One of my favourites when I was younger,
Cannibal Adventure is set on the wild island of New Guinea where cannibalism is still practiced amongst the natives. Because I knew least about this strange island with primeval wildlife and even stranger peoples, I never knew quite how much of the content was fabricated or straight up invented. Hal and Roger are tasked to capture specimens such as saltwater crocs, komodo dragons, taipans, flying foxes and birds of paradise, all of which are rare and worth a fortune. During their trip, they manage to befriend a village of savages, make an enemy of a witch doctor, and run into their old nemesis Kaggs, who has escaped from prison and is determined to do them in once and for all.
Like all the Willard Price books, this one is highly informative, introducing the reader to the stone age culture of the cannibals and the strangest menagerie yet encountered. Some may disagree, but it rarely feels like the facts are shoehorned in; except perhaps when Hal decides to give his brother a natural history lecture whilst running for their lives. There are a few inconsistency errors again, but not nearly as glaring as those in the previous book. My main complaint is an underwater scene towards the end which is recycled word for word from Underwater Adventure. It amounts to shameless self plagiarism.
Rating: 4/5
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