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The Seven Sleepers #5
Winged Raiders of the Desert
Under the control of the Dark Lord, the Winged Ones capture the Sleepers and try to force them to join air raids of the Desert People. The Sleepers' only hope: to free these flying men from the Dark Lord's evil power.
135 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
About the author
Gilbert L. Morris
25 books24 followersalso publishes under the name Gilbert Morris
Gilbert Morris is one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lives in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
Gilbert Morris is one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lives in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 7, 2024
Surprisingly, Winged Raiders of the Desert is actually an improvement on several of the previous books in Gilbert Morris’ The Seven Sleepers series. Though it suffers from the same simplistic characterization and formulaic writing style, this book (the fifth in the series) has a more inventive concept, better pacing, and a nicely handled Christian allegory, which bumps it up to be one of the better books of the series.
The Seven Sleepers become embroiled in yet another conflict between people groups in Nuworld — this time between the peaceful Desert People and the vicious Winged Raiders — but they do so without clear directions from their spiritual leader Goél, leading to their capture and enslavement by the Winged Raiders. Jake Garfield, who has been the most violently opposed to the plan all along, strikes up a surprising friendship with his owner Sure Flight’s daughter Lareen, and all seven Sleepers are elevated in status after Jake proves his valor by saving Lareen’s life. However, the Dark Lord Necros still seeks the Sleepers and sends his forces to infiltrate a sect called the Shadow Wings, in hopes of triggering a battle that will destroy the Desert People and eliminate the forces of Goél.
Until now, Jake Garfield’s character has never felt consistent — he gets mentioned maybe three times per book and usually only to fill a gap that none of the other seven Sleepers will. In Winged Raiders of the Desert, Jake finally gets a chance to shine and proves a pretty decent protagonist: he learns to let go of some of his doubts about Goél and use his passionate temper for the right things. Jake’s friendship with Lareen, the aggressive but good-hearted daughter of his captor, has some time to grow, which makes it more compelling, though that plot point gets somewhat abandoned after awhile. The other Sleepers don’t have much to do except spout their usual banter; their relationships are neglected other than what has already been established between Josh Adams and Sarah Collingwood.
However, Morris finally uses an original concept and setting, with the Desert People inspired by Middle Eastern nomads and the Winged Raiders as creative science-fiction angel-and-demon hybrids. The Citadel (the lofty rock city where the Raiders live) is unique as a place where the winds blow constantly, enabling the Leonardo Da Vinci-style winged contraptions to function. The Raiders are formidable and intelligent (a nice change from The Caves That Time Forgot), and the plot moves at a much quicker pace than previous books. The ending battle is rushed and anticlimactic (as most of them are), but the storyline and pacing really are noticeably improved. It’s not The Mummy or even The Black Stallion Returns, but it’s certainly a welcome change from the last three books.
Winged Raiders of the Desert also provides a few new elements to the formula that has gotten sort of exhausting after three mostly-identical books (just with different settings). The Seven Sleepers are a year older, having been given several months simply to rest between adventures, and they go on their next adventure of their own volition instead of being directly commissioned by Goél — the first of several implications that the Sleepers are getting older and maturing a little. Morris also manages to keep the story on track without dozens of pointless side quests (mainly because the Sleepers are split up for a good portion of the story), and even the Sleepers’ flying lessons end up being important to the plot later. Necros and Elmas actually get to appear in this book (their first appearance since The Sword of Camelot!), but once again they get a single chapter featuring cartoon-villain dialogue identical to their interactions in previous books.
To my pleasant surprise, Winged Raiders of the Desert also benefits from a strong overarching lesson to be learned: sometimes God doesn’t speak directly to us with specific instructions, so we have to make decisions based on what we know of His character. Morris’ theme is surprisingly nuanced and complex, with Jake making good counter-arguments about not rushing into risky situations without careful consideration. His encounter with Goél is a nice reminder that sometimes Christians have to walk blindly into situations and trust that God will still guide us, even when He hasn’t given us a blueprint to follow.
And, of course, it’s not a The Seven Sleepers book without Morris forgetting the continuity of his previous books, such as in these instances:
• The Caves of Mordor (as they are infamously known in The Caves That Time Forgot) are now referred to as the Caves of Mondar. They are also called by this name on the back of book four, but I can’t help wondering if it’s because there was a copyright issue with The Lord of the Rings. Obviously.
• Goél’s name is spelled with an accent over the “e” for the first time since Flight of the Eagles.
• Wash Jones’ middle name is now spelled as Randolph instead of Randolf.
Of course, Morris’ little idiosyncratic trademarks make their usual appearances — the preoccupation with redheaded characters, the favoritism for Reb Jackson over the other Sleepers, the mild objectification of the young girls — but overall, Winged Raiders of the Desert is a refreshing change to several elements in The Seven Sleepers that had begun to feel exhausting. Who would have thought Jake’s book would be one of the best in the series?
The Seven Sleepers become embroiled in yet another conflict between people groups in Nuworld — this time between the peaceful Desert People and the vicious Winged Raiders — but they do so without clear directions from their spiritual leader Goél, leading to their capture and enslavement by the Winged Raiders. Jake Garfield, who has been the most violently opposed to the plan all along, strikes up a surprising friendship with his owner Sure Flight’s daughter Lareen, and all seven Sleepers are elevated in status after Jake proves his valor by saving Lareen’s life. However, the Dark Lord Necros still seeks the Sleepers and sends his forces to infiltrate a sect called the Shadow Wings, in hopes of triggering a battle that will destroy the Desert People and eliminate the forces of Goél.
Until now, Jake Garfield’s character has never felt consistent — he gets mentioned maybe three times per book and usually only to fill a gap that none of the other seven Sleepers will. In Winged Raiders of the Desert, Jake finally gets a chance to shine and proves a pretty decent protagonist: he learns to let go of some of his doubts about Goél and use his passionate temper for the right things. Jake’s friendship with Lareen, the aggressive but good-hearted daughter of his captor, has some time to grow, which makes it more compelling, though that plot point gets somewhat abandoned after awhile. The other Sleepers don’t have much to do except spout their usual banter; their relationships are neglected other than what has already been established between Josh Adams and Sarah Collingwood.
However, Morris finally uses an original concept and setting, with the Desert People inspired by Middle Eastern nomads and the Winged Raiders as creative science-fiction angel-and-demon hybrids. The Citadel (the lofty rock city where the Raiders live) is unique as a place where the winds blow constantly, enabling the Leonardo Da Vinci-style winged contraptions to function. The Raiders are formidable and intelligent (a nice change from The Caves That Time Forgot), and the plot moves at a much quicker pace than previous books. The ending battle is rushed and anticlimactic (as most of them are), but the storyline and pacing really are noticeably improved. It’s not The Mummy or even The Black Stallion Returns, but it’s certainly a welcome change from the last three books.
Winged Raiders of the Desert also provides a few new elements to the formula that has gotten sort of exhausting after three mostly-identical books (just with different settings). The Seven Sleepers are a year older, having been given several months simply to rest between adventures, and they go on their next adventure of their own volition instead of being directly commissioned by Goél — the first of several implications that the Sleepers are getting older and maturing a little. Morris also manages to keep the story on track without dozens of pointless side quests (mainly because the Sleepers are split up for a good portion of the story), and even the Sleepers’ flying lessons end up being important to the plot later. Necros and Elmas actually get to appear in this book (their first appearance since The Sword of Camelot!), but once again they get a single chapter featuring cartoon-villain dialogue identical to their interactions in previous books.
To my pleasant surprise, Winged Raiders of the Desert also benefits from a strong overarching lesson to be learned: sometimes God doesn’t speak directly to us with specific instructions, so we have to make decisions based on what we know of His character. Morris’ theme is surprisingly nuanced and complex, with Jake making good counter-arguments about not rushing into risky situations without careful consideration. His encounter with Goél is a nice reminder that sometimes Christians have to walk blindly into situations and trust that God will still guide us, even when He hasn’t given us a blueprint to follow.
And, of course, it’s not a The Seven Sleepers book without Morris forgetting the continuity of his previous books, such as in these instances:
• The Caves of Mordor (as they are infamously known in The Caves That Time Forgot) are now referred to as the Caves of Mondar. They are also called by this name on the back of book four, but I can’t help wondering if it’s because there was a copyright issue with The Lord of the Rings. Obviously.
• Goél’s name is spelled with an accent over the “e” for the first time since Flight of the Eagles.
• Wash Jones’ middle name is now spelled as Randolph instead of Randolf.
Of course, Morris’ little idiosyncratic trademarks make their usual appearances — the preoccupation with redheaded characters, the favoritism for Reb Jackson over the other Sleepers, the mild objectification of the young girls — but overall, Winged Raiders of the Desert is a refreshing change to several elements in The Seven Sleepers that had begun to feel exhausting. Who would have thought Jake’s book would be one of the best in the series?
June 17, 2021
The story line is great. Sometimes the ease of “quest” is unrealistic. I enjoy the story, but wish the author would slow down. Full of cheesy jokes that add nothing to the story line. The Christian principles taught in the stories are challenging.
December 9, 2024
Hmm... How to write a review like this. I really planned this one out.
First off we get a great look at yet one more love triangle that dissolves seemingly out of nowhere. Not to mention the fact that two fifteen year olds are already calling each other theirs. That's just great.
Also, we get to sit in a fake suspense while we wait for the hero of this book to share his plan. As usual Goel shows up only to the main character and gives him a plan that the author won't tell us. Then, the main character goes and tells it to the chief of the people they are helping. We still get no part of the plan. Then he tells it one more time to another person, and the author still does not tell us what it is.
It sounds something like this: Joe smiled at Bill. He told him the secret recipe to making tacos.
Joe waits in suspense as he wait for Joe's response. Bill stares and Joe cannot see the emotions behind his eyes. Bill smiles, "We will give it a chance."
This is what I have gone through for five books. And will go through for another five. Mr. Morris, this was the best one so far. Good show. Still a lot to make fun of. Suprise me with the next one please. (THE CLIMAX RESOLVED IN THREE PAGES)
First off we get a great look at yet one more love triangle that dissolves seemingly out of nowhere. Not to mention the fact that two fifteen year olds are already calling each other theirs. That's just great.
Also, we get to sit in a fake suspense while we wait for the hero of this book to share his plan. As usual Goel shows up only to the main character and gives him a plan that the author won't tell us. Then, the main character goes and tells it to the chief of the people they are helping. We still get no part of the plan. Then he tells it one more time to another person, and the author still does not tell us what it is.
It sounds something like this: Joe smiled at Bill. He told him the secret recipe to making tacos.
Joe waits in suspense as he wait for Joe's response. Bill stares and Joe cannot see the emotions behind his eyes. Bill smiles, "We will give it a chance."
This is what I have gone through for five books. And will go through for another five. Mr. Morris, this was the best one so far. Good show. Still a lot to make fun of. Suprise me with the next one please. (THE CLIMAX RESOLVED IN THREE PAGES)
January 21, 2019
A little predictable, but hey, it's a kids book. I shouldn't be too harsh. Gilbert Morris' passive voice and info-dumping grows tiresome, but it was an interesting book. I did read it in a half a day, after all.
March 7, 2021
Reading this series to my girls, and she loves it. Jake’s story wasn’t her favorite, but she enjoyed reading about the seven sleepers quest to defeat the dark lord.
January 13, 2022
These are good books. The spiritual concepts are surprisingly deep for kid's books. I wouldn't say these are as good, but your children liked the Narnia books, these are worth a read.
January 2, 2025
One of the better books in the series and definitely a nostalgic trip since these were my favorite books as a teenager.
The series certainly hasn't aged entirely well since there are moments that feel "90s fundie" and some questionable word and character personality choices, that being said this is one in the series that feels really original and a little more thought out than some of the other stories in the series.
Morris' action writing always feels a little vague and awkward in times, but I do still love the series and characters he crafted.
The series certainly hasn't aged entirely well since there are moments that feel "90s fundie" and some questionable word and character personality choices, that being said this is one in the series that feels really original and a little more thought out than some of the other stories in the series.
Morris' action writing always feels a little vague and awkward in times, but I do still love the series and characters he crafted.
June 23, 2021
In a more unique setting the Sleepers are challenged to go without an explicit calling. One of the B team sleepers takes the lead and the conclusion comes quick and seemingly bloodless, as if the editor requested a quick end to the manuscript.
July 6, 2008
This series is great if you're a parent and you want to train your children to love long fantasy series.
As an adult, it's kind of stupid. Still, it entertained me as a child.
As an adult, it's kind of stupid. Still, it entertained me as a child.
August 23, 2009
It was really more like 3 and a half. I didn't 'really like it' but it was creative. So 3 1/2.
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April 27, 2010F MOR ss bk.5
July 9, 2012
One of my other favorites from this series. I reread this book more than many of the others.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews