Rating: Summary: Stunningly creative Review: In terms of sheer imagination and inventiveness, this ranks as one of the most compelling thrillers I've read in some time. Yes, the author went a bit over the top, and he occasionally let his creativity overwhelm any semblance of scientific reality. (His use of prions, for instance, as an instantaneous death agent). Nevertheless, I was willing to let some of his novelistic whoppers slide because he's such a darn good storyteller, and unsurpassed at building almost unbearable tension. Way to go, Mr. Long.
Rating: Summary: The only book I ever read twice Review: I have been reading for years. I bought this book on a whim and have to say that I am glad that I did. The characters are so real and diverse you feel as though you know them like family by the end of the book. The plot is extremely well thought out with several twists. I love the main character Ike. A true anti-hero if ever there was one. Jeff Long is the most exciting writer to come alone in years. I read this book in two nights and had to reread it again for the shear entertainment value of it. This is the only book that I have ever read twice. It is that good.
Rating: Summary: Jeff Long sent me to Hell and I loved every minute of it! Review: Yes you read the title of this review right. Long sent me and other lucky readers to hell and we loved it! He created a terrifying epic adventure about human race meeting their match with the denizens of the underworld and their fearsome creator we call Satan.This novel is about our battles with frightening race of proto-humans who come from the bowels of the earth to enslave and devour us.The creatures called Hadals by the characters are semi-civilized beings who live at the center of the earth where we would think hell resides.Long's chilling novel has scenes of eerie beauty as you watch a ill-fated group of scientists and mercenaries try to explore and conquer this dark world for mankind and meet their match with it's inhabitants.This novel also gives us thoughts about the nature of evil and the being we call Satan.Long's characters in his novel come alive like brave and resourceful Dwight David Crokett who was a slave to Hadals and now uses his experiences their to save the scientists. Ali-the young ex-nun who ability to read languages will take her to a adventure that will shake her faith and endanger her life. Long's novel combines the adventurous spirit of Jules Verne with terrifying horror of Stephen King in depicting this sinister world and inhabitants and their effect upon humans.Parts of this novel is mot for the squemish or the easily frightened or shocked.Finally you will get a shocking surprise as Long introduces us to Satan and his identity! So Go to Hell and get the ride of your life!
Rating: Summary: An imaginative story Review: This book was so interesting that it kept me hooked from the first chapter. I couldn't put it down, wondering what was going to happen next. It was great.
Rating: Summary: Original, superbly realized, thought provoking adventure Review: Descent is easily the best novel I have read in the past year or two. Jeff Long takes us into the bowels of hell guided by the lamp of his original, finely tuned imagination. He writes with a lucid prose and creates a 3-dimentional story of epic proportions and richly realized settings. The reader forgives Long the occasional flaw because this mountain climber has written an Everest of a book and blazes a spectacular route. As a writer myself, I demand a lot from a stranger to whom I'm giving my mind and precious reading time. Descent never let me down (no pun intended). After reading this book, I've been singing its praises to all who will listen.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining, with a lot of loose ends. Review: The firsts chapters of this book are engrossing. I liked them a lot, even though it is a violent, bloody and sacrilegous book. As a matter of fact, when I narrated the story to my girlfriend, she asked why I was reading such a sadistic book. I like to be open to new ideas, profane as the may be.I give it only four stars because Long starts some subplots and misteries and later does not mention them again. He has a style I had found previously in Linda Nagatta's sci-fi novel "Vast", where the reader is not given all the answers. I mostly liked the ending for all the irony of the characters actions, and I won't get into details it to avoid spoiling it. I'd recommend this book if you are open minded, and advise catholics (as myself) to take into account since it contains a couple of things that may come hard (nuns, demons, and especially references to the shroud).
Rating: Summary: The dumbest, most low-brow read you'll ever enjoy Review: There are certain forms of entertainment which are somehow succesfully enjoyable despite what seems their best effort to fail. This book is one such guilty pleasure. I read it cover-to-cover in only two sittings, but make no mistake about it, this book is ridiculously bad. You'll be asking yourself, 'Did the editor just forget to read this section, or what?' and 'Did the author come up with this while watching B movies under the influence of certain unnamed controlled substances?' For all of that, though, you'll return right to it, despite yourself. I've never enjoyed having my intelligence insulted so much. I loved The Descent, despite the fact that it ranks slightly behind a mediocre superhero comic in terms of literary value. This is pure trash which, with the proper sense of humor and the right mood, you will thoroughly enjoy. What a piece of junk. God bless it.
Rating: Summary: engrossing adventure Review: I loved this book. If your into adventure then you will to. It kept me busy for three days..couldnt sleep couldnt eat all i could do was read ikes story. Also it makes you think about the orgin of some ofmankinds oldest myths
Rating: Summary: Into the hollow Earth Review: This is an interesting read, but it could have been much more. There are simply too many themes and plots. I enjoyed the book, but it is frustrating to leave so much unexplored. The author laid the foundation for about 10 more novels. Maybe he has a sequel or three up his sleeve? I recommend it to horror - fantasy fans because it is a fun book, but it just isn't complete. Mr. Long has a great idea here, and I hope he develops it a bit further. There are a couple more stars in there somewhere.
Rating: Summary: Hokum Review: This novel was ruined for me by the ludicrous "romance" between the nun and the defrocked demon. How predictable, not to mention superfluous. It is the mark of a mediocre writer. What is it that compels someone to insert a relationship in to a storyline when it serves no purpose other than to cater to the unsophisticated reader? And Ike just happens across his daughter in the midst of all this chaos? Talk about pulling out all the stops.
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