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The Experiments #1
The Iso-Stasis Experiment
They thought it was an experiment. They thought wrong.
In a remote complex far from civilization, eight people joined what they thought to be a mental endurance project. Unknowingly, these eight people become mere pawns in a millionaire’s game of chance.
Locked away for seven months, they will have no contact with the outside world. They must rely on the resources left with them. They must rely on their will and strength if they are to survive the experiment and the elements thrown their way. Some of the elements are far from natural.
Pushed to the extreme limits, the eight participant are no longer as humans but rather objects observed through a camera’s eye. Broken physically and mentally, they face odds unparallel to any nightmare.
And it isn’t what they are told when they joined the experiment, it is what they learn once there . . . eight people walk in, only one will emerge.
Welcome to the Iso-Stasis Experiment. The rules are simple . . . there are none.
In a remote complex far from civilization, eight people joined what they thought to be a mental endurance project. Unknowingly, these eight people become mere pawns in a millionaire’s game of chance.
Locked away for seven months, they will have no contact with the outside world. They must rely on the resources left with them. They must rely on their will and strength if they are to survive the experiment and the elements thrown their way. Some of the elements are far from natural.
Pushed to the extreme limits, the eight participant are no longer as humans but rather objects observed through a camera’s eye. Broken physically and mentally, they face odds unparallel to any nightmare.
And it isn’t what they are told when they joined the experiment, it is what they learn once there . . . eight people walk in, only one will emerge.
Welcome to the Iso-Stasis Experiment. The rules are simple . . . there are none.
- GenresHorrorScience Fiction
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2011
42 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 23, 2014
The Iso-Stasis Experiment is the first book I have read by this author, who seems to be a prolific author in the horror/post-apocalyptic/end-of-days genre. This book, despite its uneven storytelling and pacing, and some sloppy writing/editing, was a good, entertaining read. I had some definite issues with it, but none of those issues keep me from wanting to read the sequel and other books by this author.
The set-up of the story is right out of the horror handbook: a group of people agree to head into an isolated compound to participate in experiment. Of course, the experiment isn't quite as it seems, and neither are the participants. Nothing new, but always ripe for a scare, some character building, and that good tension when the characters wait for the next horror to unfold. Unfortunately, the book falls short on these points, so it's not as fun as it could be. Here's how:
(Possible spoilers)
1. The main characters are inconsistent and unbelievable. They have some attributes, but fall short of seeming real because their personalities don't seem stable. A man starts out as a misogynist and ends up oozing more sap than all the maple trees in Canada. No.
2. Other characters are not fleshed out enough to show any real depth. They're black and white with no particular motivation for being that way. They are also pretty idealized: The moneyed antagonist is just an asshole but we never know why. The scientist who runs the for-profit experiment actually is a principled man, for no particular reason; apparently subjecting people to poorly constructed and controlled experiments that don't meet scientific or ethical standards does not, in any way, prevent a man from feeling bad about it.
3. The story is bloated with a romance that is incredibly juvenile. The lovers have excessively earnest conversations about their relationship and feeeelings with cringe-worthy dialog, to boot. It read like a teenager's fantasy of romance, and did not, in any way, resemble the attraction of two wounded people. You would respect them more in the morning if it was just an adrenaline fuck, trust me.
4. When the action starts to build, the tension should start to rise; every time the tension starts to rise, the lovers have sex or drawn out discussions about what happens after they get out. You know what kills tension? Sweet loving sex and melodramatic dialog.
5. The last 10% of the book is mind-numbingly silly, and it's an extended chunk of junior high romance that is completely unnecessary.
6. The grammar issues are pretty minor, but tend to be kind of funny, which definitely pulled me out of the story. Issues here are mostly homophones (peddle vs pedal) or near-homophones (prepare vs repair), and punctuation. It's not so egregious to be frustrating (to me), but it often ruins the flow.
7. There seems to be a conflation of schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder.
The book is fun, but it could be tightened up to make it solidly entertaining. The creativity level (for playing in an established genre setting) makes the read easier, though the amount of disbelief that needs to be suspended is high; characters don't seem real, and the situations don't really make sense. Still, for a cheesy, pulpy, silly pop read, this isn't the worst.
Recommended for people who love the genre or who really root for romance in the most ridiculous places and times.
The set-up of the story is right out of the horror handbook: a group of people agree to head into an isolated compound to participate in experiment. Of course, the experiment isn't quite as it seems, and neither are the participants. Nothing new, but always ripe for a scare, some character building, and that good tension when the characters wait for the next horror to unfold. Unfortunately, the book falls short on these points, so it's not as fun as it could be. Here's how:
(Possible spoilers)
1. The main characters are inconsistent and unbelievable. They have some attributes, but fall short of seeming real because their personalities don't seem stable. A man starts out as a misogynist and ends up oozing more sap than all the maple trees in Canada. No.
2. Other characters are not fleshed out enough to show any real depth. They're black and white with no particular motivation for being that way. They are also pretty idealized: The moneyed antagonist is just an asshole but we never know why. The scientist who runs the for-profit experiment actually is a principled man, for no particular reason; apparently subjecting people to poorly constructed and controlled experiments that don't meet scientific or ethical standards does not, in any way, prevent a man from feeling bad about it.
3. The story is bloated with a romance that is incredibly juvenile. The lovers have excessively earnest conversations about their relationship and feeeelings with cringe-worthy dialog, to boot. It read like a teenager's fantasy of romance, and did not, in any way, resemble the attraction of two wounded people. You would respect them more in the morning if it was just an adrenaline fuck, trust me.
4. When the action starts to build, the tension should start to rise; every time the tension starts to rise, the lovers have sex or drawn out discussions about what happens after they get out. You know what kills tension? Sweet loving sex and melodramatic dialog.
5. The last 10% of the book is mind-numbingly silly, and it's an extended chunk of junior high romance that is completely unnecessary.
6. The grammar issues are pretty minor, but tend to be kind of funny, which definitely pulled me out of the story. Issues here are mostly homophones (peddle vs pedal) or near-homophones (prepare vs repair), and punctuation. It's not so egregious to be frustrating (to me), but it often ruins the flow.
7. There seems to be a conflation of schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder.
The book is fun, but it could be tightened up to make it solidly entertaining. The creativity level (for playing in an established genre setting) makes the read easier, though the amount of disbelief that needs to be suspended is high; characters don't seem real, and the situations don't really make sense. Still, for a cheesy, pulpy, silly pop read, this isn't the worst.
Recommended for people who love the genre or who really root for romance in the most ridiculous places and times.
November 20, 2012
This is a fast paced, well written thriller. The two main characters are part of a group of people involved in what they think is an experiment in survival, but is in fact a game and there can be only one winner. The bets placed on the outcome are high, but so are the odds of survival, as there is a wild card to be introduced into the game. In addition to the survival/thriller aspect, there's a bit of romance involved and with an interesting set of characters, a plot that isn't too far-fetched, it all adds up to a great read.
October 31, 2013
In my mind this book totally deserves 5 stars. Seriously I can't believe how much I enjoyed the main characters and the story line was intense and the ending very satisfying. It was a nail biter for me and I had a lot of trouble putting the book down so I finished it quickly. Definitely recommend this book.
November 4, 2013
Probably my favorite of all of Jackie's books
November 4, 2013
fantastic book, suspense thriller, horror, romance all in one. If you like this book read the 2nd in the series amoeba
July 12, 2023
DNF
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and that is perhaps that is why I managed to hang in there for 8 of the 16 hrs of this book before I bailed.
The narrator George Kuch has a voice that is better suited to reading those books you listen to fall asleep. That didn't help.
The story centers around Cal and Jake who are volunteers for a mental experiment where they must stay isolated with 8 other people for 7 months without going nuts. Unbeknownst to them, some millionaires are betting on their performance. Cal and Jake become partners to survive the seven months but ultimately become lovers. Each person has a weakness that the institute is trying to exploit to cause them more stress and break down.
A lot of time is spent in the first half of the book as we watch Cal and Jake develop a relationship. The sexual tension peaks and they become lovers. The two are constantly bickering because of Jake's insecurities. They fight - they make up. Two other characters, Father John and Rickie, each have their own issues but their interaction caused me to abandon the book.
I have always enjoyed Druga's books but this one (and I presume the series) diverts from her normal post-apocalyptic genre. This was about watching how eight people interacted. Mostly it was about the buildup of sexual tensions or jealousy as people get intimate. The sex was never explicitly detailed but it became tiresome when, for example, Cal dares Jake that he could not go two weeks without sex, while she does everything she can to tempt him.
If I were into this book, the writing is actually quite good. The character development is good too, particularly as we watch Jake change in some aspects but stay the same in others. He is a chauvinist who is threatened by strong women. Father John has his own demons and we watch him devolve. So, it is not that the book is bad - it is just not my kind of book.
I had to bail after eight hours and I don't plan to read any more of the "Experiment" series - just not my cup of tea.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and that is perhaps that is why I managed to hang in there for 8 of the 16 hrs of this book before I bailed.
The narrator George Kuch has a voice that is better suited to reading those books you listen to fall asleep. That didn't help.
The story centers around Cal and Jake who are volunteers for a mental experiment where they must stay isolated with 8 other people for 7 months without going nuts. Unbeknownst to them, some millionaires are betting on their performance. Cal and Jake become partners to survive the seven months but ultimately become lovers. Each person has a weakness that the institute is trying to exploit to cause them more stress and break down.
A lot of time is spent in the first half of the book as we watch Cal and Jake develop a relationship. The sexual tension peaks and they become lovers. The two are constantly bickering because of Jake's insecurities. They fight - they make up. Two other characters, Father John and Rickie, each have their own issues but their interaction caused me to abandon the book.
I have always enjoyed Druga's books but this one (and I presume the series) diverts from her normal post-apocalyptic genre. This was about watching how eight people interacted. Mostly it was about the buildup of sexual tensions or jealousy as people get intimate. The sex was never explicitly detailed but it became tiresome when, for example, Cal dares Jake that he could not go two weeks without sex, while she does everything she can to tempt him.
If I were into this book, the writing is actually quite good. The character development is good too, particularly as we watch Jake change in some aspects but stay the same in others. He is a chauvinist who is threatened by strong women. Father John has his own demons and we watch him devolve. So, it is not that the book is bad - it is just not my kind of book.
I had to bail after eight hours and I don't plan to read any more of the "Experiment" series - just not my cup of tea.
March 30, 2022
Not a bad book and worth a look. Eight participants are chosen for a test against an extreme environment in the far North when mental and physical stress are piled on relentlessly. Survivors are offered a cash reward if they can see it through to the Spring.
What they don't know is that they are actually in a death match against lethal external threats as well as against each other and that millionaires pay huge amounts to back one of the eight (drawn by lots) and win a pot of money at the end for the game which only allows one sole survivor.
The group is a really mixed bag (two women, six men). One of them is a Special Ops soldier, another a woman grieving from the loss of her only child but who is much stronger than she looks, and yet another is a cunning serial killer.
As the tension ratchets up and the participants meet their end one by one the reader is also a voyeur rooting for their favorites to survive the carnage. The ending hints at a sequel.
What they don't know is that they are actually in a death match against lethal external threats as well as against each other and that millionaires pay huge amounts to back one of the eight (drawn by lots) and win a pot of money at the end for the game which only allows one sole survivor.
The group is a really mixed bag (two women, six men). One of them is a Special Ops soldier, another a woman grieving from the loss of her only child but who is much stronger than she looks, and yet another is a cunning serial killer.
As the tension ratchets up and the participants meet their end one by one the reader is also a voyeur rooting for their favorites to survive the carnage. The ending hints at a sequel.
April 23, 2025
interesting story.
Besides finding it a bit impractical the storyline is good and entertaining.
How the amount of money mentioned would fund this and how people would willingly participate is not practical at all.
Biggest negative is editing. Proper English people.
Besides finding it a bit impractical the storyline is good and entertaining.
How the amount of money mentioned would fund this and how people would willingly participate is not practical at all.
Biggest negative is editing. Proper English people.
August 16, 2020
I wish I could give it 10 stars
This was the most intense book I have ever read. The story unfolded at just the right pace with heart pounding suspense and great characters.
This was the most intense book I have ever read. The story unfolded at just the right pace with heart pounding suspense and great characters.
November 30, 2013
5 star read all the way. Great story with lots of suspense. The ending had me screaming for more. I can not wait for the sequel.The author is in my top 5 must reads.
June 7, 2016
Really good story. Narrator, not my favorite. I don't think he was all that good. I also didn't care for the last chapter LOL
June 28, 2016
this was pretty good. Not enough though to hold my interest for the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews