Rating: 
Summary: The longest and slowest read ever!
Review: There are only two good things about this book 1)The cover 2)The last page. Don't waste your time like I did.
Rating: 
Summary: A page-turner in every sense of the term...
Review: Well, maybe it's me.This book has a great, scary, philosophical comical tragical idea inside it -- but structurally it's an unholy mess. Beginning with some atmospheric, creepy tension-building, suddenly it rockets forward to an improbable/impossible set of circumstances -- as if the author is in too much of a hurry or unsure of how to morph the horror-story opening into a military procedural with sci-fi trappings, which seems the only place he's truly comfortable. Some of the writing is muscular and effective, especially the descriptions of physical suffering, but then there are the 800-pound gorilla elements: Eco-like fragments thrown in to please the intelligentsia. These appear almost at random and go nowhere. And some of the ideas are half-baked at best: after all, if a species can transfer consciousness from one body to the next, how can a civilization ever decline? What this book really needed was a better integration of the philosophical underpinnings with the adventure outline -- then you'd have something. That said, you will (1) not be able to stop reading it; (2) not soon forget it. For an altogether different experience but one which also affords some excellent and intense adventure writing, check out the NIGHT'S DAWN trilogy by Peter Hamilton (The Neutronium Alchemist et al) -- 'course, it too falls apart, but not until the very end...
Rating: 
Summary: An exciting thrill ride with a different perspective
Review: First, the world created in this book simply stretches the imagination! Combinations of JRR Tolkien like mythology and Steven King horror woven into a modern day tale of archeological discovery and intrigue. The book starts out as a frightening thriller about a variety of interactions with unknown creatures and situations. It all comes together when it is discovered that an entire world exists beneath the surface populated by an unknown species. Is this Hell? The best aspect of the book is the vivid and remarkable creation of a world below the surface. The depictions of new species, and discoveries are painted with such detail that the reader is taken along on the journey with the characters. The depictions of several of the main characters are also well done. The pace and suspense keep the reader engaged throughout, eager to see what comes next. The theological issues often lack depth, but frame an interesting sub plot. In the end, several ideas are postulated but not really closed out, leaving much to the imagination. This is much more effective than trying to tie up all loose ends, as it depicts a more realistic mystery. Overall, I would say that this is a great story but the book is not for everyone. Fans of sci-fi, fantasy and Steven King type thrillers will not be disappointed at all, as it is extremely well written. I agree with the other reviewers here in that this has the potential for being a great film. An excellent addition to the fantasy genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Please continue the story!
Review: This is one of the best novels I have ever read. I read it in a minimum number of sittings. I gave a copy to a friend as a gift and he felt the same way but said it was "the best" novel he had ever read. Why? A radical scenario that is presented with enough real-world factors to make it believable, a varied crew of characters who you become truly interested in, mysteries within mysteries, and a wild adventure that harkens back to the best of Edgar Rice Burroughs. However, there are a number of loose ends that beg for a sequel, or even a series. Mr. Long, I thought "Year Zero" was good too, but nowheres close to "The Descent", so what are you waiting for?
Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste your Time
Review: Let me begin with a few words about myself....I love reading. Ever since I can remember I've always had a book in my hand. Between classes in school, on the metro on the way to work, waiting in line at a movie theater. I love reading so much and I generally like every thing I read. This book was an exception. I didn't even finish it it was THAT bad. First off it begins with three disjointed tails, ok that's fine I read a lot of Tom Clancy I'm used to that. The point is by almost page 200 (practically the middle of the book) the story lines still aren't solidly connected forcing the reader to jump around from plot line to plot line....extremely annoying. When I read the dust cover of this book I was scared, I thought I would be totally scared, biting my nails at 3 am in the morning too scared to keep reading but even more scared to fall asleep. NOT. If anything this book put me to sleep. After a while the premise of the world moving to colonize hell and the quest to see if a real Satan really exists becomes tedious and annoying. Bottom line, don't waste your time on this book, it's not worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Potential but Alas....
Review: The Descent is one of those books that had all the promise of greatness but squandered it by overreaching, logical lapses and I suspect an inability to answer its own questions. The premise was outstanding and frankly, the entire book could have centered on any one of several threads. For instance, the war between Hadal and our world. (This is also one of my complaints) The battle that erupts between the two sides had all the earmarks of a classic confrontation that could have been the basis for the entire book. But nope - after a bit of development, the war is over and we move on to an unlikely corporate expedition to find an enemy who has all but died off. All but died off...hmmm...these guys take out 1,000,000 troops in one battle and then...retreat? Then they are defeated? My simple mind doesn't understand. I wanted this book to fulfill its promise and I, unlike many others here, did like the ending. However, I should have kept notes so I could keep track of many of the minor characters who became prominent in the end. I kept flipping back to try and recall how they were initially presented. I could go on and on (and feel like I already have...) but when I book or movie shows such great intent it is doubly disappointing when it fails to fulfill said promise.
Rating:
Summary: The Descent
Review: Under the earth's surface, a hidden civilization has existed for millennia. Now, they have come to threaten humanity. Wonderful speculative ideas and some gorgeous images and turns of phrase. The execution seems flawed, though. It's never quite clear why the hadals become a threat at this particular moment in time. The moments when they and their underworld are discovered are told in pure exposition, robbing the narrative of potential drama. The hadals and their culture are the most fascinating part of the book, yet Long chooses to focus on human military weirdos, keeping the hadals mysterious throughout. Having mystery for part of the novel would have been a good way to maintain tension, but I wanted to get to the bottom of things eventually and never did. The novel's conclusion seemed to degenerate into an action movie without really addressing the larger themes. Characters are fairly appealing, and there are some wonderfully grotesque moments.
Rating:
Summary: Great start, but falls apart in the end.
Review: This was the first book I read by Jeff Long. I would recommend Year Zero, which is a far better book than the Descent. The problem was not that the Descent was a bad book and not worth reading. The problem was its ending. Jeff Long does an excellent job in pulling you into the story. I couldn't put the book down. About 200 pages in, though, he begins to slow down. You begin to wonder what happened to the editor as much of this could of been cut out. None-the-less I was still intrigued and continued reading. The Descent does build to a what you expect is to be a great climatic ending. All the meat was there, the problem becomes Jeff Long forgets to cook the meat in the end. You finish the book with a major let down. 500 plus pages and this is it? The ending was in one simple word... lame. Now don't get me wrong, the book is worth reading, just be prepared for a let down in the end. One other note, is this book has some pretty graphic sexual descriptions. Not of sex, but of certain parts and many unfortunate, none sexual uses of them. This also brings down the book. The only other problem is to believe a Nun, strong in her faith, decides to take pitty on the main character and his, umm deformities and decides to start having sexual thoughts for this character. It's a leap, but okay. Either way, I would recommend Year Zero first as it is a much better effort. If you enjoy Year Zero, then go for the Descent, its not bad, but definately will not be one of his most recommended in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the Rest?
Review: Although this book was great, it felt like only about half of the story. As the book was winding down, I kept wondering how in the world the rest of the story was going to come together. Had it been about another 250 pages longer, it could have been superb. Still quite worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: one helluva read!
Review: If you want a really, really hair-raising read about that which is miles beneath our feet, that which has scared us forever, that which curdles the blood & is the stuff of our collective worst nightmares, then THE DESCENT will do it. Well-written with a ton of details about spelunking, Jeff Long is long on trekking details, imagination & drama! Absolutely gripping, mind-blowing & marvelous with enough of a redemption to leave you very glad for the life you have! Hard to categorize: science fiction? Horror? Mystery?; Thriller? All of the above & a fantastic adventure too!
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