Randy Foster's Blog - Posts Tagged "survival"

The Valley by Rick Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


You don't have to have a mullet to enjoy this book, but it helps.

Before you read this review, do this: Imagine a world in which Jurassic Park never existed. The book was never written, the movie was never made. Now Imagine that The Hunger Games was never written, never made into a movie. If those things had never happened, this book might be one of the most amazing novels you've ever read … well except for a few other issues. So let's get to it.

I had never read Rick Jones before, but after a google session I learned that he has previously written several action adventure series with the best known probably being The Vatican Knights. So it makes sense that he can weave such an entertaining, fast-paced tale. I don't know the guy personally, but his author photo is reminiscent of MacGyver and he just looks like someone who would write this totally awesome book. You don't have to have a mullet to read this book, but it helps.

The Valley is a combination of Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games. There is a 40-square-mile piece of land, called the valley, in which have been placed all manor of dinosaurs, both carnivores and herbivores. The carnivores are for real, and they don't mess around when it comes to eating people. Prisoners are selected and given the option of serving out their remaining sentences (in some cases death) or attempting to make it from one side of the valley to the other where the gates of freedom await (literally called The Gates of Freedom in the book). The world watches on television as The Valley is broadcast globally and all the technicolor deaths and gore have, of course, skyrocketed the reality show to the top of the ratings.

I know what you are thinking -- it's a rip off! Well, maybe, but it is a really good rip off. The action moves very fast, but logically. Jones developed his characters adequately, but in other aspects the book seemed a little rushed. First, the book is short, only 165 pages. Had it not been so interesting this might not have mattered, but it just felt like Jones left a lot of meat on the bone, so to speak. The action was so much fun, and I just know there could have been a lot more of it. But, it ended too soon in my opinion. Also, I caught a few grammatical errors and one error in the actual plotline that, though small in the grand scheme, was obviously impossible. I would describe it here but as I say it was just a small detail that Jones could have easily fixed (by deleting the sentence altogether) and I don't like having to post spoiler warnings. So, you will either see it and it will bug you too, or you won't and you will stay happy. I hope you fall into the latter category.

Had it not been for the length, the errors mentioned above, and the fact that it is so much like Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games, I really think this book could have been 5-stars. It was that enjoyable. I went in thinking I would be lucky if it was a 3-star read, but was pleasantly surprised and entertained and it was clear it would be higher than 3 early on in the story. I just feel like it had the potential to be so much better, and I couldn't help thinking Jones may have rushed it a little.

Even with these reservations, I am giving this one 4 stars. It is just THAT good outside of the problems above. Makes me a little sad writing that because this book could have been so much more. Still, I can recommend it to fans of adventure, sci fi, and dinosaurs!

4 out of 5 stars




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