Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff
The intense action on the cover promises a rollicking adventure, and the interior pages certainly deliver on that promise. Delilah Dirk has abandoned conventional court life and become a globe-trotting soldier of fortune. She is captured and held prisoner in 1800s Constantinople. Eventually she escapes, taking along the astonished Turkish Lieutenant Erdemogul Selim, whose quiet life centers around a proper cup of tea. This unlikely pair embarks on a wild journey that includes flying a ship, outwitting the Evil Pirate Captain Zakul, and escaping burning buildings. |
Story construction consists of three distinct threads: Selim's narration, dialogue between the characters, and engaging visuals. These three often-differing points of view are intricately woven together into a storytelling tour de force. Pacing of the tale is excellent, with tranquil moonlit nights and campfires setting up subsequent action sequences. Jewel-toned colors add to the rich visual experience. The saga concludes as the two travelers, now companions, face a future brimming with possibilities. Delilah and the lieutenant are destined to join the ranks of such classic duos as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. A scrumptious Turkish delight. | |