I don't know how many times I picked this up to read and only got to where Conrad gets picked up in Peru. It just didn't grab me. I finally told myself to just finish it. I should say that I love Atlantis and Antarctic fiction for reasons I don't understand, I always want to read it if I see it. This just fell flat for me. It was a fine book, I can't really say much of what I didn't like, it just wasn't for me. I don't really see why people are comparing this to The Da Vinci Code. The type of history and mythology is completely different. The only real connection is the Vatican, but that is hardly enough. This is not about any type of Biblical conspiracy or purposefully hidden piece of our past. This leans more toward ancient alien mythology, even though Conrad disparages that type of archeology/archeologist.The premise was good, I liked the idea, but I think the characters were what poo UT me off the book so much. Conrad was arrogant and was always right, but the playful cockiness that makes arrogance endearing in a character wasn't there. He wasn't as multi-dimensional as I like my characters and I am not sure if there was enough to him to make him so. Yeats came out of Antarctica the first time insane, if he wasn't already so. I get his disappointment in getting screwed out of his Mars mission but I don't think that motivation was explored as much as it should have been to truly understand or care about his plight. For the amount of time we spend in his POV we should have dealt more with that motivation. Serena, for all her feelings of unworthiness, she blames Conrad for everything that happened between and as a result of them. She doesn't seem to take much culpability for her share of the blame. She has this holier than thou persona that grated on me because she was no better. Although she is said not to care about how she is perceived by others her actions seem to be contrary to that. Is anyone that selfless, that caring of the earth, that perfect? Again failing to really explore the depths of the character.
What a story!I purchased this book, as I am a big fan of thrillers that probe the deeper mysteries of life & history - both recorded and pre-written records. I love exploring the possibilities of ancient cultures that may have been highly advanced, where clues are laid, and a path set out for us to follow. Raising Atlantis is just such a book and it does not disappoint. In fact, this book kept me guessing the whole way through.The author, Thomas Greanias, has obviously put a ton of research into this book, both from an archaeological/anthropological perspective, as well as technological. It reminds me a lot of James Rollins' style of storytelling (I am a big James Rollins fan), with its unrelenting pace, technical details, techno know-how & complexities, coupled with Dan Brown's Deception Point (one of my favorite books) with respect to its two main characters, their relationship, the story's ice-bound setting and an amazing, yet threatening, mystery that lay below the frozen, unforgiving terrain.The main thread of this story, the search for an ancient, possibly alien, Mother Culture is a fascinating one. There are many theories still debated today on the similarities amongst the incredible ancient monuments of culture around the world. It is one that I am interested in both personally and as an author. It is rich material for the imagination. Pairing that with the myth of Altantis and the forbidding territory of Antarctica, provides for a thrilling adventure. Thomas Greanias has an enjoyable writing style and a passion for his work. I also enjoyed "The Facts Behind Raising Atlantis" at the end of the book. The meeting ground of fact, fiction, and long-held myths that this book provides in a techno-thriller setting makes for an entertaining read. I will be wasting no time reading the follow-up book, The Atlantis Prophecy, which I already own. Well done!! Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
What do You think about Raising Atlantis (2005)?
Raising Atlantis reads like a less articulate, not as interesting version of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. Given that these two novels came out around the same time and focus on similar themes (uncovering the past's secrets to discover some type of treasure), there is a reason Dan Brown is a much more familiar name than Thomas Greanias. Don't get me wrong, the premise was very interesting; there was a lot of action and adventure, but I just didn't like it very much. For one, some parts of the novel were very hard to understand... 25% of the time, I had no idea what was happening (the writing just wasn't that great). Also, the characters bothered me so much. Now I get that a majority of the time, male characters are made to represent how the author views himself (translation: most of the time they are charming, smart and every woman in existence wants them), but Dr. Conrad Yeats was not charming or smart to me... for the most part, he was extremely annoying... Ooh, I know everything... I'm so awesome that nuns leave their vocation to be with me (or not?)... I can do whatever I want and could care less about the consequences. Even the nun annoyed the crap out of me (a nun!!! and I'm Catholic). She was too damn perfect, and couldn't make up her mind about anything... Ooh, I want to be the wife of Christ, no, wait, I think I like Conrad, I can't decide, let's go green and be extremely annoying to anyone that comes around you... and did I mention, I know every language in existence? Don't even get me started on the end... I mean seriously??? Way to make your slightly decent book seem like a crack addict wrote it. I'm still going to read the rest of the series however... because I am just that much of a masochist.
—Nicole
4 star Science Fiction Mystery/Thriller This science fiction novel is breathtaking. Mingled together with actual factual details this novel takes the reader on a wild ride that they aren’t likely to forget. The hero Dr. Conrad Yates and the heroine ex-nun Serena have prior history between them that makes things a bit more interesting.The concept that Atlantis the lost city lies beneath the multitudes of ice in Antarctica makes for a frightening as well as exciting one. The discovery of this lost city and how the tables are turned once a selfish action by Dr. Yates renders all the ice in Atlantis to melt and the sea levels to rise. Our beloved Maldives is mentioned in this novel and once the ice starts to melt, the capital Male’ is conceived to be half under water. The magnitude of what happens is frightening but the exhilarating journey that takes place in order to right what has been done wrong is worth the read.The description of the lost city makes me yearn from a kick ass movie that could depict everything that the author has very well described.Can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in line The Atlantis Prophecy.
—Maldivianbookreviewer
Voor een boek wat je wilt lokken door avontuur en mysterie is er veel te weinig avontuur en mysterie. Alles is te vanzelfsprekend voor de personages, ze zijn niet tot nauwelijks verwonderd over de dingen die gebeuren en die ze zien.Komen ze een ruimte in van vele duizenden jaren oud. Wordt er gezegd 'this is clearly [...]'Clearly.Natuurlijk.En ze hebben natuurlijk altijd gelijk. Hun eerste gok is altijd perfect. Waar ze ook zijn, wat ze ook doen; perfectie.De onderlinge relaties vind ik ook maar slecht en oppervlakkig uitgewerktHet verhaal speelt zich te veel af in een rechte lijn, zonder verrassingen. De schrijver weet waar ie naartoe wilt, maar weet het niet op een leuke manier te verpakken.De dingen... gebeurden gewoon... ik maakte er geen deel van uit, alles werd in 1 keer voor mijn neus opgelost, geen spannende tochten, geen personages waar je écht mee meeleeft.Volgens Goodreads zou dit 2 sterren waard zijn ('it was ok'), maar 2 sterren staat bij mij voor een echt heel matig boek dus dan maar 3.
—DulleNL
