Review "Mike Bond takes readers into a literary safari of Africa's elephant poaching war with The Last Savanna, a novel that expertly captures the ravenous, chaotic and frustrating battles raging across the continent . . . and paints a vivid picture of life in the savanna . . . Bond's knowledge of the Swahili language, local culture and even the wildlife result in what may be one of the most realistic portrayals of Africa yet . . . Bond's specialty in producing thrillers that editorialize human weakness and bring to light pressing world problems shines in The Last Savanna.  Dynamic, heart-breaking and timely to current events, Bond's latest book is a must-read." - YAHOO REVIEWS “Mike Bond’s The Last Savanna is shot through with images of the natural world at its most fearsome and most merciful. With his weapons, man is a conqueror – without them he is a fugitive in an alien land. Bond touches on the vast and eerie depths that lie under the thin crust of civilization and the base instinct within man to survive – instincts that surpass materialism. A thoroughly enjoyable read that comes highly recommended.” (Nottingham Observer)   “A powerful love story set in the savage jungles and deserts of East Africa.” (Daily Examiner)   “A manhunt through crocodile-infested jungle, sun-scorched savanna, and impenetrable mountains as a former SAS man tries to save the life of the woman he loves but cannot have.” (Evening Telegraph)   “Pulsating with the sights, sounds, and dangers of wild Africa, its varied languages and peoples, the harsh warfare of the northern deserts and the hunger of denied love.” (Newton Chronicle)   “A gripping thriller from a highly distinctive writer.” (Liverpool Daily Post)   “Exciting, action-packed . . . A nightmarish vision of Africa.” (Manchester Evening News)   “The imagery was so powerful and built emotions so intense that I had to stop reading a few times to regain my composure.” (African Publishers’ Network)   “An unforgettable odyssey into the wilderness, mysteries, and perils of Africa... A book to be cherished and remembered.” (Greater London Radio)   “The central figure is not human; it is the barren, terrifying landscape of Northern Kenya and the deadly creatures who inhabit it.” (Daily Telegraph)   “An entrancing, terrifying vision of Africa. A story that not only thrills but informs... Impossible to set aside or forget.” (BBC)   “The thrill of the chase when the prey is man – the only decent prey.” (The Times) Read more About the Author Called "master of the existential thriller" by BBC, "one of America's best thriller writers" by Culture Buzz, Mike Bond is a best-selling novelist, ecologist, and war and human rights journalist. He has helped create wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers across the US, and has worked to protect endangered species worldwide.As a journalist, he has covered death squads, guerrilla wars and military dictatorships in Latin America and Africa and Islamic terrorism in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. His critically acclaimed novels take the reader into intense experiences in the world's most perilous places, into deep and dangerous love affairs, poltical and corporate conspiracies and wars and revolutions, making "readers sweat with [their] relentless pace." (Kirkus Reviews) and drawing them "into a land and a time I had not known but left me with my senses reeling." (NetGalley Reviews) Read more
E**T
very depressing. left the reader without hope.
First, let me state that I am an avid reader and it is rare for me not to finish a book once started. However, The Last Savannah was just too depresding and I couldn't continue past the first third of the book. While the story is both relevant and truthful, the main character was depressing. I think the story would have been better if the author would not have dwelt so much on the depression of the main character and instead focused on the task the ranger and helpers were trying to accomplish, saving the elephants. Also, the author ended the story leaving the reader without hope for improvement of the situation. Yes, not wanting to continue a depressing book, I did page through, skimming to the end, so know how it ended.
S**N
Surprise!
It started out like a novel/story about the African Savanna and animals. This really drew me into the story, but too soon the author drew humans into the story. It was still interesting, as he described the land, some cultures, and animals. But, the ending of the story is what surprised me the most. Some how I was expecting death and/or murder and even a sexual encounter or so, but the ending was not at all what I expected.I won't go into it. You'll have to read it for yourself. I believe the ending will surprise you, too.I did noticed or I should say felt that the author has encountered the sadness and disappointments in his own life. I could be very wrong, but that is what I felt or rather believed while reading the story.
R**H
An Interesting Read.
Story is told from the perspective of many sides of life in Africa. From the white farmer/soldier to elephant poachers, to Kenyan officials, it at times makes sudden jumps in perspective. It examines the complexities of life in Africa with various cultures coming into conflict. It is more than a mystery or cops and robbers story. It tells the story of survival in the desert, the poaching of elephants, the changes in Africa. At times the symbolism and background tend to slow the story more than I would have liked. Lots of descriptions of the area.
P**K
A Safari in Words
Mike Bond's prose reminds me of Heminway's: hard, yet soft; fierce, yet gentle, much like the African savanna and desert in which the story takes place. Bond provides an interesting juxtaposition of physical description and philosophical reflection that allows the reader to feel the intense heat and fear of the unknown in the wild while also being inside the minds of multiple characters. In the end, what begins as one man's pursuit of a lion skin to pay for his son's schooling becomes the pursuit of life's truths by three different characters from equally different places and cultures. A great read!
J**A
Africa-Protagonist/Antagonist
This is the fourth book I have read by Mike Bond where the environment, the landscape where he has the drama play out, is really the lead character of the book. In this case it is literally the Savannas in Africa. The villainous poachers, with a tribal mentality, the local governments desire to stop them being as vicious and disregarding of human life as the poachers themselves. And then, almost as a subplot, the human interaction love/lust lost and an attempt to regain what was left behind.Sometimes the author's pedantic insistence on the environment as his protagonist get a little overwhelming, but he may be forgiven . What we have done to our environment, from Maine to Hawaii, and the wild life therein, deserves to be exposed to all who are willing to listen. A great read that forces you to keep turning the pages.
K**R
Difficult to read
This book immediately captured my attention and I thought this was going to be at least a 4 star rating. This story plot is new to my reading interest.The last twenty five percent of the book was tortuous to read and all I wanted to do was finish.Mr Bond's writing style seems to be obsessively descriptive with long,choppy ,run together sentences that the reader loses focus on where the author is going with his plot. Mr Bond could have reduced this book by at least a hundred pages,instead he seemed to fill his paragraphs with words for the sake of extending his novel. For me this was disappointing because the book had so much potential for an enjoyable read.
C**N
... book was well written and in some places so beautifully written that it seemed an odd fit for a ...
This book was well written and in some places so beautifully written that it seemed an odd fit for a rough and tumble African adventure. I found the characters took some time to grow on you but all in all a good read.... until the last few pages, the ending to this book left me scratching my head and I went looking for the missing pages. This ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. It was like there was a page limit that had been reached and that was it. I would definitely read another book by this author.
L**D
Some action, a lot of philosophy
The flowing prose offers sad insight into the lives of the hunters and the hunted, the loved and unloved and the relenting landscape of Africa and the animals and people who call it home. The plot is interesting but often lost in the inner dialog and pain of the characters. I finished it but cannot recommend that anyone else spend their time with this novel.
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1 month ago
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