I will never forget the moment I formed a bond with an Australian author named Matthew Reilly. It was a spur of the moment thing. If I had not grabbed a book off the shelf of the San Diego Public Library called Ice Station, I might not be writing this review. But I did, and it changed my life.I cut my teeth on action movies. I started watching them when I was very young, and they hold a special place in my heart. While I am a romance novel and fantasy book fan first and foremost, I have always loved a good action yarn. But I had no idea that they had books that gave the adrenaline jolt that a good action movie could deliver. Matt Reilly taught me differently.But I can admit I did feel a bit nervous to read his first book. I think it's different when you read a first book first from an author you come to love and buy the telephone book if he/she wrote it. You see their talent and writing skill develop and progress for the better. But when you go back, even when you love their writing, you still feel like you'll cringe at the boo-boos because you have their later work to compare to it.I like that Reilly wrote an afterword and explained the process of getting this published, and admitting that he revised it, and what was changed and what wasn't. I can see that his writing has improved, but what makes him a favorite of mine is essentially there. He has a way of building a story methodically and setting the scene without extra frills. Nothing is introduced for a lack of reason. It all plays a role, sooner or later. I like that about his writing. I love that he can keep me on the edge of my seat, and he has a way of sustaining tension. I go from thinking the character is toast, and then watching the situation turn around so they manage to get out of that tough situation.While Reilly's writing is not exactly focused on character development, but always he gives us a main character who gains my loyalty. That was the case with Swain. Swain is a normal guy who steps up to the plate to be a hero when the situation calls for it. It's this trait that gets him into the bizarre situation of being chosen as the third human in 6000 years to compete in the galactic combat competition that takes place in the New York Public Library. He had to compete and he had to make it to the end, but that didn't mean he'd compromise his ethics in the meantime. In that way, character development is crucial even in this fast-paced book. I liked the twist that Swain's daughter is present. I think it changes the dynamic considerably. He not only has to watch out for himself, but keep his daughter safe, and that changes the decisions that he makes throughout the story. I have a soft spot for heroes who are dads, so that definitely warmed me to him. Holly is not just a prop or a plot point, she does play a significant role in this book, within reason, for a seven-year-old in such a dangerous situation.I was curious to see who the other combatants would be, and I admit, I was a tad disappointed with the makeup. I wanted more sentient combatants. But Reilly says in his afterward that he wanted to write a monster story, so that explains why the other combatants are mostly monsters. At any rate, I still liked what I got, and I especially liked that Swain was outnumbered and outgunned, but he still managed to turn things around. His way of doing it was cool too. He wasn’t a pumped up muscle man, but a thinker and an analyzer, from beginning to end. Some of his success was due to providence, luck, and assistance from others, but overall, you get the impression that Swain was the right guy to handle the situation.“Contest” is surprisingly less gory than some of Reilly’s later works. I’m kind of glad about that, since I cringed when characters I liked died violently in his later books. I’m not putting him down. I love the guy, but I do wish his books weren’t so gory at times.“Contest” is a roller-coaster ride, good old science fiction action adventure with monsters. While it broke my heart to see the beautiful library and its priceless books destroyed, I’m glad it was just fiction, and in a way, it’s cool to blow up something like that with impunity in a fiction story (I guess). My book-loving heart can’t stand the idea of a library getting nuked, and I mourned it along with the deaths of other characters in this book.I’d recommend this book to readers who really like action/adventure and an everyman hero who is in over his head, but still manages to save the day.
In a note in the beginning of the novel Reilly describes Contest as a "fast book", like a stripped down sports car; "no fancy paintwork, no fancy upholstery, just raw non-stop energy". I can definitely see where he's coming from; the book depicts one single day in time, with the majority of the plot taking place in the span of only four hours. This creates a rather exhilarating read, and leaves the characters (and the readers) little time to catch their breath between action scenes. It also leaves little room for character development; I've read this book three times now, and the things I know about Stephen Swain, the main character, I can count on one hand, with room to spare: Swain is a widower, a father, and a doctor (oh, and he doesn't smoke). But that's okay, because despite being a rather aloof main character, Swain's blandness doesn't detract from the story; I still find myself rooting for him, and besides, I suspect one doesn't really read Contest for the characters anyway.As far as the writing goes, Contest is Matthew Reilly's first novel, written when he was nineteen years old and still in law school. After being rejected by every major publisher in Sydney, Reilly self-published the first edition in 1996, printing one thousand copies in total. Four years later a second edition was released through a proper publisher, with a bit of editing and with added details, but structurally the exact same story as in the first edition, and one can definitely tell; Contest isn't quite as polished as it could've been, but when reading one can sense that special underlying excitement of a first time author, and it's hard not to get swept along in the that feeling.Reilly could definitely have used the aid of an Ameri-picker, though; with a book taking place in New York, starring an American MC, words like "kerb" and "bonnet" (along with c/z issue of spelling) really have no place in the novel.Moving on to the plot: there are aliens. Of all shapes and sizes. A lot of them. And they're all out to kill each other.It's just as awesome as it sounds.Because Reilly's youth might betray him at times, and the MC might be sort of one dimensional, and the Australian might jump out and smack you in the face when you least expect it, but it doesn't matter in the slightest, because Contest is a claustrophobic and fast paced science fiction action horror thriller that just won't stop. It keeps on going and going and when you strip it all down to its basic core, what you're left with is a really fun read, plot thrillingly executed and the ending tied off neatly like a crowning bow. And in the end, that's all one really wants out of a book, isn't it?In the Q&A at the end of the book Reilly names Michael Crichton as his literary inspiration. I can definitely see it; just like with Jurassic Park, the first time I read Contest it pulled me in and wouldn't let me go until I'd finished the very last page.
What do You think about Contest (2003)?
This version of "Contest," one of my favorite books, is my second Kindle "experience." So as with my first review of a Kindle book, I'll stick to the Kindle version and urge you to look at my review of the print edition for more on the book itself. Like "Ice Station," this book suffers from the Kindle skipping past the useful maps situated prior to the start of the text. On the other hand, the copy is cleaner, with few noticeable typos. One nice bonus is that this version includes the interview with the author from the American hardback/paperback editions, about how he "Americanized" his first Australian novel to better fit the New York Public Library.
—Eric
I enjoyed this book, even though it had it's flaws. It's a story that's been done...and done...and done. And, yet, I found myself wanting to know how it ended. He's put a new twist on the 'fight to the death between random contestants who can't escape from the maze unless they are the last man standing' plot. He's added to it with various details that really make to book feel unique. It takes place in the New York Public Library - cool. It has unique alien races - the details of which were well thought out. It adds an element of danger to anyone exiting the maze - well-written. He's thrown in an innocent contestant...and his child - great way to ratchet up the tension!What didn't I like: - The idea that it was an unknown alien race who knows all about humans, but we don't know anything about them...and then they put the contest on Earth - why would anyone whose been so secretive up to this point risk their secret by going to Earth? - The child is innocent...and very young...and yet it is her actions that lead to some crucial discoveries. - The 'coincidental' actions that lead to actions or thoughts or 'keys' that the characters need was just too pat in a few cases.I did like this book; however, there were some glaring plot points that yanked me out of the story and reminded me that I've read this plot before. He did an excellent job with some things...some less than stellar work in others. I understand that this is his first book; and because of that, I will read more by this author. I was greatly entertained!
—Lanica
The CONTEST is making yourself read to the end of this novel!So many have commented on "NON-STOP" action. FALSE! Quick pointless scenes does not equal action. It should however, equal a quick read, but the dialogue, cliché characterization and inconsistencies in so many aspects made getting through the novel as laborious as Holiday festivities with the family and in-laws.There is nothing FUN or COOL about the concept. The creatures are similar to every horror or sci-fi monster you've seen. And the basic plot is THUNDERDOME: Two men enter one man leaves. Except in this case it's 7 enter, 1 leaves. I could go on forever about the bad characterizations,and how the most insignificant occurrences are focused on to draw out elaborate deductions.And that's one of the main problems: Everything is explained to you up front as though you were reading a menu, instead of letting the main character figure things out along the way and giving you some mystery and keeping you more interested in turning the pages. But obviously that would have stretched the author's creative ingenuity too far. He was just focused on putting a bunch of "action" and "blood." I did root for the Main character...to DIE first! But alas, that was not the case. We are told he is brilliant and clever etc. He's a doctor he has to be right? Yet, he can't grasp anything that is explained or spelled out for him. Of course, this is the author just expecting his readers are mindless buffoons and must be told the same thing over 3 times. Yeah, we got it...7 men enter 1 man leaves, but you're so called hero who was picked for his superior intelligence can't get it until the 3rd time it's said. And this happens a lot through the book.If you love mindless "action" and don't care that the plot has more holes than a colander, and you're just as brilliant as the hero, then you'll love this book. The rest of you...save your time and money!
—Ian
