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Nov 14, 2011

Parvathy rated it:

This is the first James Rollins book I have read and I can safely say that after this venture there are going to be more James Rollins books in my future. Never before had I experimented with a book like this which felt like watching a full length Indiana Jones movie. Kingdom of skulls was the first Indiana Jones movie I have watched and this book does go around a similar setting. The book opens with a Dominican priest almost 500 years in the past on the run form a group of Inca warriors and hi More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 22, 2008

Brooke rated it:

James Rollins has really been filling that archaeological-action-adventure-thriller niche in my library. Although it could be ridiculously melodramatic in places, Excavation was even better than his first book, Subterranean. It spent less time setting things up and practically plunged right into the action and mystery right away. It also rolled along at a brisker pace - I didn't have the need to skim like I did with Subterranean.

Rollins is a fun author; his books aren't high literat More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 15, 2011

CD rated it:

If you like glue-your-eyes-to-the-page adventure stories, Excavation, a James Rollins rip-roaring tale of Incas, archaeologists, and modern Spanish Inquisitors, should be right up your alley. Unfortunately, this Cussleresque steamroller of a plot suffers from an also Cussleresque gallery of characters with all the depth of cardboard cutouts, speaking a universal brand of bland dialogue perhaps best described as television news anchorese. Yes, we do get a bit of diversity when Irish student Maggi More...

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Sep 29, 2011

Novità Narrativa rated it:

Il professor Henry Conklin ha atteso questo momento per tutta la vita. Nel corso di alcuni scavi archeologici sulle Ande peruviane, ha portato alla luce una mummia perfettamente conservata, che potrebbe finalmente confermare la sua rivoluzionaria teoria: l'esistenza di un'avanzata civiltà indigena precedente agli inca. Dopo aver lasciato la direzione dei lavori al nipote Sam, Conklin torna subito negli Stati Uniti per effettuare le analisi di laboratorio, che tuttavia danno risultati sorprendent More...

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Jul 23, 2011

David rated it:

I normally quite like James Rollins' novels, but this one? Not so much.

Although it is in his usual pseudo sci-fi style of writing which I have no problem with, I don't know whether the reason I wasn't really that sold on this one is due to the rather ridiculous (even for him) plot devices used, that fact that it's not one of his Sigma Force novels (best described as scientists with guns) and so lacks that over-reaching plot strands that connects all those novels, or (more likely) th More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 28, 2011

Ernie rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jan 30, 2008

Rubina rated it:

After "The De Vinci Code" - this was one book that I really could not put down - I was actually running with the characters!!! By the last chapter I "was feeling" a little let down - for it was sounding so unreal - BUT by the time I was reading the last three pages - I was completely floored for it really made sense to me - one of the best reads in a long long time!!!

I love James Rollins and I am going to make sure I have all his books!!! :D

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 05, 2011

Neeke rated it:

Exotic Location: Check
Incan tomb: Check
Boobytraps: check
Huge treasure + golden idol: check
Creapy crawlers: check
Hat always on main character's head: check
workers turning against archaeologists: check
evil organisation: check
Short Round (cleverly disguised as Denal): check
Mystical powers: check
Objects get destroyed/lost: check
Indiana Jones: chec... ...wait... Indiana isn't involved?!?

This book obviously shares *some* similarities wit More...

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Aug 23, 2011

Debra rated it:

Excavation is another great, fast-paced adventure by James Rollins. I only gave it three stars because throughout the story there is subtle and sometimes not so subtle jabbing at belief in God. He also uses the precious name of my savior repeatedly as a curse word. He's going to regret that forever.
The story is full of Inca history and modern research, wrapping together a theme of fantastic archeological discovery in an Indiana Jones setting with danger, escape and nanotechnology. Whew! Wh More...

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Feb 19, 2011

Brian rated it:

I'm beginning to love James Rollins. He merges the Adventure antics of Clive Cussler (minus the bromance) and the contemporary Sci-Fi Horror found in the best novels by Michael Crichton. I loved his book Subterranean and I enjoyed this book even more. Don't get me wrong - you have to suspend belief a good deal and roll with the popcorn, but it's just a fun and exciting tale. I've been eying Deep Fathom and after this, I'm definitely going to check it out.

While a bit more epic in sc More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 25, 2011

Riju rated it:

James Rollins is one author whose laundry list might also become a best-seller (if he pursues it), and the reasons were pretty obvious to readers like us who had read him when he were only marking his presence. This novel was a "winner" right from the first page, and when it finally concluded (with sufficient hints that may be elongated into a sequel at a later phase) like many other readers I had also realised that I had been holding my breath for some time. It is a very good read (Ro More...

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Mar 31, 2011

Ashish rated it:

"Excavation" was my very first James Rollins read. The way he describes the merger of archeology and religious faith really got me interested in his style of writing. I must say that his treatment of the sensitivities of merging scientific thought with religious faith is excellent. His plots and sub-plots are extremely well woven together and he paces the book well. His characters are well thought out and rarely contradict their established behavioral patterns. All of this is based on More...

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May 02, 2011

✿ Deni rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Feb 03, 2012

Kathy rated it:

Goodreads advises:

High in the Andes, Dr. Henry Conklin discovers a 500-year-old mummy that should not be there. While deep in the South American jungle, Conklin's nephew, Sam, stumbles upon a remarkable site nestled between two towering peaks, a place hidden from human eyes for thousands of years. Ingenious traps have been laid to ensnare the careless and unsuspecting, and wealth beyond imagining could be the reward for those with the courage to face the terrible unknown. But where th More...

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Feb 12, 2008

Nancy rated it:

If you like adventure stories with a few supernatural/outer-spacey elements thrown in, you're really going to like this book. When I started the book, for some reason the theme to Indiana Jones started floating in my head.

A group of archaeologists are excavating a newly-found site in Peru under the guidance of their mentor, Dr. Henry Conklin. Conklin is not at the site, but back in the US where he is overseeing the delivery and analyses of a mummy from Peru which he hopes will bolste More...

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Jun 18, 2011

David rated it:

This is my first James Rollins read, and if it is representative of his other stuff, it will be my last; I kept at it, thinking it couldn't get any worse...but it did. Imagine a rejected screenplay for an Indiana Jones wannabe movie, and you've got this dreadful book.

There are caves full of tarantulas, bats, and flesh-eating zombies, all marshalled against the most cliched cast of characters you'll ever encounter. Excavation should come with a "reader beware" disclaimer on More...

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Aug 07, 2011

Ryan rated it:

This was my introduction to James Rollins. I wanted to read the Sigma Force novels I keep hearing so much about and picked this up at a used book store mistakenly thinking it was part of that series. But Rollins has captured my interest and I will continue reading his novels! Equal parts Cussler, Crichton, and Preston/Child, the action and plotting of this novel was good. Characters were a bit too one-dimensional and the ending did not quite reach the heights I was expecting from the fast-paced More...

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Oct 06, 2011

Bandit rated it:

I thought I'd give an adventure genre a go. I love adventure movies and throughout this whole book I kept thinking how much better and more entertaining it would have been as a movie. In fact it is written IMO. There is tons of action and enough cardboard characters for a prop store. Seriously, a Texan who never (we are reminded of this constantly ) parts with his Stetson hat, a homophobic jock, a smart alec gay guy, a professor so noble it borders on the absurd <spoiler>in what world do y More...

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Oct 16, 2009

Joseph rated it:

The ending was extremely disappointing. If there had been a plausible scientific explanation at the end of the book, I would've given it 4 stars. But, in the last chapter, it seemed like Rollins was out of ideas and fell back on a lame, cop-out ending (it was all the aliens!!!). DUH? What the . . .? It made me SO mad that I had wasted all the time reading the book. I wish I could say it was worthwhile. I definitely do *not* recommend. There are far better adventures out there.

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Nov 08, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

Rollins is H.R. Haggard gone high-tech. It's pulpy fantastic fun, albino tarantuals, abominable snowmen of the Andes, Incan god-kings and all. Predictable? Sure. Far-out? Absolutely. But rip-roaring good fun. My only quibble (and it's minor) is that Rollins just can't leave the Catholic Church alone as a source for his villains. I'm not strictly opposed, but, dude, can't we mix it up every once in a while? Apparently, Rollins just doesn't find Protestants very intimidating.

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Jan 03, 2009

Noreen rated it:

Found a new author. If you love ancient history, mixed with mystery, action and romance, you will love this guy. Set in the Andean Mountains in Peru in an archeology dig the novel takes off fast and keeps up the pace. A mystery is discovered involving the ancient Incans and a miraculous substance that the last of the Spanish inquisitors are still after,even after 500 years. A great read. I have several more of his on my shelf to read. I love used bookstores.

1 comment like

Aug 21, 2010

Shinju rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Aug 29, 2011

Darth rated it:

Terrific adventure novel. I'd love to share my thoughts about the plot, but even hints would be huge spoilers. I'll just say that the story is connected with the ancient Inca mysteries and the Holy Inquisition, but in modern times - and everything is connected to a mysterious metal, known as the blood of the devil. Great characters support the interesting plot and the breathtaking action. Highly recommended.

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Aug 21, 2009

Wendy rated it:

The thing I like most about Rollins is his ability to link ancient history to modern day science in ways I could never think of. He does it again here in Excavation.
This is one of his earlier books and it wasn't quite as good as his Sigma Force series. I had a hard time getting past the city of killer albino creatures but I was hooked enough to finish the book.

A good read for those who crave an Indiana Jones style adventure.

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Apr 19, 2010

Michael rated it:

I've read a few James Rollins' and enjoyed them all. My only criticism is the violence in them is a little too graphic for my liking. This book was just over the top. 900 year old Incas alive and well and living in a quiescent caldera, albino flesh-eating humanoids living in an underground, and lightless, city (and that's without explanations of who they eat when there are no lost and disoriented archaeologists passing through) and to top all that a monastery of evil gun-toting monks who are sti More...

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Jun 18, 2011

Aiga rated it:

Now the thng I like about James Rollins is he actually takes the time to research all of the information he writes about. He tells us what is true in what he writes in his novels and he tries very hard to keep it as realistic as possible. Seeing as he does this it makes me feel as though I'm right there myself fighting in the jungle, but as usual no disappointment from me, 'Excavation' loved it(:

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Aug 26, 2009

Danna rated it:

Book 3 of 3, Vegas Vacation '09: Definitely the best of the three, and hilarious to discover that I've read this before and didn't recognize it when I picked it up at the Vegas airport for the journey home. In the right hands, it could make a fine Sci-Fi Channel Original Movie, ideal for having on in the background while folding laundry and puttering in the kitchen on a Saturday afternoon.

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Nov 20, 2011

Carisa rated it:

This one was a little slow getting into it but it didn't disappoint in the end. Once again James Rollins comes out with very creative and original fictional discoveries and characters...a strange substance that has mystical properties that are somehow based on science...or are they really? Interesting concept. Just slow in the beginning which made it hard for me to rush through the first half of the book like I normally would. Halfway through the action finally got going. The build up was worth More...

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Apr 21, 2009

Deborah rated it:

This book was intense! I felt like I was one of the archaeologists on site experiencing every detail. I even had nightmares from some of the ghoulish writing! I highly recommend this non stop thriller, that kept me on the edge of my seat. The lack of chapter writing bothered me at first but not for long, since the book was full of exciting happenings!

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Dec 21, 2010

Charleen rated it:

This was a really entertaining story. Very similar to his previous novel, Subterranean, and for a while I didn't like this one as much since I'd read the other first. However, taken on its own, it is a really good book, if you enjoy an adventure novel with a touch of the fantastic. I especially liked what the epilogue added to the story.

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