Title of this should be: “I have a theory about that,” said Jack.” If you’re into the sport of extreme military and general science-in-action reading, then this is for you. Don’t get me wrong, I love science and archeology, but after only 20% into the story, I was already mind-numb from all the details and explanations that I was feeling detached from the story. After a while who cares how old the stupid shipwreck and disk are, we don’t even know what it is yet they think they might find. Which should be the main focus of the story, I’d think. Or is this supposed to be university text book in disguise? So I skimmed through most of the details looking for the basic story. The action began to pick up about halfway through, making the second half of the book read faster, though there was still a lot of military action description, extraneous details and scenery admiration time. We also got page long technical descriptions of all the various ships, aircraft and weapons used in the story. Several moral lessons on the evils of hoarding historical artifacts (which I agree with btw). And we are enlightened on the details of at least 3 different object dating techniques. Like the author was really pushing his Atlantis dating theory and wanted to make sure we get it. It’s a fiction story! We don’t need that much science to use our imagination to enjoy a great adventure. While I love archeological-based adventures, there is an overbalance of scientific explanations in this. In fact the percentage of science to action is at least 2-1. It’s definitely overkill and slows down the story. Ex.: while waiting for Katya to negotiate with the bad guys, our good guys return via satellite, to their previous 25-page conference, in order to continue discussing the Greek parchment for eight more pages. Don’t they care that they’ve just sent a girl off alone to the big baddies’ ship? Let’s just get back to the story, ok? All in all, it would have been a pretty good story if a lot of the stuff unnecessary to the actual storyline had been cut. Then after all the excitement is over we get another long chapter of speculation of how the Atlantis exodus matched up with the biblical account. BTW: there’s also a lot of scenery descriptions as they fly around in their fancy helicopter(s) or look out of their hotel windows or... And if that doesn’t keep his friends entertained enough, Jack can engage them in a long history lesson, with pictures. He’d make a great tour guild. Quick thought: there’s a thin thread of a possible attraction between Jack and Katya peeking out through the above mess. Fave scenes: Solon meeting with Amenhotep, finding the bull-sphinx and Jake’s time in the Seaquest’s command module.
Easily the worst book I've tried in 2011. I am usually very easy to please, witness my 4 star median rating on Goodreads, but Gibbins ticked me in all the wrong places. I am also an advocate of letting readers make up their own opinion and not thrashing any author or book, but my friendly advice is : stay away from this.I choose the book without any previous research, solely based on the subject of Atlantis. It is, as usual with the theme, not really about ancient Atlantis, but about modern archeology and the discovery of the ruins of this particular civilization. It is also an attempt at writing a techno thriller, and as such the author may have some academical knowledge about history and about archeology but is particularly clueless about technology and mechanics. Some of his invented materials and devices are examples of wishful thinking and show a lack of understanding of basic principles of physics.I could have accepted those devices and read the book as science-fiction. But the mode of presentation is awkward and clumsy. Endless dry expositions through "brainstorming" meetings and conferences between the main actors. There is no dialogue, only again the actors entering lecture mode and telling us about the plot. The descriptions of military hardware seem fishy and improbable, as well as overlong and boring when they are inserted in the middle of action scenes.There's nothing original about the characters or the plot: superheroes against supervillains, agent 007 against mad terrorists bent on world domination. The author expresses some of the worst russo- and islamo-phobia I have come across.My recommendation: try something else. This book makes even Clive Cussler look like a Booker Prize candidate./edit for spelling errors
What do You think about Atlantis (2005)?
A bunch of archaeologist searching for Atlantis. Well, their adventure in searching is intriguing, the conflict with terrorist adds suspense. But too many technoblab that made me say, "Huh?" every time someone explain an operation of a high tech (fictional) machine. And there are many, I tell you, and unnecessary.Plus, in the end the main character reminds me too much of Rambo. He's a marine archaeologist for goodness sake, not a search-and-destroy kind of soldier. But all and all I like the plot. Even though I had to roll my eyes several times at the main character's unearthly perfectness (is that a word?).
—Poppy
Turns out this is archaeologist wish-fulfillment fantasy, which I did not know could be a category! I loved the fact that the author knew what he was talking about regarding history and archaeology and subsequently giggled entertainedly through the "sitting around talking about Ancient History forever" parts. But I got bored with the technical boats/guns/spy toys stuff, and the plot and characters were very meh. Liked it better than I thought I would because of my Classics degree, but overall it's mildly fun but basically forgettable. Also, one major disappointment- (view spoiler)[I was expecting the main female character to be a Femme Fatale and betray them, but then she just got damseled hard in the lead-up to the climax and didn't do practically anything for the rest of the book. The one time the book managed to surprise me and it was even *worse* and more shallow than I expected? Lame. (hide spoiler)]
—Hallie
I have never decided to quit reading a book until I picked this one up. There is waaaay more technical speak about archaeology, history & geography than there is story. As a result, I couldn't attach myself to any of the characters. it's almost like the plot was there to support all the technobabble instead of the other way around. It was also very mechanical: Here is the genious/hero. Here is his genius/hero friend. Here is the genious/hero's love interest. Here is some trouble.Several different groups all just happen to stumble onto pieces of the puzzle at at the same time. Our hero just happens to be friends with every expert in the world needed to figure out the big picture, and his "theories" on what happened in the past are always right on the money.Frankly, I am surprised this book got published. Maybe someday I will attempt to finish it... but I doubt it.
—Pamela
