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Earthblood #2
Deep Trek
SCOURGE
The lethal plant cancer known as Earthblood had destroyed life on the planet in a matter of months, leaving a barren wilderness road where markers are corpses and the cities are death traps. Into this nightmarish world the crew of the United States space vessel Aquila returned, a world of grim hunger and sudden death.
THE HUNTERS OF THE SUN
The surviving crew members reunite after harrowing journeys to find family and friends, determined to fight and defend their place in what's left of a world gripped by madness. Continued rumors of a secret military base in the north give Commander Jim Hilton and his crew new hope. But as they follow the trail left by General Zelig, they find they must cross paths with a paramilitary group prepared to claim the new world for its own.
The lethal plant cancer known as Earthblood had destroyed life on the planet in a matter of months, leaving a barren wilderness road where markers are corpses and the cities are death traps. Into this nightmarish world the crew of the United States space vessel Aquila returned, a world of grim hunger and sudden death.
THE HUNTERS OF THE SUN
The surviving crew members reunite after harrowing journeys to find family and friends, determined to fight and defend their place in what's left of a world gripped by madness. Continued rumors of a secret military base in the north give Commander Jim Hilton and his crew new hope. But as they follow the trail left by General Zelig, they find they must cross paths with a paramilitary group prepared to claim the new world for its own.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 18, 2024
"Delving into the Depths: A Review of 'Deep Trek' by James Axler"
Rating: ★★★☆☆
In "Deep Trek," the second installment of the Earthblood series by James Axler, readers are plunged into a post-apocalyptic world where survival is paramount and danger lurks around every corner. While the novel offers a thrilling adventure set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, it struggles to distinguish itself from its contemporaries in the genre and falls short of delivering a truly compelling narrative.
The plot follows a group of survivors as they embark on a perilous journey beneath the Earth's surface in search of resources and refuge. Led by the enigmatic Kane, the group must navigate treacherous terrain and confront hostile adversaries to achieve their goals. Along the way, they encounter a cast of characters with their own motivations and agendas, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
However, despite the potential for intrigue, the plot of "Deep Trek" feels formulaic and predictable at times. The pacing is uneven, with moments of intense action interspersed with periods of exposition that slow the momentum of the story. While Axler effectively builds tension and suspense, particularly during the group's encounters with dangerous creatures and rival factions, the overall plot lacks the depth and complexity needed to fully engage readers.
In comparison to its contemporaries in the post-apocalyptic genre, "Deep Trek" struggles to stand out. Works such as Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" or Suzanne Collins's "The Hunger Games" offer thought-provoking explorations of humanity's capacity for survival and resilience in the face of adversity. In contrast, Axler's novel feels derivative and lacks the emotional depth and thematic richness of these acclaimed works.
Despite its shortcomings, "Deep Trek" does succeed in crafting a vivid and immersive world that captures the imagination. Axler's descriptive prose brings the underground environment to life, evoking a sense of claustrophobia and unease that adds to the novel's atmosphere of tension and suspense. Additionally, the characters, while somewhat one-dimensional, possess enough charisma and bravado to keep readers invested in their journey.
In conclusion, "Deep Trek" offers a thrilling but ultimately formulaic adventure set in a dystopian future. While it succeeds in creating a vivid and immersive world and features a cast of compelling characters, the plot struggles to break new ground or offer fresh insights into the post-apocalyptic genre. With its uneven pacing and lack of originality, "Deep Trek" falls short of achieving greatness but remains an entertaining read for fans of the genre.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
In "Deep Trek," the second installment of the Earthblood series by James Axler, readers are plunged into a post-apocalyptic world where survival is paramount and danger lurks around every corner. While the novel offers a thrilling adventure set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, it struggles to distinguish itself from its contemporaries in the genre and falls short of delivering a truly compelling narrative.
The plot follows a group of survivors as they embark on a perilous journey beneath the Earth's surface in search of resources and refuge. Led by the enigmatic Kane, the group must navigate treacherous terrain and confront hostile adversaries to achieve their goals. Along the way, they encounter a cast of characters with their own motivations and agendas, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
However, despite the potential for intrigue, the plot of "Deep Trek" feels formulaic and predictable at times. The pacing is uneven, with moments of intense action interspersed with periods of exposition that slow the momentum of the story. While Axler effectively builds tension and suspense, particularly during the group's encounters with dangerous creatures and rival factions, the overall plot lacks the depth and complexity needed to fully engage readers.
In comparison to its contemporaries in the post-apocalyptic genre, "Deep Trek" struggles to stand out. Works such as Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" or Suzanne Collins's "The Hunger Games" offer thought-provoking explorations of humanity's capacity for survival and resilience in the face of adversity. In contrast, Axler's novel feels derivative and lacks the emotional depth and thematic richness of these acclaimed works.
Despite its shortcomings, "Deep Trek" does succeed in crafting a vivid and immersive world that captures the imagination. Axler's descriptive prose brings the underground environment to life, evoking a sense of claustrophobia and unease that adds to the novel's atmosphere of tension and suspense. Additionally, the characters, while somewhat one-dimensional, possess enough charisma and bravado to keep readers invested in their journey.
In conclusion, "Deep Trek" offers a thrilling but ultimately formulaic adventure set in a dystopian future. While it succeeds in creating a vivid and immersive world and features a cast of compelling characters, the plot struggles to break new ground or offer fresh insights into the post-apocalyptic genre. With its uneven pacing and lack of originality, "Deep Trek" falls short of achieving greatness but remains an entertaining read for fans of the genre.
December 8, 2023
After the uninspiring first volume I wasn't sure if there could be anything to hook me for the remaining two books in the series. What I never expected was that this series would position itself just shy of infringement on Stephen King's The Stand. Not in any way that actually pays off, but there is a villain named Flagg who has set up shop in the fabulous Las Vegas. That makes the Earthblood disaster a twinner for the Captain Tripps flu, which is interesting because this book came out a couple years before King himself revisited an alternative version of the events of The Stand in Wizard and Glass, so chalk one up for Axler, I suppose.
Other than furtively wishing for more King references, my experience of this book was about the same as the first one. The quest for various Macguffins is contrived: very much a "Your princess is in another castle" style of storytelling. The King pastiche gives an interesting flavor to the book though, and contextualizes the cringey representations of mental disability and sexual "perversion" that are lifted straight from the King toolkit.
It's a quick read, so I guess I can recommend to The Stand superfans?
Other than furtively wishing for more King references, my experience of this book was about the same as the first one. The quest for various Macguffins is contrived: very much a "Your princess is in another castle" style of storytelling. The King pastiche gives an interesting flavor to the book though, and contextualizes the cringey representations of mental disability and sexual "perversion" that are lifted straight from the King toolkit.
It's a quick read, so I guess I can recommend to The Stand superfans?
January 30, 2018
Book two finds the remaining crew members of The Aquila meeting up in a small town for a meeting with the remnants of the Government. Because there is a book three, no one shows except some killers and a helicopter that gets shot down. They find another clue as to where a new meting will be held. But all it says is Aurora, north. So the crew splits up again to try to find out what will happen to the last of humanity. In there way is The Hunters Of The Sun, a paramilitary force out to destroy.
The one thing I like about this series is that it takes a tired genre and breaths a bit of life into it. We get a balance of action and personal challenges. Also, when you least expect it, violence and death rears up. No one is safe, like in some books. The good guys always come out unscathed. Not this time. The bodies start to pile up. You don't know who will survive.
The one thing I like about this series is that it takes a tired genre and breaths a bit of life into it. We get a balance of action and personal challenges. Also, when you least expect it, violence and death rears up. No one is safe, like in some books. The good guys always come out unscathed. Not this time. The bodies start to pile up. You don't know who will survive.
May 31, 2018
I loved EarthBlood. It’d only make sense that Deep Trek would continue the trend.
Deep Trek was a quick, fast paced, action-packed, super thin cliched plot with characters that check off every known trait in this sub-genre, but who the hell cares? This book was damn near everything that cheaply written post apocalyptic stories are supposed to be. There was violence,
bloodshed, over description of guns, cars, sex. The story was thinner than TP and so were the various main characters, but that’s what made it so much fun.
Deep Trek was a quick, fast paced, action-packed, super thin cliched plot with characters that check off every known trait in this sub-genre, but who the hell cares? This book was damn near everything that cheaply written post apocalyptic stories are supposed to be. There was violence,
bloodshed, over description of guns, cars, sex. The story was thinner than TP and so were the various main characters, but that’s what made it so much fun.
January 12, 2025
I listened to the Graphic Audio book on Spotify and really enjoyed it. It's a lot more exciting than the first book.
The first Graphic Audio book spent a lot of time setting up the astronauts' backgrounds, personalities, and relationships and what happened to civilization while they were in space.
As a result, I cared about what happened to them in this book and was upset that many of the crew and their families didn't survive the Deep Trek to Aurora.
I am going to start the final book in the series Aurora Quest and hope for the best for the remaining astronauts and Earth.
The first Graphic Audio book spent a lot of time setting up the astronauts' backgrounds, personalities, and relationships and what happened to civilization while they were in space.
As a result, I cared about what happened to them in this book and was upset that many of the crew and their families didn't survive the Deep Trek to Aurora.
I am going to start the final book in the series Aurora Quest and hope for the best for the remaining astronauts and Earth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2017
NOT recommended. It's a tiny book, but I still didn't finish it. Quite boring. Pity, since the first instalment was fine.
March 30, 2011
Still entertaining though it's fairly cheap and trashy. All three books should have been one large book.
May 23, 2012
I listened to it on Graphic Audio so that may have tainted my perception of the book. Not the most intelligent of series'. But had an interesting twist on life after the Apocalypse.
January 26, 2016
Set in the same world as the Deathlands series. These books follow another set of adventures in the post holocaust world. Good men's adventure series. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews