn for a stiffer culmination for them; you yearn to feel more heroism in the revolution against them.
Despite the hasty conclusion, the book still manages to increase my respect for Wilbur Smith as a writer. It sheds a worthy light on the problems of the continent. And it also makes you realize the on-ground hazards of sacrificing the "green" of our planet to accommodate the "grey" of our civilization!
March 19, 2018
Wilbur Smith books were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up. As I grew older and went looking for more ‘interesting’ things to read, Mr. Smith was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I gravitated to. I read everything he had written up to that point, and then through the years I kept up with each new release. It had been many years since I last read one of his books, but in the past few months have found myself exploring them once more.
Wilbur Smith is one of my mother’s favourite authors, and as she has been in and out of hospital over the past 6 months, I had given her a Kindle so she would have something to read while she was in there. On the days she isn’t well enough to read for herself, I read them to her- but I also read each book she is reading, too, so she can discuss them with me in detail when I am there to visit her. It has been a great bonding experience for us, and I have enjoyed revisiting Mr. Smith’s work.
Elephant Song is a confronting and suspenseful standalone by Wilbur Smith. It is a gripping adventure, full of action, thought provoking scenes, heartbreaking details, moving moments, brutality, gory details.... and much more. The story is set in Africa, and with Mr. Smith's vividly descriptive scene setting, I was transported into the heart of Africa. The characters (mostly) were fantastic, fully developed and likeable. There were scenes that I found difficult to read, and made me do a lot of thinking. Not a story I will soon forget!
Mr. Smith has a great knack for writing a great suspenseful and exciting read, and even though my tastes have evolved as I have gotten older, I still really enjoyed revisiting this book/series.
So if you are a action/adventure buff and want a book that will hold your interest and that you can immerse yourself into- then this may be the book for you!
Wilbur Smith is one of my mother’s favourite authors, and as she has been in and out of hospital over the past 6 months, I had given her a Kindle so she would have something to read while she was in there. On the days she isn’t well enough to read for herself, I read them to her- but I also read each book she is reading, too, so she can discuss them with me in detail when I am there to visit her. It has been a great bonding experience for us, and I have enjoyed revisiting Mr. Smith’s work.
Elephant Song is a confronting and suspenseful standalone by Wilbur Smith. It is a gripping adventure, full of action, thought provoking scenes, heartbreaking details, moving moments, brutality, gory details.... and much more. The story is set in Africa, and with Mr. Smith's vividly descriptive scene setting, I was transported into the heart of Africa. The characters (mostly) were fantastic, fully developed and likeable. There were scenes that I found difficult to read, and made me do a lot of thinking. Not a story I will soon forget!
Mr. Smith has a great knack for writing a great suspenseful and exciting read, and even though my tastes have evolved as I have gotten older, I still really enjoyed revisiting this book/series.
So if you are a action/adventure buff and want a book that will hold your interest and that you can immerse yourself into- then this may be the book for you!
July 5, 2018
It was an informative, but brutal read. As with all his books I've read, Wilbur Smith does not shy away from violent details about terrible things that happened in Africa.
I did have to skip some of what was written, as it was too brutal, even for me. However, I do recommend to persevere, as the amount of detail into the history of Africa; and especially the vivid display of fascinating characters.
All his characters are brought to life, you either hate or love them. It is difficult to be in the middle.
I especially love the detail Wilbur Smith goes in to when describing the landscape of Africa.
I did have to skip some of what was written, as it was too brutal, even for me. However, I do recommend to persevere, as the amount of detail into the history of Africa; and especially the vivid display of fascinating characters.
All his characters are brought to life, you either hate or love them. It is difficult to be in the middle.
I especially love the detail Wilbur Smith goes in to when describing the landscape of Africa.
July 1, 2017
Whew ! it took me a month to read this book. It was the first Wilbur Smith book for me. Although nothing spectacular about the plot, the author describes the jungles of Africa beautifully. The plot is somewhat cliched, but still one can just go on reading it. I would still pick up another Smith novel if it has something new to offer.
December 19, 2007
Usually love Wilbur Smith, however this book got in to some really sick situations. A little more then I could handle.
September 3, 2017
Very sad but beautiful book
August 5, 2017
This book -like the other Wilbur Smith book I've read- is a heavily researched book, it highlights a lot of the African culture and problems at the time with detailed spectacular descriptions of African scenery. However this book revolves around a very different theme from the hunting and adventure one presented in Assegai, it highlights a fraction of the political, economical & social problems in Africa after the colonization and how these affected the delicate ecological system of the rain forests and the body of wild animals (specially the elephants) and introduces and explains the idea of controlled harvesting/exploiting of natural resources.
I really liked these information on Africa and the tribes of Ubomo, the rain forests and the culture, However this book even though started and ended on fast paced exciting notes, its middle was really slow and at the time seemed going nowhere -some of the information were valuable afterwards but not all- and I already hated Cheng enough without all the extra sickening details about his sick personality. some things really seem far fetched like and for me it contained a lot of elements that were not essential to the plot.
This is a very VIOLENT book and I mean really really really violent. (it seemed too much I got the point those are the bad guys.. enough!)
I really liked these information on Africa and the tribes of Ubomo, the rain forests and the culture, However this book even though started and ended on fast paced exciting notes, its middle was really slow and at the time seemed going nowhere -some of the information were valuable afterwards but not all- and I already hated Cheng enough without all the extra sickening details about his sick personality. some things really seem far fetched like and for me it contained a lot of elements that were not essential to the plot.
This is a very VIOLENT book and I mean really really really violent. (it seemed too much I got the point those are the bad guys.. enough!)
March 17, 2021
Wilbur Smith one again weaves such a realistic tale that it leaves you wanting to research more about these fascinating people and places. Except, oh yeah, that's right, President Victor Omeru, the country Ubomo, the revolution, the Tugg Harrison and his syndicate partners, they are all his ficticious characters. Wilbur Smith writes so well that the story being revealed seems absolutely true. He shows the good, the bad, the amazing, and the horrific the way we experience the real world. I was absolutely transported reading this book and even after 498 pages I haven't learned enough about this time and place in history... wow. So even though these people and events didn't exist it leaves me still wanting to learn more about the real Africa, homeland of Wilbur Smith, that inspired them. What an amazing legacy for Wilbur Smith to leave humanity for generations to come: to inspire us to want to learn more about our fellow men and women, their culture and struggles, and to become a better person ourselves as a member of the human experience.
September 11, 2023
A while back now, I worked with someone who was working on a script based on a novel by a well known author. Everyone was trying to guess who, but they were very cagey. It eventually emerged that this was the author and having read nothing by him I picked this up, based entirely on the fact elephant is in the title. Fast forward to now and I actually have now read another Wilbur Smith book before getting to this.
This starts in the same vein, with quite a shocking opening with quite graphic descriptions. From then on it becomes a bit of a mixed bag. Essentially it’s a revenge novel but seems to go off on a tangent at times before getting back on track. For a long time I couldn’t work out when it was based, until quite far in the book when the 90s were mentioned, which may explain some of the attitudes. It is quite readable if you can get past some of the more shocking scenes, but it does end very abruptly.
This starts in the same vein, with quite a shocking opening with quite graphic descriptions. From then on it becomes a bit of a mixed bag. Essentially it’s a revenge novel but seems to go off on a tangent at times before getting back on track. For a long time I couldn’t work out when it was based, until quite far in the book when the 90s were mentioned, which may explain some of the attitudes. It is quite readable if you can get past some of the more shocking scenes, but it does end very abruptly.
Shelved as 'novels-fondly-remembered'
May 10, 2022There is no doubt that the author loves Africa, and he conveys quite well its beauty and its numerous contrasts. Unfortunately, he undermines his own authenticity in the second half of the novel by introducing a fictional country, with a tyrannical fictional leader and a boring story of a revolution. Not satisfied with a very authentic account of poaching in the first half, the author had to present us with illegal logging and mining in the second half. The novel is very violent throughout, more so in the first half, where it rings quite true. Without much loss, the reader can read the first part only (up to the arrival of the main character in London), which is set in real countries. After that, the fate of the villains can easily be guessed, and the romantic elements are rather uninteresting.
June 24, 2024
A friend gave me this book
This book was published in 1995 and still, today, there are elephant poachers and a corrupt government that allows poaching in Africa to continue. This is a very heart-wrenching story about greed, and one man’s relentless quest to stop the ivory trade. The character Dr. Daniel Armstrong is a hero and martyr. He struggles against the brutal forces of poaching, Africa’s corrupt government, international conglomerates, and ruthless individuals that enable poaching to continue on a global scale. Dr. Daniel Armstrong is an inspirational figure. Wilbur Smith did not shy away from depicting violence and the harsh realities of poaching. I recommend this book for anyone who has a concern for human and animal rights.
This book was published in 1995 and still, today, there are elephant poachers and a corrupt government that allows poaching in Africa to continue. This is a very heart-wrenching story about greed, and one man’s relentless quest to stop the ivory trade. The character Dr. Daniel Armstrong is a hero and martyr. He struggles against the brutal forces of poaching, Africa’s corrupt government, international conglomerates, and ruthless individuals that enable poaching to continue on a global scale. Dr. Daniel Armstrong is an inspirational figure. Wilbur Smith did not shy away from depicting violence and the harsh realities of poaching. I recommend this book for anyone who has a concern for human and animal rights.
April 29, 2021
Non avevo mai letto Wilbur Smith, nonostante sia uno degli scrittori contemporanei di romanzi d’avventura più famosi al mondo, ma ho realizzato in questi giorni di essermi perso parecchio.
Da profondo conoscitore dell’Africa, lo scrittore zambiano costruisce un intreccio veramente straordinario, ad altissima tensione, sullo sfondo di un continente pieno di contraddizioni e di violenza. Alcune scene sono a dir poco truculente, ma credo che l’autore le abbia create consapevolmente, senza volerle esagerare a fini di marketing.
Consiglierei questo libro a tutti gli amanti dell’avventura e, perché no, anche agli amanti del thriller.
Da profondo conoscitore dell’Africa, lo scrittore zambiano costruisce un intreccio veramente straordinario, ad altissima tensione, sullo sfondo di un continente pieno di contraddizioni e di violenza. Alcune scene sono a dir poco truculente, ma credo che l’autore le abbia create consapevolmente, senza volerle esagerare a fini di marketing.
Consiglierei questo libro a tutti gli amanti dell’avventura e, perché no, anche agli amanti del thriller.
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