![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Book Review: Worrals in the Wilds
Apr. 15th, 2023 10:39 amW. E. Johns’ Worrals in the Wilds kicks off soon after the end of World War II. Worrals and Frecks, demobbed, have taken a flat together as they look around for something to turn up. Then something does turn up, in the form of Worrals’ devoted beau Bill Ashton, who asks Worrals to marry him, receives a firm refusal (to Frecks’s evident relief), and the heads off into the wild blue yonder to run a plane service for his uncle, a gold prospector in Africa who has, perhaps, finally struck the mother lode.
(This book is exactly what you would expect from a W. E. Johns book set in Africa.)
However, after sending a single letter, Bill goes missing. Concerned by his disappearance, Worrals and Frecks sink all their savings into an airplane and fly to Africa in search of him… only to find more wild animals than you can shake a stick at, hostile tribesmen (also helpful tribesmen), and a pair of even more hostile businessmen who will stop at nothing to buy the mine right out from under Bill’s uncle!
Nonstop adventure! A lot of wild animal encounters! Johns is torn between pointing out that most wild animals won’t attack you just for funsies and a deep yearning for some hunting, which culminates in Worrals heroically shooting a man-eating lion as it charges her. Frecks is deeply alarmed by the wildlife but steadfast in her loyalty to Worrals, culminating in a night hike through the jungle to fetch help when Worrals is taken captive. (Frecks in the most relatable character in Johns, although when I say “relatable” I absolutely mean “I can only hope that I could suck up my terror and behave with similar heroism.”)
Also some amazing damsel-in-distressing by Bill Ashton, who is Sir Presumed Dead in this book. You will be unsurprised to learn that he survives, and asks Worrals to marry him again, having come to at exactly the right moment to see Worrals arrive in a stolen airplane to save the day. How could he help but swoon?
I’m curious if the last book will end with Worrals accepting Bill’s proposal. It would provide a pat ending to the series, but it’s hard to imagine Worrals ever giving up her life of adventure, plus of course what about Frecks? Well, we’ll see! There are still four books to go… and I’m delighted to inform you that the next one is already available! Worrals and Frecks head to Australia in Worrals Down Under.
(This book is exactly what you would expect from a W. E. Johns book set in Africa.)
However, after sending a single letter, Bill goes missing. Concerned by his disappearance, Worrals and Frecks sink all their savings into an airplane and fly to Africa in search of him… only to find more wild animals than you can shake a stick at, hostile tribesmen (also helpful tribesmen), and a pair of even more hostile businessmen who will stop at nothing to buy the mine right out from under Bill’s uncle!
Nonstop adventure! A lot of wild animal encounters! Johns is torn between pointing out that most wild animals won’t attack you just for funsies and a deep yearning for some hunting, which culminates in Worrals heroically shooting a man-eating lion as it charges her. Frecks is deeply alarmed by the wildlife but steadfast in her loyalty to Worrals, culminating in a night hike through the jungle to fetch help when Worrals is taken captive. (Frecks in the most relatable character in Johns, although when I say “relatable” I absolutely mean “I can only hope that I could suck up my terror and behave with similar heroism.”)
Also some amazing damsel-in-distressing by Bill Ashton, who is Sir Presumed Dead in this book. You will be unsurprised to learn that he survives, and asks Worrals to marry him again, having come to at exactly the right moment to see Worrals arrive in a stolen airplane to save the day. How could he help but swoon?
I’m curious if the last book will end with Worrals accepting Bill’s proposal. It would provide a pat ending to the series, but it’s hard to imagine Worrals ever giving up her life of adventure, plus of course what about Frecks? Well, we’ll see! There are still four books to go… and I’m delighted to inform you that the next one is already available! Worrals and Frecks head to Australia in Worrals Down Under.
