Excavation

Rating:
Summary: EXCEPTIONAL!!
Review: James Rollins has done an incredible job with EXCAVATION. The writing is crisp, clear and very visual. The story is fresh and inventive, and I found myself holding my breath several times while reading it. I can honestly say that Mr. Rollins has become one of my favorite authors. After reading SUBTERRANEAN, I encouraged all of my friends to read it as well. Now, after reading EXCAVATION, I have another great book to recommend! You just don't write them fast enough, Jim! To sum up this incredible read, I can honestly say that Mr. Rollins has out-Crichtoned Michael Crichton!

Rating:
Summary: Better and Better!
Review: I have been waiting impatiently for the second James Rollins book and have certainly not been disappointed. James Rollins just gets better and better. This adventure was fast paced and combined all of my favorite elements such as adventure, lost civilizations, sprinkled with a little romance. There are not a great many adventure novels written about South American civilizations making it a fresh subject for an archaeological adventure. My biggest disappointment was that I read it in one sitting and now have to wait for Rollins next book. He needs to either learn to write faster or I need to learn to read slower. Please hurry Mr Rollins with your next adventure!

Rating:
Summary: Better and Better!
Review: I am happy to report that James Rollins second book is even better than his first! Since reading Subterranean last year, I have impatiently awaited James Rollins' new book. This book was exciting and fast paced and contained all of the elements that are so close to my heart...adventure, archaeological discoveries, romance, and just plain good fun. I particularly love the Indiana Jones type of storyline. Now I am totally bereft...after waiting for so long to read it, I completed it in one sitting. Please Mr. Rollins write faster or I will have to force myself to read slower. Only problem is that once you pick one of James Rollins' books up, you cant put it back down. I honestly dont think I can wait another year for your next book.

Rating:
Summary: What a ride!
Review: You won't be disappointed by Rollins' second novel. Jam packed with action adventure that would surely rival "Indiana Jones" and an ending that will blow your mind. The story has an incredibly well developped and imaginative plot, intricate without being complicated. If you have as vivid an imagination as the author, get ready for a fun ride! I can guarantee you won't be disappointed! Booya Jim! :-) Do it again please! And hurry!

Rating:
Summary: Another adventure, another land, another mystery . . .
Review: First, let me thank everyone who wrote, called, e-mailed, or reviewed my first novel, SUBTERRANEAN, here on Amazon.com. I hope my new novel engenders such a vigorous response. In EXCAVATION, a new adventure begins in the heart of the Andean jungles, among long-lost ruins, in a temple sealed with a dying priest's last words.

Why did I write this story?

As a boy, I had read the true adventures of how Howard Carter discovered the golden tomb of King Tut. It was an exciting tale, filled with intrigue, treachery, and a hint of an ancient Egyptian curse. What more could anyone ask for in a story? As I read, I dreamed of following in Howard Carter's footsteps. And now in writing EXCAVATION, I was finally given this chance, if only in my own imagination. The novel follows archaeologist, Henry Conklin (note the same initials as the famed explorer above), who discovers an unknown Inca city high in the Andean mountains. Like Mr. Carter's tale, Henry's adventure is one fraught with dangerous pitfalls, lost treasures, and a hidden curse that threatens not just his archaeological team, but all of mankind.

I hope you all enjoy the story as much as I did writing it!

Rating:
Summary: Indiana Jones Meets Andromeda Strain
Review: "Excavation" starts out on an archeological dig in the Peruvian Andes. We get underground tunnels and a sealed door, cave-ins, would-be tomb robbers, mummified bodies, and ancient booby-traps. All fast-paced, entertaining and fairly plausible. From there on, this tale becomes increasingly fantastic until it all gets a bit hard to swallow. If you can suspend your disbelief enough to accept the last quarter of the book, though, it continues to be fast-paced and entertaining. Until the last half-dozen pages or so. At that point Rollins gets downright maudlin in his efforts to wrap up the romantic entanglements. Then comes the epilogue, which wraps up some loose ends with and definitely scifi explanation and leaves lots of room for sequels.

As I said, "Excavation" gets pretty fantastic before its over, but I suppose it's no more difficult to accept that most scifi I've read. It was fun and the action never let up. Its all very shallow, there are no deep concepts being explored here, but scifi fans and those who enjoy the kind of techno-thrillers by writers like Crichton (although it isn't quite as polished as Crichton's work) will like this book, as well.

Rating:
Summary: A good, solid book.
Review: EXCAVATION is not the best book in the world, but ranks up there with one I would recommend. It held my attention, and that right there says something. Other reviewers have complained at the implausibe ending. To this, I just say that is a matter of opinion on whether that will ruin the story for you. Me, I like creative stories that break from the normal action-thriller books. To me, if I heard the ending was too sci-fi, that would just urge me to read the book MORE. It would just say, there was something mysterious to look forward to, and it wouldn't end with a six-o'clock news story ending.

All in all, if you like the idea of a group digging up ancient secrets and thrown into action-packed, life or death struggles leading up to one out-of-this world ending, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: thrilling pastiche
Review: This is fast-paced summer trash. It has no redeeming social value and not much literary finesse, but, oh, what a pastiche of endless excitement. Any resemblance to real archaeology is accidentally from a textbook on Incan lore. Instead, Rollins' method is pastiche: here a bit copped from Haggard, Tolkien (Gollum), King, or Raiders, there another from Da Vinci, Poe, Drexler, or CSI; and of course, GOLD. He only missed something extra-terrestrial (oops, no he didn't). Rollins' structure is that of The Perils of Pauline, one cliffhanging episode after another, flashing between two interwoven tales and sets of characters, the professor in his lab with his love, and his graduate students stranded with burgeoning love on an Andean mountain. It's a good thing the "science" here is so fast-paced or our heroes' flashlight and cell-phone would never have lasted six days underground. (Rollins clearly has a thing for underground stories: a Dungeons and Dragons freak?) Characters? Forget 'em. Logic? Don't bother. Just start this at some mindless moment in your life and, amazingly, you'll be sucked right in. This story will probably stick in my mind because it is just so wildly outlandish, drats. The pb cover art is quite a work.

Rating:
Summary: read worse and certainly better...
Review: Some reviewers found this book hokie. Usually this type of book is. A good writer though, can make even a hokie book seem just a little believable. James Rollins didn't do that here. The dialogue wasn't great and often redundant. I got thru it though. Just accepted it as something quick and easy to read in spite of unbelievability. You know.... like much Science Fiction!

Rating:
Summary: A great winner from Rollins
Review: Deep in the Andes, hidden from the outside world, an entrance to a lost pyramid, and lost civilization is found. A group of scientists uncovers this hidden mystery and treasures along with it. They dig deeper to find what they believe to be an even greater treasure, but instead find horror awaiting them there. Indiana Jones-type adventure novel, excellently written.