Review 3: SACRIFICE FOR THE QUAGGA GOD by J.T. Edson
Stiletto Blade
With each novel in the Bunduki series, J.T. Edson seems to get better. The
most noticeable improvement in this, the third volume, is that his fight
scenes are far more fluid and exciting. He's finally conquered the
temptation to digress and achieves the kind of immediacy you need in order
to feel like you're there, witnessing the action.
Much of SACRIFICE FOR THE QUAGGA GOD concerns the political machinations of
Dryaka, High Priest of the Mun-Gatah nation, and Charole, Protectress of the
Quagga God. The former rivals are now united in their intention to wrest
control from the Council of Elders. Once this is achieved, they intend to
conquer all the tribes of Zillikian. The couple's power has been increased
by the invention of gunpowder and bombs, known as 'terrifiers'. But to
increase the production of this new weapon, Dryaka requires more slaves.
Behind the Elders' backs, he instructs the People-Taker to enslave whole
villages. This contravenes the social equilibrium established by the
suppliers and is, in fact, the reason why the aliens brought Bunduki and
Dawn to the planet. Tarzan's adopted son and great-granddaughter must
redress the balance. Unfortunately, Dawn is currently in a caged wagon on
her way to be delivered to Dryaka and Charole as their prisoner.
But Dawn isn't to be underestimated. Her family instilled in her great
resources and fighting skills and, before too long, she battles her way to
freedom. It doesn't last long. She is recaptured, this time by the Council
of Elders.
Meanwhile, Bunduki, her adoptive cousin and husband-to-be, is hot on her
trail. His hunt is interrupted, though, when a massive snake drops out of a
tree and traps him in its thick coils. The constricting pressure is too much
for him and he loses consciousness. You've got to admire Edson for his
restraint. He could so easily have given Bunduki all of Tarzan's strength
and abilities but, instead, he reigned himself in and created a very capable
hero but not an infallible one. Tarzan was jungle-born; Bunduki wasn't, so
although he's learned from the mightiest, he just can't match the Lord of
the Jungle.
Bunduki is rescued by a band of Amazons led by Beryl Snowhill, an Earth girl
of his acquaintance who, previously unknown to him, was also transported to
Zillikian. She is a character from some of Edson's western novels and the
tale of her arrival on the planet is told in AMAZONS OF ZILLIKIAN. I've
never seen this story, though I suspect it may be collected in one of the
author's J.T.'S WOMEN volumes. Frankly, her sudden appearance on the scene
is jarring, implausible and irritating. Edson assumes you know who she is.
If you don't, credibility is lost and it's pretty difficult to regain as
Snowhill is present for the rest of the story.
The Amazons and Bunduki join forces and the chase after Dawn's abductors
continues. Meanwhile, the political in-fighting increases. Dryaka and
Charole have the upper hand and Dawn is soon their prisoner once again.
Bunduki's party allies itself with the Elders and heads towards Bon-Gatah,
the main Mun-Gatah city. There, Dawn battles for her life in an arena. There
's a truly stupendous brawl here, with Miss Drummond-Clayton demonstrating
the kind of skills that would even put Modesty Blaise to the test. Exciting
stuff!
Bunduki and the Amazons fight their way into the city while the Mun-Gatahs
descend into civil warfare. They arrive at the arena just in time. Dawn is
desperately trying to fend off the Quagga God, a massive and extremely wild
zebra. An expert shot from Bunduki's bow kills the beast. All hell breaks
loose. Betrayals, plots and counter-plots are exposed, terrifiers explode
and the supporters of the Elders go at it hammer and tongs with the rebels.
Dryaka and Charole, on a balcony overlooking the arena, plunge to their
deaths.
This is a far better book than its two predecessors and, although the
conspiracies and intrigues can be a little hard to follow, they add a great
deal of depth to an excellent adventure.
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