Rating: Summary: Very fun book. Review: Empire of Dust is a very fun read, just like the previous book in the series, City of Iron. The book is fast paced with many twists and surprises. It also has a great monster! It's like the X-Files at its best. I do recommend that buyers read City of Iron before reading this one.
Rating: Summary: A great supernatural thrillogy Review: I waited to post reviews on the first two books in the Searcher series until I saw how the last volume turned out. I needn't have bothered, since Mr. Williamson maintained the taut writing, finely delineated characters, and sure hand at dealing with paranormal (or is it??) material right up to the cataclysmic end. These are superb thrillers, marrying X-Files style paranormal investigation with a sure hand at action and a trip into the most fascinating corners of strange phenomena. The series feels like one large novel that reaches progressive crescendos at the end of each installment, with the last volume (which I just finished) providing a suitably grand finale.I hadn't seen much from Mr. Williamson in recent years, but I remember his Ash Wednesday as one of the more literate and emotionally powerful horror novels of the past couple decades. It's good to see him back in top form. There's no question that these are inspired by the X-Files, but they bring a literacy, craft, and intelligence to paranormal fiction that we see too rarely. Now that the final volume is out, buy them all and read them all together.
Rating: Summary: RIVETING! Scared me to DEATH! Review: I was so engrossed with this sequel to The Searchers that I found myself up at 3:00 in the morning reading with ALL THE LIGHTS ON!
Rating: Summary: The plot thickens Review: Like the first book in this series, "City of Iron", the action is fast paced and with enough plot twists to keep you guessing. If you like good old fashioned space opera, Bond novels, Conan, or the Dynochrome Brigade you'll get along well with this book. After all how many books have you read where the Holy Mother Church gets chased around the country by angst ridden covert ops, the undead, and a swat team from the religious reich. My only fear is that Williamson will run out of conspiracy theories before he gets a few more of these published. PLEASE read the first book before you get involved in this one. "The Searchers" stands well enough on it's own but adding background from the first more than doubles the enjoyment. You won't be tempted to leave this on one the plane.
Rating: Summary: Great X-Files meets Milennium Group Review: Like the first book in this series, "City of Iron", the action is fast paced and with enough plot twists to keep you guessing. If you like good old fashioned space opera, Bond novels, Conan, or the Dynochrome Brigade you'll get along well with this book. After all how many books have you read where the Holy Mother Church gets chased around the country by angst ridden covert ops, the undead, and a swat team from the religious reich. My only fear is that Williamson will run out of conspiracy theories before he gets a few more of these published. PLEASE read the first book before you get involved in this one. "The Searchers" stands well enough on it's own but adding background from the first more than doubles the enjoyment. You won't be tempted to leave this on one the plane.
Rating: Summary: The search continues in the west... Review: The high desert of the American southwest has fascinated me ever since I first visited it. The Four Corners area of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah is rich in scenic splendor and ancient history. It is also a land of mysteries, with its meandering canyons and gorges, its seemingly endless deserts, and the ruins of the now vanished Anasazi culture. With its sense of timelessness and mystery, it seemed the ideal place to set EMPIRE OF DUST, the second volume of THE SEARCHERS. The mysterious prisoner has been brought west by his captors, and the Searchers, three CIA operatives out to debunk so-called paranormal occurrences, have also come west to investigate a series of strange deaths, in which bodies have been drained of every drop of moisture. To add to the mystery, sand drawings have begun to appear, gigantic patterns made in the desert earth, similar to the oft-exposed crop circles. Laika Harris, Joseph Stein, and Tony Luciano are aided by a young woman who seems to have true psychic powers, and their search draws them inexorably toward the prisoner who lies at the heart of the enigma. THE SEARCHERS is a three-book series, and although you can start with any one, I'd suggest beginning with CITY OF IRON, the first volume. I think that once you read one, you'll be hooked. Reader and reviewer response to the book has been excellent. But don't believe me -- take a look at the listing for THE SEARCHERS: CITY OF IRON. And please keep an eye open for the final volume, SIEGE OF STONE. If you're a fan of the paranormal, THE X-FILES, and MEN IN BLACK, or if you just like a good, exciting read, I think you'll have a great time in the company of THE SEARCHERS.
Rating: Summary: And the plot thickens! Review: This series is proving to be very interesting indeed. The first novel plants an idea in your mind. The second novel feeds that idea and suddenly flips you over 360 degrees, although by that time, you're already thinking along those lines based on the direction the storyline is going. Again, excellent writing style, intricate plot, good premise for a series, and no idea where the story is heading. This series could easily compete with the now ever popular "Left Behind" series that in my opinion has become too familiar and too predictable. The Searchers series has what the "Left Behind" series is lacking, surprises at every corner, suspense, and leaves you wanting more. Bring on the third one!
Rating: Summary: And the plot thickens! Review: This series is proving to be very interesting indeed. The first novel plants an idea in your mind. The second novel feeds that idea and suddenly flips you over 360 degrees, although by that time, you're already thinking along those lines based on the direction the storyline is going. Again, excellent writing style, intricate plot, good premise for a series, and no idea where the story is heading. This series could easily compete with the now ever popular "Left Behind" series that in my opinion has become too familiar and too predictable. The Searchers series has what the "Left Behind" series is lacking, surprises at every corner, suspense, and leaves you wanting more. Bring on the third one!
Rating: Summary: The plot thickens Review: Too often, the second part of a trilogy is also the dullest part. Everything is set up in the first book, and everything is resolved in the third, so the second can't do anything but mark time. Empire of Dust manages to escape the curse of the second volume. It answers several questions and resolves some issues from the first novel, while setting up new situations for what promises to be an exciting conclusion. The author manages to remind the reader of relevant information from the first book without screaming, "This is a recap." This book could probably be read independently, though it does say Book Two, right on the cover, so nobody should be upset if they feel like they're coming in on the middle of the story . . . This series continues to out-X-Files the X-Files. My only fear is that once everything is revealed, it'll just seem goofy. I'm willing to take that chance, though. I've got to find out how this story ends!
Rating: Summary: Better than Part 1, but..... Review: While this is marginally better than Part 1, City of Iron, I still feel this series leaves a lot to be desired. While the "prisoner" idea is interesting, I still feel many of the characters are little more than cardboard cut-outs. Once again, I cannot recommend this series, though I do think Mr. Williamson has written some far better books (including his Crow novel)
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