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Action Thriller Science Fiction Tale by Matthew Reilly

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Great Edge of Your Seat Action Science Fiction!

May 8, 2009

by MichaelN

Rating:

This is the fourth Reilly book I have read. I rate it second to Ice Station. It expands on the old scifi tale The Arena (which was also used in a Star Trek episode where Kirk fights the Gorn) and instead of one Alien enemy, there are 6.

Swain, a doctor is kidnapped by the Aliens running the show and teleported to a sealed off New York library where he must battle the other 6 aliens to the death. Unfortunately for Swain, not only is he in danger but his young daughter was accidentally sent with him so he must protect her as well.

Swain meets Selexin who has been assigned his guide. Selaxin tells Swain that in two previous contests earthlings were involved and they were both killed immediately.

The story is action packed and you wonder how Swain is able to stay cool under impossible odds. Reilly is a master at telling tales with "Die Hard" like action throughout.

The end of the book fails to tie up all loose ends otherwise I would have rated it higher. Also, I did not understand the last sentence of the book and there is an interview in the book with Reilly where he states that the last sentence is significant.

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About the reviewer

MichaelN
Ranked #11

I first got on this blog to discuss my first passion which is books. Since I have gotten on I find that books are only a piece of this blog and I can discuss just about anything that comes to mind. It … more

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About this book

Wiki

ETs with a mordant sense of drama turn the New York Public Library into "the labyrinth" for an interstellar survival game show in this ungainly thriller from Australian Reilly (Ice Station). Seven players, each from a different world, compete for their lives, combating not only each other but also a monster called the Karanodon. The earthly representative is Dr. Steven Swain, chosen for his courage in successfully fighting off a gang of thugs who invade his operating room. Unfortunately, Swain happens to be holding Holly, his plucky little daughter, at the moment he's transported into the labyrinth, so she goes with him. The most devilish trick the "sponsors" provide is an unremovable digital bracelet, whose face shows how many opponents remain, and will commence a deadly 15-minute countdown should its wearer manage to escape the library's electrified confines. Derivative of Michael Crichton's techno-thrillers as well as Stephen King/Richard Bachman's The Running Man, the book offers constant, nail-biting action, but not a lot of reverence for one of New York City's greatest public institutions. From Publishers Weekly.

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Details

ISBN-10: 0312990049 (MM pbk.)

ISBN-13: 9780312990046 (MM pbk.)

Author: Matthew Reilly

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Date Published: December 27, 2005

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First to Review

MichaelN
"Great Edge of Your Seat Action Science Fiction!"

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