The Alpha Species is the follow-up to W.W. Mortensen’s debut novel EIGHT, and continues the story of Rebecca and Ed’s terrifying trip into the Amazon jungle from where the first book left off. Therefore, in order to fully understand this book, it’s recommended that readers are familiar with EIGHT before moving on to The Alpha Species.
You can read my review of EIGHT first by following this link.
Continue reading “EIGHT 2: The Alpha Species by W.W. Mortensen (Book Review)”
Many years after John Hammond’s disastrous resort, Jurassic Park is condemned and the genetically engineered inhabitants are destroyed, a number of unknown reptile-like animals start to show up around Costa Rica. Paleobiologist Richard Levine begins to take an interest in these animals, theorising that they may be dinosaurs that have survived extinction and flourished within a so-called ‘Lost World’ deprived from human intervention.
When Levine suddenly goes MIA right before his team is due to test some brand new equipment and vehicles in the field, his young associates get worried, prompting an investigation into his whereabouts. This leads Dr. Ian Malcolm into the discovery of the Jurassic Park testing and breeding ground, Site B: A location in Costa Rica that Malcolm and Levine have been searching for without success for a number of years.
Realising that Richard Levine may be in great danger amidst dangerous animals, Malcolm and the rest of Levine’s team hastily organise a rescue mission to Isla Sorna, but refusing to be left behind, young Kelly and Arby, Levine’s young associates hide themselves amid the equipment and smuggle themselves into Costa Rica along with the adults.
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones searching for Site B and John Hammond’s dinosaurs. Lewis Dodgson has been watching Levine for a long time and Ian Malcolm inadvertently supplies him with the location of the island, allowing him an opportunity to retrieve the specimens that he so badly desires.
Can anyone stay alive long enough to leave the island and return to civilisation, or will the mighty predators protect their territory at all costs?
While not quite as gripping or enthralling a read as the original Jurassic Park novel, at 4 out of 5 stars The Lost World is still a rather fine book from best-selling author Michael Crichton.
It heralds the return of mathematician Ian Malcolm as he once again returns to the islands of Costa Rica, coming face to face with yet more vicious and thought-to-be-extinct dinosaurs. Coupled with the idiotic Lewis Dodgson, still intent on retrieving his dinosaur specimens, the story unfolds in a slightly predicable but rather satisfying manner.
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After the events of the previous book, Annihilation, Theo has been initiated into the ranks of the Carbonari, a rebel faction on the brink of war. His first mission, as part of the Strike Force Retaliation team, is to infiltrate a Monastery and help retrieve vital intelligence in the form of a data sphere.
With plenty of action and cutting-edge weapons, Blood Red is a worthy follow-up to Annihilation. It has a gripping storyline that keeps the reader engrossed and engaged. However, a number of spelling errors have reduced the quality of this novella to a rating of only 4 out of 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from Andrew C. Broderick and voluntarily chose to write this review.
Theo and his team are sent on a mission to the planet Sirsette, equipped with limited knowledge on what to expect on arrival. I struggled a little to engage with this story which took up about half of the book, however once the mission changed and the team headed off back to Relisse, the book improved quite a bit.
Unfortunately, like its predecessor, there were a number of spelling errors throughout the book which depleted its quality. For instance, the character Hubard was frequently written Hubbard, and the word starred used instead of stared. Despite these annoying errors, Strike Force Retaliation is a good continuation of the Relissarium Wars series at 4 out of 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from Andrew C. Broderick and voluntarily chose to write this review.
Firestorm is part four of Andrew C. Broderick’s Relissarium Wars Space Opera series. The team return to base after the events on Relisse, where Senator Philo Nazir heads an investigation to uncover a traitor. With their current plans now known to the Yasta, the Carbonari must re-evaluate their tactics if they want to stay ahead of the enemy.
Again there were a few niggly errors, but otherwise this was a good read. It lacks the action of previous instalments, concentrating more on dialogue and analysis of earlier events. So don’t expect much in the way of military battles or edge-of-your-seat suspense. It doesn’t move the story on very far, however at 3 out of 5 stars, Firestorm is worth reading if you’re a fan of the series.
I received an ARC of this book from Andrew C. Broderick and voluntarily chose to write this review.
See also:
Relissarium Wars: Book 1 – Annihilation
Relissarium Wars: Book 5 – Ascent
Relissarium Wars: Book 6 – Capture
Relissarium Wars: Book 7 – War
Relissarium Wars: Book 8 – Prophecy
Happy Halloween everyone!
Today I would like to share one of my favourite, creepy horror novels with you. EIGHT by W.W. Mortensen.
Archaeologist Ed Reardon is following in his grandfather’s footsteps, searching for the remains of a lost civilisation amid the heart of the Amazonian jungle, which he hopes will contain a mysterious object; a source of sustainable, renewable power that will revolutionise the energy industry.
Intrigued by Ed’s recent find, his former partner and entomologist, Rebecca Riley, along with a team of scientific researchers joins Ed at his base camp in the jungle, but to everyone’s horror, what they actually uncover is a fascinating new species of animal, not at all happy at being disturbed.
Favourite Quotes:
‘Deep in the Amazon, the solution to the global energy crisis has been found; a mysterious source of power set to end our dependency on oil.’ – Quote taken from the opening paragraph of ‘EIGHT’, by W.W. Mortensen (location 1 on Kindle)
“There’s a school of thought that at some point in human evolution, spiders may have posed a genuine threat; our ancestors were likely programmed to fear them. That fear may have lodged in our psyche and been passed on through the genes, the reason as to why so many people are anxious of them.” – Rebecca Riley. (location 893 on Kindle)
EIGHT is the debut novel from Australian author W. W. Mortensen. It is the type of action packed horror story that I absolutely adore, full of expertly researched scientific facts and interesting information, it is also overflowing with such horrifying creatures that will scare you to your very core, arachnophobic or not.
EIGHT is extremely long, for a debut novel, however with the aid of great writing, short chapters, and fast-paced action you don’t really notice, it will hook you so deeply into its web of intricate storytelling that you will find yourself completely engrossed, unable to tear yourself away from it, for hours on end.
At first, EIGHT bore a striking resemblance to another scary spider infused novel that I had read recently (odd considering my arachnophobia), ‘The Hatching’ by Ezekiel Boone. However, while I loved both novels, Mortensen’s was certainly the most riveting read, with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
See Also:
Sci-Fi Kingdom 