I've read all of the Wilbur Smith Books and am looking for similar books available on Kindle. Especially like the Courtney series.

Don't know about kindle but you might check out Bartle Bull's trilogy of "The White Rhino Hotel", "Cafe on the Nile",+ "The Devil's Oasis."

No, Wilbur Smith is the only one of his kind.

quote:

No, Wilbur Smith is the only one of his kind.

I agree!

Bill Quimby

So as not to be misunderstood;I do not classify Bartle Bull as a Wilbur Smith contemporary/wannabe,etc. Only that if you appreciate the works of Wilbur Smith then you will probably like the writings of Bartle Bull.Best seasonal greetings to all + HAPPY READING.

Thanks Norman. Cafe on The Nile was available in a Kindle adition so I bought it.

You also make like James Michener's "Covenent." I took it on my first trip to Africa. Not knowing that it was among the books banned by the South African government at the time, I read it openly in Jan Smuts airport and elsewhere. .

Bill Quimby

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
Thanks Norman. Cafe on The Nile was available in a Kindle adition so I bought it.

Hey! Those three are a series and I really think you should read the first one first(White Rhino Hotel, IIRC).

BTW, Bartle Bull and Wilbur Smith are very different writers, but I agree that if you like one you will like the other. I find Bull to be a bit more "deep", while Smith is a bit more "light".

I know there is good analogy to compare the two, but I will have to think on it.

I would love to read White Rhino Hotel first, but it is not available in Kindle and the cost on Amazon was rediculous.

You might check with Edward Hamilton Booksellers in Ct.Be good to get on their sale list anyway. Last ditch attempt you can always try the library.My ex once told me "I'll bet your idea of heaven is a harem of librarians."...What could I say,she was right.

Thanks Norman Conquest,,I am looking forward Bull's books as well.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
I would love to read White Rhino Hotel first, but it is not available in Kindle and the cost on Amazon was rediculous.

Just let me look, I should have a copy to loan you.

(I would hate to see you ruin a truly great trilogy)

The library was a great idea. Sometimes we overlook the obvious. My local library didn't have it, but they ordered it from a neighboring county and will call when it arrives.

Thanks Jason.

I did find my copy and I will loan it if needed. I also found that Amazon has the paperback version in the "used book" listings for $4 including shipping.

Guys thanks for the tips. i really enjoy classic hunting books.

If you enjoy Bull's trilogy then you might want to check out his other duo series,Shanghai Station + China Star.Story of white Cossacks escaping the Bolshevics in 1917 + setting up in Shanghai.Not really hunting related but good action novels.

The last book I read of Wilbur Smith was "Assegai".

And I was very disappointed with it.

It started off well, then it turned into a B-rated love story.

His earlier books were much better.

I take my Kindle with me everywhere, but I have very few fiction books on it.

I enjoy reading books on real life adventure, such African explorarors and exploration, Arctic journeys, Polar journeys, search for the North Wesrt passage. Climbing Everest, K2. Sailing around the world etc.

One can find an endless selection on the Amazon Kindle store.

I went to the Amazon site to buy the Bartle Bull series and read a negative report on White Rhino Hotel.
it states:
"If a story featuring gruesome descriptions of African parasites, a white hunter cavorting with young teen prostitutes, and kinky dwarf sex is your cup of tea, then go for it."

I thought hell yeah and bought the whole series.
Thanks for the recommendation.

Just trying to help.

I'm in the middle of "West with the Night" by Beryl Markham at the moment. This is an amazing book. I like Wilbur Smith, but frankly, some of his books are a bit too graphic for my tastes.

Beryl was a much better writer. Her book is not nearly as salacious as anything Smith has written, but it is extremely well-written and simply captivating.

If you are inteterested in East Africa during the colonial period -- and frankly even if you are not -- you will love this book. It should be part of the curriculum in 20th Century literature courses (which my children are currently taking).

I totally agree. If you are a fan of Beryl Markham,try her second book "The splendid Outcast".Or if new in the genre try the biography,"Straight on till Morning" by Mary S. Lovell .All are' pure 'reading.Personal opinion here,Beryl did the work + Amelia got recognition.I may stand corrected but I doubt it, as she was the first aviatrix to fly the 'pond'.She had to do an emergency landing on one of the islands just before landing stateside.,so her Kudos were off as to record.

I have the biography, but haven't started it yet. I've got a case in Milwaukee currently and there is a great used bookstore in the Milwaukee airport -- Renaissance Books. I bought the biography and the proprietor -- who knows me well by now -- suggested I read "West with the Night" first, so I took his advice.

Lavaca and Norman:

You are in good company. Ernest Hemingway agreed with you about Beryl Markham's literary talent. However, as you probably know, there also are those who believe her stuff was written by two of her many lovers.

I've only read her "West With The Night." It was interesting but not something I'd read again. Frankly, I wish she would have included some insights into her flings with famous people.

Bill Quimby

Well we know she was doing Blixen..+ who else.By her own admission she enjoyed a tumble w/ the local black lads as a child. I do get your point Bill,as she was a truly beautiful woman with a heart of fire + lived life to the fullest.So yes the celebrities would be an interesting tale indeed.Pity everyone is dead.Hmmm. perhaps it's now the time to write the book. Just kidding.

Hadn't heard she did Blix (but then it wouldn't be a surprise -- he pretty much did everybody). Rumour has it she had an affair with Finch-Hatton (and she was Karen's good friend). Sleeping with your best friend's husband and lover just doesn't seem cricket, even in that era Nairobi. I believe the character "Felicity" in the movie "Out of Africa" was intended to depict Beryl.

Had not heard anyone wrote for her. While I don't take her stories at face value (I don't think Dinka morani would take a little girl hunting and I doubt even the most delinquent father would allow it), but the writing is still excellent, whoever penned the words.

Just finished White Rhino Hotel and I did in fact enjoy it. It was a bit slow to start, but the characters were well developed. However, I could have easily done without the dwarf's sexual escapades.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree that the dwarf's escapades added little to the story.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
However, I could have easily done without the dwarf's sexual escapades.

Hey guys, not to bump an old thread , but I bought White Rhino Hotel recently based on reading this forum. Really like the book so far, about 80 pages in to the book. He develops his characters well.

Will probably purchase the other books two in the series.

Thanks for sharing on this forum.

Are there other Wilbur Smith's out there? Tony Park is pretty darn close. Just finished my third book by Tony. Very entertaining.

I have started reading books by Stuart Cloete. I especially enjoyed "The Curve and the Tusk."

I think most of his books where published from the late 30's to early 70's

Cloete

As I have mentioned before,check out Bartle Bull.

Tony Parks and to a lesser extent Deon Meyer. Both good reading about Africa that are close to Wilbur.

If you are not totally tied to the African subject matter then I would recommend Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's" series.Napoleonic wars/Peninsular campaign,etc. If you ever read one you will be hooked.Check out Amazon. I recommend starting with "Sharpe's Tiger",India 1799 + then follow the tale in sequence but all the books are good.If you start this series you will never look back.

Cornwell's Sharpe series is quite good.

I've got both African Dawn and Silent Predator by Tony Park in softcover. I'll let the both go for $15 plus shipping.

Guys, just a note to say thanks for all the recommendations.

I am about 40% thru Wilbur Smith's Monsoon, am really enjoying his writing.

Also read Bartel Bull's White Rhino Hotel and Cafe on the Nile as a result of his forum.

Keep the tips coming.

Just stick to Smith's older books, his new books are crap.

I believe nothing is better than Ruarks UHURU and SOMETHING OF VALUE............

Just finished rereading Uhuru 2 days ago. Also just like "Something Of Value",it stopped too soon. I was so ready for the next chapter.As to Wilbur Smith's current works 'crap',I beg to agree + disagree. I really loved the Courtney saga in the early 70's + on. Some of the new stuff does'nt set that well with me but I did like "Assegia". I might also repeat that the trilogy by Bartle Bull; "The White Rhino Hotel, Cafe On The Nile, + The Devils Oasis" are damned fine reading.