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Subterranean
by
James Rollins (Goodreads Author)
Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders--and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here--and those they follow did not return. Th
...morePaperback, 560 pages
Published
April 27th 2010
by HarperCollins Publishers
(first published 1999)
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Rollins delivers an action packed thriller guaranteed to make you hesitate before entering any kind cave like structure. I’m a huge Rollins fan and he always delivers a fast paced story with unexpected twists, there’s even a little romance in the mix. I find myself holding my breath during the action scenes because you never know who might die or even lose an arm or leg. Excellent story, kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommend it.
Subterranean is a solid adventure novel mixed with an archaeological mystery, somewhat similar to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Thunderhead. Parts of it are a little trite (a team member exploring the story's deep caverns has claustrophobia, of course, leading to manufactured moments of suspense that you see coming a mile away), but it's a fun read if you're willing to just go with it. Ultimately, I think the job could have been done in fewer pages; by the last 100, I was skimming here and...more
**Spoiler** Subterranean was the last of James Rollins books that I had not read and I suppose it was a so-so experience. I do love the fast-paced action/adventure that Rollins delivers but I think there was just too much going on in this story. A research team is sent to discover a new environment found underneath the bottom of the world, there they discover the unimaginable…but what they have not been told is that another research team walked through the same passages before them…and disappe...more
Two words: escapism, fun. This was James Rollins' debut book, and people have been coming back for more since then. Like Clive Cussler and Michael Crichton, he takes his readers on improbable adventures, with a smattering of real history and science to back it up.
An older scientist has amassed a group of specialists and military guards to explore a series of linked caverns two miles beneath ... Antarctica. A relic has been found, indicating a primitive culture existed long before man s...more
An older scientist has amassed a group of specialists and military guards to explore a series of linked caverns two miles beneath ... Antarctica. A relic has been found, indicating a primitive culture existed long before man s...more
Writing as James Rollins, Jim Czajkowski's first novel follows a tried and true formula much as one would expect from Clive Cussler. At times I thought I was reading a Cussler adventure :~D except that Subterranean was a bit more of a formula than even that. I certainly understand why Jim used a pen-name LOL.
The idea that, in large caverns under Antarctica, lived marsupial "dinosaurs" and humanoids and things in between is fresh. The descriptions of underground areas reminded...more
The idea that, in large caverns under Antarctica, lived marsupial "dinosaurs" and humanoids and things in between is fresh. The descriptions of underground areas reminded...more
When an 80-something year old lady brings a bunch of books into my store, many of which catch my eye or are one I've read before, and points to this book and says, "I really liked that," I'm gonna snag it.
Thank you, old lady.
Immediately, I began to draw parallels from Subterranean to Jeff Long's The Descent. However, there's not really much in common between the two. Giant underground cavern systems populated by various creatures - that's it. Long's book is Horro...more
Thank you, old lady.
Immediately, I began to draw parallels from Subterranean to Jeff Long's The Descent. However, there's not really much in common between the two. Giant underground cavern systems populated by various creatures - that's it. Long's book is Horro...more
Picked this up at the local Costco and thought it would be a good read as I had read a couple of other James Rollins books and enjoyed them. Suspense/Thrillers that take place in different parts of the world are one of my favorite genres and I was looking forward to going on an adventure in this one, but I was utterly disappointed. A good book takes me about a week to finish, which is pretty fast considering I rarely have time to sit down and read with all the other stuff that occupies my day....more
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I am not always the most intellectual reader, so oftentimes I will read a book simply for its entertainment value. This book, while certainly not the greatest, did manage to entertain, so I gave it 3 stars.
"Subterranean" is sort of a more modern approach to Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth." A group of scientists and military men discover the remains of an ancient civilization in Antarctica -- not on the surface, but under it. Certainly sounds like...more
"Subterranean" is sort of a more modern approach to Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth." A group of scientists and military men discover the remains of an ancient civilization in Antarctica -- not on the surface, but under it. Certainly sounds like...more
A group of scientists along with military might and the macho Navy SEALS add to this high adventure in the unexplored caves of Antartica. The team is there to learn about a lost civilization and explore the depths but are unaware that a team went 3 months before them only to be lost. They are now looking for the lost team and exploring. It has all the typical personalities set for an adventure, a cholosterophobic biologist, the strong-willed anthrapoligist, an adventure guide for spelunking a...more
The landscapes of Deep Fathom, Ice Hunt and Subterranean sometimes can get confusing as there are similar themes across stories - desolate landscapes, gathering of a team of people, a mystical objective. It was a bit weird that Subterranean begins on ice, but later it contributes well to the story.
Fast paced as usual, good for me as I can finish it within two days in-between taking the bus and waiting :) This is a rather straightforward story with minimal technological thingumajigs and army mov...more
Fast paced as usual, good for me as I can finish it within two days in-between taking the bus and waiting :) This is a rather straightforward story with minimal technological thingumajigs and army mov...more
A team of specialists including paleoanthropologist Ashley Carter, her son Jason, spelunker Ben Brust, evolutionary biologist Linda Furstenburg and geologist Khalid Najmon (who is not what he seems) embark on a secrecy-shrouded mission to Antarctica, where a deep subterranean labyrinth has been discovered.
There's red herrings and a romantic subplot between Ben and Ashley (as well as Khalid and Linda), and wild speculations about evolutionary pathways, marsupialism, what really killed ...more
There's red herrings and a romantic subplot between Ben and Ashley (as well as Khalid and Linda), and wild speculations about evolutionary pathways, marsupialism, what really killed ...more
What an AWESOME book! It's really quite amazing that this was James Rollins FIRST novel. I have read all but one of his "Sigma Force" novels (his most recent work) and I must say that THIS book was quite different, and utterly thrilling. The style was simpler, with fewer characters and plot threads to keep up with. The STORY though, was just bloody brilliant. Had some elements of Jurassic Park and perhaps "Journey to the Center of the Earth" even, but with a totally auth...more
Pretty good. I thought it faded a little towards the end, offering extra action in lieu of actually tying up loose ends. Read Jeff Long's "The Descent" for a much better version of an extremely similar story. That said, this was the first Rollins book I have read and I'm sure I'll now read more.
Take a tour through a labyrinth of caverns on a volcano island off the coast of Antartica. Meet deadly creatures that roam the darkness. See giant diamond deposits and other wonders. Throw in some evil guy with an agenda, An Austrailian cave explorer with aborigional blood that can do that dream time think and of course a couple women who aren't only scientists but athleticly built and pleasing to the eye (I think the playboy playmate ready scientist has been way overdone these days). Add all th...more
Wow, what did I think of this book? First let me put down what Goodreads says about it:
Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders—and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here—and those they follow did not return. There are mysteries here older th...more
Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders—and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here—and those they follow did not return. There are mysteries here older th...more
Usually with thrillers there is not much to say about the story. This book had a sci-fi twist to it that made it different from the books that I usually read. While exploring a huge underground tunnel and chamber system underneath Antarctica a group of scientists find many life forms including a human like species. I love biology so I found the fact that all the species including the human type were marsupials very interesting since that is supposed to be an evolutionary dead end. There was lots...more
I made the mistake of asking my dad for a book recommendation and he recommended this. He has pretty terrible taste in books a lot of the time. The only thing this book had going for it was a decent amount of suspense. But every thing that happened was like a chess move, and you could see the ending of the book from page one. Oh, this person has claustrophobia ... I bet she gets stuck in a tight tunnel and has to overcome her fear. Oh, this lady brought her son ... I wonder if they are going to ...more
James Rollins is a kick! I got hooked on the Sigma Force books (unabridged audio) but could not find this book in audio, so I bought the paperback. It was my in the car book (meaning I only got to read it when I was in a parking lot, out to lunch alone, or other situations where I was in the car or alone away from home.
How good was this book? In the last two weeks, I have found so many reasons to go out alone that I have gained 7 lbs just so I could finish this book.
Very ...more
How good was this book? In the last two weeks, I have found so many reasons to go out alone that I have gained 7 lbs just so I could finish this book.
Very ...more
I love a good adventure read. That is exactly what James Rollins provides in this unique action thriller novel that explores some of the hidden mysteries that lie miles beneath the Earth's surface. The author structures his book with short paragraphs and plenty of dialogue to create a lightning pace that allows the reader to dive deep into the novel without needing to come up for air. If you read this story, you will fall in love with Mr. Rollins' description of the beauty inherent within the...more
I love reading Rollins books, they are kind of like a roller coaster, lots of fun, over kind of quickly, BUT, I really don't think I would recommend them to many people. They are kind of weak, really far fetched, which can be fun, and predictable. As I wrote in some other reviews, if you are a good guy and get a chance to kill the REALLY evil guy, just do it, otherwise he (or she) will be chasing after you in the next chapter. ALWAYS! Just kill them now. Really pretty lame. The bad guy is ...more
I have liked James Rollins books in the past, but this one seemed very juvenile, silly and just not up to his usual standards. I kept thinking that this must have been targeted at a younger audience than he usually writes for. Although many of his novels deal with unusual occurances and supernatural powers, this one just seemed silly. Even the romantic interest in this novel was expressed at almost at a junior high level. If I had never read a James Rollins novel before, I would have no inte...more
Subterranean by James Rollins gave me one sleepless night, not because it was bad, but because I couldn’t stop reading no matter how close the ringing of my alarm got. This was an excellent novel about cave exploration and discovery. I am only giving it four stars because this has been done bboth before and after this book many times. There is the first team of explorers that goes missing. There is the next team chosen to investigate the caves and then told “the whole story” once it is too late ...more
Originally published in 1999, James Rollins debut novel, Subterranean, is now available in hardcover for the first time. Something has been discovered deep beneath the ice of Antarctica: a deep labyrinth that hasn’t seen the light of day in a very long time. Within are strange animals, perhaps new species unknown to science, as well as what appears to be archaeological evidence of an ancient form of hominid life. The question is whether any of this early genus are alive and possibly still liv...more
Subterranean by James Rollins
Overall rating: A wonder revamp that gave a fresh new look to a old classic
Let’s face it. Well thought out science fiction action adventure stories are had to find. They’re unrealistic and often times has no science facts to support the science fiction. Among the good ones are Prey, Timeline and other Crichton novels has been the best in that area. But it’s hard to find authors beyond that. Then lord behold, sitting by itself at a table at a yard sa...more
Overall rating: A wonder revamp that gave a fresh new look to a old classic
Let’s face it. Well thought out science fiction action adventure stories are had to find. They’re unrealistic and often times has no science facts to support the science fiction. Among the good ones are Prey, Timeline and other Crichton novels has been the best in that area. But it’s hard to find authors beyond that. Then lord behold, sitting by itself at a table at a yard sa...more
How to write a best selling thriller: Start by introducing each of your characters and summarize their life history in a single paragraph. Each person should have a stellar resume, while being young and attractive, yet totally down-to-earth. For example, a sexy 26 year-old world-renowned bioengineer who loves beer. Throw in one or two military assholes and an egotistical commander to add conflict to the story. Put your characters together in a bleak, desolate and impossible setting where eac...more
Well, this was a referral from a coworker, a tale of action and adventure with a dose of anthropology and conspiracy theory involved. This wasn't a half bad read for something that throws in everything but the kitchen sink, but it wasn't the best of books either and it may leave the reader with more than a few WTF moments. Now I could say that the story was about a plucky, headtrong female who takes her young son down to Antartica to explore a cavern that suggests a lost civilization and deep, d...more
This is the first book I have read in electronic version. It came as a free ebook with my TREO. I really liked reading in this format. (You never lose your place and you don't have to turn a page with the auto-scroll feature.)
With the book being free I wasn't sure what standard to expect on the quality of writing...that being said, I am happy to report that the book was very well written.
The story is one that keeps your attention.
The Description given by ...more
With the book being free I wasn't sure what standard to expect on the quality of writing...that being said, I am happy to report that the book was very well written.
The story is one that keeps your attention.
The Description given by ...more
The book didn't end up being quite what I thought it would be--and that's a good thing! I really enjoyed the book, but I feel it took a while to get to where the characters were going, and then once they were there, a LOT more time should have been spent there. I think much of the earlier detail could have been cut in order to allow this to happen. However, despite that, I still feel it was a great book and I enjoyed it--must have, because I finished it in two days!
This was Rollins earlier books, and thus a different ride for me. The story definitely starts out slow. There's now doubt about that. The concept was interesting, and the storyline was kind of like Indiana Jones. The theory of people actually living in the core of the earth was bizarre, but not unlike other fiction novels. You literally take a roller coaster ride along with the main characters, and of course, yes, there is a romance angle to the story.
While this was overall a good rollicking adventure with a lot of action, it went from being an exciting cave venture to something out of an Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure. I found this a strange mix with many unlikely scenarios. A cadre of explorers/scientists team together to look into interesting artifacts found in a cave system under Antarctica. Of course mystery and mayhem await.
This was a solid fast read and will lead to more of Rollins' work being perused by me in the future.
This was a solid fast read and will lead to more of Rollins' work being perused by me in the future.
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| Rollin advice | 9 | 34 | Oct 29, 2011 11:38am |
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James Rollins is a thriller writer like no other. He unveils the unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets that drive the destiny of mankind from behind the scenes. And he does it on a 200 mile an hour roller coaster ride that will leave you shattered, scared, and breathless.
James Rollins is the author of seven thrillers in the bestselling Sigma Force series (Sand
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