The Wilbur Smith Discussion Forums

Please, I need help from all Wilbur Smith fans. I have read all of his books, and I am currently rereading the Courtney pirate series. I am exteremely addicted to Wilbur's books. Can anyone suggest some other authors who might come close to Mr. Smith as far as being an excellent historical fiction author?
David

Well I am very much like you I have read all of Wilbur Smiths novels and a fan of historical fiction as well.Someone in this forum recently suggested I look in to author Conn Iggulden who writes of the life of Julius Caeser and an historical account of ancient Rome.There are four books in the series and should be read in proper order.I have just completed the first book in the series named The Gates of Rome and am just begining the second book in the series called The Death of Kings.I sincerely suggest you look into these writings as a very good reading experience - and in your genre as well

Hi dbhargus - yours is not an un-common question!

I'm moving this thread to our "Other Authors" forum, where members have suggested loads of their fav. WS alternatives

dbhargus wrote:Please, I need help from all Wilbur Smith fans. I have read all of his books, and I am currently rereading the Courtney pirate series. I am exteremely addicted to Wilbur's books. Can anyone suggest some other authors who might come close to Mr. Smith as far as being an excellent historical fiction author?
David

I don't think that WS is a historical fiction writer at all. He is a great fiction writer who uses some incidents from history in his books but most of his writings are created with little regard for history. Colleen McCullough is a finer example of historical writing (Roman/Caesar stuff). For more African writers think of Keith Meadows (factual anf fictionalised history)), Percy Fitzpatrick (Jock of the Bushveld), Tony Park, Geoffrey Jenkins(all his books have some real event as the basis for the fiction woven around it)

dbhargus wrote:Please, I need help from all Wilbur Smith fans. I have read all of his books, and I am currently rereading the Courtney pirate series. I am exteremely addicted to Wilbur's books. Can anyone suggest some other authors who might come close to Mr. Smith as far as being an excellent historical fiction author?
David

Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" is a good book. James Michener wrote a book about South Africa called "The Covenant". James Michener's best books (in my opinion) are "Centennial" and "Hawaii".

A reply to a year-old Posting from someone who only recently stumbled on this marvelous discussion group: For those of you who would like to find an outstanding author who also writes about South African history -- and also writes historical fiction, I would highly recommend Sir Laurens Van der Post. He, too, is a native-born South African, predading WS by some 20 years. His insights into the bushmen of the Kalahari are unequaled. In his works of fiction, in my opinion, he is even more accurate in portraying conditions on the sub-continent as they truly are. One thing in particular I have noticed, is WS rarely makes mention of snakes in his books, and in particular, never of the copper cobra -- only a couple of mambas and one or two adders. Van der Post always has a lot of snakes -- more snakes than sex, for goodness sake -- perhaps that's why he isn't as well known. Living in the Southwestern United States, and spending most of my life in the wilds, I have always been concerned with where I camped, and always made sure it was free of (obvious) rattlesnakes before I spread out my sleeping bag under the stars. I have read all of WS's book and have never read of any of his characters making sure they weren't about to pitch their tent on a snake den. All minor points, though, and not enough to detract from his great writing. Give LVdP a try.

Morning all,

You could look int reading the books by Daniel Silva.
He has quite a few books published already.
I am reading through them now and they are a gripping read.
They are best read in order if possible.

Regards.

chookie wrote:Morning all,

You could look int reading the books by Daniel Silva.
He has quite a few books published already.
I am reading through them now and they are a gripping read.
They are best read in order if possible.

Regards.

I am reading these at the moment too, currently on "The Confessor". All good reads so far, but a little bit "samey" and are best when you read a different book in between in my opinion.

Try Larry McMurtry with his 4 Lonesome Dove series. History is a bit altered but a good read.

Try Beverley Harper. Shadows in the Grass and Footprints of Lions. Also set in Zululand around the same time as When the Lion Feeds. Also covers the Zulu and Boer wars.