Rating: 
Summary: Contestants of Fear
Review: Once every thousand years, seven contestants are chosen from different galaxies to fight it out in a chosen arena. Only one contestant leaves the arena alive, garanteeing that his/her galaxy will be allowed continued existence for the next thousand years.
The fate of the Milkyway depends on the abilities of a New York Physyician to conquer the other six contestants entering the arena-The New York Public Library? While protecting his 7 year old daughter who has been transported with him, into the Library.
His only help comes from a guide given to each contestant, who tells him of the rules, and guides him throught the maze.
One of the contestants, of course, cheats, using intergalactic dogs to chase down, and eat the other contestants. And then, of course, there is another huge monster thrown into the ring to hunt down, and kill all the contestants. Wow!
For those wanting a total escape from reality, this book is good, not great, but good. Lots of action, as is common with all his books, but low on the believability scale.
This book was released in England, and Australia, where the author is from, several years ago, and is the author's favoite of his books. It was released because of the authors growing popularity with the readers in the U.S.
Suggestion: Read instead his "Ice Station", or "Area 7" both of them being better books.
Nanu,Nanu. Mork from Ork signing out. Shuzbut!
Rating: 
Summary: mindful of a Kirk Star Trek, ¿The Gamesters of Triskelion¿
Review: Radiologist Dr. Stephen Swain and his elementary school aged daughter Holly are in their Long Island home relaxing after a day at the hospital and school respectfully. However, aliens feel the widower will make a good participant in their cross species death contest based on Stephen's efforts that ended a violent problem. The ETs teleport Stephen and Holly to the New York 42nd Street Public Library to play in a deadly game of survivor.The rules are simple: win or die. Seven species will compete until only one is left standing to confront the Karandon, a killing machine who has carved up the library security guard. Escape is impossible as a deadly electrical field encloses the building and immovable wrist bands will incinerate any of the contestants. Let the games begin. The reader needs to move past technologically advanced aliens hosting deadly games sort of like an intergalactic Roman Forum (and several other questionable actions). If the reader can pass that critical go, the story line packs quite a wallop as the taut action leads to the audience rooting for the home team. Somewhat mindful of a Kirk Star Trek show (see "The Gamesters of Triskelion" episode), readers who relish action to the nth degree will join the ultimate survivor CONTEST, but with a galaxy of skepticism along for the ride. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Fun read
Review: The Contest is both cheesey and engrossing. It reads like a Michael Crichton novel and smacks of a blockbuster movie with way too many CGI characters in our future. Despite that, however, The Contest is a highly enjoyable read, though the premise of hardly believable. But if you're looking for a good book to curl up with on a rainy day - or something to take with you to the beach this summer - The Contest is definitely a book worth checking out. Suspend your reality for a day, and give it a try. However, I'll take a moment to mention this is the only Matthew Reilly novel I would recommend. I attempted to read his other novels after reading this one and found them all to be stale and boring.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Action!!!!
Review: This book just doesn't stop. I like that it starts out fast, and doesn't let up. The down side is, it was over just too quickly. Things were wrapped up so fast and so neatly, it was almost a let down. But it was still a blast to read.
I consider something like this a fun read. It isn't going to tax your brain, or even make ya think a whole lot. But you will be entertained. I like Reilly's books about Shane Schofield better (Ice Station, Area 7, and Scarecrow, but this books doesn't deviate from a formula that is working for Reilly.
If you are looking for a non stop action novel, I highly recommend this one.
Rating: 
Summary: This guy should not be writing books
Review: This is a debut, written when the author was 19 years of age. That it found print means he is either a genius (people who've read it will be unable to stop laughing for the next half hour or so) or the publishers were smoking crack. I do hope the money made will prove to be worth the international embarassment for Australian writers. I get the feeling Reilly doesn't actually read, either his own work or other people's. He needed 10 more years at least in the sweat shop before he gets close to publishable.
Please, overseas readers- don't think badly of our country. I would like to apologize if you read this. How did this book get into print? I don't know ... sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Fast Paced and Fun
Review: This is my third Matt Reilly novel, and it was exactly what I expected: fast-paced, lots of action, and little character development. While I enjoyed the pace and the in-your-face Sci-Fi storyline, I felt some of the story required a bit too much suspension of belief. Without giving anything away, I found it very difficult to imagine a learned man like the lead character simply taking HOW he got into the library in stride, and then just accepting his situation just as easily. If it weren't for this, I would have given the book 4 stars. Other than this issue, and a few other plot holes, CONTEST was a great way to spend two evenings. If you haven't read any of Reilly's work, then CONTEST is as good a place as any to begin to experience this young author.
Rating:
Summary: Great Action by a master of the genre!
Review: This is the fourth Reilly book I have read. I rate it second to Ice Station. It expands on the old scifi tale The Arena (which was also used in a Star Trek episode where Kirk fights the Gorn) and instead of one Alien enemy, there are 6. Swain, a doctor is kidnapped by the Aliens running the show and teleported to a sealed off New York library where he must battle the other 6 aliens to the death. Unfortunately for Swain, not only is he in danger but his young daughter was accidentally sent with him so he must protect her as well. Swain meets Selexin who has been assigned his guide. Selaxin tells Swain that in two previous contests earthlings were involved and they were both killed immediately. The story is action packed and you wonder how Swain is able to stay cool under impossible odds. Reilly is a master at telling tales with "Die Hard" like action throughout. The end of the book fails to tie up all loose ends otherwise I would have rated it higher. Also, I did not understand the last sentence of the book and there is an interview in the book with Reilly where he states that the last sentence is significant.
Rating: 
Summary: Contest packs in the action and the thrills
Review: When I first heard about Matthew Reilly's Contest, I was very excited. I thought the idea of a life or death contest in the New York Public Library was a great idea. When I began reading it, I realized that I was not going to be disappointed. Actually it exceeded my expectations! The Contest takes place in the New York Public Library between 7 competitors, each from a different world, and each with a "guide". The action is non-stop, and it is written in a way that transports you to the middle of the action. One of the best things about this book was that it did not let you rest for one page. I read the book in two days and I really could not put it down until the last page. The idea is far fetched, if you are into reading something that might actually happen, you might want to shy away from this one, but if you are in a fun exciting read, this one is for you. I read Ice Station by Matt Reilly before I read Contest, and while Ice Station was a bit better, Contest was right up there. I highly recommend Contest to anyone looking for a fun read that you will find hard to put down.
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