River God by Wilbur Smith

I would have LOVED this book when I was in my teens. It's amusing enough, I suppose, a tale of a eunuch slave during the reign of Pharaoh Mamose in ancient Egypt, and his mistress the Lady Lostris and her love-interest, Tanus, Lord Harrab.

It has adventure of sorts, very good detail and historical tidbits scattered throughout, but it's ultimately just a little stale.

I read Edgar Rice Burroughs from 8 to about 14. I read Jean Auel in my 20's. I can't read either author now, even though they helped to form my literary tastes. Burroughs because even though it's an adventure, it's sort of pedestrian and tame, in that the plot is fairly easy to see through and the Lady Lostris is a semi-annoying caricature of a woman, as seen through the eyes of a callow and inexperienced 15 year old boy who has also been somewhat insulated from real women and what they're like. Just like the "heroines" and distressed damsels in 20th century pulp fiction.

It was like Auel in that the protagonist seems to have invented every damn thing under the sun, is a whiz at architecture, jewelry making, medicine, and many other tasks that take a lifetime to perfect the way this youngish man has. That's why I ended up hating Ayla of Clan of the Cave Bear. She was a one-woman renaissance, and Taita of River God is much like her in that regard.

I haven't finished the book yet, but for an adult that has discerning tastes and prefers something with a little more substance, this book isn't the best choice. For an adolescent boy or girl, it's the bomb.

Not a bad read, I haven't had the urge to gouge out my eyes with rusty forks, but I've read better.

Sorry, Mr. Smith.

[edit on 29-7-2007 by MajorMalfunction]

I read this a few years ago, along with warlock and a few others by wilbur.

His books, sadly, tend to be very formulaic in that he's found a style that sells and sticks to it.
I've read nearly all of his books, and the heroes, women etc are all pretty much the same with one exception.
Read "The Sunbird" - probably his best and most original effort.

Next time I'm shopping for books, I'll give it a try. Thanks.

About ten years ago I started reading John Norman books [Gor] Interesting to say the least, I recommend the first 6 books in the series. Love the adult relationships with a sci-fi twist.

# Tarnsman of Gor (1967)
# Outlaw of Gor (1967)
# Priest-Kings of Gor (1968)
# Nomads of Gor (1969)
# Assassin of Gor (1970)
# Raiders of Gor (1971)

I remember those! It was high school porn.

Speaking of formulaic novels, I'm trying to get some of the Casca novels from eBay auctions, but they're so popular, i keep getting outbid. I read those not too long after I read the Gor novels.

Gor gets awfully bogged down after book 7 or so. The first ones were good, if sexist in the extreme.