Smith’s tradition continues

Titans of War by Wilbur Smith with Mark Chadbourn, Allen and Unwin, $45

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.. .. .. .. .. .. Wilbur Smith published his first novel When the Lion Feeds in 1964, and I started my lifelong readership of 50 something years and 30 something engrossing stories. Wilbur Smith sadly passed away two years ago at the age of 88. Mark Chadbourn is tasked with continuing his heritage as a writer specialising in novels set in Africa. In Titans of War he returns to ancient Egypt. This is an historical adventure of page turning excellence,

For more than 50 years Egypt has experienced nothing but war and devastation at the hands of the cruel and bloodthirsty Hyksos. Taita, the right hand man of the Pharaoh charges Piay to travel to distant lands to drum up support for Egypt and bring back warriors to join the defence of Egypt. From the get go Piay and his assistant face danger on a daily basis, travelling by land and sea to the faraway lands to the north. At every turn Piay is pursued by Sakir, a Hyksos warlord who is making it his mission to kill him.

Piay and Hannu are almost overwhelmed by their journey and the places and people they encounter. Titans of War is true to the tradition of Wilbur Smith’s historical adventures. If, like me, his novels have been part of your life for many years, you definitely won’t be disappointed with Mark Chadbourn’s adoption of the ancient Egypt so eloquently expressed by Smith.

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