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Sigma Force #15
The Last Odyssey
To save the world and our future, Sigma Force must embark on a dangerous odyssey into an ancient past whose horrors are all too present in this page-turning thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins that combines cutting-edge science, historical mystery, mythology, and pulse-pounding action.
For eons, the city of Troy—whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad—was believed to be myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands. If Troy was real, how much of Homer’s twin tales of gods and monsters, curses and miracles—The Iliad and The Odyssey—could also be true and awaiting discovery?
In the frozen tundra of Greenland, a group of modern-day researchers stumble on a shocking find: a medieval ship buried a half-mile below the ice. The ship’s hold contains a collection of even older artifacts—tools of war—dating back to the Bronze Age. Inside the captain’s cabin is a magnificent treasure that is as priceless as it is miraculous: a clockwork gold map imbedded with an intricate silver astrolabe. The mechanism was crafted by a group of Muslim inventors—the Banū Mūsā brothers—considered by many to be the Da Vincis of the Arab world—brilliant scientists who inspired Leonardo’s own work.
Once activated, the moving map traces the path of Odysseus’s famous ship as it sailed away from Troy. But the route detours as the map opens to reveal a fiery river leading to a hidden realm underneath the Mediterranean Sea. It is the subterranean world of Tartarus, the Greek name for Hell. In mythology, Tartarus was where the wicked were punished and the monstrous Titans of old, imprisoned.
When word of Tartarus spreads—and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there—tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors. The phantasmagoric horrors found in Homer’s tales are all too real—and could be unleashed upon the world. Whoever possesses them can use their awesome power to control the future of humanity.
Now, Sigma Force must go where humans fear to tread. To prevent a tyrant from igniting a global war, they must cross the very gates of Hell.
For eons, the city of Troy—whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad—was believed to be myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands. If Troy was real, how much of Homer’s twin tales of gods and monsters, curses and miracles—The Iliad and The Odyssey—could also be true and awaiting discovery?
In the frozen tundra of Greenland, a group of modern-day researchers stumble on a shocking find: a medieval ship buried a half-mile below the ice. The ship’s hold contains a collection of even older artifacts—tools of war—dating back to the Bronze Age. Inside the captain’s cabin is a magnificent treasure that is as priceless as it is miraculous: a clockwork gold map imbedded with an intricate silver astrolabe. The mechanism was crafted by a group of Muslim inventors—the Banū Mūsā brothers—considered by many to be the Da Vincis of the Arab world—brilliant scientists who inspired Leonardo’s own work.
Once activated, the moving map traces the path of Odysseus’s famous ship as it sailed away from Troy. But the route detours as the map opens to reveal a fiery river leading to a hidden realm underneath the Mediterranean Sea. It is the subterranean world of Tartarus, the Greek name for Hell. In mythology, Tartarus was where the wicked were punished and the monstrous Titans of old, imprisoned.
When word of Tartarus spreads—and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there—tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors. The phantasmagoric horrors found in Homer’s tales are all too real—and could be unleashed upon the world. Whoever possesses them can use their awesome power to control the future of humanity.
Now, Sigma Force must go where humans fear to tread. To prevent a tyrant from igniting a global war, they must cross the very gates of Hell.
624 pages, ebook
First published March 24, 2020
3396 people are currently reading
10173 people want to read
About the author
James Rollins
123 books14.2k followersJames Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 932 reviews
April 14, 2020
Here's another author I'm done with. Despite numerous stories read, (yawn) he just bores me. 1 of 10 stars
June 27, 2020
This is James Rollins's 15th Sigma Force book. If you've never read Sigma Force, it's kind of a cross between Indiana Jones and James Bond. It's about a team of operatives working for DARPA who are not only trained military but also have advanced degrees in numerous subjects. They can be a bit formulaic at times, inserting whatever ancient MacGuffin is needed for the team to find before a nefarious Bond villain and his henchman do. That being said, they are still very good.
In this book, the team is on the search for Tartarus, the Greek version of Hell. The book ties in a lot of truth with its fiction speculating that most of Homer's The Odyssey was based on fact. On their trail is an Apocalyptic death cult that wants to find the weapons hidden in Tartarus and unleash them upon the world to bring about its end. I really like how Rollins bases his stories upon real events and facts and then extrapolates from there. They are fast based and trot the globe. You really can't go wrong with his books.
Received a review copy from William Morrow and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
In this book, the team is on the search for Tartarus, the Greek version of Hell. The book ties in a lot of truth with its fiction speculating that most of Homer's The Odyssey was based on fact. On their trail is an Apocalyptic death cult that wants to find the weapons hidden in Tartarus and unleash them upon the world to bring about its end. I really like how Rollins bases his stories upon real events and facts and then extrapolates from there. They are fast based and trot the globe. You really can't go wrong with his books.
Received a review copy from William Morrow and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
April 11, 2025
The Last Odyssey is the 15th Sigma Force book written by James Rollins. I've read all the previous novels, including the in-between short stories, and I'm fully caught up to read the 2022 release. Now I just need to buy or borrow it. Given the last few have been a bit lackluster, or maybe that's the wrong word... repetitive? They've gone too far into the sci-fi fantasy realm for me, tho their roots are in historical archaeology. Greek gods and the pit of hell are the focus in this installment... and once they actually found hell, I kinda began skimming. Enjoyed the book and religious connections but it felt too extravagant and inconsistent. I want them to go back to their foundation... hope the next one is better!
July 27, 2022
So, consider yourselves forewarned—not all stories of gods and monsters are fiction.Even though I don’t normally read military thrillers, the Sigma Force novels have been a guilty pleasure for me over the years. They usually do a nice job of blending the action sequences with interesting history and science. Yes, they’re formulaic, and the bad guys are irredeemably eeeeeeevil while the good guys are effectively invincible. And sooner or later there will be a traitor because ... there’s always at least one traitor.
Usually one team is working on a problem in the present, often involving the kidnapping of a person uniquely important to this book’s plot. Meanwhile, on a different continent, the other team is investigating a historical approach to solving the problem. But The Last Odyssey strays from that part of the formula. The two teams get together quite early in the novel, and work the problem together for the remainder of the story.
The bigger problem with The Last Odyssey is that the historical side of the story overwhelms the scientific side, and that lack of balance drags down the story. The whole plot revolves around trying to retrace Odysseus’s journey in Homer’s Odyssey in an attempt to find the entrance to Tartarus hell and unleash Armageddon. It was interesting, and I liked the puzzle-like path to enter Tartarus. But there was just so much history, while the science primarily just involves mechanical maps and automatons that started out cool but eventually became too fantastical to be believable.
The Last Odyssey is not a bad story. And I liked the ongoing exploration of Gray and Seichan as new parents. But the novel as a whole just didn’t really work for me.
February 17, 2020
4.5 harrowing stars
Just as Homer did in his ancient poems, James Rollins has taken us on his own vision of a current day odyssey. Using as always tidbits of science, facts, conjecture, and derring-do, this author has once again created a story extremely enticing, alarming, and hair raising, especially for those of us who have loved his past endeavors. This is his fifteenth outing with the elite Sigma Force, and this reviewer has read and loved them all. Once more it is up to The Force to save the world!
This adventure starts in Greenland with the discovery of an ancient ship buried in an iceberg. On board this ship is a bevy of danger, medieval danger, weapons of war that are indeed frightening, and a race to the death for those who have come to find this treasure. Within the confines of the ship lies a clockwork gold map with an silver astrolabe which was invented by the Banū Mūsā brothers, ancient Muslim inventors. Amazingly, this astolade when activated, shows the voyage of Odysseus’s ship leaving Troy. Hidden within the map however, are dangers beyond compare and a fiery trail that leads to Tartarus, which in Greek means hell.
Of course there are nefarious people willing to go to the ends of the earth, or in this case hell, to acquire the knowledge of what lies in Tartarus, which I can say is nothing good. As the intrepid Sigma Force race across the Mediterranean, followed by a secret society bent on the destruction and the glorification of earth, the myths and legends of long ago come alive in a most electrifying way.
If a trip to hell and hopefully back again is something you would enjoy, then do pick up this book when it is published on March 24, 2020. It will, as all of Mr Rollins books do, keep you turning those pages and routing for the Sigma Force and of course our planet.
As always, this author provides, at the end of his tale, scientific and historical concepts that certainly do make one think that, in a world where it seems that anything is possible, could something like this be a bit true? Tantalizing for sure!
Thank you to James Rollins, William Morrow, and Edelweiss for a copy of this keep you up late at night book!
Just as Homer did in his ancient poems, James Rollins has taken us on his own vision of a current day odyssey. Using as always tidbits of science, facts, conjecture, and derring-do, this author has once again created a story extremely enticing, alarming, and hair raising, especially for those of us who have loved his past endeavors. This is his fifteenth outing with the elite Sigma Force, and this reviewer has read and loved them all. Once more it is up to The Force to save the world!
This adventure starts in Greenland with the discovery of an ancient ship buried in an iceberg. On board this ship is a bevy of danger, medieval danger, weapons of war that are indeed frightening, and a race to the death for those who have come to find this treasure. Within the confines of the ship lies a clockwork gold map with an silver astrolabe which was invented by the Banū Mūsā brothers, ancient Muslim inventors. Amazingly, this astolade when activated, shows the voyage of Odysseus’s ship leaving Troy. Hidden within the map however, are dangers beyond compare and a fiery trail that leads to Tartarus, which in Greek means hell.
Of course there are nefarious people willing to go to the ends of the earth, or in this case hell, to acquire the knowledge of what lies in Tartarus, which I can say is nothing good. As the intrepid Sigma Force race across the Mediterranean, followed by a secret society bent on the destruction and the glorification of earth, the myths and legends of long ago come alive in a most electrifying way.
If a trip to hell and hopefully back again is something you would enjoy, then do pick up this book when it is published on March 24, 2020. It will, as all of Mr Rollins books do, keep you turning those pages and routing for the Sigma Force and of course our planet.
As always, this author provides, at the end of his tale, scientific and historical concepts that certainly do make one think that, in a world where it seems that anything is possible, could something like this be a bit true? Tantalizing for sure!
Thank you to James Rollins, William Morrow, and Edelweiss for a copy of this keep you up late at night book!
Want to read
August 29, 2019Okay, for the first time in several recent years, a Sigma Force plot is finally sounding really interesting to me without being that same-old same-old "meh"... I mean, beginning with the mere mention of Troy, then typical James Rollins-ian historical mysteries and conspiracies based on freaking The Illiad and The Odyssey? Odysseus’ ship and his mythical epic voyage across the world?? Tartarus??? HOLY. SHIT.
P.S. I think the title could've been better, The Last Odyssey is a bit too derivative as The Last Oracle, though I guess I understand the straight-forward reason behind it.
P.S. I think the title could've been better, The Last Odyssey is a bit too derivative as The Last Oracle, though I guess I understand the straight-forward reason behind it.
October 28, 2020
James Rollins é definitivamente o meu autor preferido para este tipo de livros. A capacidade que tem em dar vida a este tipo de literatura.
Neste livro voltamos à Força Sigma, e deste vez navegamos pelo mar gelado da Gronelândia num descobrimento que pode mudar a história da humanidade, especificamente relacionado a Odisseu.
Um barco é encontrado numa rutura de gelo que se abriu. Um barco no meio do nada. Um barco com objetos misteriosos e com milhares de anos.
Conhecemos os grupos de cientistas que estão por detrás da história e dos mistérios e que tudo farão para descobrir o que, de facto, significam todos aqueles elementos e qual é a importância dos mesmo.
Entramos assim, num mistério maior do que todos estavam à espera. Um mistério que contém os terrores das histórias de Homero. Um mistério que mete em jogo as vidas do cientistas.
Acho que posso afirmar que a única coisa que menos gostei deste livro foi do final. Isto porque estava a levar tudo num sentido muito histórico e o final misturou fantasia, o que foi contra todas as minhas teorias.
De resto, é uma excelente recomendação para todos os que gostam deste género literário, onde mistura o segredos do passado e da história com os descobrimentos do presente e em que medida isso pode mudar a história da humanidade. Será que todos os segredos deveriam ficar enterrados?
Neste livro voltamos à Força Sigma, e deste vez navegamos pelo mar gelado da Gronelândia num descobrimento que pode mudar a história da humanidade, especificamente relacionado a Odisseu.
Um barco é encontrado numa rutura de gelo que se abriu. Um barco no meio do nada. Um barco com objetos misteriosos e com milhares de anos.
Conhecemos os grupos de cientistas que estão por detrás da história e dos mistérios e que tudo farão para descobrir o que, de facto, significam todos aqueles elementos e qual é a importância dos mesmo.
Entramos assim, num mistério maior do que todos estavam à espera. Um mistério que contém os terrores das histórias de Homero. Um mistério que mete em jogo as vidas do cientistas.
Acho que posso afirmar que a única coisa que menos gostei deste livro foi do final. Isto porque estava a levar tudo num sentido muito histórico e o final misturou fantasia, o que foi contra todas as minhas teorias.
De resto, é uma excelente recomendação para todos os que gostam deste género literário, onde mistura o segredos do passado e da história com os descobrimentos do presente e em que medida isso pode mudar a história da humanidade. Será que todos os segredos deveriam ficar enterrados?
March 28, 2020
I won this advance reader's copy in a Goodreads giveaway. Many thanks to the author and William Morrow/HarperCollins.
This is only the second Sigma Force thriller I've read, and the first was a long time ago. It's a riveting tale of adventure in which the team goes on an expedition in search of Tartarus (the ancient Greek Hell) in the hope of saving the world from a fanatical apocalyptic cult. I loved the mix of action and adventure with ancient mythology, which has long been an interest of mine.
A well-told story, highly recommended.
This is only the second Sigma Force thriller I've read, and the first was a long time ago. It's a riveting tale of adventure in which the team goes on an expedition in search of Tartarus (the ancient Greek Hell) in the hope of saving the world from a fanatical apocalyptic cult. I loved the mix of action and adventure with ancient mythology, which has long been an interest of mine.
A well-told story, highly recommended.
September 2, 2021
Bait and Switch
A secret society looking to open the gates of hell and bringing about Armageddon.
Wait. I thought this was about Odysseus?
Deep breath. Out slow.
My first Sigma book turned out to be a big disappointment.
I was thinking Indiana Jones and Lara Croft team up to search for the fabled City of Troy, Atlantis or the ship of Odysseus but i got Apocalypti doomsday cult and Decepticons under a glacier in Greenland.
Indiana Jones had clever, witty, sharp dialogue and good guys you really cheered for. This had none of that. The story telling was sub par so a big no!
A secret society looking to open the gates of hell and bringing about Armageddon.
Wait. I thought this was about Odysseus?
Deep breath. Out slow.
My first Sigma book turned out to be a big disappointment.
I was thinking Indiana Jones and Lara Croft team up to search for the fabled City of Troy, Atlantis or the ship of Odysseus but i got Apocalypti doomsday cult and Decepticons under a glacier in Greenland.
Indiana Jones had clever, witty, sharp dialogue and good guys you really cheered for. This had none of that. The story telling was sub par so a big no!
April 14, 2020
সলিড ৪.৫ তারা...
সিগমার গতানুগতিক দৌড়-ঝাঁপের সঙ্গে যোগ হয়েছে পছন্দের বিষয়-মিথলজি। তবে গত দুই-তিনটা বইতেই ধারা ভাঙার একটা চেষ্টা ছিল, এই বইতেও আছে।
এন্ডিং এতটাই পছন্দ হয়েছে যে তারকা দিতে কার্পণ্য করা সমীচীন মনে হলো না। তাই-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
সিগমার গতানুগতিক দৌড়-ঝাঁপের সঙ্গে যোগ হয়েছে পছন্দের বিষয়-মিথলজি। তবে গত দুই-তিনটা বইতেই ধারা ভাঙার একটা চেষ্টা ছিল, এই বইতেও আছে।
এন্ডিং এতটাই পছন্দ হয়েছে যে তারকা দিতে কার্পণ্য করা সমীচীন মনে হলো না। তাই-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 4, 2020
Gray and Seichan are home with their newborn, when all hell breaks loose in Greenland. A centuries-old dhow is discovered and an exploratory team is attacked by automations and green fire. Joe Kowalski, his girlfriend (Maria), and a local teenager stage a daring rescue but their primary objective Elena (scientist) is taken hostage and whisked away by a submarine by unknown foes. Sigma is scrambled by Elena's father, a U.S. Senator, and Gray/Seichan head off to the Vatican's summer palace, where they try to piece together. James Rollins has once again mixed history and legends (in this case Homer's Iliad and The Odyssey, as well as some of the Dark Age, when Arabs led the world in science and innovation. The bad guys are looking to cleanse the world by opening the gates or Hell (Tartarus), ending in a fertile valley in Morocco, having traipsed through the Mediterranean, following the path of Odysseus and tectonic plates. Always interesting is Rollins explanation at the end, separating fact from fiction.
October 25, 2022
Rollins is an author I follow and collect. It might not be great literature but his Sigma Series is great fun and you can learn a few things along the way. While these books are thrillers Rollins' Sigma Series employs adventures based on science and the science is not entirely fiction. In this book, however, Rollins has his Sigma team depart on an adventure that is based more on history than science and actually seems to trespass into the territory of Rollins' friend and fellow thriller author Steve Berry. Berry is another author I follow and collect for the same reasons I collect Rollins. Berry's adventures are based on history, myth, or legend and are quite entertaining. The adventure in this book use a great deal of Greek and Roman mythology as well as Homer's Odyssey and a little archeology and geology as it never hurts to learn a little while being thoroughly entertained.
The story involves a secret malevolent religious group called the Apocalypti. This group believes that there is an ancient discovery that has been lost in history but has possibly surfaced. This discovery may hold the potential of giving this group a weapon to unleash upon the world causing chaos and anarchy which will allow them to rise and take over. Not a particularly original thriller motivation especially if you were ever a James Bond fan (guilty). To find this discovery engages the evil group in a race with the Sigma team to trace the homeward voyage of Homer's Odysseus as this voyage holds the key to the hidden source of this very dangerous discovery. Along the way in addition to the history and the science you will be introduced to a little geography and to a few historic sites. The book is entertaining, educational, and just plain fun. Enjoy.
The story involves a secret malevolent religious group called the Apocalypti. This group believes that there is an ancient discovery that has been lost in history but has possibly surfaced. This discovery may hold the potential of giving this group a weapon to unleash upon the world causing chaos and anarchy which will allow them to rise and take over. Not a particularly original thriller motivation especially if you were ever a James Bond fan (guilty). To find this discovery engages the evil group in a race with the Sigma team to trace the homeward voyage of Homer's Odysseus as this voyage holds the key to the hidden source of this very dangerous discovery. Along the way in addition to the history and the science you will be introduced to a little geography and to a few historic sites. The book is entertaining, educational, and just plain fun. Enjoy.
February 1, 2020
“The Last Odyssey” is going to blow your socks off!! OMG!! It was like reading one of the first Sigma books! Rollins put so much of himself into the research of the book and masterfully weaves in one of the oldest myths in man’s history into modern-day bad guys wanting to bring about the end of the world as we know it. Of course, they envision that they will become the new order and have total control if they fulfill their mission. Thank goodness the Sigma Force and Darpa are there to take them on.
If you're not familiar with the old Greek myths... You will get to learn about their stories that have been passed down for millennia! I love how Rollins rolls out the tapestry and the reader can easily follow along without having to feel like they wished they'd paid more attention in English classes as a kid when they reviewed all of the Greek and Roman gods! If you loved the cheesy, claymation movies of "Jason and the Argonauts" then, "The Last Odyssey" is about to become one of your favorite books of all time!
The Sigma Force finds itself in a perilous quest to protect mankind. I wasn’t sure how Seichen was going to be written into the story and WOW!!! She’s even more bad-ass than before! Of course, the entire Sigma Force is in full force doing everything they can to solve one of the oldest mysteries that will have a major consequence on the planet if they don’t get there in time!
James Rollins masterfully combines the best traits of science using modern-day reasons to rationalize mystical occurrences in the book. It kept me on the edge of my seat through all of the twists and turns! Rollins has written a MUST READ, fast-paced, page-turner that I highly recommend to all who love thrillers and the further adventures of Sigma Force!
If you're not familiar with the old Greek myths... You will get to learn about their stories that have been passed down for millennia! I love how Rollins rolls out the tapestry and the reader can easily follow along without having to feel like they wished they'd paid more attention in English classes as a kid when they reviewed all of the Greek and Roman gods! If you loved the cheesy, claymation movies of "Jason and the Argonauts" then, "The Last Odyssey" is about to become one of your favorite books of all time!
The Sigma Force finds itself in a perilous quest to protect mankind. I wasn’t sure how Seichen was going to be written into the story and WOW!!! She’s even more bad-ass than before! Of course, the entire Sigma Force is in full force doing everything they can to solve one of the oldest mysteries that will have a major consequence on the planet if they don’t get there in time!
James Rollins masterfully combines the best traits of science using modern-day reasons to rationalize mystical occurrences in the book. It kept me on the edge of my seat through all of the twists and turns! Rollins has written a MUST READ, fast-paced, page-turner that I highly recommend to all who love thrillers and the further adventures of Sigma Force!
January 8, 2020
James Rollins usually does a good job straddling the line between history and fantasy, making us believe something could have happened or could be true, even though it is completely fictional. With this book, he went too far into the realm of the unbelievable.
The Odyssey has got to be one of the coolest subjects he's ever used for a Sigma Force novel, but he uses it in such a way that it actually was quite boring at times. It sounds really interesting: what could the true history be if the Odyssey really happened? Where might Odysseus have gone and what might he have seen? Sounds intriguing. But the author takes the story away from his usual science and history blended thrill ride into more of a Pacific Rim/Transformers mash up with about as much likelihood of ever happening as both of those movies combined.
He really jumped the shark with this one. And with such an intellectual topic, the author seemed to think his books needed more car chases, more collapsing buildings, and more shootouts than ever before. At times, there was too much action of the explosion type and not enough action of the plot type. Just not enough happened for big swaths of the book and then too many ridiculous things happened all at once. I'm pretty disappointed in Mr. Rollins with this book but I'm hopeful he'll be back on form with the next Sigma novel.
I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The Odyssey has got to be one of the coolest subjects he's ever used for a Sigma Force novel, but he uses it in such a way that it actually was quite boring at times. It sounds really interesting: what could the true history be if the Odyssey really happened? Where might Odysseus have gone and what might he have seen? Sounds intriguing. But the author takes the story away from his usual science and history blended thrill ride into more of a Pacific Rim/Transformers mash up with about as much likelihood of ever happening as both of those movies combined.
He really jumped the shark with this one. And with such an intellectual topic, the author seemed to think his books needed more car chases, more collapsing buildings, and more shootouts than ever before. At times, there was too much action of the explosion type and not enough action of the plot type. Just not enough happened for big swaths of the book and then too many ridiculous things happened all at once. I'm pretty disappointed in Mr. Rollins with this book but I'm hopeful he'll be back on form with the next Sigma novel.
I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2020
I hate to give low stars for Sigma Force, but I can't get into The Last Odyssey.
May 9, 2020
This is a Universal Studios Park ride into hell and since it is a ride...you come out alive :) I love the exploring of ancient history and adding some real time fantasy/science and ending up with these tales involving a cast of characters we have come to love.
August 13, 2022
In this thrilling thriller, which ranges over 32 continents, Islamic militants are trying to reclaim the magic astrolabe their 12th-century ancestors left on a shipwreck in Greenland. The astrolabe reveals where the gates of Hell are, as described in The Odyssey (the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, apparently). The Sigma Force, a coterie of ex-military muscle-bound lunkheads jonesing to strap some weapons to their legs and go murder people, has recovered the astrolabe, and the militants are chasing them. Chasing them right to the gates of Hell. And everyone is being chased by the motion-detector-activated, fire-breathing, radioactive animatronic bronze monsters created by the 12th-century Islamic scholar-inventors.
This was all very boring. What thrilled me was how many looks, glances, and frowns were being exchanged. In thriller-writing workshops they must tell you to constantly have people looking, glancing, and frowning. You have to admit: this keeps you turning the pages.
Kowalski stared challengingly at the commander.
Kowalski noted the exchange, casting Gray a questioning look.
The group cast concerned looks all around.
Mac shared a frightened look with John.
He shared a guilty look with Seichan.
Nuka turned to her, his expression shocked.
Gray glanced to Mac, who wore a haunted look.
The man wore a pained expression.
The monkey looked pissed and scared.
She frowned with disappointment at the missing pages.
Joe frowned at her, looking angry at her capitulation.
Pullman eyed their group with a deep frown.
She twisted with a frown.
The workshops also must encourage the use of italics to stress the last thing you wrote.
They were speaking Arabic.
Arabic?
They called it the Storm Atlas, as if they already knew what it was.
Maria frowned. A Storm Atlas?
“The man said the group that attacked them wanted it, called it the Daedalus Key.”
The Daedelus Key?
“The map’s builders named the place Tartarus.”
Painter frowned. “Tartarus?”
“In fact, the page illustrating the design of the astrolabe, the key to the map, had been partially torn away.”
Torn away?
Sigma bro Grayson is scarred because his father was “a roughneck oilman disabled in midlife and forced to assume the role of a housewife.” (Why a wife? Why not a househusband?) Gray tries to erase his father’s humiliation by mating with a large-breasted woman, Seichan, also a Sigma, who happens to be breastfeeding their child so her breasts are colossal and smell sweetly of dairy. But Gray will not let his wife’s breast milk overpower his testosteroney stench: “Even his scent washed away the sweet perfume of milk with a ripe musky masculinity.” Seichan has to strip down to her bra and undies in order to swim underwater for several hundred yards. “You’re a lucky, lucky man,” the other Sigma bros gathered around tell Gray. Unfortunately, Seichan’s giant breasts get her stuck in the underwater tunnel. As she prepares to drown, images of her baby suckling her nipples flood her mind. She fights free: she must go pump more breast milk. Soon she and Gray are copulating on a yacht, as he sniffs “a spicy musk that was all her.”
The river guide who will help them get closer to the gates of Hell has a little monkey who becomes obsessed with Seichan’s breasts. “He paused to sniff at one of her breasts, likely noting the slight whiff of milk, even though Seichan had pumped this morning.” Later, when the Islamic militants have detained the river guide as the Sigmas are searching for Hell, the guide cups her own breast and points to the cliffs, instructing the monkey to “Find momma. She has a milk bottle for you.” The monkey understands and scampers off.
March 17, 2020
I'd like to extend a big thank you to the publisher, Harper Collins, for mailing me a physical advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
James Rollins' Sigma Force is one of my favorite series. It's one I've followed for over a decade, and new installments never fail to have me tearing through the pages at a breakneck pace. This one was no different, and might have been one of the best in the series so far. I wasn't able to put it down... and I started it on a flight to Walt Disney World and finished it while there. You might not know this about me, but I'm a HUGE Disney junkie, so the fact that I was focused on this book while I was there means this was a REALLY GOOD one.
We find ourselves following the path of Homer's Odysseus, straight into the bowels of Hell itself.
There are twists, turns, betrayals, cute monkeys, ancient technology, and loads of adventure.
Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. But seriously, seriously, start the series at the beginning!
James Rollins' Sigma Force is one of my favorite series. It's one I've followed for over a decade, and new installments never fail to have me tearing through the pages at a breakneck pace. This one was no different, and might have been one of the best in the series so far. I wasn't able to put it down... and I started it on a flight to Walt Disney World and finished it while there. You might not know this about me, but I'm a HUGE Disney junkie, so the fact that I was focused on this book while I was there means this was a REALLY GOOD one.
We find ourselves following the path of Homer's Odysseus, straight into the bowels of Hell itself.
There are twists, turns, betrayals, cute monkeys, ancient technology, and loads of adventure.
Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. But seriously, seriously, start the series at the beginning!
June 26, 2022
আমার কাছে অনেক ভালো লাগলো সিগমা ফোর্স সিরিজের এই বইটা। এই সিরিজের কয়েকটা বই একটানা পড়ার মাঝে মনে হত একটু ব্রেক দরকার, কিন্তু এই বইটা একটানা পড়ে গিয়েছি, শুরু থেকে শেষ পর্যন্ত একদম পারফেক্ট মনে হয়েছে। এন্ডিংটাও ভালো লেগেছে। অনেকদিন পর সিগমা সিরিজের বই পড়লাম৷ জার্নি টা ভালো ছিল। আর ফুয়াদ ভাইয়ের অনুবাদ নিয়ে নতুন কিছু বলার নেই। এই বইটা সম্ভবত লেখকের অফিসিয়াল অনুমতি নিয়ে করা প্রথম অনুবাদ বাংলাদেশে৷ আশা করি একসময় নিয়মিত আমরা জনপ্রিয় সব লেখকদের বইয়ের বাংলা অনুবাদ পাব অফিসিয়াল অনুমতি সহকারে।
August 27, 2020
Наясно съм, че книгите на Джеймс Ролинс не са литературни шедьоври, а по-скоро романи еднодневки написани в стил "Умирай трудно". Но ми харесва начина, по който той съумява да съчетае исторически места и събития с модерни технологии и немалко екшън. И докато те продължават да ме забавляват, аз ще ги чета и оценявам високо.
Все пак всеки, включително и аз, има право на лош вкус.
Все пак всеки, включително и аз, има право на лош вкус.
March 27, 2020
James Rollins has always been the author I turn to when I need some escape from reality, and I’ve never needed more escape than right now in the middle of the pandemic. And I got so much more from it than I expected.
There’s usually an equal amount of historical and scientific themes that play out in a Sigma Force novel but this was slightly different and I found that refreshing. This book takes the mythological route, concentrating on Homer’s The Odyssey and various other Greek myths and reimagining if they were all actual historical events that took place. We also get to know about some of the most acclaimed scientists and inventors of the Arab world and their creations were definitely very eye opening. I found the idea that innovations that happen in one kingdom/civilization are then used by others to build up on and that’s how more innovation propagates across the world fascinating to read about. When we are talking mechanical inventions, Leonardo da Vinci can’t be far behind, so his addition was fun. There is also a theme about the different versions of the coming apocalypse across religions and the zealots among them who want to do everything they can to bring it on sooner. I loved the way the author weaved all these threads together to create such an entertaining adventure tale. And as usual, all the locations that the characters are jet setting to are wonderfully described and I always wish I could jump into the pages to visit them myself.
It’s always very comforting meeting these characters because I’ve known them for almost a decade and they feel like my friends now. And after all this time, seeing Gray and Seichan as parents felt surreal. They are still struggling with their new found parenthood which actually made them feel more human than the usual badass persona they always project. Kowalski also gets a great arc to shine in this book and he always comes across as gruff and grumpy but we get to see how much of a heart of gold he has and what lengths he will go to protect his team. There are also many other new side characters and I was amazed by how I could never guess who among them was trustworthy and who was a villain. The author kept hitting me with betrayal after betrayal and I was happy to be shocked.
To conclude, this was a lot of fun and just the bit of relief I needed at this tense time. If you have followed this series since the beginning and have ever thought the storylines had become repetitive, then I promise you that you’ll find this book to be refreshing and a lot more adventurous. I don’t know if I can recommend it as a stand-alone but if you wouldn’t mind taking on a huge series that is a mix of great action, lots of history, and some very cool advanced science and tech stuff, you should totally start from Sandstorm.
There’s usually an equal amount of historical and scientific themes that play out in a Sigma Force novel but this was slightly different and I found that refreshing. This book takes the mythological route, concentrating on Homer’s The Odyssey and various other Greek myths and reimagining if they were all actual historical events that took place. We also get to know about some of the most acclaimed scientists and inventors of the Arab world and their creations were definitely very eye opening. I found the idea that innovations that happen in one kingdom/civilization are then used by others to build up on and that’s how more innovation propagates across the world fascinating to read about. When we are talking mechanical inventions, Leonardo da Vinci can’t be far behind, so his addition was fun. There is also a theme about the different versions of the coming apocalypse across religions and the zealots among them who want to do everything they can to bring it on sooner. I loved the way the author weaved all these threads together to create such an entertaining adventure tale. And as usual, all the locations that the characters are jet setting to are wonderfully described and I always wish I could jump into the pages to visit them myself.
It’s always very comforting meeting these characters because I’ve known them for almost a decade and they feel like my friends now. And after all this time, seeing Gray and Seichan as parents felt surreal. They are still struggling with their new found parenthood which actually made them feel more human than the usual badass persona they always project. Kowalski also gets a great arc to shine in this book and he always comes across as gruff and grumpy but we get to see how much of a heart of gold he has and what lengths he will go to protect his team. There are also many other new side characters and I was amazed by how I could never guess who among them was trustworthy and who was a villain. The author kept hitting me with betrayal after betrayal and I was happy to be shocked.
To conclude, this was a lot of fun and just the bit of relief I needed at this tense time. If you have followed this series since the beginning and have ever thought the storylines had become repetitive, then I promise you that you’ll find this book to be refreshing and a lot more adventurous. I don’t know if I can recommend it as a stand-alone but if you wouldn’t mind taking on a huge series that is a mix of great action, lots of history, and some very cool advanced science and tech stuff, you should totally start from Sandstorm.
April 8, 2020
Another thrilling Sigma adventure that keeps the pages flying by right up until the end. And it true Rollins fashin, the ending pulls extra hard at the heartstrings. I can't wait to see what happens next.
January 11, 2024
The narrative gets too complex and scientific for me in some instances, unnecessarily so in my opinion. Still mostly engaging overall.
April 3, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a free unedited copy of this book in return for an honest review. I enjoy Jame Rollins writing, and prior this I have read 3 of his SIGMA Force series and liked each of them. I have others on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Yet when I got the chance to obtain this book I jumped at it. I prefer to read books in order but for James Rollins I will make the exception and I am happy I did. This was a wonderful thriller and along the way we pick up so much historical information that it really brings the book to life. We have a plot to bring about Armageddon. Yes men are going to try and induce this by following Homer's Odyssey and other Arabic writers to find the Gates of Hell to bring about this event. No sense telling more. It is action packed, well written and very fast paced. When I read this all I could think of was the classic 1963 movie "Jason and the Argonauts" with the innovative stop-motion animation. So many of the obstacles that SIGMA must overcome remind me of that film. This book was heading for a 5***** until the last 50 or so pages. When the story no longer covers the evil masterminds behind this plot, and trust me these guys are evil, the book loses what I enjoyed the most for the majority of the book and becomes a just one action packed page after another, to the point of unbelievability. A very good effort and I am glad I got the chance to read this and will definitely go back and read his others on my shelf.
December 26, 2019
How I love the Sigma thrillers! I look forward to them every year and this one, the fifteenth did not disappoint. This time the mystery concerns the fall of Troy and the great voyage of Odysseus, a voyage that must now be recreated to save the world. As usual with these novels, there's lots of detail, great locations and some fun set pieces. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
December 19, 2020
enjoyed this latest in the series using homer's story as the back drop for this plot and is an easy page turner
March 17, 2020
Rating: 9.5/10
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of The Last Odyssey (Sigma Force #15) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
The Last Odyssey is an absolute triumph of a novel. 0-60 in less time than a Porsche 918 Spyder, this novel never lets off the accelerator and shows off Rollins’ chops in a way everyone can appreciate. How in the world have I never given this series a shot until now?
From the brief blurb above, you can pretty much gauge that I loved the stew out of this book. It is a thrill-ride ratcheted up to 11, filled with history, mythology, monsters, and so much more. Twists and turns aplenty, plus characters you can really stand behind and fantastic work-building. I really never wanted it to end.
Considering this is Book #15 in the series, and Book #1 came out sixteen (16) years ago, have I been living under a friggin rock? How have I seriously not known about this series because I now want to read all of them. If TLO is any indication of what I have been missing out on, woohoo am I in for a treat.
Good news for all of you who are in the same boat as me: The Last Odyssey can be easily read, understood, and enjoyed as a stand-alone. I cannot say for sure if that holds true for the others in the series, but this adventure feels tight-knit enough to not have you scratching your head too much (though the storylines Rollins weaves could have you re-reading pages here and there).
If shootouts, hidden treasures, monsters, conspiracies, and historical/mythological elements in stories are in your wheelhouse, look no further. Oh, and if you want more, James will be a guest on my podcast tonight (3/17), so look for the episode to drop on 3/18!
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of The Last Odyssey (Sigma Force #15) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
The Last Odyssey is an absolute triumph of a novel. 0-60 in less time than a Porsche 918 Spyder, this novel never lets off the accelerator and shows off Rollins’ chops in a way everyone can appreciate. How in the world have I never given this series a shot until now?
From the brief blurb above, you can pretty much gauge that I loved the stew out of this book. It is a thrill-ride ratcheted up to 11, filled with history, mythology, monsters, and so much more. Twists and turns aplenty, plus characters you can really stand behind and fantastic work-building. I really never wanted it to end.
Considering this is Book #15 in the series, and Book #1 came out sixteen (16) years ago, have I been living under a friggin rock? How have I seriously not known about this series because I now want to read all of them. If TLO is any indication of what I have been missing out on, woohoo am I in for a treat.
Good news for all of you who are in the same boat as me: The Last Odyssey can be easily read, understood, and enjoyed as a stand-alone. I cannot say for sure if that holds true for the others in the series, but this adventure feels tight-knit enough to not have you scratching your head too much (though the storylines Rollins weaves could have you re-reading pages here and there).
If shootouts, hidden treasures, monsters, conspiracies, and historical/mythological elements in stories are in your wheelhouse, look no further. Oh, and if you want more, James will be a guest on my podcast tonight (3/17), so look for the episode to drop on 3/18!
April 3, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a free unedited copy of this book in return for an honest review. I enjoy Jame Rollins writing, and prior this I have read 3 of his SIGMA Force series and liked each of them. I have others on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Yet when I got the chance to obtain this book I jumped at it. I prefer to read books in order but for James Rollins I will make the exception and I am happy I did. This was a wonderful thriller and along the way we pick up so much historical information that it really brings the book to life. We have a plot to bring about Armageddon. Yes men are going to try and induce this by following Homer's Odyssey and other Arabic writers to find the Gates of Hell to bring about this event. No sense telling more. It is action packed, well written and very fast paced. When I read this all I could think of was the classic 1963 movie "Jason and the Argonauts" with the innovative stop-motion animation. So many of the obstacles that SIGMA must overcome remind me of that film. This book was heading for a 5***** until the last 50 or so pages. When the story no longer covers the evil masterminds behind this plot, and trust me these guys are evil, the book loses what I enjoyed the most for the majority of the book and becomes a just one action packed page after another, to the point of unbelievability. A very good effort and I am glad I got the chance to read this and will definitely go back and read his others on my shelf.
January 31, 2020
Ok, so here we go . . .
1. I got this one as a free ARC copy, so the price was right. :)
2. It's an easy read and easy to rip through in a couple of hours.
3. James Rollins has reliably and consistently delivered a "James Rollins book".
That being said, it's just another James Rollins/Sigma Force book, and perhaps even worse than his usual mediocre tripe.
At best, the plot is thin and the writing hollow. In classic Rollins style we're presented with an initial plot line that could be a great story, only to be destroyed by Rollins' actual writing and once again left unsatisfied by his underdeveloped plot and painfully quick pacing, weak storylines & tangents, and in this case a plot line SO farfetched it quickly blows through the boundaries of absurdity.
Rollins should just do story treatments and then sell them to better writers.
No spoilers here, but as I read the book I just kept shaking my head as the plot went further and further off the rails. I guess at this point he's just cranking out garbage for his loyal fan base as fast as he can and laughing all the way to the bank.
1. I got this one as a free ARC copy, so the price was right. :)
2. It's an easy read and easy to rip through in a couple of hours.
3. James Rollins has reliably and consistently delivered a "James Rollins book".
That being said, it's just another James Rollins/Sigma Force book, and perhaps even worse than his usual mediocre tripe.
At best, the plot is thin and the writing hollow. In classic Rollins style we're presented with an initial plot line that could be a great story, only to be destroyed by Rollins' actual writing and once again left unsatisfied by his underdeveloped plot and painfully quick pacing, weak storylines & tangents, and in this case a plot line SO farfetched it quickly blows through the boundaries of absurdity.
Rollins should just do story treatments and then sell them to better writers.
No spoilers here, but as I read the book I just kept shaking my head as the plot went further and further off the rails. I guess at this point he's just cranking out garbage for his loyal fan base as fast as he can and laughing all the way to the bank.
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