The Quest

Wilber Smith's saga of ancient Egypt continues. Taita, beloved advisor of the pharaoh, sets out on a quest to rid Egypt of the plagues that threaten the kingdom. Taita knows that the witch Eos is behind the troubles and that he must travel to the source of the Nile to confront her. Simon Vance is an indefatigable narrator. Long narrative passages move swiftly, and dialogue is sharp. Vance keeps the rhythm of the story moving as Taita and his comrades face difficult odds in the conflict with Eos. Their struggles and the accompanying suspense are intense. While Vance's portrayals of the main characters are strong and forceful, he also depicts the tenderness between Taita and Fenn, and their friendship with Meren. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

March 19, 2007
Fans of bestseller Smith's ancient Egyptian series will welcome the fourth book in the saga, which picks up where Warlock
(2001) left off. The powerful magus Taita and his loyal ally, Col. Meren Cambyses, have returned to Egypt after a journey of many years only to find the country beset by a series of plagues that include giant flesh-eating toads and river water turned to blood. Pharaoh Nefer Seti asks the pair to find—and eliminate—the source of his country's torment, a mission that sends Taita and Meren on a perilous quest in which they must contend with fierce creatures both natural and supernatural. Once again Smith deftly blends history, fantasy and mythology, but newcomers should be prepared for grisly deaths and mutilations. 225,000 printing.

July 1, 2007
Popular novels don't always fit neatly into a single genre (e.g., mystery, romance, or sf) but rather combine elements of several genres and straddle categories, creating interesting hybrids. "The Quest" is such a book, encompassing fantasy, adventure, and historical fiction via concepts both mythical and New Age. The eunuch and magus Taita, last seen in "Warlock", is back with companion Meren Cambyses. Egypt is struck by plagues of flesh-eating giant toads, and the annual flooding of the Nile fails. Pharaoh Nefer Seti sends the pair on a journey to discover the cause of the plagues and drought believed to originate at the source of the Nile, unaware of the terrible enemy who lies in ambush. Malign sorceress Eos, nearly as old as civilization, will tax Taita, Meren, and Fenn, a reincarnation of Lostris. Eos's evil supporters attempt to beguile Taita in the enchanted Cloud Gardens, where they promise to make him whole again by means of the diabolic procedure known as seeding. Audie Award-winning narrator Simon Vance brings a modulated English-accented sensibility to this story; his voices add extra vitality to the narration. Recommended for libraries with large popular fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and swashbuckling adventure collections.David Faucheux, Louisiana Audio Information & Reading Svc., Lafayette

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