Customer Reviews (13)

Eh...

League of not-so-great gentlemen:
A review of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Okay, where do I begin?

I know this is not the famous graphic novel.They misleadingly market this novelization of the film to appear to be a novel based off the graphic novel. It is not.It's a novel based off the film script.Well, okay. I figured I could like it for what it was...

In regard to the film, when the making of footage shows the director of film (which was based off a graphic novel with the intention of getting young people interested in reading the classics again) goes out of his way tell you 'The characters in this movie are from these huge, archaic books I never read so I found a writer that at least read some of them.'That's the first warning sign that a film is in trouble.

I think my biggest pet peeve, and ironically also my favourite part, was Dorian Gray in the film and novelization.It was not Dorian Gray of the novel, not authentically anyway.This version of Dorian dies when he looks at the painting. This bothers me because so many people who have never read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde now think that looking at the painting would kill Dorian.I've heard of people arguing with those who have read the book to insist that they, the reader, got it wrong, that stabbing the painting doesn't kill him, it's looking at it! WRONG! Dorian looked at the painting a lot in the book, that was sort of the point.

A big issue with this Dorian is M stole the painting from Dorian's Foyer.Quartermain notices the spot where it had been. If looking at it would kill him why did Dorian have it hanging in his foyer? Did he cover his eyes every time he walked into his home?

Now for the serious flaws of the time-line.

Tom Sawyer's story takes place with him, at age twelve,before the civil war. That means it has be before 1865. Tom Sawyear cannot be a teenager in 1899.

Mina Harker:Mina Harker's story (Dracula) takes place in 1897.So In two years she was made a vampire, widowed, dated Dorian, and became a Chemist?

Dorian Gray:Dorian Gray becomes immortal in 1891 (The Picture of Dorian Gray). So In those eight years he lectured at a university where Quartermain was a boy as according to this...Less than eight years after college and Quartermain looks like that?The boy didn't age well!

Another thing about the film that didn't sit right for me is Dorian's life was in danger.M had something that could kill him at any time, and Mina pretty much executed Dorian for that.But because Dorian once broke up with her and that's okay?M might as well have had a gun to him the whole time but Mina was right to kill him? Sure Dorian acted cold but would it really have been better if he was sniveling and pleading?That didn't make Dorian look that evil to me or Mina look that good.

Also Nemo 'inventing' the automobile?Are they not aware that horseless carriages AKA automobiles were already being marketed by 1899 but Quartermain asks 'What's that monstrosity?' Has he been under a rock? And we're supposed to believe Nemo built a 1940s style lemo in 1899 anyway and has a sailor as his chaufer?

Under tight scrutiny League of Extraordinary Gentlemen would require a TARDIS for those characters to all meet at those points in their lives.Just because they're all from the nineteenth century does not mean that their stories can mesh with a plausible storyline. My grandfather was born in the 1920s.That doesn't mean he and I could be teenagers together because I was born in 1981.

This film can be fun as brain candy but under tight observation it makes little sense and it's blatantly obvious the director didn't read or respect the original novels the characters came from, which is a shame because the original purpose of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's graphic novel was to try to get young people interested in reading the classics.

I had hoped the novelization would clear up some of these inconsistencies but it did not.it thinly glossed over them.I noticed the author of the book even tried to avoid mentioning Dorian's hair because they seemed to know he's actually blonde in the original novel and did not want to draw attention to that.

There is more detail in the novelization, of course.That's a lot more than what I can say about the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's chest novelization but it certainly did not help to fix the continuity errors of the film and in fact, despite the author's efforts to avoid them, seeing them written in text just made them more apparent.

Just like the movie
I wanted to read the novelization to get more insight into the
characters' thoughts.Most novelizations reveal much more that the
movie.The book follows the movie closely and you get some extra descriptions and dialogue in key moments.I did enjoy the book because I loved the movie.If you want to relive it in the written page than this is for you.Also, read the book if you want a better ending to the story.It's worth it.

An O.K. film novelization
I saw the film a few years ago and thought it was O.K., with the exception of Sean Connery, who does a spectacular job in all his roles. The novel, which of course includes parts cut from the film and surprisingly cut the ending from the film out. Overall, Anderson does a good job converting the screenplay into a novel. He follows the path until he cut that ending.

This is a good novel for some one looking for a quick read.

PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author Knows More Than Screenwriter
This movie novelization works a bit better than the movie it is based on.This is in part because the author is more familiar with the subject than the makers of the movie.For instance, instead of allowing Nemo to say, "I call it an automobile."The author points out that at that time Benz was already cranking out cars and Ford had devised the Model T.Thus it is added how Nemo improved on existing designs.There are other moments like this where minor problems are corrected.

Unfortunately the novelization has to hold true to the film so most of the real problems with the film adaptation are still present.Alan Moore's League is greatly changed from their original comic appearance and their literary appearances. Here the league is up against a madman bent of plunging the entire world into war in hopes of ruling it all.The league chases the villain around the world while suffering many setbacks until all is played out.

Well written with nice additions.It is too bad it had to follow the movie script as the author could have done more with the story.Still, if you can handle the story, the novelization is very well written.

A book that authors could be proud of
I have to admit that the first time that I met the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was on the big screen. It wasn't until I did further research that I found out about the series of comic books. However, after reading this movie novelisation I thought it wouldn't have done justice as a comic book. As a novel Kevin J Anderson brought out the actors who played the characters on the big screen as well as the characters from their corresponding classics. It was that that made the book worth reading.

A great book turned out from a great movie. Absolutely brilliant. ... Read more

Product Description
An unidentified flying object has been shot down from the sky-and a single strange pod has survived intact.

Now Team Proteus-a U.S.-Russian crew of scientists, doctors and technicians-will be reduced in size using new miniaturization techniques and injected through the surface of the pod. So begins the most startling voyage of exploration in human history...

Inside the body of an alien.

Praise for Kevin J. Anderson:

Arguably the most prolific, most successful author working in [science fiction] today. (Algis Budrys)

The heir apparent to Arthur C. Clarke. (Daniel Keys Moran, author of The Last Dancer)

A rare combination of talent and practicality. (Starlog)

The hottest writer on (or off) the planet. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Really stupid ideas
I am willing to believe impossible things before breakfast, but not really stupid things.

All of the physical science premises of the book are ridiculous.Many of the other premises are silly:The Russians are going to fly an alien space capsule from Southern Russia to California, but only let the US have it for one day?Give me a break.

I didn't get past about 50 pages before I threw it away.

Fantastic Voyage = One Fantastic Yarn
I still remember watching the original 'Fantastic Voyage' on TV many, many years ago and found myself totally immersed in the adventure.I was thrilled to see the novel written by Isaac Asimov, although he based it upon the screenplay, which is something Isaac is definitely NOT known for doing.He then went on to write his own version: 'Fantastic Voyage: Destination Brain' which again was fun, but I found it to be not quite up to the usual Asimov level of entertainment and intellectual stimulation.Now comes Kevin J. Anderson and a version which takes us inside the body of a real alien.Could there be a better premise for a novel about miniaturization?

I am happy to say that Anderson does a Fantastic job of taking an idea originated by someone else, and taking it to a higher level of science AND entertainment.Now, it has been mentioned before that this book isn't going to make anyone smarter by reading it, but, it certainly WILL give you an entertaining thrill while you do.

I read some reviewers now and again who base a books readability upon an almost impossible set of statistics that virtually NO book will ever live up to...are the locations of each novel 100% accurate?Is the science verifiable and factual?I personally base MY enjoyment upon whether or not I actually ENJOY the story, NOT the messy details...not that they aren't important or appreciated when an author goes out of their way to do the research, but I personally don't believe miniaturization is possible--at least not yet anyway--and therefore NO amount of scientific explanation, no matter HOW plausible and sophisticated it sounds will suddenly sway my opinion on whether or not a novel is actually worth reading.However, Anderson has written the technical details in such a way that whether or not miniaturization IS possible, it sure SOUNDS possible.

Oh yeah, one more thing:This story MOVES.Yes, it DOES take a chapter or two before the plot really unfolds, but trust me, when it finally takes flight, make sure your seatbelt is fastened and your tray is in the full and upright position 'cuz you suddenly go super-sonic super fast.The imagination alone it took to craft this story is worth the price of the novel...but the fact that Anderson has given us a great story as well certainly underscores his raw talent at storytelling.Buy this book and set aside an afternoon of virtual adventure in Innerspace...you won't be disappointed.

Mediocre sci-fi thriller that touches on some high points
Immediately after reading the blurb on the back, I realized that the idea has some inherent limitation, and it would take a lot of doing to pull it off. I decided to go ahead and read the book, and see if Kevin J Anderson's reputation as a good writer would hold up.The book does have it share of action and highlights that makes it worth the time spent reading it, but I'm not sure if it was worth the money.

As far as science-fiction goes, most of the science that Anderson uses to explain the technology in the book is solid, but somewhat shallow.There is a lack of depth in the biological description of the alien body: the details Anderson uses consists primarily of very elementary biological terms.Furthermore, this book lacks a strong underlying meaning or message that can be found in great sci-fi.In this respect, it comes off as little more than a sci-fi thriller filled with some fancy terms.I am not even sure if the science (especially the physics aspect) or the logic for that matter is very sound.

In my opinion, the characters are paper-thin and rely on mostly character sterotypes to carry them through.I could not relate to the characters and did not feel emotionally attached to them when something happened to them.Anderson choose to place his character description in the weirdest place, often inserting them in the middle of an action scene.His characterization also lack subtlety; he tells the reader what the characters are like rather than revealing them within the plot or dialougle.

Speaking of dialouge, the lines exchanged between character are often corny and used at utterly inappropriate times.Failed attempts at humor punctuating scenes seem out of place and make the characters (especially the Mote's crew) seem like they aren'tfacing grave danger.

Summing it up, the novel does what it sets out to do (excite the reader with lots of action) relatively well without doing much more.For me, much of the plot was predictable so the book didn't intrigue me as much as it could have, but I did enjoy the end.The nanotechnology twist breathe additonal life into the novel, but it was excessive towards the end (how smart can those nanocritters be with microscopic brains?). I think this book would be a lot better as a movie especially with special effects.The abundance of action, plot, characters, and lack of deeper meaning makes it like the movie, Armaggadeon.

You will probably enjoy this this book if you liked Armaggadeon, but I am somewhat of a sci-fi purist which explains the negative tone of my review.It's a also good book if you're bored or need something to fill time on a long trip (like me).

Lots of action
This story spends about a hundred pages developing diverse intersting characters and then BANG sends them on a fantastic voyage.While I did not find the actual voyage into the alien that exciting, it was definitely suspenseful.What was more interesting to me was the story that was happening outside the alien among the politicians, diplomats, and the poor doctors.This was page-turning stuff!I think that the problem with the voyage inside the body was that it plays better on the big screen where one can visualize the suspense among the myriad of special effects.The narrative does just not do it justice.Great characters, a mysterious alien, and a good tale make this a four star book.

none
What Asimov's 'Fantastic Voyage' did for the human body; Anderson does for the alien. 'Microcosm' is at once filled with chilling alien exotica, fraught with danger, speculation, and awe,for that edge-of-your-seat ride. Anderson has written an exhilarating and fast-paced thriller that is a welcome companion to Asimov's original novel. Gary S. Potter Author/Poet. ... Read more

Product Description
It is the year 10,154 of the Imperial Calendar, and for four decades the planet Arrakis - called Dune by its inhabitants - has been ruled by the Harkonnen family. But the seeds of change have been sown. On Arrakis, an idealistic young planetologist, Pardot Kynes, goes out into the desert to learn the secrets of its giant sandworms and the priceless Spice they create. And on another planet, Caledon, young Leto Atreides is nearly ready to become duke. The blood feud between House Atreides and House Harkonnen is about to begin. Drawing on notes, outlines and correspondence Frank Herbert left behind at his death, "House Atreides" is a breathtaking story of war, treachery, decadence and steadfastness in the face of overwhelming odds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Super Reader
The Tleilaxu are working on a artificial version of melange, the longevity drug, and fuel for the Guild navigators.

A great house is destroyed through these machinations to allow those in power to seize more control of the distribution.

The Harkonnen schemes are seen, as is the Bene Gesserit manipulations behind the scenes, one of the results being the Lady Jessica. Along the way, Leto Atreides generally tries to do the right thing for his own people, and his friends in the fallen house.

Its an SF book, but it hasnt got much to do with DUNE.
Firstly, as SF books go, this is better than many ... if only the authors had left the universe of Dune alone.

Frank Herbert managed to create a Universe populated by big people with grand schemes, sharp intellects, deep motivations, and competing philosophies, all locked in a deadly eons long battle for supremacy and survival.

This book is populated with dim wits with petty concerns, short term goals and shallow desires, all bouncing along fairly aimlessly and counting on luck and coincidence.

No gravitas. No substance. No imagination.This book is to Dune as lift music is to a Beethoven symphony.

Pleasantly Suprised
If I'm correct, then you are reading this because, like me, you are a big fan of Frank Herbert's Dune series and you want to know more about this prelude series. If you thought you would never touch this book, then you are in similar company. It took me about 4 years to have the desire to even investigate "House Atreides" despite favourable reviews from friends.

OK, "House Atreides" is no "Dune", but how many novels are? Not even Frank Herbert's follow-ups can match the brilliance of the original. That was the problem for me - would this new series not written by the master harm the franchise? My answer is no - the series has not been harmed.

"House Atreides" IS faithful to the Dune series by providing a well-written and entertaining storyline which takes nothing away from the original. There is no conflict with characterisation, in fact, I think the characters are perhaps a little too stereotypical. For example, the Atreides are ALL honourable, the Corrinos are ALL malicious, etc, but this is my only gripe. It didn't bother me after a while because the political intrigue really dominates the second half of the book, and this is where the great houses and other factions have to show their true colours (although, I expected more involvement from CHOAM).

An indication that "House Atreides" is worthwhile is that I went out and bought "House Harkonnen" the next day. If you are a Dune fan, then you should at least try the prelude series. Like me, you could find it an entertaining read. ... Read more

Product Description
The worlds of virtual technology and reality become dangerously intertwined when a top scientist in the field of virtual reality is murdered at a top-secret California installation, despite its extremely tight security. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Top-notch hard science fiction
Kevin Anderson and Doug Beason expertly take us into the depth of virtual reality.The story is a gripping tale of how technology can go wrong.Agent Kreident, the main character, is a computer savy FBI agent whospecializes in high tech cases.He teams up with the young Paige Mitchellwho helps spice up the plot a bit with undertones of innocent sexuality. This reviewer did find the Paige Mitchell character's usuage of the term,"Kay-O" (ie:okay), to be a bit annoying and over used. Overall, I'd rate the book as a great read, however.

Anderson's/Beason's attempt at mystery fails
This book contains what you'd come to expectof the Anderson/Beason team. A story that appears to well researched with good attention to detail and a pace that doesn't let you get bored easily. These are the high points. Unfortunately there's one big flaw that really couldn't keep me feel disappointed at the end. I figured out "whodunnit" before I was even halfway through. I kept hoping I had missed something that was going to reveal itself at the end, a wicked twist or something to make the whole read worhtwhile. Alas, for something that could've been a fun mystery/adventure turned out to be way too obvious and left me feeling a little shortchanged. As prolific as Kevin J is I sometimes wonder if his sheer volume of work sometimes makes his quality of work suffer.

Virtual Destruction = Real Enjoyment
_Virtual Destruction_ is KJA's attempt at being the Michael Crichton of late -- writing original screenplays as novels.He succeeds.This novel could be easily translated to the big screen, with little or no alteration to the story.There is not much mystery, as the reader is let in on all the details from all sides, but it is still a fun ride, watching Agent Kreident put all the pieces together in this thriller ... Read more

Product Description
Even monsters get old, and old monsters need a place to while away their twilight years. But when word comes that Castle Frankenstein is to be razed to build condominiums, Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Wolf-Man, the Mummy, and other favorites must break out of the old monsters' home for one last quest! ... Read more

Product Description
Ralph McQuarrie is the production artist whose visionary designs helped shape the look and feel of George Lucas' hugely successful films. Featuring stunning reproductions of McQuarie's matte paintings, production paintings, and concept sketches, a detailed biography, six collectible stamps, and more, the Star Wars ArtBox is a unique collectible for both Star Wars fans and art enthusiasts. Full-color illustrations.Amazon.com Review
Star Wars wouldn't be Star Wars without thevision of Ralph McQuarrie, the man responsible for bringing color,depth, and motion to George Lucas's vision. McQuarrie is the artistwho originates most of the designs for droids, ships, sets, aliens,and just about everything else in the Star Wars universe. Thisbox set contains an interview with McQuarrie in a small, full-colorbooklet, along with 15 amazing postcards and 6 collectible postagestamps featuring concept paintings for the movies. Highlights are thegreat cantina scene, with Sy Snootles singing her heart (or hearts)out, the original Darth Vader concept sketch, and production paintingsof C-3PO and R2-D2 and the epic lightsaber battle between Luke andVader. A great gift for a Star Wars fan or collector. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Must Have For The Star Wars Fan
I've been a fan of Ralph McQuarrie's Star Wars art for years, and when I came across this at Amazon, I had to get it.The artwork is awesome!If you're trying to buy a gift for the Star Wars Fan, get this!

Ralph is a legend
Now that Everyone can make Star Wars Graphics using computer software such as Bryce 3d, Its nice to know that someone is out there with REAL talent in conceptualising imaginary worlds and has the great gift of bringing it tolife.....LA LALAL LALALALALA ... Read more

Product Description
The culminating volume in Kevin J. Anderson's Saga of Seven Suns weaves together the myriad storylines into a spectacular grand finale.


Galactic empires clash, elemental beings devastate whole planetary systems, and the factions of humanity are pitted against each other.Heroes rise and enemies make their last stands in the climax of an epic tale seven years in the making.The Saga of Seven Suns is one of the most colorful and spectacular science fiction epics of the last decade. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Interesting, though flawed
I decided to read this book even though I had not read the rest of the series.I'm already in several long series and just couldn't picture wading all the way through another.Anderson gives such a long "what's gone before" section that I don't think it's a problem.I never really felt lost.

It took a few chapters to get into the book enough to care about the story, but once I did, I felt the story kept moving pretty well.The basic story and many of the characters are pretty interesting.The book works as a page turner.

On the other hand, there are too many "how could they be so stupid" events in the story.The villains of the story are one dimensional and, frankly, a tad stupid, but the heroes make up for it by missing opportunity after opportunity to fix problems.The story just doesn't ring true of human nature--especially given the kind of people many of the characters in the story are.That problem resulted in too many convenient plot devices to fix problems.

If you can take a "check your brains at the door and enjoy the ride" attitude to the book, you'll probably enjoy it.Otherwise, it's kind of like watching a movie like "Armageddon"

One picky nit: it's a bad idea to name the chief villain in the story Winsenslaus.I just couldn't helping thinking "Good King W" every time I heard his name.Made it hard to take him seriously.

The attention span of nematodes
This series of seven books contains at least three time the same stories as the author after cutting the storie line into 6 minutes long description of events felt he had to provide the background of previous episode (in case the reader got lost).
In that this serie probably deserve a entry as a new kind of space opera
: the soap space opera, the only thing missing are the ads every 15 minutes (wait until a TV channel produces it...)
In other words this serie was written for people with the attention span of nematodes...

Storie-wise too few good ideas and of course god lurking at one cormer just in case a galaxy was not enough.

best to avoid and save few bucks

Satisfying Conclusion to Decent Epic
This book started with book six's cliffhanger, which was a decent way to just jump right into the action.

I like the incorporation of all the elements and plot threads and thought that was fairly well done.

Some of the characters started to become a little flat/cliche-ish towards the end, Chairman Basil in particular but even still i thought that was handled okay.

Overall, I was satisfied with the book, it had a realism to it that made me feel like I was part of the story.

Everything wrapped up neatly with a nice little bow but at the same time it more or less felt 'right' which is the only thing that matters.

Thanks for the hard work KJA, I enjoyed the series and will look for some of your other books.

Conclusion...
A very good conclusion to this seven book series. I have the series in softcover but could not wait for April so I had to buy this one in hardcover.

Great end to a good series
I have read this series from the very first book and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the final one.The final one lived up to my expectations and was brilliant.I've always felt that this series reminded me of Starcraft (with the Ildirians being the Protoss and the Klikiss being the Zerg) and that feeling wasn't dispelled in the last book.

You really find yourself hating Chairman Wenceslas and hoping that someone anyone would just put him out of everyone's misery (a little like old Bob Mugabe down in Zimbabwe).

The only criticism that I have of the book is that the last thirty pages seemed to be a space filler and these were the pages that took the longest for me to finish. ... Read more

Product Description
This short story collection is from the bestselling author well known for his novels based on Star Wars and The X-Files. The title story is a gritty tale of the ultimate use of nanotechnology-immortality. "Human, Martian-One, Two, Three" is a novella-length story about the terraforming of Mars. In addition to Anderson's original fiction, this collection features his shared writing, including the first new Dune fiction, the story "A Whisper of Caladan Seas," cowritten with Brian Herbert. Also included are the horrific tale "Drumbeats," written with drummer Neal Peart of the band Rush, and "Prisoner of War," a sequel to Harlan Ellison's classic Outer Limits teleplay, "Soldier." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dark and Luminous
Dogged Persistence (2001) is a collection of stories with mostly disutopian themes. All are well-written, but the accumulative effort is somewhat depressing. No wonder Anderson was selected to write X-Files novels.

Like all good SF authors, Anderson sees more than the obvious in new technology and scientific speculation. While many of the basic themes in these stories have been used by other authors, Anderson adds new directions and possibilities.

For example, the first story, "Fondest Memories", employs the themes of cloning and induced memories to bring us a quietly, subtly horrible tale. And the title story is a conspiracy tale that was later expanded to the X-Files novel "Antibodies", yet it is also a very private story of love and betrayal. The Dune story portrays the trapping of Atreides soldiers in the shield wall caves by Harkonnen troops, yet is really a story of homesickness and a miracle.

As Kristine Kathryn Rusch implies in the Introduction, the best story in Anderson's career may well be "The Ghost of Christmas Always".At least Dean Smith thought so.While next to last in the book, this fantasy of Charles Dickens and the ghost of his sister-in-law has a luminous presence that lingers.Like "A Christmas Carol", this story may well become a classic. Sometimes an author gets it exactly right.

Kevin J. Anderson can write a great short story. Don't just take my word for it;read these stories and see for yourself.By the way, his novels are pretty good too.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A "must" for all Kevin Anderson fans!
Dogged Persistence is Kevin Anderson's first book-length collection of short stories and provide a range of fine fantasies which cover everything from nanotechnology and questions of humanity to a horror story set in Africa. Whether it's hard science fiction or fantasy, Anderson's many talents and ability to weave an engrossing tale are aptly displayed in this collection.

A splendid anthology
Kevin J. Anderson is a seasoned and gift writer whose science fiction novels have won him a wide recognition in the genre and a very loyal readership. Now the Golden Gryphon Press (itself an outstanding small press publisher specializing in fantasy and science fiction) has published Anderson's Dogged Persistence, a splendid anthology of his short story writings that will prove to be a "must read" for the legions of his fans, and send those encountering his work within these pages for the first time on an enthusiastic search for the rest of his novels. The original stories comprising this superb compendium include: Fondest of Memories; Music Played on the Strings of Time; Tide Pools; Reflections in a Magnetic Mirror (with Doug Beason); Entropy Ranch; Dogged Persistence; Human, Martian -- One, Two, Three; Scientific Romance; Canals in the Sand; Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (with Brian Herbert); Prisoner of War; Much at Stake; New Recruits; Final Performance; The Old Man and the Cherry Tree; Sea Dreams (with Rebecca Moesta); The Ghost of Christmas Always; and Drumbeats (with Neil Pearl). ... Read more

Product Description
Gree is a workaday Orc without any noble aspirations; he's as greedy and nasty as they come. But soon after he and his fellow Orcs lay siege to a human castle Gree comes upon a hidden treasure, one worth much more than just money—and one which will change his life forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing
I was dissapointed, but not due to the story line. I was expecting something else and got a short comic book version of a tale about an orc who comes to appreciate art. ... Read more

Product Description
At Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois--Fermilab--Nobel candidate Georg Dumenco is bombarded with enough radiation to kill him within days.

FBI Special gent Craig Kreident knows it was no accident--but he has to prove it. Only Dumenco knows enough to track down his own killers. If he lives long enough... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Ok read, but best not to think too hard
Having read Beason and Anderson's other books with the same characters, I found "Lethal Exposure" a bit of a dissapointment. While the characters were fairly well developed, and the idea had merit, the actualexecution left something to be desired.

For instance I did not believefor one minute that Baretti could be that clueless as to the Indian's truemotives. I had it figured out as soon as they sat down to talk the firsttime.

As another example, Kriedent should have been able to discern thecause of the explosion a lot sooner than he did. He had all the clues andspecialized knowledge in front of him. Why it took me 3/4s of the book tofigure out is beyond me. Again This was so obvious that it was practiallyshoved in the reader's face and I was able to determine the cause when theyfirst met Dumenco and learned what he was working on.

All in all I'd givethis book a read, if you are on a plane and there is nothing else to read.Otherwise skip it.

Where's the beef?
Anderson and Beason try unsuccessfully to combine the particle physics subject matter of hard sci-fi author Gregory Benford with the "I'm just a good-old FBI agent" narrative approach of Tom Clancy.

Whilethe story successfully presents a mystery involving high-energy particlephysicists, there is very little technical content to go along with it.Besides having predictable 1-dimensional characters (just like Clancy) thebook has its share of other aggravations. For starters, it contains acritical overuse of the unheard of term, "towelhead", describingEast Indians that wear turbans. And let's not forget the"sepia-eyed" nurse whose too often quoted expression is that she"never felt this helpless since Chernobyl" and did we mentionthat she was "sepia-eyed"? Oh yes and just in case you didn't getit before, her eyes are the color of, what's that, oh yes"sepia". ARRGGG!! And what in the world is so special about acheckered tablecloth turned 90 degrees?

Terribly unsatisfying read.

.Tom Clancy meets the X-Files, only better.
I have always thought the X-files was a good idea taken to far.This FBI thriller has a reality based X-Files approach, but the quality of a Tom Clancy Novel. Don't judge this book by it's cheesy cover.

Action packed science suspense story
FBI Special Agent Craig Kreident (the hero of VIRTUAL DESTRUCTION and FALLOUT) returns in this most excellent tale of near-future terror, cutting edge technology and international intrigue. The characters are well developed, the plot is filled with intrigue and the action is fast paced. A perfect summer read to keep your little grey cells hopping. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
A well-connectedAmerican archaeologist disappears while exploring the lost Mayan city ofXitaclan -- and FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are flown to the Yucatánjungles to investigate.

Not an ordinary FBI team, Mulder and Scully are assigned to the X-Files,the strange and inexplicable cases the FBI wants to keep hidden from scrutiny...thecases involving the paranormal, the supernatural -- and possibly, the extraterrestrial.

Based on a mysterious jade artifact and ominous local legends, Mulder decidesthere may be more to this case than simply a missing team of scientists-- namely ancient curses, blood sacrifices, and deadly reptilian monsterslost in the jungle since before history. Scully is more skeptical. Her priorityis to keep an eye on her partner and try to provide logical explanationsfor Mulder's unorthodox speculations.

Unbeknownst to the two FBI agents, the lost city of Xitaclan is the sceneof an impending three-way brush war between Central American drug lords,international smugglers who deal in looted Mayan artifacts, and a covertU.S. military commando team that has been sent to investigate, and destroy,a strange electronic signal received from beneath the ruins -- a signalaimed upwards, at the stars! Mulder and Scully must unravel the secret ofXitaclan and discover what has become of the lost archaeology team beforethese opposing forces converge on the forgotten ruins...and unleash a powerthat nothing on Earth can contain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Hmmm, this one was rather boring . . .
I recently listened to the ABRIDGED version of another X-Files novelization called Antibodies and enjoyed it quite a bit (especially the smart dog bits). The ABRIDGED version of Ruins, though, just couldn't hold my attention for any length of time and I found myself doing a lot of rewinding when my mind would drift away. Could be the story was a dud or it could be my frame of mind.Either way I won't be re-reading this again and will be passing it along sooner rather than later.

The story is about an archeological dig gone bad. Throw in an ancient curse, a search for a missing archeologist, possible human sacrifice (yikes!), then add some bad guy standbys like a drug dealer and the leader of a revolution and sprinkle it with bits of Scully and Mulder and you have yourself a story that falls to Ruins (at least for me). I'm sure it'll appeal to folks interested in archeology (there's lots of techie jargon tossed about), super die-hard X-Philes, and fans of Mitch Pilleggi, AKA Agent Skinner who does a decent job of narrating the story excepting a few bits where his tone takes a turn toward the monotonous.

This is a good book, very interesting
I read this book not long ago and I have to say that it was wonderfully written. The author puts you in Mulder and Scully's shoes (something that I wish I could do in real life :) and you can see everything that is going on. Mulder and Scully are very well portrayed and I love the way she described the-oops! Don't want to give it away! It's a must for all Philes!

Excellent book for everyone, not just X-Philes
I thought this was the best X-Files book I have read.The plot was very exciting and always moving at a very thrilling pace.To summarize, Special Agents Mulder and Scully are investigating a death in Central America,where Mulder uncovers what he believes is an Inca temple made forextra-terrestrials.Excellent insight into both Mulder and Scully.

The best yet!
This is by far the best X-Files book written! I have read all of the except for the newest novelization of our favourite show, and although it was the first I read, it is still the best! Mulder and Scully'srelationship is at it's strongest point. They are both witty, and smart.Once again, Scully is skeptical, but Mulder proves her wrong.The entireplot for this book is thick, and the people who you believe are innocent,could really turn out to be either!Despite the fact that some of theseMayan names could be a little confusing, it was definitely worth it.Agenuine X-File.You know, the cases filed under X.On a scale of one toten, I'd give it an 11!Read it!In fact, read everything Mr. Andersonwrites!

The best book of the X-Files (in this moment)
The Ruins is the best X-Files book I've ever read. Also I read Goblins, Whirlwind, Ground Zero but I find the Ruins BEST of them. Mulder and Scully are presented as they are in the show (I can't say that about Ground Zero).Kevin J. Anderson write really excellent book. ... Read more

Product Description
In the spirit of H.G. Wells's classic tale of Martian invasion comes this anthology of some of today's leading authors' own renditions of the Martian invasion as it might have been seen through the eyes of such notables as Jack London, H. P. Lovecraft, and Pablo Picasso. Reprint." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

War of the Worlds on a global scale!
What if the Martian Invasion had happened all over the world?And what happens if it's witnessed by all the great authors, such as Jules Verne, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and Teddy Roosevelt?From China to Cuba, from Paris to New Orleans, from Africa to Canada follow the reports of the alien invasion. Most of the stories are very good but some are old, like 'Night of the Cooters' which is a cool story about Martians against Texas Rangers, and some don't seem to fit with the rest of the stories, like 'Paris Conquers All' in which the aliens and the machines are NOT the same used in the other stories.

Great concept, barely average execution.
Spreading H.G. Wells's "War of the Worlds" around the Earth and having famous people encounter the Martians was a wonderful idea.Too bad that for the most part the original PLOT was also spread around the world as well, with comparatively little to differentiate the famous people from anyone else.Other than to note that I was seriously surprised that Robert Silverberg did not do better in his entry (featuring Henry James), I will refer to the stories by star rather than author.The best ones were the ones featuring the Dowager Empress of China (which was rightly included in the Year's Best), Edgar Rice Burroughs and John Carter (which nevertheless could have been developed MUCH more than it was), Jack London, Joseph Conrad, and H.P. Lovecraft.The James, Picasso, Texas Rangers, Pulitzer, Tolstoy, Twain, and to a lesser extent Kipling and Churchill were basically retellings of the same plot over and over and over.The Roosevelt was distinctive but too restricted by its format, the Lowell distinctive but restricted by its pre-invasion tone.The Einstein suffered from vagueness (all of the sudden time inside the Martian war machine is relative, no explanation for the implications of that), the Verne was ridiculous, and the Dickinson...well, it obviously wasn't serious and so didn't fit in with the rest of the book.All in all, I'd say this was reasonably entertaining reading, but not NEARLY as marvelous as it could have---SHOULD have been.

Could have been better
The idea for this colection is such an intriguing one, but the majority of the stories are poorly conceived - the Henry James entry is almost a point by point recounting of the original work except for the"surprise" ending (and begins with one of the longest sentencesI've ever read). I had to force myself to finish the majority of them.Afew, however, are quite enjoyable; for example, the Lovecraft story, inwhich his style is exaggerated to the point of hilarity.This book isreally just something to pass the time - light entertainment, nothing more.

Some good stories.
This had "Soul Selects her own Society...." which won a Hugo, & "Foreign Devis" which won a sideways. I found some of the sexual detail in foreign devils irritating, but I love the Chinese flavor.(Fairly knowledgable on China too) Soul... was pretty funny, but perhapstoo dry for some. Other standouts were mentioned by the others. Since manygreat stories come from theme anthologies it's perhaps unwise to make hard& fast rules about them. Some of these stories I read first @ asimov's

Possibly better than the novel that inspired it.
I was absoloutley blown away by the quality of this book. The stories fromthe viewpoints of Roosevelt, Twain, Joe Pullitzer and the Texas Rangers arejust as entertaining (and may even be better) than Wells' originalmasterpiece. Best read with Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of theWorlds playing in the background, at night. ... Read more

Product Description
Everyone tends to edit their memories of lost loved ones, emphasizing the admirable qualities and good times, downplaying the unpleasant aspects.For a man given the chance to have his dead wife cloned, he can rebuild and restore her memories . . . with a few slight modifications. ... Read more

Product Description
Fully dramatized, with sound effects and music.
Darth Vader was a Dark Lord of the Sith--now discover the terror of the Dark Lords who preceded him in this stunning sequel to Tales of the Jedi.

Ulic Qel-Dromoa and Nomi Sunrider are young Jedi Knights drawn into a battle for the survival of the Old Republic. But as the power of the evil Sith spreads across the galaxy, it threatens the existence of the Jedi themselves, and draws one of their greatest allies over to the dark side! 2 1/4 hours on 2 cassettes or 2 CDs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Highly recommended
The Star Wars audio books are always extremely satisfying, adding voices, music, and sound effects into the book to create an experience highly reminiscent of the old radio shows.

While you lack the visual aesthetic of the original comic, you'll find so much more inside this audio adaptation.Recommended for all Star Wars fans, whether you read the comic or not.

Feel the Power of the Dark Side!
This is the second segment in the story of Ulic Qel-Droma's and Exar Kun's rise and fall of Lords of the Sith. The radio-drama style works well for the story and the story itself presents the view from the Dark Side. Ultimately, the only thing that's missing the the fact that the third and final segment of the story isn't in an audio format.

GOOD QUALITY
Very fast delivery.
Good CD quality

Very happy with the purchase. :D

YOU CAN FIND THIS UNDER A DIFFERENT NUMBER
Some Times Dark horse makes it tough to figure out which comic is which.If you are looking for the early sith - Jedi comics try this one:Paperback: 160 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.34 x 10.18 x 6.67
* Publisher: Dark Horse Comics; (April 1996)
* ISBN: 1569710953 ... Read more