Depth-less characthers

[Miladin]

This book is really suspense and even though I haven't read it all, I think that it's a really nice read.

Anyhow, what I was trying to say was that the characters aren't kinda developed, highly unlike the architecture and the actual environment which the author wants to describe and describe and describe blatantly and without end, gets on my nerves.

What are your opinions about this?

Note: As I'm around the 100th page of the book and I still don't know the end please don't post spoilers :)

[Dee]

Miladin- have you read any of the other books in the series? since this is like book 4 or 5...a lot of the character develop occurred previously....

[Walter]

Are the other books in the series worth the read?

[Aaron]

Absolutely! The Sigma series starts with Sandstorm. I think my favorite is Judas Strain.

[Dee]

i enjoyed them all, they were solid 3-4 star reads...nothing too hard, and enjoyable to read

[Brian]

Miladin--

I can understand your point, but then I read books like this for entertainment value and not characters~

Brian January

[israelv]

Miladin wrote: "This book is really suspense and even though I haven't read it all, I think that it's a really nice read.

Anyhow, what I was trying to say was that the characters aren't kinda developed, highly ..."

Yes I agree. I finished the book and I felt the same way. The locale, the architecture, the history are all described in detail but I didn't feel that I got to know the characters. They are all strangers to me in the end.

[Brian]

Interesting! I have to say that I honestly disagree. While books like this aren't necessarily character-driven, still there is character development: Rachel's background, motivations, and growing attraction to Gray are well done, for example, as is her relationship with her uncle Vigor. Granted, this is not a romance novel, so Gray and Rachel's relationship is definitely a subplot, but that's the way it should be in an action-packed book.

Brian January

[Dee]

IMHO, whenever you pick up a book that second in a series, and features reoccurring characters from other books, then the character development isn't going to be the same as you would see in a stand-alone book

[Tad]

I enjoy the Sigma series books that I have read so far, and don't disagree on the lack of character depth. I prefer the non-Sigma books so far though. There's something missing in the Sigma books that I can't quite put my finger on.

All that being said, they are still really good books well worth reading. They stack up against any of the other thrillers out there today.

[Brian]

Dee--you're absolutely right! I'm currently writing the next novel with the same series characters and I'm struggling with some of these issues. But then, you can't count on everyone picking up your books in order, so you have to fill in the blanks for new readers!

Tad--you nailed it! There's something you can't put your finger on and personally, anyway, I don't find that missing something in the characters (but then, I'm not expecting great character arcs in a thriller novel). Maybe for me some of the plot elements are just a bit too over-the-top?

Brian January

[Dee]

true, and yet at the same time, those of us who have read the series, don't want to see the same character development/key events mentioned in each and every book

[Mike9k]

On the positive side, Rollins does his homework: his historical and technical details seem to be accurate. The action is fast paced, making for a quick, exciting afternoon read despite the book's 500+ pages. On the other hand, I found the main characters to be wooden and impossible to empathize with. Some of the characterizations were beyond belief. (Grandma is an ex-Nazi! Really!)

And as for the culmination of all that plot action... it was straight out of Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark. I might just as well have revisited the DVD.

Overall, a disappointing read.

[John]

Mike9k wrote: "On the positive side, Rollins does his homework: his historical and technical details seem to be accurate..."

I had the opposite reaction, at least on the technical details. The most annoying being when he described the pit-dogs as "close to a hundred kilos, twice the weight of most men." I'd be hard pressed to think of any man I know who weighs 110 pounds, much less most.

[Dee]

100kg is 220lbs - give or take

[Tad]

And twice 110 lbs is 220 lbs.

[Donna]

i finished the Bloodline. I really enjoyed that book.
I recently started reading Map of Bones. Not into it
enough to form an opinion..

[Amy]

Donna wrote: "i finished the Bloodline. I really enjoyed that book.
I recently started reading Map of Bones. Not into it
enough to form an opinion.."

I liked Bloodline better than Map of Bones, esp the women's characters have more to do. And I loved Kane the war dog. (Now my dog wants a "dog-cam" LOL!)

[Sharon]

If you want to get to know James Rollins and his writing start with his very first book and work forward. Excavation and Subterranean are great books and I have read every one since the first. Ice Hunt is great also. The sigma series is good but I tend to get bored with the same characters after a while. I do like all the history and description.
BTW - James wrote a blurb for my first book. Great Guy

[LeAnne]

I have only read The Judas Strain and I really liked it. Very suspenseful. He must have done a lot of research on the subject. I intend to go back to the first of the series so I can get into the characters more.