Publisher's Weekly
Despite an interesting political context, exotic locales and plenty of action, Langley (Warlords) doesn't quite pull this off. In 1982, young American David Ryker is en route to the Falkland Islands to inspect an old sailing wreck. On a bus in the Argentine pampa he befriends but cannot save from arrest a man who turns out to be a fugitive from Argentina's military regime; as a result, David is imprisoned, too. On his release, David meets and falls in love with Anne Danby, ''kelper'' (Falkland Islander) and secretary to Magnus Stone, British billionaire. Stone is scheming to rescue that same political fugitive, who will prove that Argentina plans to annex the Falklands. Portraits of Falklanders as ''more British than the British,'' piercing glimpses of Antarctica's beauty and valid political points about Antarctic oil are assets here. But the novel is weakened by a silly subplot and a lot of pointless action.
Library Journal
Young American oil heir David Ryker visits Argentina and the Falkland Islands in 1982 to assess the chances of using a shipwreck as a museum exhibit. On a bus trip, he befriends Hugo Pinilla, an Argentine army colonel who is the target of a government manhunt to prevent his disclosure of plans to invade the Falklands. Ryker joins tycoon Magnus Stone and his beaufiful young protege, Anne Danby, in an attempt to help Pinilla escape the vicious Argentine assassin Segunda, known as ''the Gaucho.'' In adventures that take him from the pampas to the Antarctic, Ryker learns the strategic importance of the Falklands while experiencing both Argentine and British determination to own the isolated islands. This story reminiscent of Alistair MacLean is recommended for suspense fiction collections. William C. McCully, Park Ridge P.L., Ill.
Despite an interesting political context, exotic locales and plenty of action, Langley (Warlords) doesn't quite pull this off. In 1982, young American David Ryker is en route to the Falkland Islands to inspect an old sailing wreck. On a bus in the Argentine pampa he befriends but cannot save from arrest a man who turns out to be a fugitive from Argentina's military regime; as a result, David is imprisoned, too. On his release, David meets and falls in love with Anne Danby, ''kelper'' (Falkland Islander) and secretary to Magnus Stone, British billionaire. Stone is scheming to rescue that same political fugitive, who will prove that Argentina plans to annex the Falklands. Portraits of Falklanders as ''more British than the British,'' piercing glimpses of Antarctica's beauty and valid political points about Antarctic oil are assets here. But the novel is weakened by a silly subplot and a lot of pointless action.
Library Journal
Young American oil heir David Ryker visits Argentina and the Falkland Islands in 1982 to assess the chances of using a shipwreck as a museum exhibit. On a bus trip, he befriends Hugo Pinilla, an Argentine army colonel who is the target of a government manhunt to prevent his disclosure of plans to invade the Falklands. Ryker joins tycoon Magnus Stone and his beaufiful young protege, Anne Danby, in an attempt to help Pinilla escape the vicious Argentine assassin Segunda, known as ''the Gaucho.'' In adventures that take him from the pampas to the Antarctic, Ryker learns the strategic importance of the Falklands while experiencing both Argentine and British determination to own the isolated islands. This story reminiscent of Alistair MacLean is recommended for suspense fiction collections. William C. McCully, Park Ridge P.L., Ill.
Used availability for Bob Langley's Falklands Gambit