Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Stockholm : Gebers Fr̲lag, [1964]
Description
After Philip Stenning is involved in a near-fatal plane crash, he feels he owes a debt of gratitude to the man who rescued him. However, his mysterious saviour is an escaped convict, and his determination to help him leads Stenning into a tense and dramatic adventure of intrigue, drug-running and murder.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bridgey
Marazan - Neville Shute ***
I am a massive Nevil Shute fan and count his classics amongst the best books ever written. With this in mind I started reading Marazan....
Marazan although not Shute's first novel, was in fact his first to be published.
We meet Stenning, a left over pilot from the First
Stenning, although tired and probably hung-over, agrees one last flight before he takes a few days holiday. He crashes and is left stuck upside down in the planes cockpit. Out of a nearby forest comes an escaped convict to his aid. After being rescued Stenning feels obligated to help where he can and offers his services. What follows is an adventure around Britain and eventually further afield. We encounter drug smuggling and plenty of gun action. As with all of Shute’s works, they have to be read in the context of the time they were written and Marazan is no exception.
As I have already said, I am a big fan of the author, but for some reason this book just didn't get me involved. I found myself not caring what happened next. The first few chapters started promisingly enough but I think that after that the storyline got tedious. A number of chapters felt like reading an atlas of the British Isles as his travels are described in minute and often unnecessary detail. Having said that, there are many redeeming features and when the action does finally appear, it is well described.
If I had to recommend this book it would probably be to only die hard fans of Shute. If you are new to the author try some of his later offerings such as 'On the Beach'. If I had read 'Marazan' as an introduction to the author then it is unlikely I would have picked up any more of his works, and that would be a great shame.
I am a massive Nevil Shute fan and count his classics amongst the best books ever written. With this in mind I started reading Marazan....
Marazan although not Shute's first novel, was in fact his first to be published.
We meet Stenning, a left over pilot from the First
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World War, who now flies commercially. Unlike most of Shute's creations I actually found it very hard to like Stenning, I found him quite arrogant and overly self assured. The other Shute books I have read have always has a main protagonist(s) that it is easy to empathise with.Stenning, although tired and probably hung-over, agrees one last flight before he takes a few days holiday. He crashes and is left stuck upside down in the planes cockpit. Out of a nearby forest comes an escaped convict to his aid. After being rescued Stenning feels obligated to help where he can and offers his services. What follows is an adventure around Britain and eventually further afield. We encounter drug smuggling and plenty of gun action. As with all of Shute’s works, they have to be read in the context of the time they were written and Marazan is no exception.
As I have already said, I am a big fan of the author, but for some reason this book just didn't get me involved. I found myself not caring what happened next. The first few chapters started promisingly enough but I think that after that the storyline got tedious. A number of chapters felt like reading an atlas of the British Isles as his travels are described in minute and often unnecessary detail. Having said that, there are many redeeming features and when the action does finally appear, it is well described.
If I had to recommend this book it would probably be to only die hard fans of Shute. If you are new to the author try some of his later offerings such as 'On the Beach'. If I had read 'Marazan' as an introduction to the author then it is unlikely I would have picked up any more of his works, and that would be a great shame.
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LibraryThing member corinnerodrigues
Not quite his best - but considering it was his first book, it's good. Shute always manage to capture you with his great narrative.
LibraryThing member SpikeSix
Written in 1925 so a bit dated now. Very "Biggles" and RAF "frightfully" but still a ripping good story, well written.
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Somewhat less interesting than most Shutes, for me. Our Hero is...I don't know, a little vague? He has quirks rather than motivations, and is willing (eager) to throw his life, or at least his reputation, away helping the others. The reasons given don't ring true, to me. The story is a bunch of
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random events with Complex Secrets underlying them - which neither we nor Our Hero know until very late in the book, so there's a lot of confusion on both sides. A lot of convenient allies, ditto skills...It's not bad for a thriller, I just expect more of Shute. Oh, looking at other reviews - this was his _first_ book. That makes a lot of sense. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1926
Physical description
255 p.; 22 cm