Helpful Score: 4
This was a fun read. A scary monster tale with enough cool science thrown in to make the experience seem possible. The final "haunted house" sequence got a bit tired but I did care about the resolution of the narrative. All in all a good beach read.
Helpful Score: 4
The author took obvious delight in building up the impression that some revelations would never be made, but eventually he came through. The presence of one character seemed totally superfluous until the very end, when he made an observation that cast the whole story in a new light. A quick, fun read.
Helpful Score: 3
This book could have been the book on which "The Thing" was based - except that it post-dates the movei by almost 50 years.
Although it was still a good yarn, I can't call this Mr. Child's best work - especially since it borrows so heavily from "The Thing".
It so happens that i just watched the original version of "The Thing".
Everything from setting to plot to strategies used to defeat the monster come directly from the movie.
The side story - Film industry megalomaniacs and divas and their "daring" escape attempt failed to do much for me.
Although it was still a good yarn, I can't call this Mr. Child's best work - especially since it borrows so heavily from "The Thing".
It so happens that i just watched the original version of "The Thing".
Everything from setting to plot to strategies used to defeat the monster come directly from the movie.
The side story - Film industry megalomaniacs and divas and their "daring" escape attempt failed to do much for me.
Helpful Score: 3
I've been a longtime fan of Child, but this was a comparative dud. It was rather formulaic, nearly identical to The Relic, but much weaker.
Helpful Score: 1
This isn't really the campfire tale from hell (to borrow an expression from Mr. Child's blog), it's more like a campfire tale from purgatory. I finished reading this book less than three hours ago, and now I can't remember some of the characters' names. The story doesn't really stay with you that much, and it's relatively slow for a thriller (the monster doesn't start eating people until about chapter 19).
I have noticed, though, that with this novel (as well as with Douglas Preston's "Blasphemy") the authors do try to include the spiritual as well as the scientific and that makes for some interesting dialogue among the characters.
Have you ever taken a drink of a soda that went flat? Little to no flavor and no carbonation? That's what reading this book is like. Child has written better, and I'd recommend "Utopia" or "Deep Storm" over this book any day.
I have noticed, though, that with this novel (as well as with Douglas Preston's "Blasphemy") the authors do try to include the spiritual as well as the scientific and that makes for some interesting dialogue among the characters.
Have you ever taken a drink of a soda that went flat? Little to no flavor and no carbonation? That's what reading this book is like. Child has written better, and I'd recommend "Utopia" or "Deep Storm" over this book any day.
Helpful Score: 1
Great story with predictable twists and turns. You have to suspend reality a bit to enjoy it and take it for what it is. Entertainment value is high but it can be a bit tedious at times.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book. Lincoln Child always holds my interest despite being a little "other worldly".
Entertaining read from Lincoln Child that relies on many of the same tricks that he and Preston have been using for years in their works together and apart. A mix of scientific fact and supernatural gives the reader the experience of perhaps being part of a major discovery. The pace is quick, although there was something somewhat disappointing in the "mystery" in this book and the ultimate conclusion.
A good, quick read. Well developed plot and characters. A bit sci-fi meets action thriller.
Really readable "science" thriller. First of his books I've tried . will need to try some more.
Great book.
Good reading!
Once the story really started to unfold, after all the background set up, I couldn't put this book down. The story takes place at a former military base/scientific research station located in Alaska Federal Wilderness Zone (Arctic,) present day. It has been more or less empty for 50 years after a scientific expedition at that time mysteriously and abruptly terminated. All files regarding that expedition are highly classified and effectively buried.
A group of scientists are now at the base conducting climatology experiments. After the glacier calved a large section, an ice cave was revealed at the base of Fear Mountain. The local natives have warned the scientists to leave the cave alone, that great danger from "spirits" lurks there. Of course the natives' warnings of death and doom are dismissed and the scientists explore the ice cave. They make an astonishing discovery.....what appears to be an unknown prehistoric beast totally encased in ice.
They report the find to their financial backers, a film company, Terra Prime, who then arrives with a star and full production crew to expedite a documentary that they are sure will make their fortunes. The minute the film company arrives, the scientists lose control of the site, their find and any chance to complete their climate research. Terra Prime cuts the fearsome frozen beast out of the ice cave and puts it in a portable vault. The plan is to thaw the beast and film the opening of the vault on live TV. This is where the horror begins. Somehow the beast disappears from the vault, through a big hole in the vault floor that was CLEARLY made from the inside out. A search ensues of the entire base. But....people start dying, horribly. Inexplicably. Shredded and bloody. Where is the beast? Who or what is mangling people? Nowhere is safe. No ONE is safe. The plot continues to thicken; the horror elements expand quickly.I could have finished the book last night but I was gripped by such suspense that I had to put it aside to finish this morning, in the light of day.It would make a great horror movie. I couldn't watch it, of course, but it would be great.
A group of scientists are now at the base conducting climatology experiments. After the glacier calved a large section, an ice cave was revealed at the base of Fear Mountain. The local natives have warned the scientists to leave the cave alone, that great danger from "spirits" lurks there. Of course the natives' warnings of death and doom are dismissed and the scientists explore the ice cave. They make an astonishing discovery.....what appears to be an unknown prehistoric beast totally encased in ice.
They report the find to their financial backers, a film company, Terra Prime, who then arrives with a star and full production crew to expedite a documentary that they are sure will make their fortunes. The minute the film company arrives, the scientists lose control of the site, their find and any chance to complete their climate research. Terra Prime cuts the fearsome frozen beast out of the ice cave and puts it in a portable vault. The plan is to thaw the beast and film the opening of the vault on live TV. This is where the horror begins. Somehow the beast disappears from the vault, through a big hole in the vault floor that was CLEARLY made from the inside out. A search ensues of the entire base. But....people start dying, horribly. Inexplicably. Shredded and bloody. Where is the beast? Who or what is mangling people? Nowhere is safe. No ONE is safe. The plot continues to thicken; the horror elements expand quickly.I could have finished the book last night but I was gripped by such suspense that I had to put it aside to finish this morning, in the light of day.It would make a great horror movie. I couldn't watch it, of course, but it would be great.
