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DOOMSDAY IS COMING...June 23rd
Monday, June 01, 2009
As the publication date for the latest Sigma thriller draws near, a few early reviews are trickling in. We already posted the nice review from Publisher's Weekly (see earlier blog entry "Early Review of The Doomsday Key"). But today I was sent a couple more reviews, including a STARRED review in Library Journal. Here they are:
from Library Journal (starred review)
Rollins's prose explodes off the page in a twisty and compelling thriller that explores the issues of human overpopulation and genetically modified food. The Sigma Force must unravel the mysterious deaths of a geneticist, a senator's son working for the Red Cross in Africa, and someone with close ties to the Vatican. Gray Pierce and his team follow the clues starting from Rome, while Sigma leader Painter Crowe takes his group to meet with the head of a corporation that appears to be genetically modifying food. VERDICT: Swashbuckling adventure, elite team effort, and religious symbology all add up to another gripping and terrifying read. Rollins somehow juggles all of these elements and incorporates them into an amazing and brilliant technothriller that might be his best to date. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Jeff Ayers
from Booklist
A case could be made that this guy doesn’t write novels—he builds roller coasters. Rollins, author of a string of high-intensity action thrillers (and, let’s not forget, his excellent adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), puts his characters at the top of the ride, gives them a push, and lets them go racing off into adventure. In this, the latest Sigma Force novel, a series of baffling incidents around the world are linked by a mysterious symbol, a cross inside a circle, which may connect the incidents to the ancient Druids and, of all things, the Domesday Book (which, in case you’ve forgotten, was commissioned by William the Conquerer, in the late eleventh century, to be a complete survey of England’s people and lands). Like Matthew Reilly, Rollins excels at combining action and history with larger-than-life char acters, and also like Reilly, he creates imaginative puzzles for his characters to solve. The books are designed to propel the reader through to the end: snappy dialogue, brief chapters, short paragraphs. You are so engrossed in the story that you turn the pages without realizing it, and soon you’re finished, perhaps a little bit out of breath, but usually exhilarated. A must for pure action fans. — David Pitt
Also I had a moment to sit down with Alex Telander from the Sacramento Book Review for an interview. A copy of that podcast can be found here. Or, copy and paste the following link within your inernet web browser: http://bookbanter.podbean.com
And lastly, I saw the latest Pixar movie this past weekend: UP. I loved this movie, especially the talking dogs (of course, that may be the veterinarian in me...life as a vet would have been much easier if my patients could talk).
I'm currently reading Tom Rob Smith's sequel to Child 44, titled The Secret Speech. Besides a great central mystery, the book's exposure of life in post-Stalinist Russia is as scary as any horror novel.
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Comments
Name: Mary Ann Seesholtz Date: 2009-06-01
I'll be purchasing this book as soon as it available. thanks for the great writing, there is always something new and exciting around the corner, in the air or over the next bridge. Keep them coming.
Name: Josiah Shearmie Date: 2009-06-01
I can't wait. Love the writing! They are such page turners i have a problem putting it down once i start reading it!
Name: linda flinn Date: 2009-06-02
Your love of writing shows in your work. A thrill ride from beginning to end , the perfect escape in these troubled times. Thank You for your dedication.
Name: Jeremy Navarro Date: 2009-06-03
Can't wait to read them! I work at a Borders and I am scheduled the day it comes out so I'll be picking it up as soon as I get to work! Thank you for coming out with 3 books this year! If only every year was as good as this one.
Name: DELLIS HANCHURAK Date: 2009-06-03
Can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I love to read what new adventures happen to the Sigma team. Please continue with your novels. They are all fabulous!
Name: Dave Date: 2009-06-04
Cant wait for the release! Excited to see Sechan again. This should be just as great as the rest of Sigma or even better according to the reviews. Next stop, Alter in Oct! Thanks Jim!
Name: Michelle Date: 2009-06-29
Glad you read the latest Tom Rob Smith, Secret Speech. Child 44 was phenomenol and secret Speech was an excellent follow up. What did you think when you finished Secret Speech?
Name: Guy Dunphy Date: 2009-06-01
Cant wait for the release, whilst waiting just re-read Jeff Long The Descent and started the follow up Deeper, but the strange thing is the aim is to read one more before The Doomsday Key and that is sitting by the bed.........The Secret Speech!! Small world gets smaller. Good luck with the launch.