Amazonia

Apr 20, 2012 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-to-read

With the intrigue,mystery and it's huge landscape of uncharted territory of the Amazon, Rollins takes you on a fun adventure. With a good explanation's on the plant life, their different uses for healing by the natives, to all of the different critters that can be deadly, to the irratating insects...it's not a place I would like to spend a night in. Add in the search for a "miracle" drug, a hugh pharmaceutical company that will stop at nothing to be the first to get their hands on it, the action...more

like 4 likes · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Bettie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: brazil, adventure, spring-2013, tbr-busting-2013, testost-tosh, published-2002, fraudio

mp3

Narrated by George Guidall. Duration: 15:06:35

(view spoiler)...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 26, 2013 James Lyon rated it 2 of 5 stars

A great thriller for a long transatlantic airplane ride. However, it became at first too predictable and formulaic, and then just too far outside the realm of reality to retain any form of plausibility. The ending where -- in James Bond fashion -- everything gets blown up, was a bit too cliche. There were also too many well-telegraphed cliches that were apparent 50 pages ahead of time. In other words, for a thriller, there were few surprises, just a lot of chases and gun-play. But then again, I...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Terry Barker rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is pure adventure--it starts out with a man walking out of the Brazilian jungle in a delirium and dying soon after. There are two things puzzling about this: a strange tattoo covers his chest and he has two arms. The tattoo is from a tribe that no one knows anything about, except for strange rumors, and one of his arms has regrown. He entered the jungle with one arm.

This obviously creates a lot of interest, and multiple expeditions are quickly launched, one by a drug manufacturer and o...more

like · see review

Aug 22, 2012 Bogdan rated it 4 of 5 stars

роман, написанный роллинсом еще до цикла «сигма», не отличается особым разнообразием построения сюжета, используя те же формулы и фрагментаризацию действия, одновременно разворачивающегося в нескольких направлениях. можно пронаблюдать одни и те же типажи, появившиеся у него в начале писательской карьеры и развившиеся затем в последующих произведениях в типовые структуры, работающие, как заведенные, на благо одного и того же дела. все – то же, разве что нет такого разброса мест действия, как в «с...more роман, написанный роллинсом еще до цикла «сигма», не отличается особым разнообразием построения сюжета, используя те же формулы и фрагментаризацию действия, одновременно разворачивающегося в нескольких направлениях. можно пронаблюдать одни и те же типажи, появившиеся у него в начале писательской карьеры и развившиеся затем в последующих произведениях в типовые структуры, работающие, как заведенные, на благо одного и того же дела. все – то же, разве что нет такого разброса мест действия, как в «сигме»: все проистекает в одном регионе.

нельзя сказать, что «ранний роллинс» лучше себя «позднего»: в чем автора можно уважать и что в нем приветствовать – это постоянство, и сюжетной насыщенности, и динамичности действия, и стилистической безыскусности, даже можно сказать примитивизма, и экологической сознательности. все романы без исключения пронизаны предчувствием (если не предвосхищением и предвкушением) экологической катастрофы, причем – что также всегда у него присутствует – в этой катастрофичности есть ощущение амбивалентности: то ли от облегчения, что весь этот человеческий мусор прочистит до основания, то ли от ужаса при столкновении с силами, рядом с которыми человеческая ничтожность проявляется особо выразительно.

густой, как тропический воздух, сюжет, завязывается в момент, когда на территорию одной из отдаленных католических миссий в амазонии из джунглей выходит полумертвый человек, с явно чуждой ему индианской татуировкой на груди, отрезанным языком и многочисленными опухолями от стремительно развивающегося рака чуть ли не всего организма. не успевает он объявиться, как умирает на руках у священника, вызывая тем самым ужас в местном населении: его приход – это проклятие. умерший оказывается пропавшим четыре года назад без вести солдатом, одним из сопровождающих научную экспедицию. все бы ничего – выжил ну и выжил. но вот как случилось так, что у него регенерировалась до этого потерянная рука? и почему, шарахаясь от него, индейцы между собой перешептываются, повторяя «бан-али», ягуары крови? и что с его телом, доставленным в америку для исследования, в котором аномалий – выше крыши?

в срочном порядке формируется еще одна экспедиция по следам вышедшего из джунглей, пока еще не начался сезон дождей. не успевает она отправиться в дорогу, как оказывается, что вместе с телом, привезенным в америку, доставили и груз куда более страшный: вирус прионного происхождения (детальнее – только через текст романа), убивающий в ста процентах случаев. начинается гонка на выживание: найти след пропавшей экспедиции и лекарство, иначе из джунглей возвращаться будет некуда.

в общем, данной завязки достаточно для того, чтобы завертеть уймищу чудес и кошмаров амазонских лесов, ввертеть в это массив научного знания из ботаники, генетики, вирусологии, этнологии и разбавить отборными типажами вроде беглого французского нечистого на руку фальшивого доктора, благородных ученых, преданных индейцев-проводников – и одного индейского чудовища по имени тшуи – эквадорской дикарки-мастерицы в пыточном деле и поклонницы старого искусства высушивания голов, предпочитающей шастать по джунглям в голом виде..

то есть – богатейший коктейль, приятный для чтения)
(less)

like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Jeremy marked it as to-read

The Rand scientific expedition entered the lush wilderness of the Amazon and never returned. Years later, one of its members has stumbled out of the world's most inhospitable rainforest--a former Special Forces soldier, scarred, mutilated, terrified, and mere hours from death, who went in with one arm missing . . . and came out with both intact.

Unable to comprehend this inexplicable event, the government sends Nathan Rand into this impenetrable secret world of undreamed-of perils, to follow th

...more

The Rand scientific expedition entered the lush wilderness of the Amazon and never returned. Years later, one of its members has stumbled out of the world's most inhospitable rainforest--a former Special Forces soldier, scarred, mutilated, terrified, and mere hours from death, who went in with one arm missing . . . and came out with both intact.

Unable to comprehend this inexplicable event, the government sends Nathan Rand into this impenetrable secret world of undreamed-of perils, to follow the trail of his vanished father . . . toward mysteries that must be solved at any cost. But the nightmare that is awaiting Nate and his team of scientists and seasoned U.S. Rangers dwarfs any danger they anticipated . . . an ancient, unspoken terror--a power beyond human imagining--that can forever alter the world beyond the dark, lethal confines of . . .

From Publishers Weekly

The use of mass market originals as a farm team for hardcovers has lost popularity, but still works occasionally, as with Rollins, whose three mass markets (Deep Fathom, Excavation and Subterranean) displayed a flair for brawny adventure within an exotic locale a flair put to good use in his hardcover debut. A U.S. Special Forces agent walks out of the Amazon jungle and quickly dies of rampant tumors; what's especially bizarre is that this man has two arms, but when he entered the jungle five years before as part of a biopharmaceutical exploratory expedition, which has been lost track of, he had only one. The rest of the novel follows a group of scientists and U.S. military guardians as they trek deep into the jungle in search of the missing expedition and, hopefully, the secret to the regrown arm a secret that takes on vast importance when the dead agent's body, shipped to the States, spreads a disease that threatens to wipe out the American population. Meanwhile, a second, predatory expedition, led by a French psychopath, surreptitiously follows the first, aiming to steal whatever cure the searchers uncover; both expeditions wind up at the isolated home of a legendary tribe and the malignant, giant tree that sustains it. Rollins won't win awards for his prose or characters, though both function smoothly in this boldly drawn entertainment, and there's little here that isn't a variation of some classic adventure trope. His pacing is forceful, however, and his atmospherics rich, with giant caimans and jaguars, mutant amphibians and hungry locusts adding to the mayhem, a high body count and a congenial sense of the ridiculous although Rollins plays it deadpan. This is old-fashioned, rugged adventure in the tradition of Haggard and Crichton, told with energy, excitement and a sense of fun. (Mar.)Forecast: National print ads and California regional author appearances will win Rollins some fans, but the simultaneous release of 12-copy prepacks of his three mass markets manifest this novel's likely fate: respectable hardcover, bestselling paperback.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Gripping...a first-rate nail biter." --Tampa Tribune

This is old-fashioned, rugged adventure in the tradition of Haggard and Crichton, told with energy, excitement and a sense of fun. -- Publishers Weekly

(less)

like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Jason Gusman rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this on a referral from a friend. He had bought 4 paperback Rollins books and enjoyed them all. After sending me the books they sat on my shelf for over two years before I finally picked this one up. Rollins style is distinct. He writes about outdoor adventures with a twist of history and an explorer, scientist, archeologist, etc. being the main character. Amazonia grabs the reader right off the bat! We are put into a setting of horror as mysticism and curses seem to leave a trail of deat...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jan 17, 2011 Sarah Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars

James Rollins is one of the best adventure writers working today, and this early example of his work is typical of his writing and is a great escape. With his usual blend of adventure, science, politics, culture, myths and a little "what if" and romance added in, Amazonia is another exciting roller coaster ride of suspense. If you need sleep, don't start one of his books, as it's very hard to put them down once started.
A science/military team is going deep into the rainforest of Brazil, followi...more

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 15, 2010 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Vet-turned-environmental-thriller author James Rollins is a personal favorite. I've always been facinated by the Amazon and other rain forests of the world, and what's happening with deforestation really makes me mad. I love the scientific and medical aspects of this story - not too technical for the uninitiated reader, but deep enough for us research geeks! He strikes a delicate balance between techno-speak and plain ol' English that's refreshing. (I struggle w/Tom Clancy - have to read each of...more

like · see review

Oct 29, 2010 Keri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-read, james-rollins, suspense-horror, reviewed

This was one of the first books that I ever read in this genre. Up until this point it had only been romance, but my husband talked me into reading it. I am so glad I did. It was scary and wonderful all at the same time. An ex-soldier turned mercenary goes into the Amazonian jungle with one arm. When he comes out he has two arms, but his mind has been altered. A team is sent into to figure out what happened. Once they discover the truth, will they be able to make it out alive? Very good!!

like 3 likes · see review

Aug 02, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I bought this book because the author has a reputation for weaving geography into his writing, and being a geographer myself, I wanted to see how well geographic themes worked.

If you are familiar with Clive Cussler, then these novels will resonate. Nathan Rand is this novel's "Dirk Pitt," an intrepid scientist who sets out on an expedition to discover how a former soldier makes it out of the Amazon covered up in cancer yet, miraculously, has regrown a limb. Said soldier was the sole survivor of...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thrillers, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've read some of the reviews of this book, and I have to say that I really don't think that they (well, some of them) have been fair.

If you're looking to read classical literature, read classical literature. If you're looking to read great and wondrous plays, allow me to recommend Shakespeare, Aristophanes, or Moliere. If you're looking for romance galore, perhaps Danielle Steele or the Harlequin Classics are more to your liking. However, if you want to read an edge of your seat, page turning t...more I've read some of the reviews of this book, and I have to say that I really don't think that they (well, some of them) have been fair.

If you're looking to read classical literature, read classical literature. If you're looking to read great and wondrous plays, allow me to recommend Shakespeare, Aristophanes, or Moliere. If you're looking for romance galore, perhaps Danielle Steele or the Harlequin Classics are more to your liking. However, if you want to read an edge of your seat, page turning thriller (and learn something about the actual area and tribal people), then read this novel. I finished it in 2 1/2 days, so it's not a complicated read, but it's a good one!

I truly enjoyed this novel, and I can't think of a moment where I sat here thinking, "Geez, when is this going to get moving?" or "Hmmmmmm...how exquisitely formulaic." Sure, there are a few things that are a bit beyond the reaches of reality, but you know what? It's a work of fiction, and it's a thriller!

I felt that the main characters were developed as thoroughly as was necessary, and I felt the plot moved along at a good pace. I especially liked what I perceived to be an unspoken commentary on the use of military vs. experts in a field; sometimes we, as a modern society, are so quick to rely on weapons and war no matter what, when really what we need to do is listen to the voices of the people who have expertise in a particular field. Don't get me wrong: there is a time and place for the military, and I respect them tremendously; however, sometimes we become so pompous in our beliefs that we believe our strength and might in one area leads to expertise in all areas, and it doesn't. I think this is shown in the number of military who are lost in the novel while the experts remain, and also, in the deaths of Favre and his mistress, both of whom seem to believe they are invincible. Sometimes we just need to do as Nate says several times in the book, and just, "Hush," and explore other paths that we aren't quick to consider in our modern world.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Rollins' novels.(less)

like · see review

Sep 23, 2012 Leah Kautz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, favorites, guilty-pleasures, read-in-2012, stayed-up-all-night-reading

I read through this one in a day! The mix of science, religion, mythology and adventure was perfect in this book, and written in a way that made sense without feeling like it was written for a child. The setting was built in a way that made you feel like you were traipsing through the Amazon with them, with great foreshadowing that made me feel like a musical score was about to start up in my head any second.

One thing that I found disappointing though was that this story has SOOO many similariti...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 08, 2012 Anthony Bopp rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: so-bad-i-shouldn-t-have-finished

The characters in this book serve exactly the same function as the keyboard used to write the story: mechanical objects that allow the plot to progress from one point to the next. They lurch clumsily along, accepting the ludicrous and doubting the obvious in weak attempts to generate a false sense of action and suspense. A man goes into the jungle with one arm and comes out with two? Let's waste no time questioning the identity of the individual or the means used to identify him. That would dela...more

like 3 likes · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Michelle♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Can I give it 2.5 stars?

I know that this is an earlier version of Rollins' writing and I knew that going into it. But still, I expected more...

There was so much going on in this book, yet it took forever to get anywhere and then the ending just wrapped it up in a pretty bow.

I was intrigued to find out what happened and then when I did find out, I was disappointed.

***SPOILERS***
Some whacked out tree from the prehistoric times still thrived, enslaved people, animals, and plants to its sweet healin...more Can I give it 2.5 stars?

I know that this is an earlier version of Rollins' writing and I knew that going into it. But still, I expected more...

There was so much going on in this book, yet it took forever to get anywhere and then the ending just wrapped it up in a pretty bow.

I was intrigued to find out what happened and then when I did find out, I was disappointed.

***SPOILERS***
Some whacked out tree from the prehistoric times still thrived, enslaved people, animals, and plants to its sweet healing nectar, and it made a big hupla of devastating deaths all around.

I was truly sad when Manny died. I liked how Rollins kept Tor-Tor alive though. I grew attached to that cat.
***End Spoilers!!***

There were a LOT of characters in this book. And I feel like some of them were not given the credit that they deserved. It took 300 pages for them to even get there and then the last chapter wrapped everything up in THREE PAGES! The epilogue drove me nuts!!! (Pun intended.)

I don't know. Not my favorite of Rollins, and the only reason I snatched it from the library was because it was one of his early pieces and people were raving about how his newer books are no where near as good as his first ones. I'm going to disagree on that one. I love the Sigma Force novels. I feel more attached to ALL of the characters no matter how small of a role they have. This was a beast of a book too. Like I said so much time was taken to just get there and then when they did the description of this huge white barked tree was not as vivid as all the travesties they have to go through. I wanted to know more about the people who lived there, how they practiced normal daily activities, more about this mysterious sap, it cure all for all diseases. I wanted to know more about what happened to Gerald Clark, and Nate's dad. Why weren't we allowed to read more from his journal?? And how the hell did solar panels get on that roof of that log cabin?? And we never found out the "true" meaning of that blue hand print! I already knew who the traitor was well before the whole explosion. I was sick of hearing about caimans and I really wanted Tshui to die more violently. Is that bad of me? And that tree was just f-ed up scary. No thank you. Do not go to this place in the Amazon. Leave it alone people!!!(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Mya rated it 4 of 5 stars

I reeally should have given this book four stars. It was action packed, the science was wicked- I mean a man walks into the Amazon with only one arm and walks out with two!- The main character was only slightly less interesting than one main character, who keeps a pet jaguar, so that is understandable. The villain and his mistress were certainly evil as sin and the pacing of the book, left no valleys of boredom for me. The basic premise being that the Amazon holds secrets (giant locusts, mutated...more

like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Tyjno rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fiction

Тази книга е еквивалент на любовните романи, само че за мъже - чист екшън, написан като сценарий, елементарен и примитивен. Още от описанието на героя можеш да си направиш извода дали е добър или лош - ако очите му например са студени, значи гарантирано е зъл и ще умре.

Ролинс нарушава едно основно правило - той не показва, той казва. Цялата книга звучи като телеграма, писана от Жан-Клод Ван Дам. Плюс е, че се чете бързо, тъй като е съставена основно от не особено оригинални диалози между героит...more

like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Carisa Burns rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Wow! I wish I had found this author sooner. I love sci fi thriller movies and have been searching for an author who can give me that same fast paced, interesting action and drama that I feel when watching a movie but everyone has fell short until now. James Rollins has this amazing way of describing action without having the story lose pace and his reveal of the sci-fi creatures and mysteries of the jungle did not dissapoint. It was so creative and not something I would have expected or been abl...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2011 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries-suspense-thrillers

This book was action-packed. Completely plot driven, this book was a ride through the jungle of the Amazon basin, a race to find a cure for a disease originating from the same jungle. The mystery starts out with a man, presumed dead in an expedition four years ago, stumbling out of the jungle with two arms when he only went in with one. And the man has rampant cancerous tumors, and his corpse is spreading a fatal disease. Events unfold and another expedition goes into the jungle - this one to se...more

like · see review

Jul 14, 2008 Julie Adams rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one. Read any of his other books instead.

This book is all formula and no substance! From the third page, I knew who would die and who would make it. Some of the characters (Louis Favre, Jessie - daughter of one of the Army Rangers) are so poorly developed that I found myself unable to care about them one way or the other.

A real disappointment.

like 1 like · see review

May 10, 2009 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

like 1 like · see review

Jul 25, 2009 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-fiction, contemporary-fiction

I need Elizabeth to tell me if Nathan Rand is one of the characters in our Rollins series. This is one of his earlier books. Wow, oh wow! Non-stop action, from the first scene with an anaconda trying to snatch a child from the banks of the Amazon River to a last explosion of prehistoric rainforest. I love the idea of unknown treasures in the jungle that can cure or kill. The medical conspiracy kept me on the edge of my seat, and Rollins creates some of the creepiest bad guys around, including th...more

like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read this on my trip to Oregon this past weekend... could hardly put it down (although I did so I could have fun with my family!) A few parts felt a little bit predictable, and a few parts the science was just a tiny bit over my head...not enough to be troublesome or interrupt the story, but just a bit beyond my feeling like I totally got it. I'd never heard of prions and such before... And one warning or caution... there are some bad guys in this book that are some of the worst bad guys I've ev...more

like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK, I tried not to like this guy's writing in Blood Gospel, and I tried for the first 30 pages of this book, but I have to admit, he writes a damn good thriller, with a bit of Sci Fi and maybe fantasy thrown in.

This book has everything, the Amazon, archeologists and anthropologists, mutant animals, evil mercenaries, a world wide airborne plague, sex, friendly jaguar, and evil corporations. You can't put it down, you will be breathless. I liked the characters albeit the bad guys seemed a bit ster...more

like · see review

Nov 15, 2007 Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure

I borrowed this book from my brother Rick. After looking at the inside cover picture I think it may be scary!

Not as good as the author's other books. At least the story moved quickly.

like 1 like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Riju Ganguly rated it 4 of 5 stars

An awesome read combining all the elements that make a James Rollins roller-coaster "tick", namely: exotic locales, an emotional story at the centre, terrifying and tantalising secrets being hinted at from the corners of the eyes, colourful villains, natives under siege and reverse, exotic flora & fauna, and super-fast pace. Yes, the expression "suspension of disbelief" assumes whole new meaning in these works, but since you go through the pages often suspending the process of breath itself...more

like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 S rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a great read. This book has it all … love, sex, the supernatural, family relationships and even a worldwide medical dilemma. James Rollins has a unique way of grabbing his reader at the first of his book and taking them on a wild ride throughout the story line and this book was no exception. Rollins always has a bevy of characters that are intriguing, with some being good and always some bad, and intertwines them in a distinctive way. Was the book realistic? Absolutely not. But I don’t read...more

like · see review

Sep 01, 2010 Giuseppe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure

Non è fantascienza pura e non è speculative fiction pura. Ma è un romanzo di avventura costruito su ipotesi scientifiche di finzione che specula molto su cosa potrebbe succedere se -improvvisamente- un piccolo gruppo umano isolato superasse lo stadio dell'homo sapiens per diventare "altro".

Non contiene le solite esagerazioni dei romanzi di Rollins (che tendono, ogni tanto, a mettere a dura prova la sospensione dell'incredulità) e questo è un bene.

E', poi, un romanzo che attraverso il racconto i...more

like · see review

May 01, 2007 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

James Rollins is in the tradition of adventure writers like H. Ridder Haggard. This is an excellent adventure in an exotic locale. The story is fast paced.

like 1 like · see review

May 08, 2013 Marika Charalambous rated it 5 of 5 stars

If I didn't know in advance that this is an earlier book by James Rollins, I wouldn't have believed it. I found it just as gripping, exciting and full of suspense as all his other novels, including his Delta Force series.

Just the perfect touch of mystery, character development and hair raising tension to keep you turn the pages fast to see what comes next. Amazonia is a strange world populated by mysterious and exotic animals and plants every step of the way. If you ever wanted to be in the Amaz...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Amazonia
avg rating	preview: Amazonia Goodreads rating: 4.07 (9143 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/294047.Amazonia?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347738838l/294047.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/294047.Amazonia?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Amazonia by James Rollins[/url]

Amazonia

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (27)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About James Rollins

Books by James Rollins

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Amazonia