The Quest by Wilbur Smith (2007, Compact Disc)

Wilbur Smith’s epic tale brings back the magus, Taita, from his earlier Egyptian novels. A “long-liver” who has boldness and wisdom beyond that of most mortals, Taita is skilled in martial arts, adept in the sciences, and expert in matters of the occult. When Egypt is threatened by a series of plagues and the waters of the Nile recede dangerously low, Taita is dispatched to find the cause and save his country. He does so with the aid of his “inner eye,” his trusty henchman Colonel Meren Cambyses, and a beautiful young girl who is the reincarnation of his lost love. His opponent is an irresistibly alluring witch whose hunger for world domination is as vast as the evil forces she can harness.

Smith mixes history with liberal dollops of mythology, fantasy and romance, all of which account for his wide appeal. There are battles, horrors and love scenes aplenty. Graphic, often lurid description is one of the author’s hallmarks, however, and his novels are not for the faint of heart. Simon Vance narrates energetically, setting and sustaining a lively pace throughout this lengthy novel, while endowing each character with a recognizable voice and style.

A thoroughly readable, fast-paced escapist adventure, "The Quest" will be good company at the beach this summer.