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Land of Black Gold (The Adventures of Tintin) (Paperback) (Paperback)
by Herge
| Category:
Adventure, Fiction, Ages 9-12, Children's book |
| Market price: ¥ 128.00
MSL price:
¥ 118.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
The adventures of Tintin which is full of mystery and comedy is a classic series. Tin-Tin will take you to another time & place. |
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Author: Herge
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Pub. in: September, 1975
ISBN: 0316358444
Pages: 62
Measurements: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BC00143
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- MSL Picks -
With the completion of The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun, Herge finally saw an opportunity to resurrect The Land of Black Gold, a story he had originally concocted nine years before but was forced to abandon due to the wartime shutdown of Le Vingtieme Siecle. As Michael Farr points out in his formidable book Tintin: The Complete Companion, in 1948 German villains were no longer taboo; thus Herge could introduce this tale complete with the nefarious Dr. Muller, last seen in The Black Island.
Of course, there was much revision to be done before The Land of Black Gold could appear. At the time of its creation there had been no Captain Haddock, no Professor Calculus, no Marlinspike, etc. Herge cunningly surmounted this hurdle by having Haddock appear briefly at the beginning of the book and explain to Tintin that he has been called on to assume command of a ship. He then reappears - as do Calculus and the house - just in time for the story's end; thus Tintin can go it on his own for fifty-some pages, just as was originally intended.
This story marks a couple of important benchmarks: first of all there is the debut of the little menace Abdullah, son of the Emir Ben Kalish Ezab. (The scene where Haddock looks after him in the desert is a special highlight.) Also in this story is the return of good old Oliveira da Figueira, Tintin's salesman friend from Cigars of the Pharaoh, who is always ready to be there for Tintin when he needs a hand.
Fortunately, the end of The Land of Black Gold does not mark the end of Abdullah and father: both were to make further appearances in The Red Sea Sharks eight years later. Indeed one of the most wonderful aspects of Herge's stories was the unexpected popping-up of former bit players: there was no old friend, old foe, or (as in Abdullah's case) old pest whom we could not expect to see again one day.
Target readers:
Kids aged up 6
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Prisoners of the Sun (The Adventures of Tintin) (Paperback)
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Hergé (pseudonym of Georges Remi), Belgian author and illustrator, created Tintin in 1929 and produced 24 volumes of the internationally famous bande dessinée by the time of his death. Known as the father of the modern European comic book, Hergé's impeccable style and superb use of color won him international acclaim after the Second World War, and the books have been translated from the original French into some 40 languages.
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An oil crisis breaks out, leading Tintin to the Arab Emirate of Khemed. There he works his way through a series of escapades in the desert and the cities of Kemekhal and Wadesdah where Tintin must deal with the snuggery of the local Arabs. Tintin meets with Emir Ben Kalish Ezab and agrees to rescue his kidnapped son Prince Abdullah leading him to confront his old enemy Dr Muller, as well as the impossibility of dealing with his charge, the young Abdullah. Quite fast moving and without the flow of some of the Tintin books, this adventure is nonetheless jam-packed with action. We discover that behind all the troubles are agents of a foreign power (Most likely the Soviet Union, whose menace had finally been recognized by the West when this book was first written, in French, 1950. As usual the rest of the gang such as the fiery Captain Haddock and the disastrous Thompson and Thomson add to the brew!
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Lawrance M. Bernabo (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-05 00:00>
Land of Black Gold was the first Adventure of Tintin I ever read, so, of course, it has a special place in my heart. It seems that all around the world cars (or lighters) using petrol are exploding. In a storyline eerily prescient of what would happen decades later with the rise of OPEC, the world is on the brink of an oil crisis. In the Middle East the evil Sheik Bab El Ehr tries to overthrow Sheik Ben Kalish Ezab, so Tintin heads to the Middle East to save the day. Throwing a monkey wrench into the proceedings, in addition to the omnipresent evil agents and hapless Thompson brothers, is Abdullah, son of Sheik ben Kalish Ezab, who pulls a constant string of practical jokes on everybody in sight (Historical Note: This is where the Thompsons first develop their habit of becoming extremely hairy at inopportune moments).
I always think of Tintin as constituting "realistic absurdity," which reflects the way our hero plunges on despite the lunacy around him, which exists mainly in the characters rather than the situation. This delicate balance seems to be reflected even in Herge's artwork, where his "clear-line" style combines iconic characters with unusually realistic backgrounds, appeals to me. I also admire his remarkable restraint with Snowy, who "talks" less than any other "talking" dog in comic book history. These are truly timeless tales.
More Historical Notes: Tintin in the Land of Black Gold (the 9th Tintin Adventure) was the episode in progress in Le Vingtieme Siecle when German troops invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940. Herge suspended the story for eight years and actually began another adventure, "The Crab with the Golden Claws," in the interim, which was published in Le Soir, one of the few newspapers authorized during the German occupation.
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Mushir Shaikh (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-05 00:00>
As a kid, the one single book that would bring me greatest joy and take me to a whole different world was Adventures of Tintin. I am 25, and I love them more than ever before. It is REALLY a pity that Herge isn't alive today to write about a 1000 more. I sure hope some bright new talent can capture his magic and continue to amaze the millions of Tintin fans who are dying for more of his unique adventures.
His books are guaranteed to keep you captivated, as the adventures are VERY well thought out, and the characters are among the most intriguing ones you have ever imagined. The adventures, the characters, and the ambience of the book in combination give you the best time you have ever had reading any book. Not only will the plot keep you on the edge of your seat, but the characters are guaranteed to make you laugh and keep you coming back for more. Don't take my word for it.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-05 00:00>
(I am only 11, and I have only read some of the Tintin books, and the reason I'm at Amazon.com is to buy all the others. Out of the one's I've read so far, I think Red Rackham's Treasure was my favorite. I loved the way Herge made Calculus, and thought he was extremely funny, even when he did get annoying! I love the Tintin books, and look forward to reading every single one again! If I could go over 5 stars, I would, definitely! |
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-05 00:00>
I loved Tintin books when I was a kid, and I love them now at age 37. I know I'm not alone, because a Tintin store in San Francisco sells Tintin coffee cups and ties and key chains (grown-up's items!) I myself have a Tintin tie and key chain! THE LAND OF BLACK GOLD is my favorite Tintin book. It has all the best characters, humor, and an intriguing plot. (That's why adults can like them, because many of the books have reasonably sophisticated James-Bond type plots.) Tintin forever! |
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