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The Archaeologists ( Archaeologists #1)

by Christopher Lee (Goodreads Author)

3.0 of 5 stars 3.00 · rating details · 23 ratings · 17 reviews

Arriving early to dinner, two friends stumble through conversation. Part I of the series.

Paperback, 1st Edition, 40 pages

Published June 2012

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Jul 30, 2012 Elena rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-wins

I won this book from the Goodreads giveaways, which I entered into in the first place because of the title. I am a fan of archaeology and the description said something along the lines of four friends meeting. The characters are crude and a little offensive but something is going to happen, two more friends just showed up. I am intrigued. I don´t know yet if it has anything to do with archaeology or if it is more of something symbolic. I have my predictions though. Because the characters are a t...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Chris Thompson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Christopher Lee's "The Archaeologists" is the first in a series of short stories that I believe are meant to make up one longer story. I was intrigued by the opening and by the style, but turned off by the gratuitous language and bizarre sexual content. Language and sex don't usually bother me, but very few writers go to the extent that Lee does here in less than 40 pages of work. Perhaps Quentin Tarantino has him beat on language, but even movie director Kevin Smith is put to shame by the sexua...more Christopher Lee's "The Archaeologists" is the first in a series of short stories that I believe are meant to make up one longer story. I was intrigued by the opening and by the style, but turned off by the gratuitous language and bizarre sexual content. Language and sex don't usually bother me, but very few writers go to the extent that Lee does here in less than 40 pages of work. Perhaps Quentin Tarantino has him beat on language, but even movie director Kevin Smith is put to shame by the sexual content, and that's even after you include Zack and Miri Make a Porno and a choice scene with a donkey in Clerks 2. In a way I wish "The Archaeologists" wasn't a serial but that Lee had published the entire story because I may have enjoyed it more that way.

The premise is that a group of friends are about to meet up at a diner for their annual get together. Henry arrives first. He's married, a successful businessman (or so it seems), and as cynical as a word that rhymes with luck. He seems to hate the dinner, so why go? The problem is he doesn't much like John. He used to think John was something of a saint, as John once promised he would save the world. But John became an alcoholic, and his presence is more depressing than anything. John and Henry start to have conversations, and these are interrupted by John's flashbacks with a woman he was involved with. This woman is Michelle, a sweet Christian girl whose life is apparently ruined by this one-night stand. Well, ruined is an understatement. Somehow she accepts her fate, but I won't go there.

I saw promise in the idea of a dinner conversation between long-time friends. However, the conversation never really takes off, and just as it's about to, the story ends. A lot of time is spent on John's flashbacks, which are a little confusing. During his first flashback, I wasn't sure whether John was at his place or hers due to some contradictory details. Bits and pieces of the story also seemed more abstract than literal, and I wasn't really sure what to think of that. For example, at one point there is mention of a hidden pistol pointed at someone's chest, and this left me entirely confused. Lee's world seems populated by people who are so much on edge they're about ready to snap at the slightest provocation, such as boredom. I admit that seems to reflect, to a degree, the world we live in today, what with the numerous mass shootings that have happened over the past decade and a half, but the pistol reference in the story comes out of nowhere. Also, the dialogue was difficult to follow. I had troubles keeping track of the speaker, and this was made even more difficult by the use of an ellipsis as dialogue.

The style of the story intrigued me. It's set up like a play but written like a short story, in a stream-of-conscious-type style, with the narration entirely in the head of the speaker. I assume the story is commenting on the dark secrets people conceal from the rest of the world. And yes we all have secrets and we're all capable of evil, though perhaps the evil portrayed in this is a bit exaggerated. Or maybe it's wrong of me to see it as an extension of all of us. Perhaps these are just warped individuals. I don't really know. I wish the story had skipped some of the more graphic content (it might have improved from a few sections removed) and got to the point a little faster. Lee sets up a cliffhanger that implies there's much more about John than we know, but the problem is the story ends just as it's getting interesting. I find it difficult to recommend the story on the content alone, though if you're brave it's a very short read (maybe half an hour of your time) and it's currently free for the Kindle, according to Amazon. Curiosity compels me to check out volume two, though another voice inside me says no.

(I received a link to a free e-copy of Christopher Lee's story in exchange for an honest review)(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Valentina rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a deceptively easy and quick book to read. It is quite short, and it can be read under an hour, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t quite a bit of great, deep writing.
The style of writing itself was something that caught me off guard. It read more like a play in structure than a novel, which works wonderfully for this particular story, giving it an immediacy it probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Since this is the first part of a series, we don’t really get all the details about the character...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Robin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I wasn't sure what to expect from the description about four friends meeting up, but I suppose I got more than I expected. It's not a bad story, per se, but it was an odd one.

First off, let me say what I liked. There's definitely some great writing going on here, but a few things hinder it. I enjoyed the pace of the voice--it moves fast and keeps you interested-- and I enjoyed the suspense of the story, the way it was broken up. I also thought the settin...more I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I wasn't sure what to expect from the description about four friends meeting up, but I suppose I got more than I expected. It's not a bad story, per se, but it was an odd one.

First off, let me say what I liked. There's definitely some great writing going on here, but a few things hinder it. I enjoyed the pace of the voice--it moves fast and keeps you interested-- and I enjoyed the suspense of the story, the way it was broken up. I also thought the setting was a great one--four friends gathering in a diner and the tension of waiting to see what happens when they all arrive.

However, all the voices sounded almost exactly the same. Whenever a new section started I had to make sure I read who was telling the story because otherwise I wouldn't have known beyond the context of the story (granted that does tell you who is speaking, but they voices should tell you as well). Also, I'm not sure I believed, or followed, the characters completely. I understood what happened, but some of the jumps in thought and story were hard to follow and some I just didn't believe would happen based on what I'm told previously. I think it's more of not enough time for the characters to develop (so far) than the story would never happen, but it was disappointing.

As a writer, I was grabbed by the voice in the beginning, curious to see where it would take me and envious of the pace it kept me reading. But as a reader, I was lost a few times and found myself shaking my head at what was going on, wondering how the character got there and not finding the answer. If the character hadn't lost a little bit of the believability with the sudden Rhino scene I would have probably given the story 4 stars, but because I just couldn't see the character transition to that point in the story given so far, it became an Okay story rather than a really interesting one. Also there was the mention of the gun that is never fully explained.

Maybe I'm missing portions by not having the short stories that come after, but since these stories are in a book alone, they should be able to stand on their own, and they just didn't do that for me. I would, however, recommend them to a writer who wants to study how to create a fast-paced, interesting narrator. Like I said, some great writing, just a few things hold it back.

Also, definitely don't recommend to any who are offended by profanities, rhino-sex, abortion, or anti-christian statements.

It was a strange story, but interesting in the telling.(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Lourdes rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a short paperback which I read while making dinner (the food almost burned because I didn't want to put this thin book down!) The story starts with two friends who are the first to arrive for their yearly reunion (simple right?) It would then jump from the present to the past, to the future, and then back again, but it was easy for me to follow, I went from really disliking their characters to almost bawling for one of them. I didn't know that this was the first part of a series, but now...more

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Aug 08, 2012 the sound of Autumn rated it 3 of 5 stars

I won this book from First Reads, and began reading it as soon as I got it. I finished it very, very quickly. Within the same thirty-minutes-of getting-it quickly. While I liked this book, I couldn't help but feel a little confused afterwards. Still, I love the imagery and the almost poetic way that it flowed together. Plus, a change in perspective is always an interesting technique to use. So, even though I am still a wee bit confused about some of the things, I don't regret reading it.

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Jul 30, 2012 Kimberly rated it 1 of 5 stars

I didn't really know what to expect after winning "The Archaeologists" in the First Reads give-away. I think I was hoping for some kind of sweet children's story since there are only forty pages.. (Don't ask me why..) But this is definitely not a book for children.. I'm sorry I didn't finish it, but the language was much too strong for me.. I'm sorry I'll never know whether this was a good book or not.

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Sep 29, 2012 Luismarcelo24 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Written in a very, very direct style that pulls no punches, this is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Mr. Lee succeeds in taking unsavory, emotionally crippled characters and making them interesting. I was very drawn in and look forward to subsequent parts. While a quick read, there are many layers worth exploring. Definitely recommended.

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Dec 24, 2012 Lindsay rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked the writing style but i found the language and sex to be offensive. it was very crude at times and there really didn't seem to be a need for it. I am by no means a prude and don't usually mind foul language and sex but something about this short story made it offensive.....

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Aug 09, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I got this book through the first reads giveaway. I wish there were other ways to rate this book because the writing was excellent and I would have given it 4 stars for the writing but I just didn't like the story. Its gritty & brash, and even a bit weird but the writing style was perfect for the story line.

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Aug 07, 2012 Charlene rated it 2 of 5 stars

A very short story, almost a playlet on guys meeting annually to update each other on their lives. I found the characters unlikeable and needing to be fleshed out, the story was too short to create a relationship with any of the characters.

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Aug 07, 2012 Dannette rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own-it, beach-reads

I received this book free through goodreads first-reads.
This is part one of a series of short stories. I will not be reading any more of them.
This was 38 pages of WEIRD.
I will not be recommending this book to anyone.

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Jul 01, 2012 Hoosierjoe added it

Thanks for sharing.

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Sep 23, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Written as "stream of consciousness" much like the ranks of James Joyce's, Ulysses, Mr. Lee has managed to weave together short stories that are gritty and heart wrenching. The humor is dark and shocking, but an honest portrayal of adolescent life.

I hope Mr. Lee develops his characters and writing for his next installment. Well done.

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Nov 30, 2012 Karen French rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is different than any book I have ever read. The characters were unique and different. I really liked the style of writing. The only negative thing about the book was it was too short. Do not miss this book!

I receieved this book for free from Goodreads.

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Sep 22, 2012 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Shelves: authored

Embarrassing to rate your own book, yes. Trust me, it's not to boost the rating a marginal 0.05% or whatever.

Every critique, even the ones that find no value in the work, I happen to find value in; thank you to everyone who has read what I've written. As a great man once said, "We can't all be Elvis."

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Sep 16, 2012 Renee rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, first-reads

This was probably the worst book (short story) I have ever read. There was no point to it. It was boring, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

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The Archaeologists ( Archaeologists #1)

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