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duffypratt's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A very well told adventure story. WW1 is drawing to a close. The Ottoman Empire is collapsing, and Lawrence is leading the Arabs against the Turks. This involves a monomaniac who decides to start his own empire, shunning both the Ottomans and the Arabs. His leadership involves genocide, enslavement, and mass rape. Moreover, he poses a threat to the plans of the British.
El Borak, the American gunman, is working with the British. He decides to put an end to this troublesome uprising. With him, sort of as his prisoner, is a beautiful female spy who is on her way to deliver information to the enemy. With that set up, the story is pure adventure, and quite entertaining, but ultimately as slight as all of these El Borak stories.
El Borak, the American gunman, is working with the British. He decides to put an end to this troublesome uprising. With him, sort of as his prisoner, is a beautiful female spy who is on her way to deliver information to the enemy. With that set up, the story is pure adventure, and quite entertaining, but ultimately as slight as all of these El Borak stories.
bookwomble's review
5.0
Visceral desert adventure with Francis Xavier Gordon in early 20th century Afghanistan, with a foray into Turkey.
Gordon is known as El Borak, "The Swift", amongst the desert tribes,due to his almost supernatural reflexes. He's an American gunfighter who's found his place among the tribal factions of the east and the spymasters of the western imperial powers.
Loved, feared or hated in equal measure by those who've crossed his path, depending upon whether they've earned his trust or enmity, Gordon is indomitably loyal, implacably vengeful.
Although, like all of Howard's heroes, Gordon is an unbeatable fighter, he's at his best in these stories when he's playing off the opposing sides vying for power at this crossroads of political intrigue.
Gordon is known as El Borak, "The Swift", amongst the desert tribes,due to his almost supernatural reflexes. He's an American gunfighter who's found his place among the tribal factions of the east and the spymasters of the western imperial powers.
Loved, feared or hated in equal measure by those who've crossed his path, depending upon whether they've earned his trust or enmity, Gordon is indomitably loyal, implacably vengeful.
Although, like all of Howard's heroes, Gordon is an unbeatable fighter, he's at his best in these stories when he's playing off the opposing sides vying for power at this crossroads of political intrigue.
andydcaf2d's review
4.0
Just a good rollicking Sword & Sorcery adventure to pull you along at a fast clip after slogging thru a 900 pg novel before and another following. Robert E. Howard really could just write a constant fight scene. Conan, Kull and now Gordon. Surprised it took me 50 years to come across this guy.
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