The wily Taita returns again

Where does Desert God rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Up there toward the top. I love the whole Egyptian series by Wilbur Smith and this one was every bit as exciting and mystical as the others.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Desert God?

If I answered this question, I would give the story away. Don't wish to spoil it for others.

What does Mike Grady bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He was really excellent! He was right up there with Simon Vance who has read to of Wilbur Smith's books ("The Quest" and "Assegai"). Their voices are very similar, with the lovely flowing British accents. Mike Grady does all the ethnic accents, age groups, and sexes seamlessly and it feels as if you are really listening to many different people speaking. I am so glad that the publisher has changed to Mike Grady. He is so much better than Dick Hill.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure

Any additional comments?

At the beginning of the book I was a bit bored, but it picked up rapidly and flowed every bit as remarkably as the other books in the Egyptian series. It is amazing that the character of Taita is able to carry so many different stories in an ongoing fashion and still be someone who I long to hear more stories about. Some folks may not like some of the graphic battles or some of the sexual references, but they are so much an integral part of the story , that they don't bother me. In fact, as I was listening, I realized that one of the reasons I like this series so much is because it takes place in a history long before biblical influences. That is refreshing, especially when you realize that many thousands of years of civilization, religions and cultures were present before the biblical era. One would almost think that Wilbur Smith was writing from some past memories. Now, I just hope that "The Seventh Scroll" would be reissued in unabridged audio format, and that Taita will return in another epic story.Thank You, Mr. Smith, for another wonderful story and many hours of great entertainment!

10 people found this helpful

Good sequel to River God.

Desert God by Wilbur Smith is the sequel to River God. Although it is the latest of the Egyptian novels, the story tells of events that took place after River God but before the events in Warlock. It is not as good a read as River God or Warlock, but it does give readers a feeling that the story of Taita is more complete. Well narrated by Mike Grady.

10 people found this helpful

captivating and historically magical

I absolutely loved this book. The story was beautiful, adventurous and captivating. The narrator read the story so well, that I will remember his voice while pondering the book. I have the actual book but could not have loved it so dearly without the narrator telling it to me.

2 people found this helpful

Fantastic history of the ancient world

this is a classic of historical fiction going back Millennia into ancient Egypt and using a eunuch demigod as its numerator. I call it fantastic because part of the tale unfolds using the Pantheon of ancient gods from various civilizations. In all it tours 4 Nations the Egyptians Hyksos Mesopotamian and minoan from Crete. While at times the choice of narrator can seem a little corny, given that he always triumphs, this is an effective device for exploration into the ancient past.

2 people found this helpful

Disappointed

I am a Smith fan but couldn't get into this story. Listened to it at 1 ½ speed and had to skip some portions because I found them so boring. Loved River God, Warlock & Quest.

2 people found this helpful

Too much manufactured intrigue

It did not take very long before I grew tired of listening to this excessive story.

2 people found this helpful

This is book 5 in the Egyption series

What made the experience of listening to Desert God the most enjoyable?

Wilbur Smith doesn't pull punches. This series takes place thousands of years ago, when the powerful ruled with iron hand and the rest of humanity was fodder. There is much horror and cruelty. Some of it is gut churning but in all honesty the world was not an easy place to live in 5500-6000 years ago. Most people didn't live to be adults.

What did you like best about this story?

The plot was always thickening, Taita, a eunuch slave in the first book in the series, now has the power of being the right had of the Pharaoh.

Have you listened to any of Mike Grady’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

There have been several different narrators in this series, and they have all been very good. Mike Grady also did an excellent job with emotions and voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If only, but I did finish over the weekend.

Any additional comments?

Wilbur Smith writes intense violent, and sometime horrifying situations that can be very upsetting to the 21st century person. However if you think of how the world was during the Crusades, the Dark Ages, etc, you know for a fact that there is much inhumanity just to survive. The main Character is not without flaws, but who is?

3 people found this helpful

Evocative

Smith is a master story teller. I enjoyed reading “River God” so much that when I saw this new book about ancient Egypt “Desert God” I grabbed it.

Our protagonist Taita is the former slave, eunuch and fixer-to Pharaoh. He has appeared in his other Egypt books. I heard an interview with Smith and he said that Taita’s vanity is played for laughs. He stated he had lots of fun making Taita conceited and ostentatious to the extreme.

From Thebes, young Pharaoh Tamose rules a divided Egypt. Hykos invaders control the lower Nile. Tamose sends Taita to reclaim the lost land. Taita must from an alliance with King Nimrod of Babylon and Supreme Minos of Crete. He loots a treasure of silver ingots and sends it to pharaoh. He treks across desert to Babylon then goes to Crete. Taita has diplomatic complications, lots of action, sea battles, land battles and the author provides sufficient particulars of landscape and people, food and drink to satisfy history buffs.

Smith tends to write characters as formally good or bad. At times the narrative seems rushed and toward the end of the book key elements are covered by quick exposition to accelerate the plot. Overall Smith blended intrigue, action, and suspense on a solid foundation of history to make a great historical novel. Mike Grady narrated the book.

5 people found this helpful

I love the Egypt Series

While the story stands on its own, it helps to fall into the story from the beginning. The tale is colorful, unexpected, suspenseful, and memorable.

3 people found this helpful

Awesome novel part of a great series

Perhaps a result of my love for Africa or adventure, but, without a doubt Wilbur Smith is one of my favorite authors. Regardless of the series, reading his books or listening you will be entertained.