Amazonia

Rating:
Summary: Oustanding adventure novel from start to finish
Review: James Rollins' fourth book, Amazonia, is the best of his first four published novels. Like his previous three novels (Subterranean, Excavation, and Deep Fathom), all are robust, action-filled adventure stories centering around a major discovery. Unlike Subterranean and Deep Fathom, Amazonia has a great finish after a big buildup. Excavation is on par with Amazonia in this respect as both had fast starts, great buildup, and a great conclusion.

Amazonia centers around the discovery of something in the Amazon with regenerative capabilities. A Special Forces agent stumbles into a small village at the beginning and the mystery surrounding the regeneration of his missing arm intrigues the US Government and Nathan Rand. Rand's father was part of the original mission into the Amazon with Agent Clark as part of the US military support.

A new team of US Rangers is formed, aided by Rand and a few friends and scientists. Their discoveries of strange new creatures and plantlife make for an interesting tale and one full of action and intrigue. Although some of the action sequences are a bit farfetched, they are still entertaining. The action is never as unbelievable as that of Matthew Reilly's books where the hero always seems to have what he/she needs at just the right moment, but it does stretch the imagination a bit.

The fast-paced novel is a quick read that will entertain fans of Matthew Reilly, Steve Alten and other adventure writers. The conclusion fits well within the story and wraps up the story neatly. Fortunately, this ending is much better than that of Deep Fathom where the author seemed to not know how to end the story, which resulted in him basically "hitting the reset button" to conclude the story. If you are a first time reader of Rollins, read Amazonia first followed by Excavation.

Rating:
Summary: What lies in the heart of the world's darkest jungle?
Review: Four years ago, Carl Rand's scientific expedition into the jungle vanished. However, a man has just emerged from the jungle: Gerald Clark, a special forces member assigned to the Rand expedition. Clark went in with one arm missing...and came back with two intact.

Rand's son, Nate, is pegged to head another expedition into the jungle's heart. Guarded by Army Rangers and led by the beautiful Kelly O'Brien, the goal of this expedition is to investigate the fate of the Rand expedition, and to find out just what allowed Clark's arm to regrow.

Unbeknownst to Nate and his party, they are being followed on their trek. Their pursuer is a deadly, unholy mercenary by the name of Louis Favre, a renegade doctor with a heart of stone. His mistress is a Shuar Indian, skilled in the tactics of head shrinking...

But that is not all. A deadly trail follows the body of Gerald Clark. A disease that affects the young and old, a disease that is much more contagious than the common cold and much more deadly than anything man has yet discovered. The expedition has a new goal: to find a cure, before the disease gets out of hand.

But that won't be easy. The Army Rangers are, as Nate and his team soon find out, little protection against the jungle. The forest, you see, is inhabited by a tribe known as the Ban-ali ("Blood Jaguars"), a group of legendary, mythic Indians who have a tendancy to defend what is theirs...and "bring the jungle down" upon all who threaten them...

I never thought James Rollins could exceed "Subterranean," but I was wrong. "Amazonia" is absolutely his best yet, with all the action and adventure you can want, along with some heart-pounding suspense and a twisting plot. You must read this novel, because it is not something you will want to miss. But be careful:

It's a jungle out there.

Rating:
Summary: I could almost hear the rain
Review: Move over Michael Crichton this was the toughest book to put down since I read "Timeline". It was my first Rollin's book but I am sure not my last. From the other reviews I understand they lose something with repetition. Even so I will definetely give this author another try.
The story and characters were totally engaging and the action never stopped, almost to the point that I wished it would have just so the characters could get an occasional nap and I could stop worrying about who was going to die next. Some of the events were perditable and I knew who the hero was all along but it did not spoil the fun or the excitment for me. I particularly enjoyed all the information on the Rain Forest sprinkled throughout (no pun intented) and found the symbiotic relationship between man and plants most intriguing. It gave me something to ponder as to how the earth would be if man and plant were so profoundly and dependently connected. What a great, fun and informative read. Couldn't ask for more.

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Summary: I'm Never Going to the Amazon
Review: I have read all of James Rollins previous books and have found them to be an absolute fun read. However, after reading Amazonia, I will probably not be scheduling any site seeing trips in the Amazon! This book was exciting from the first page. His characters have a way from jumping from the frying pan into the fire and then back again. I also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rollins at last summer's San Diego Comic Con. He told me that if I liked Amazonia, I will love Ice Hunt! I recommend Amazonia to those who enjoy a great adventure and a little romance.

Rating:
Summary: 2 1/2 stars Fun but flawed and a bit of a retread
Review: A good many of the characters in Amazonia are just beginning to be fleshed out when they die. As a matter of fact only the protagonist and heroine are developed to the point where I really cared if they lived or died. The basic plotline is much the same as Excavation. I'll bet if Rollins writes anther book his hero is a scientist/explorer, troubled by the death of (a) parent(s), has a thing for redheads, and travels into the unknown with a group of companions (at least one of whom always dies) in search of some Earth shattering prehistoric/technological thingy. The Army rangers in the story are unrealistic in my view. First, NCOs are not addressed as sir. Secondly, the typical rank of these guys is a bit low for an elite unit. I would guess most of them would be E-4 to E-6. Third, I doubt they would be such easy targets. They wouldn't for example go bungling about in the dark with flashlights. Yes, flashlights! Elite soldiers just don't make it so easy for an enemy to spot them. Still, it's a quick , fun read and the what if? premise is wild and thought provoking.

Rating:
Summary: There are no Martians in this book!
Review: Dr. Nathan Rand is tortured by the disappearance of his father, and the subsequent calling off of the search by the evil pharmaceutical company (see John LeCarre's "The Constant Gardner") that assigned Dr. Rand (senior) to the project. This assignment failed as in 'never heard from again' in the deepest part of the Amazon jungle.

Dr. Rand Junior turns to alcohol and drugs and 4 years pass. A new search is mounted following some newly discovered, unexplained, genetic occurences. Enter Dr. Kelly, the gorgeous Medical school graduate and participant on this trip. Also making more than guest appearances, the wicked Doctor Favre; his mistress, evil, depraved and generally bad. And always naked; The CIA. Hard talking U.S.Army Rangers, a spy/turncoat, and of course, love. So far OK. Good adventure. King Soloman's Mines with an edge. Tarzan on steroids. It's Harrison Ford searching for his Dad, Sean Connery.

But then the story takes an even more bizarre turn and we have 100-foot crocodiles, carnivorous locust with sensing systems, land-hopping, amphibious pirranah, and 1000 pound + jaguars. These jaguars are the size of man-eating horses.

Now I enjoyed this book. The writing is good although you have to suspend belief a little regarding the dialogue. Of course, if you can accept radar oriented insects, you ought to be able to handle "serious" conversations about them.

But I think you have to consciously appreciate that this is an old fashioned adventure book. Like movies from the '50's, some of this stuff just isn't supposed to make sense. It would be science fiction, but to quote myself, 'there are no Martians in this book.'

So read. Enjoy. It's adventure. It's pretty good adventure. I would read Mr. Rollins again.

Rating:
Summary: Mission: Amazon jungle
Review: When former CIA agent Gerald Clark emerges from the remote, inhospitable jungles of the Amazon basin in Brazil, after being presumed dead four years ago, Rollins' fanciful fantasy Amazonia commences. Clark was part of an expedition led by millionaire pharmaceutical industrialist Dr. Carl Rand into the Amazon jungle to take a census of the native Indian tribes. Dr. Rand headed a company using native plants and Indian shaman cures to formulate cutting edge drugs and medicines. The expedition mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

Clark, on death's doorstep trudged his way to a mission where despite the efforts of a local padre he soon died. He was found to be inundated with numerous cancerous tumors and with two arms. What was shocking was that he had lost an arm in some previous military combat.

Upon discovery of this unbelieveable news the U.S. government commissioned a mission to trace the trail that Clark followed out of the jungle to learn the fate of the doomed expedition.
Among the members of the mission was Dr. Nathan Rand, son of Carl Rand. Nate Rand, also a Phd. biologist was living amid the Yanomamo tribe in the Amazon jungle and was famaliar with their ways and customs and medicines. Leading the team which also included ten U.S. Army Rangers were the fraternal twin team of Frank and Kelly O'Brien both high level operatives within the government.

Within short order it's revealed that Gerald Clark's body which had been transported to the U.S., has transmitted a rapidly spreading plague for which there is no known cure. The jungle mission must now find a cure for this disease in the plants of the deep Amazon jungle.

The perilous journey leads them to the territory of the tabooed and feared tribe of the ban-Ali, the Blood Jaguars. All the while they are being pursued by a group lead by the ruthless Frenchman, Dr. Favre who working for a large drug company has designs on stealing anything uncovered by Rand's group.

This harrowing adventure tale continues with intrigue to a well concocted yet highly unbelieveable conclusion. Rollins is a very imaginative author with a free flowing style.

Rating:
Summary: Amazonia
Review: A fast paced, heart throbbing, adventure/thriller of the first order. Life threatening dangers are lurking with every step when exploring the Amazon rain forrest. Group of doctors and local scientists are searching for a lost expedition and hope to find the source of the substance that can produce miraculous regeneration of limbs; and a cure for the mysterious plague that has come out of the jungle and is threatening to wipe out the population of the US. There are traitors and brutal mercenaries to complicate things along the way.

Whew! When I finished this one I had to start reading a book that was was lot tamer just to have a rest!

Rating:
Summary: Another Great book by James Rollins
Review: James Rollins has created a world in Amazonia that grabs you and transports you into the Amazon. The descriptions of the Amazon, and the characters are brought to life in vivid detail.

When I first began reading Amazonia, I thought that maybe the idea was a bit to far fetched, A man who had one arm going into the Amazon comes out with two? I mean that is really out there, and I was skeptical, but as the story moves along, the plot takes hold and you are brought into a wonderful world with surprises around every corner.

I especially liked the descriptions of the village in the end of this book, they were fascinating. I read Amazonia in two nights, and once you pick it up, I think you will have a hard time putting it down!

I highly recommend James Rollins' Amazonia!

Rating:
Summary: Filled With Action But Rather Predictable....
Review: When I First Started Reading Mr. Rollins' Books 2 Years Ago When I Was 12, They Captivated Me In A Way That Was Almost Scary. Unfortuantely, After Reading The Other 3, Amazonia Was Rather Predictable. Its Almost The Same As Excavation; Scientists Stumble Upon Amazing Discovery, Another Group Wants It And Destroys The Civilization. The Discovery Is Forever Lost To Mankind. But Aside From That, This Book Kept Me Interested And Reading It Every Chance I Got! And Only The Ending Was Predictable. The Creatures Encountered Kept Me Guessing.