Ambush at Derati Wells (Soldier of Fortune #6)

Ambush At Derati Wells (Soldier of Fortune #6)
Peter McCurtin (Ralph Hayes)
1977

I got a few of the Soldier of Fortune novels for cheap recently, and while I prefer to start with the first, I went ahead and started Ambush at Derati Wells, the sixth in the series, as it sounded the most interesting at the time. I'm glad I did, because I wound up loving it; and, thankfully, they all seem to be self-contained adventures, so I didn't miss out any continuing arc or continuity. Narrated by mercenary Jim Rainey, and that's all I needed to know.

Thanks to Paperback Warrior for the author correction (actually Ralph Hayes and not McCurtin, as on my cover) and excellent review. Ambush is fast and lean, just like I like it. Seems like there was actually some decent research into some of the resident tribes and verbiage of the land Rainey is currently stationed at, which adds nicely to the setting instead of the typical 'mystical' Africa.

Essentially a treasure hunt in the drylands of Africa, with competing hunters and natives along the way. Rainey teams up with a local African lawyer, a big game hunter guide and two of his customers, and a small group of guides and inventory schleppers, a far cry from the group of M-16 totting red-beret soldiers on the cover.

One thing I really appreciated with the narrative is how matter-of-fact it is. While obviously not a realistic novel, it pulls no punches with the mercenary experience. Main characters are dispatched without batting an eye, Rainey aware of what they signed up for, without excessive ruminating on their passing. It's all part of who they are, and it's hardly described as glamorous. You've got the odd, almost forced into the novel sex scene in the middle of the African desert, yeah, but that only leads to an excuse for more savagery and revenge down the road, so I'll take it. Good stuff.

Rare Gwendoline Poster Appears!

One film I worship is Just Jaeckin's Gwendoline, also known as The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of Yik-Yak, very loosely based on John Willie's S&M comic Sweet Gwendoline. Jaeckin is best known for 1974's Emmanuelle, which was pretty huge and launched infinite films starring Emmanuelle (and often spelled Emanuelle), which in most circles is probably more popularly known as the bundle of Italian films featuring exploitation goddess Laura Gemser. I liked Jaeckin's; it's pretty, and I'm sure this is fault of the source material that I haven't read, but also a bit, eh... rapey--or totally liberating, in bonkers 70's film world. I've preferred the Gemser stuff, which doesn't shy away from its absolutely exploitation elements; it very much knows what it is, without any pretentions that some old dude drummed up about getting fucked against your will. The 70's!

But I digress! I don't collect many post variants, because Crom knows I already own way too goddamn many, with only a meager percentage of those actually christened upon my walls. But I snag up interesting Gwendoline ones when I can, because as I said, I absolutely adore it--and put them on my walls!

I've never seen this one at all, and whomever purchased it obviously hadn't either because it disappeared as I got the ebay notification within the day off surfacing. I'm pretty heartbroken I didn't get it. Just looking at it pulls my heart strings and stings with regret! $47 bucks is a bit up there for me--but it's Zabou! I assume this was some sort of promotional thing, with individual snaps taken from this other poster I've been after--and did get from the same seller!--so that's exciting, at least. But guhhhhh, I want this.

Oh well. Here's to hoping another appears someday in the future. For now just documenting since I haven't seen another online ever, ebay or otherwise.