Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Plynkes on September 11, 2010, 02:23:51 PM
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Occasionally we get folks asking for fiction recommendations of a colonial sort, so I thought it was time to open a Colonial annexe of Björn's Book Corner to share with you some of the stuff that I have enjoyed. Today I'm talking about a set of Henry Rider Haggard stories that have been overshadowed somewhat by the more famous King Solomon's Mines, some comic or other that folks are always nattering about here, and a horrid pile of dreck with Sean Connery in it.
They are three stories which detail the adventures of famous big game hunter Allan Quatermain in Zululand over the span of about forty-five years. They are sometimes referred to as the Zulu Trilogy, or the Zikali Trilogy (after the character whose actions really drive events). The broad story arc concerns the long-planned, slow-burning vengeance of the Zulu Dwarf Wizard Zikali (AKA The Opener of Roads and The thing-that-should-never-have-been-born) against the Zulu Royal House of Senzangakhona. Quatermain finds himself time and again dragged into Zikali's schemes as an unwilling pawn. Also, he shoots lots of wild animals, and more than a few Africans, too.
Surprisingly enough the trilogy consists of three books: Marie (1912), Child of Storm (1913) and Finished (1917).
They are something of a departure from most of the Quatermain stories, which usually have some kind of fantastical, you might even say VSF element. He normally ventures off discovering lost cities, lost white tribes, immortal beauties and even weirder metaphysical shit, but these three tales are firmly grounded in history rather than fantasy. In the same way that George MacDonald Fraser inserts Flashman into historical events in his novels, this saga is woven into Zulu history and the fictional characters are present and participate in situations that actually happened. I rather like this approach, and it makes a nice change from the usual nonsense Quatermain gets up to (though I do love that too). The stories do contain African witchcraft, spirit magic, ghosts and the like, but it is portrayed in such a way that a sceptical person could dismiss it as trickery and hallucination (which is precisely what Quatermain does), but we are never really sure about this.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_1_01_29_0.jpg)
Marie.
Historical background and events: 1830s. Sixth Cape Frontier War. Abolition of Slavery. The Great Trek. Dingane and Piet Retief.
Plot: The teenage Allan Quatermain's first love. He falls for the beautiful daughter of a Boer farmer with tragic results. Oh, and he shoots lots of animals.
May seem like I've dropped a spoiler in your lap there, but I don't think so. The tragic ending isn't so much foreshadowed, we are pretty much told about it outright on Page One. It is a story so painful to Allan that he has refused to discuss or set it down on paper for many years, and it is only discovered after his death (the Quatermain stories are portrayed as if they were his memoirs, occasionally with inserts from other people's recollections).
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_1_01_29_1.jpg)
"Well, they've got a very good bass section, mind, but no top tenors, that's for sure."
The action takes us from Cape Colony to Mozambique, Zululand and finally Natal. Early on Allan gets his own personal miniature Rorke's Drift (which is lots of fun), and for the rest of the book battles for his love of Marie to be accepted by her bigoted father; who rabidly hates the English and won't have his daughter marry one of them. Allan's evil rival for her love constantly plots his downfall, and Allan finds himself dragged into terrifying events at the court of Zulu despot Dingane. The Zulu Dwarf Wizard Zikali (Zulu Dwarf Wizard? Isn't that a World of Warcraft character class?) first appears in this story, though we don't actually even see him, and his scheming doesn't really get going until the second book.
I enjoyed this book, as I like a good tragic Shakespearean romance, and there is enough action and drama to keep you interested. The atmosphere of sheer terror living under the whim of a tyrant whose very word is death, and who distributes it arbitrarily, is well conveyed. The ending is (to my modern sensibilities anyway) the only slight let-down, but more of that in a minute in the spoiler section below.
Racism. Well, I think if you met H.R. Haggard today you would probably call his attitudes towards Africans a bit racist, but I think that for his time he was pretty progressive. Quatermain angrily condemns use of the n-word in one of the books, though it must be said that all the characters; black, white and in between, throw the nowadays-extremely offensive term Kaffir around like confetti. But you will find that the virtuous and the vile, the heroic and cowardly, and the honest and treacherous are spread fairly evenly across all the races and nationalities in the Quatermain books. It is certainly a refreshing change from some of the Victorian and early 20th Century's writers, with their idiotic ideas about Africans and barely concealed white supremacism. I'm looking at you, John Buchan.
Haggard likes to portray the Zulus, among other things, as a nation hopelessly addicted to gossip and scandal-mongering, rather than just a one-note "savage-yet-noble" warrior people. I actually find that quite endearing, as they seem not so different to our society today in that regard. It is clear however, that either Quatermain, Haggard or both don't think all that much of the Boers. Even so there are plenty of sympathetic Boer characters. But the devilishly handsome main villain, just to emphasize what a moustache-twirler he is, is half-Boer/half-Portuguese. You do get the impression that his fiery yet mysterious "latin-ness" is what makes him a bad 'un. Naughty Haggard. I soon got over this stumbling block by imagining him as a winking, cheating Cristiano Ronaldo to Quatermain's dopey but dependable Wayne Rooney. ;) lol
Next: Things get hot and steamy in Child of Storm.
After the next picture is a short spoiler section. Skip it if you don't want to be spoiled.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_1_01_58.jpg)
Allan shoots some local wildlife dead. Get used to it: this is what Quatermain does.
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Spoiler ahead
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The Ending. This was the only part where I wasn't totally convinced. Our pal Ronaldo has spent the entire book cheating, lying, and even repeatedly trying to murder Quatermain in order to get the girl. At the end he manages to frame Allan for a treacherous crime which he actually committed himself. But his scheme comes undone and he himself is mortally hurt. The Boers are still going to lynch Quatermain, and only the testimony of Ronaldo can save him. If he keeps his gob shut he takes Allan with him, twrling his moustache and cackling as he goes. Instead he goes and confesses everything. Either it is supposed to show him to be redeemable, or he suddenly fears eternal damnation, but it seemed so out of character compared with how he acted for the rest of the book that I found myself in a "What the fuck...?!!" moment. I suppose the deathbed confession is a staple of older fiction, but I didn't really buy it. Do people really do this? To casually cast aside the villainy that has defined everything about him like that. What was the fucking point all this time? You could have saved everyone a whole lot of bother, and a lot less people would be dead! You could have at least carried it through to the end, you fucking idiot! Oh well, at least it makes him a more interesting character to ponder, and gives you something to think about. :)
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Thanks, Plynkes. I confess to having been a bit confused as to how all the various Quatermain books fit together and this helps.
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The edition I have suggests this as a chronological order for the stories (quite different to the order they were written in, though):
Marie
Child of Storm
Allan's Wife
A Tale of Three Lions
Maiwa's Revenge
Hunter Quatermain's Story
Long Odds
Allan and the Holy Flower
Heu Heu or The Monster
She and Allan
Treasure of the Lake
The Ivory Child
Finished
Magepa the Buck
King Solomon's Mines
The Ancient Allan
Allan and the Ice Gods
Allan Quatermain
But I chose to read the Zulu Trilogy together as they form a broad story arc, which the other books don't really do.
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I'm surprised there are that many Quatermain stories :o
Definitely worth hunting them down, starting with this trilogy!
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This is an absolute no-brainer for those who can cope with reading e-books.
"The H. Rider Haggard Omnibus: 68 Novels and Short Stories (Halcyon Classics) [Kindle Edition]"
£2.23 including VAT!
From: http://www.amazon.co.uk/H-Rider-Haggard-Omnibus-Classics/dp/B002WPZV7S/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284219434&sr=1-9
Wish I could handle reading lots of e-text :'(
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(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_5_11_52_0.jpg)
"I dare say that the storm will follow, Inkoosi, for she was born in a storm and storm goes with her; but what of that, if she and I stand it out together? I love her, and I had rather die with her than live with any other woman."
Child of Storm
Historical background and events: 1850s. The court of Mpande. "The War between the Princes" (Cetshwayo's Usuthu faction vs. Mbulazi's iziGqoza). Battle of 'Ndondakasuka. John Dunn.
Plot: The tale of Mameena, the eponymous 'Child of Storm.' A sort of Zulu Helen of Troy/Lady MacBeth, whose vaulting ambition brings many, many brave men down to their deaths. In the background Zikali the Zulu Dwarf Wizard laughs and plots as we learn of his hatred for the children of Senzangakhona. Once more Quatermain is sucked into Zulu affairs. Oh, and he kills lots of animals.
The title character Mameena, who was born amid a terrible storm and whose name echoes the sound the wind made that dread night, is the central character of this one. She is also the girl that just about every character in this book wants to fuck. Even old steadfast Quatermain is not immune to her charms and gets a little bout of jungle fever, though of course he manfully resists it like a proper Englishman should. Her desirability is taken to the extreme when we learn that even her father expresses the wish that she were not his daughter so that he could, well, you know... (Ewwww, thanks for that one, HRH!). You could quite fairly subtitle this one "There's Something about Mameena." She uses her almost magical power over men ruthlessly, in a bid to to become Queen of the Zulu. As you can probably guess, this does not go well for many of the characters, and it sparks a bloody civil war among the Zulu, which Allan finds himself caught smack bang in the middle of.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_5_11_52_1.jpg)
We finally come face to face with Zikali, the Knight Elf Mohawk (think that was it).
I think even the author fell for his creation here, for he actually calls her the "heroine" of the piece. Well, she's certainly the protagonist, but heroine is really, really stretching it. One thing she does is so vile that it squarely puts her in the realm of irredeemable villainy, and yet, I too found myself rooting for her. Well, I guess there really is something about Mameena.
Now while this is a Quatermain story, he isn't really the hero or even the protagonist. He does get a few badass moments but he is really not much more than a glorified narrator who also happens to be one of the characters in the tale. It is really a Zulu story with Zulu heroes and villains, and old Quatermain is just swept up in it. I quite like this in that it avoids the all too familiar situation of Kevin Costner or Tom Cruise storming in, learning the natives ways and then sorting everything out for them type of scenario. Whitey here is not the main man.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_5_11_52_2.jpg)
"Oi! You're the geezer what shagged my bird. Outside in the car park, now!"
Now you might notice something about the woman in the pictures on this post. Yep, that's Mameena, a Zulu noblewoman. She's supposed to be so beautiful that almost no man can resist her. I guess the illustrator really struggled coming to grips with the concept of a beautiful black woman, and thus we get Natalie Wood in West Side Story on the cover. I guess it shows that the old Hollywood trope of "...but not too black" that keeps Halle Berry in work is older than cinema.
This one is my favourite of the trilogy. It is a very interesting period of Zulu history, and Mameena is just too fucking cool. I too love this girl who can get half of Zululand to kill the other half just by waggling her arse. I'm quite sure I'd slit all you lot's throats in the night if she but winked at me and asked me to do it. ;)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_09_10_5_11_52_3.jpg)
Bloody typical. For the first half of the book Mameena's wardrobe consists of nothing more than a string of beads, and yet they choose to illustrate THIS scene!
Next: Things come to a head and Zikali plots his final vengeance in Finished.
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I always thought a Zulu's idea of a full on sex goddess started at about 18 stone ;)
I'll be after these, do you know if they're available as Audiobooks Plynkes?
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Amazon have Marie and Child of Storm on CD (at prices that seemed a little steep to me, or maybe I'm just being a cheapskate), but I couldn't see Finished.
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Cheers for this Plynkes, I'm really enjoying your reviews and its inspiring me to seek the books out. :)
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"It is men we fear, not spirits, now when all Zululand is boiling like a pot."
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_13_09_10_10_00_31_0.jpg)
"There, then, on that plain perished the Zulu kingdom which was built up by Chaka."
Finished
Historical background and events: 1870s. British annexation of the Transvaal. Sekhukhune and the Pedi War. Zulu War. Isandlwana. The fall of the Zulu kingdom.
Plot: Once more Allan finds himself the unwilling pawn of Zikali the dwarf, whose infernal plotting against the Zulu royal house finally comes to a climax. Quatermain is haunted by a shadow from the past. For once Allan doesn't kill all that many animals, but makes up for it by killing lots and lots of Africans.
Amid much witchcraft and hocus pocus, Allan has a hand in causing the Zulu war, though he is manipulated into it by Zikali, and doesn't really have much of a choice in the matter. He also confirms his badass credentials by not only surviving Isandlwana (after expending all his ammunition), a nasty case of sunstroke, but also getting struck by fucking lightning!
We also discover him to be a complete hypocrite. Early on he runs into trouble with a couple of English ne'er-do-wells who are mixed up in an illegal diamond racket and running guns to the Pedi. He roundly condemns the latter. Running guns to the natives is a terribly wicked thing for an Englishman to be doing. Except, in Child of Storm, Quatermain himself was making a quick buck running guns to the Zulus. He seems to have forgotten that. Or maybe that was okay, because in the 1850s the Zulus were only planning to use those guns to kill each other, and not white people.
One more interesting tidbit, we gain an insight into Quatermain's (and presumably Haggard's) views on lesbianism, which he seems to think is a form of hysteria, that native women (and witch-docteresses in particular) are particularly prone to. Okay...
...Actually, this bears looking into, strictly from a scientific viewpoint, of course. So any donations to set up a fund to get me a subscription to Hot Ebony Lezzers.com would be gratefully appreciated. Purely so we can gain a deeper insight into this phenomenon, of course. ;)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_13_09_10_10_00_31_1.jpg)
They really stiffed us on illustrations this time. I couldn't find an edition with any more pictures than this one. Oh well, at least we got a hint of boobage.
In case you are wondering about the rather odd title, "Finished" or "Finished with Joy" is supposedly the translation of the name of the kraal Jazi, which is where Cetshwayo met his end, some say by poison...
All good fun, I enjoyed this one. Plenty of intrigue and a fair bit of action. Plus romance, mystery, supernatural shenanigans and a bit of comedy (notably the Zulus gossiping about Allan and a fat mixed-race maid who they think is his wife).
The winding up of the saga is something of a downer, with much reflection on the past, and an atmosphere of melancholy at the end. But that was to be expected given the subject matter. Despite being a patriotic Briton, you can't but feel Quatermain regrets the passing of the Zulu Kingdom, and maybe Haggard did, too.
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Cheers for this Plynkes, I'm really enjoying your reviejavascript:void(0);ws and its inspiring me to seek the books out. :)
Oh yes, but I am now also very keen to get these wonderfully editions with 'Boy's Own' type of illustrations. Just look at that African stunner in her Versace haut couture shift...
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One more interesting tidbit, we gain an insight into Quatermain's (and presumably Haggard's) views on lesbianism, which he seems to think is a form of hysteria, that native women (and witch-docteresses in particular) are particularly prone to.
A common sentiment of the time, I gather. And of present day Utah.
...Actually, this bears looking into, strictly from a scientific viewpoint, of course. So any donations to set up a fund to get me a subscription to Hot Ebony Lezzers.com would be gratefully appreciated. Purely so we can gain a deeper insight into this phenomenon, of course. ;)
Naughty!
Great reviews, Dylan. You mention the supernatural elements, are they, within the novels, 'actual' or 'perceived', if you understand what I mean?
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That's odd. There was a post by Greywolf earlier, but it seems to have vanished. Another mysterious lost post, or just a deletion by the author? I only ask as folks have been reporting vanishing posts lately.
You mention the supernatural elements, are they, within the novels, 'actual' or 'perceived', if you understand what I mean?
Some are exposed as fakery and witchdoctor showmanship (in fact the main plot thrust of the third book revolves around such a deception, and it is this that leads to the war). But there is much that happens that isn't explained, and in one particular (and significant) case Quatermain never finds out the truth of the matter (not for want of trying), and that really bothers him. As the whole saga is presented as being written by Quatermain himself we only have his perceptions to go on, so what he doesn't know, we don't know.
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That's odd. There was a post by Greywolf earlier, but it seems to have vanished. Another mysterious lost post, or just a deletion by the author? I only ask as folks have been reporting vanishing posts lately.
Some are exposed as fakery and witchdoctor showmanship (in fact the main plot thrust of the third book revolves around such a deception, and it is this that leads to the war). But there is much that happens that isn't explained, and in one particular (and significant) case Quatermain never finds out the truth of the matter (not for want of trying), and that really bothers him. As the whole saga is presented as being written by Quatermain himself we only have his perceptions to go on, so what he doesn't know, we don't know.
Sounds like effective narrative. (I have only just started with King Solomons mines)
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I would love to get those illustrated versions, but I think this one will have to do
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Allan-Quatermain-Trilogy-Marie-Finished/dp/1604590807/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284419950&sr=8-1
I'm currently painting up Zulus and Xhosa so after reading this thread it's a must buy situation for me.
Cheers Mors
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I'm currently painting up ... Xhosa
1st Corps? What do you think of them? Been considering getting some.
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1st Corps Xhosa are good figures, but more like 25mm, so will not blend in so well with modern 28s if you are bothered by the whole scale issue.
The Brits from the range are also very nice figures. (sorry to butt in!)
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Butt in whenever the fancy takes you, dear fellow!
I care less than most about size match-ups I think, but I do care a bit. Might just buy one or maybe two packs as a test. Thanks for the info.
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Heres a quick comparison pic I have taken of some unfinished (and unstarted)miniatures. It show the Blazeaway Xhosa and First Corps next to old and 2 new Foundry Zulus as well as Empress and Rapier Zulus. Shorter and less bulk, however they would not be fielded in the same unit so its not a problem for me.
(http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac10/Kapitanmors/Darkest%20Africa/zuluxhosa1.jpg)
The Brits are indeed very nice but not got any yet.
I dont mind the butting in either :)
Mors
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Quote from: Mors on Today at 01:25:06 AM
I'm currently painting up ... Xhosa
1st Corps? What do you think of them? Been considering getting some.
/quote]
Sorry I did not really answer your question, I am probably not the best person to ask because I have a pretty low threshold when it comes to figure quality , as I do about scale issues. IMHO these are quite nice miniatures, they are cast in that really hard white metal , not sure if that's good or bad , flash was minimal but the hands had to be drilled or filed to receive the weapons , all bar one pose have cast on shields. The poses for the young warriors are mainly advancing/charging with the exception of the kneeling figure, they have loin coverings not sure how accurate that is, they also have some very small knobs.* The older warriors have a more varied selection of poses , they have what looks like a Zulu head ring on but that is not correct , I presume its meant to represent a bead ring as per the Osprey book.They are however nekkid round the loins.
I can't quite make up my mind about the old Cannon Fodder Xhosa now sold by Blazeaway Miniatures , as indicated by Ian Knight in his recent article in WI they have a
certain elegance , but seem semi flats when viewed head on . I did order there jungle warriors at the same time and they look fun, will use them to chase my Belgians around in the Congo.
I'm still reading up on this topic so even less expert than normal
South Africa is taking up my thoughts at the moment , I recently received North Stars Matabele range. These are very nice! Ian Knight on the Cape Wars yahoo group has also recommended their new wagon , though he indicates it's a bit on the large side scale wise.I also ordered the Trent Miniatures revolting slaves to use as Fingoes , could also
be useful in other parts of Africa for irregular forces , not sure if they will do for Ruga Ruga, although there firearms are dated back late 18th C I have read a lot about the multitude of old weapons in Africa at this time.
cheers Mors
*Sorry, that should read knobkerry :D
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Thanks, Mors. Is the 1st Corps figure the black-undercoated one on the right?
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Poly
yes thats right 3rd one in , sorry didn't make it clear which was which!
I will put some better pics up when painted....
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Watch a tv series drama called Shaka Zulu on YouTube. It is very useful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_hS_DKab8I
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Already got the DVD set, mate. :)
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Already got the DVD set, mate. :)
I watched it in south Africa in the 80s. Absolutely brilliant. Very sadly the actor died about 5 years ago. He used to be a football player but turned to acting. He played Shaka on stage until it was televised.
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I monitored this thread because I'm interested in the adventure of A. Quatermain.
I have two books of Haggard about, but I found really difficult to read-understand, probably my bad English knowledgement :(,
somebody knows which kind of slang it use ?
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He does write with a slightly old-fashioned wordy style. There are lots of Afrikaans words thrown in to the South African stories, as well. He also has a habit of depicting the speech of "civilised" black South Africans in a phonetic way to try and depict their thick accents. However when representing what he would call (pardon the racist term here) "Red Kaffirs" (that is to say "wild", tribal Africans) speaking in their own tongue, he usually has them talk in formal and flowery language, which in English makes them sound Medieval or even Shakespearean.
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He does write with a slightly old-fashioned wordy style. There are lots of Afrikaans words thrown in to the South African stories, as well. He also has a habit of depicting the speech of "civilised" black South Africans in a phonetic way to try and depict their thick accents. However when representing what he would call (pardon the racist term here) "Red Kaffirs" (that is to say "wild", tribal Africans) speaking in their own tongue, he usually has them talk in formal and flowery language, which in English makes them sound Medieval or even Shakespearean.
thanks,
argh too difficult for me >:(
God bless writers like Winston Churchill for his simple language :-*
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John Buchan writes similarly in Greenmantle. You get the gist of it when you read on: sometimes the lingo is explained, but othertimes not. I can't wait to get stuck in to King Solomon's Mines. The movies with Richard Chamberlain were childhood favourites, although in hindsight probably not entirely accurate, eh?
A great thread Plynkes. Thanks!
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Anyway as movie ,personally, The version with Stewart Granger and Debora Kerr is surely better. It has the feeling of the old adventure movies.
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It is a sad testament to the fact that things had to get a lot worse before they got any better in that in the original novel the "love interest" character is a black woman, rather than a fiery-haired Deborah Kerr type. Something seemingly acceptable in an 1885 novel, but not the Hollywood of 1950. So much for progress.
I'm not a huge fan of either version, they leave out all the best bits and replace them with boring or stupid shit, as film-makers always seem wont to do. As I recall neither has the big Zulu battle which is the best part of the book. For my Deborah Kerr fix I like to watch Black Narcissus. Spooky, unnerving, and unintentionally hilarious by turns.
I've never seen the 1937 version of King Solomon's Mines, but I'd like to, as it is supposed to stay much truer to the book than the others. It also has Paul Robeson singing in it, apparently!
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Just got a couple of packs of those 1st Corps Xhosa. Can't say I'm hugely impressed with them, to be honest. I think I've been spoiled a bit by Mr. Copplestone's sculpting and that's making me a bit too fussy in my old age. Hopefully they'll look okay painted up, so I reckon they'll do. Size wise they're okay. A bit more slender than some figures but they'll fit in okay, I think.
Lord knows why they put loin cloths on the "Young Warriors." If there is one thing the Xhosa didn't do it was loin cloths. It's odd, because the "Xhosa Warriors" pack isn't afraid to show us arses and winkies. ???
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Pretty much agree with everything you have said especially about Copplestone sculpts. Im sure the Xhosa will look just grand after a paint job by yourself. Mine are in the queue.
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Just got back from vacation,so i missed the start of this post,but thanks for the book review I have some of Haggards work but have had difficulty with the 19th century style of his writing so have never actually gotten more than a few chapters in! I will have to give it another go!
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If you don't enjoy it I wouldn't try to force it. If I am struggling with a book I'll stop reading it rather than have it become a millstone around my neck. It's supposed to be fun! Guess Haggard isn't for everyone: I've read about people struggling with the older style of writing, but I've always found his work really accessible. I think you just have to accept that you're not going to like everything, and move on without worrying about it.
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I did old prose. Just got a 1931 B.O.P in the mail and content, wording and values are ace entertainment.
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B.O.P?
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The Boy's Own Paper. You *are* from Great Britain, aren't you, or is all that 'cheerio, toodle pip, !' a façade? :)
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Ah yes. Never seen it referred to as an acronym before. Also never read it. Too young, you see. It finished a few years before I was born. I am from the era of comics, myself: Victor, Battle, Action, Commando, War Picture Library, Whizzer and Chips, The Beano and The Dandy, etc.
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Ah yes. Never seen it referred to as an acronym before. Also never read it. Too young, you see. It finished a few years before I was born. I am from the era of comics, myself: Victor, Battle, Action, Commando, War Picture Library, Whizzer and Chips, The Beano and The Dandy, etc.
They refer to themselves as BOP in adds and editorials.
I shall share a secret with you: I got the magazine because I think I shall use as graphical inspiration for my webpage. Currently it is all over the place, as I just slap together a page without uniformity and style when I have something to show. I am contemplating calling it "The Lads' Own Lead" and use a 1920s-1930s style copy and nick a few nick a few contemporary adds and illustrations to mix with the miniature/scenery photographs.
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That would explain why I am unfamiliar with it then. As it had ceased publication before my birth I never saw an ad for or editorial from it. :)
I like your idea. A bit like what the Prof did with his site, though nonetheless worth doing.
By the way, I don't really do cheerio and toodle pip. I think you are thinking of Malamute there. ;) If upon times you do catch me doing it, then it is most definitely a façade. Despite the crackpot claims about royal connections by my mad uncle, my natural demeanour is that of a surly, rustic (and drunken) peasant.
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I like your idea. A bit like what the Prof did with his site, though nonetheless worth doing.
Yes, it may not appear fully original but where Alex's is using a pulp style I will try to capture the feel of B.O.P, which is all about cricket, brave Imperial soldiers, home electronics, fret sawing and stamp collecting. I shall endeavour to make it less wholesome and a little more wicked.
By the way, I don't really do cheerio and toodle pip. I think you are thinking of Malamute there. ;) If upon times you do catch me doing it, then it is most definitely a façade. Despite the crackpot claims about royal connections by my mad uncle, my natural demeanour is that of a surly, rustic (and drunken) peasant.
So I have noticed. I was just messing with you. :)
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Of course you realise I wasn't meaning to belittle the idea by comparing it with the Prof's site. Far from it. I really like it, especially the bit about Imperial soldiers and cricket. Imperial soldiers actually playing cricket would be even better.
England were playing the Afridis* last night at cricket, and our boys triumphed, winning the series 3-2. Hurrah and God save the Queen, etc. :)
*Well, Pakistan, but their captain's name is Afridi.
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So I have noticed. I was just messing with you. :)
Tut, tut. Take a cold tub, sir!
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Tut, tut. Take a cold tub, sir!
Plynkes and I have been locking horns occasionally since the day mother delivered Nils. There is no ill will at all. :)
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(That's what he thinks.)
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Yes, that is what I think. Sometimes it is beneficial to be a dullard. :)
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***snippage***
I've never seen the 1937 version of King Solomon's Mines, but I'd like to, as it is supposed to stay much truer to the book than the others. It also has Paul Robeson singing in it, apparently!
Have it on DVD, couldn't get into it. I enjoy Robeson voice, but found the song interjections too jarring.. I ended up following Plynkes advice of "If you don't enjoy it I wouldn't try to force it. If I am struggling with a book I'll stop reading it rather than have it become a millstone around my neck."
Of course, we're talking a movie instead of a book, but you can get the same effect. I shall try it again, soon, to see if it was just a mood thing.
Doug
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Yes, on reflection Paul Robeson singing in an Allan Quatermain picture does sound like a really stupid idea. But it's just I'm a massive admirer of Robeson, and also the Bollywood-style lunacy of characters bursting into song for no reason in the middle of an action movie appeals to me for some reason. :)
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When a youngster I received form an old biddy a copy of the withces head (god knows what happened to it) that was set in the zulu war but had a supernatural edge to it if I recall. Wish I still had it as there were some lovely illustrations in it :(
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How about some short descriptions of a few more?
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_10_10_1_16_43_0.jpg)
"The Almighty gave us our lives, and I suppose He meant us to defend them, at least I have always acted on that, and I hope it will not be brought up against me when my clock strikes."
King Solomon's Mines
The classic. The novel that kicked off the whole 'Lost World' genre in the first place, and despite the complete lack of dinosaurs, still one of the best (the best if you ask me). If you have never read it you have no business posting on Colonial Adventures so go away and don't come back until you have (Just kidding, that's not LAF policy or anything!).
Allan Quatermain accompanies Sir Henry Curtis, Captain Good RN and a mysterious African stranger to a lost world of mysterious ruins, inhabited by an offshoot of the Zulus. They get tangled up in local politics and Good starts hitting on the local totty. Bloody Civil War ensues. Alan shoots animals. Bad Guys get comeuppance, Good Guys get treasure, but not the girl.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_10_10_1_16_43_1.jpg)
"Nay, nay, it will be a man's death: gainsay me not, old friend. It has been a good day, let it now be good night."
Alan Quatermain
Follow-up to KSM, and the final episode of the saga. Yet it was only the second one to be written. After that Haggard treated us to Phantom Menace-style prequels, and got himself into almost as much of a mess as George Lucas (but more of that later). Now, this might seem like I'm copy-and-pasting, but:
Allan Quatermain accompanies Sir Henry Curtis, Captain Good RN and a mysterious African to a lost world (this time a Filmation Tarzan cartoon-style lost white civilisation of the week). They get tangled up in local politics, and this time both Curtis and Good immediately start hitting on the local totty. Allan, being Allan, begins shooting the local high priest's herd of sacred Hippopotami. Hilarity ensues.
No, wait a minute. Not hilarity: Bloody Civil War ensues. Uh, look guys, do you think that just once you could discover a lost civilisation without starting a war when you get there?
In this one Allan gleefully slaughters Masai, weird mutant crab things (yes, really), Hungry Hungry Hippos, and loads of Zu-Vendi (the name of the people from the lost civilisation). We have one of Haggard's favourite things: a doomed romance, plus a not-so-doomed one. Allan's pal Umslopogaas gets his Crowning Moment of Samuel L. Jackson Fuck-Off Badass Awesomeness when he shows the Zu-Vendi just what kind of stuff Zulus are made of (Umslopogaas' popularity meant he got his own spin-off novel later on). And as it's the last chapter in the saga, everyone gets a happy ending. Except the ones who are dead. And the ones who are alive but aren't that happy. Um, let's start again: two of the characters get a happy ending.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_10_10_1_16_43_2.jpg)
"She has come back, Macumazahn, with all the baboons in the world, and she has come back to do evil."
Alan's Wife
The first of the prequel stories. As the title might lead you to suspect, Allan gets married. This one is kind of like a trailer for the whole saga. Most of the themes and ideas that typify Quatermain are all shoved into one not very long story. Mysterious ancient ruins? Check. Zulu Impis and Trek-Boers? Check. Scary African magic and creepy witchdoctors? Check. Doomed romance? Check. Downer ending and overall atmosphere of melancholy? Check. Allan slaughtering animals? Just wait and see. The only thing missing is the sassy/feisty/sexy/wilful young Zulu lass.
Animal slaughter? Oh yes, in his ongoing quest to completely exterminate the animal population of Africa, Quatermain really, really outdoes himself this time. Not only does he somehow manage to kill an entire bloody herd of elephants in one go, he commits an act of attempted genocide on a tribe of baboons (though they did have it coming, the bastards). Speaking of baboons, a full twenty-five years before Tarzan we have a feral white character living in Africa who was raised by apes (yeah, Burroughs, you fucking copy-cat!): The 'Babyan-frau' or Baboon Woman.
This first of the prequel stories causes a few problems, because if you have read the Zulu Trilogy, nothing quite adds up. You get the feeling that Haggard thought he hadn't really done the whole "Allan gets married" and "Allan has adventures with Zulus and witchdoctors" thing justice in this short novel, so he went back and wrote a whole trilogy on that theme. Trouble is, he retconned in a whole bunch of stuff which is (obviously) never mentioned in this, earlier-written but later-set book. So Allan, for example, claims that Stella Carson, his wife in this book, was his first and only wife. Yet according to Marie, Marie Marais was Allan's first wife, and Stella his second. He tries to wave this away by saying the death of Marie was so traumatic to him that he never mentioned it to anyone, nor did he put it in his journals, but it is all a bit of a half-assed way around things and isn't very convincing. You get the distinct impression you are reading about the adventures of an Allan from an alternate universe, or one who has been hit on the head and lost his memory. Continuity screw-ups and retcons, eh? Marvel and DC would be proud! :)
Even without worrying about such issues, this one does get a bit silly in its own right too, what with the Baboon-Woman and her army of killer apes, but it's all good harmless pulpy fun. Besides, baboons are bloody scary.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_11_10_10_1_16_44_3.jpg)
"'Yes,' she continued, 'it is the dead hand of my dead child, and I bear it with me that I may never forget, never for one short hour, that I live that I may see Wambe die, and be avenged."
Maiwa's Revenge or The War of the Little Hand
Allan becomes a marked man after shooting elephants on the hunting grounds of a tribal chieftain without permission, and must fight for his very life.
The first half of this short novel is all hunting. I don't share the author's enthusiasm for this kind of scene, or the obvious joy he gets from filling his books with this stuff. The hunting scenes in this one are rather exciting, but I like elephants, and so found myself a little disgusted with Quatermain and his cheery delight in wiping them out. Just when I was thinking I couldn't stomach any more of this the plot arrived, in the form of one of those fiesty young Zulu girls that Haggard is so fond of. From that point on the already exciting (but rather sickening, in terms of fauna abuse) tale hits another gear and doesn't really let up. It's pretty much all action from there on without all the exposition, sitting around chatting, committee meetings, audiences with kings and formal speech-making that sometimes tends to pad out Quatermain stories. This time they just fucking get on with it. And the 'it' they get on with is very enjoyable too: A sustained chase sequence, and after a short rest and a quick planning session a cunning ruse followed by a massive battle.
Job done. Excellent fun.
Haggard is rather fond of these strong, attractive young female Zulu characters, and as mentioned another one crops up here. Unlike in the Zulu trilogy where they are often morally ambiguous at best, if not outright villains, this one is more like the example from King Solomon's Mines: Though she is driven, fierce and violent, there is no doubting she is one of the good guys.* In fact although other characters outrank her, she is really their de facto leader (with Quatermain as advisor, subordinate military commander and ideas man). While in the other books such character are femmes fatales or witchdoctoresses, this one is an action girl. An amazon, in fact. She gets her knobkerries out and gets stuck in with the lads like a good 'un when there's fighting to be done.
Despite the sustained cruelty to animals this is one of my favourites. I like the ones with lots of fighting and sexy Zulu twenty-somethings. You may have noticed that. :)
*Yes, she's vengeful, very violent and driven to extreme behavior and cruelty, but it is made abundantly clear that her furious rampage of Doom and Death is entirely justified. And she does stop when Allan asks her to.
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Thanks again Plynkes, more excellent reviews. :)
Its been a long time since I read it, but the scene in Allan Quatermain where Curtis and Umslopogaas stand shoulder to shoulder atop the stairway, axes swinging is one of my favourite bits in any book ever.
A "Crowning Moment of Samuel L. Jackson Fuck-Off Badass Awesomeness" if ever there was one.
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Agreed!
I like the attack on the Maasai camp by our heroes in Alan Quatermain. A great basis for a scenario. We need more armoured African adventurers.
Yes, Sam L J would make a great Umslopogaas and I really should find an appropriate figure to try and do a conversion at some point ;D
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I have a suitably imposing Zulu figure, and have finally procured him an African-looking axe. Just a matter of getting off my lazy arse and doing the work now.
I had quite forgotten that they wear the chainmail they got in 'King Solomon's Mines.' My Umslopogaas shall be the standard, unarmoured version, but a chainmail-clad one would be cool, too, as would chainmail-wearing explorers. I suppose the place to start would be fantasy or medieval ranges if looking for conversion fodder.
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I have a suitably imposing Zulu figure, and have finally procured him an African-looking axe. Just a matter of getting off my lazy arse and doing the work now.
I had quite forgotten that they wear the chainmail they got in 'King Solomon's Mines.' My Umslopogaas shall be the standard, unarmoured version, but a chainmail-clad one would be cool, too, as would chainmail-wearing explorers. I suppose the place to start would be fantasy or medieval ranges if looking for conversion fodder.
Mail is quite easy to do with some greenstuff etc and one of those handy dental tools that many figure suppliers stock. There are quite a few suitable Pictish/Scottish axe-armed figures, wearing short mail byrnies and with bare legs that could work for Umslopogaas with a Zulu head stuck on and a little filing.
An elephant-gun toting Quatermain in mail would be a fine thing to see!
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There's a passage from King Solomon's Mines that I've been meaning to share with everyone. I think it's one of the most poignant things I've ever had the pleasure to read. It is Quatermain's musings on the eve of battle...
"... Yet man dies not whilst the world, at once his mother, and his monument, remains. His name is lost, indeed, but the breath he breathed still stirs the pine-tops on the mountains, the sound of the words he spake yet echoes on through space, the thoughts his brain gave birth to we have inherited to-day; his passions are our cause of life; the joys and sorrows that he knew are our familiar friends - the end from which he fled aghast will surely overtake us also!
Truly the universe is full of ghosts, not sheeted churchyard spectres, but the inextinguishable elements of individual life, which having once been, can never die, though they blend and change, and change again for ever."
Beautiful stuff. You don't see that in the latest Twilight or whatever... ;)
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Old Rider Haggard lived in my home county of Norfolk, England. One time in the 1890's he stood for Parliament. A hustings speech he gave in the village of Coltishall was so inflamatory it triggered an outright riot! :o lol