Gorilla Adventure

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Gorilla Adventure
Willard Price Gorilla Adventure.jpg
First US edition cover
Author Willard Price
Series Adventure
Publisher John Day
Publication date
February 1, 1969

Gorilla Adventure is a 1969 children's book by the Canadian-born American author Willard Price featuring his "Adventure" series characters, Hal and Roger Hunt. It depicts an expedition to capture a giant mountain gorilla for a circus. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The location was post-colonial Congo. As usual, the greatest danger posed to the brothers, and to the animals, came not from the wild beasts but in the form of humans. The two main primary antagonists were: one inept, boastful but cowardly Belgian (Andre Tieg) who passes himself off as a guide, and a poacher of gorillas, called Nero, whose primary method was to slaughter all adults and take the young gorillas.

In the midst of the dangers, Roger becomes temporarily blinded by a spitting cobra. One villager refers to a gorilla as a 'man who can't speak' in a reference to gorilla intelligence.

The safari team are complete in this adventure.

Other persons

Animals captured

Animals captured in Gorilla Adventure
SpeciesNameDetails
Male GorillaGogHis family were slaughtered by Nero and he assumed the safari team to be the killers.
Two baby gorillasBubu & NuruTheir entire band were killed by Nero and his gang.
Female GorillaLady LuckShe is easily captured by Roger because she is distracted by wrestling with the white python.
PythonSnow WhiteAlthough this python is white in colour she is not an albino, as evidenced by her blue eyes.
Black PantherGog trapped Hal in an elephant pit and threw the panther into it. Hal captured the panther empty-handed, though he received serious injuries.
Road Runner
ChimpanzeeThe Good SamaritanThis chimpanzee gained his nickname by helping a colobus in the midst of volcano eruption.
BoomslangParticularly notable for possessing two heads.
Cobra
Mamba
Elephant Shrew
Bush Baby
ColobusThe Little Bishop

References

  1. "Gorilla Adventure". Kirkus Reviews . February 1, 1969. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  2. Bullseye (March 2, 2015). "Gorilla Adventure by Willard Price - review". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  3. Wu, Ellen (March 22, 2013). "Gorilla Adventure". CM Reviews. 19 (28). Retrieved February 10, 2025.