Books > Adventure Series

Adventure Series

The titles are listed by the original publication date.

BOOK001

Amazon Adventure

1949
★★★☆☆

The first book of the Adventure series introduces us to Hal and Roger Hunt. The boys are sons of John Hunt, who makes his living collecting exotic animals for zoos, circuses and nature parks. The family sets out to explore one of the tributaries of the Amazon River and to collect specimens along the way. It is not long before the author takes us on a roller coaster ride of adventure, excitement, intrigue and danger. While we may wonder at the thought of leaving two youngsters to fend for themselves in the unforgiving Amazon jungle, the dangers of this past world are just as real as the present day - maybe more so, since large parts of where the boys visit were still unexplored at the time.

The book is a good introduction to the two main characters, and the description of the Amazon jungle and its amazing inhabitants are vivid and exciting. Having myself been fortunate to visit this remarkable place, all I can say is that I certainly did not see as much wildlife as the two boys did! Still, having read the books when I was younger, having the opportunity to experience even a little of what Hal and Roger did was for me an amazing adventure.

BOOK002

South Sea Adventure

1952
★★★☆☆

Hal and Roger set sail for the South Seas in this second adventure. Here the boys team up with Omo, a native of Raiatea and Captain Ike, owner and master of the schooner Lively Lady, to capture creatures from the sea. There is a lot for the boys to learn about this new and exotic underwater world, and we as the readers also get to experience this through the pages of the novel.

Like Roger, I was captivated by the thought of being stranded on a desert island, but I don't think either of us were prepared for what Price put his characters through! This is a fascinating adventure of hope and overcoming great odds, of loyalty and bravery and always being fascinated by the world around us.

BOOK003

Underwater Adventure

1954
★★☆☆☆

The boys are back for a new adventure with Omo and Captain Ike. This time the Lively Lady is chartered by Oceanographic Institute to explore the Pacific Ocean. Hal and Roger soon learn about snorkelling, diving and exploring the ocean depths using a variety of vessels and tools. The third adventure also introduces the third villain in the series. Things take a sinister turn once treasure is discovered, and it takes everything the boys have to survive this adventure.

BOOK004

Volcano Adventure

1956
★★★☆☆

Hal and Roger continue their adventures with Omo and Captain Ike. In this adventure, the boys become assistants to volcanologist Dr Dan Adams from the American Museum. This provides the duo opportunities to explore many of the volcanoes dotted around the Pacific Ocean, beginning in Japan and tracing the rim of fire to Niuafoʻou and back up to Hawaii. Drawing on his own personal experiences, Price vividly describes the volcanoes and the boy's experiences of them. I learnt a lot from this book. This was also the book that inspired my own wish to visit volcanoes, a number of which I have I have had the opportunity to see to date.

BOOK005

Whale Adventure

1960
★★★★☆

Whale Adventure is different, in that it describes the hunt for animals for profit rather than conservation. This was a time when whaling was a big industry and the boys sign up for a three week voyage on the bark Killer to hunt whales. Life is brutal on the sailing ship, especially with the captain who takes sadistic pleasure in making the experience of Hal and Roger a miserable and dangerous one. Once again, Price makes the story come alive with realistic descriptions, a host of interesting characters and a storyline that makes for compelling reading.

BOOK006

African Adventure

1963
★★★☆☆

Hal and Roger Hunt are on safari in Uganda with their father to collect African animals for a number of zoos. This is the boys first time in Africa and they are eager to learn of the ways of its animals. When an accident incapacitates their father, it is up to the two boys to take over and run the safari, collecting animals from the tallest giraffes to the biggest of hippos and buffalos. This was one of the books that inspired my own safari adventure, and I am grateful for Price in instilling the same desire in me as he did with his characters to get out and explore the magnificent continent that is Africa.

BOOK007

Elephant Adventure

1964
★★★★☆

Hal and Roger Hunt's African adventure continues with the boys heading to the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda - the legendary Mountains of the Moon. Here the boys are after the largest of the land mammals - the giant African elephant. Capturing elephants proves to be a challenge for the boys and sinister events in the village the boys are staying at compounds their difficulties. In the end, the boys make good and their exploits in the Mountains of the Moon directly leads to their next African adventure in Safari Adventure.

BOOK008