Contest
(Matthew Reilly)
When I started reading Contest, I didn't actually think I'd enjoy it
all that much. After all it's not the usual thing I read. A
competition, a fight to the death between a human and six alien species
in a library. But Matthew Reilly pulls it off really well. The action,
the tension that builds and builds and flows so well throughout the
book. The twists and turns. It's actually intelligently written and for
that I applaud him.
In particular the way he describes how MRI (magnetic resonance Imaging)
works which comes into play during the story (I won't spoil it by
saying how) The only question that remains for me is how exactly the
protagonist, Dr. Stephen Swain acquires his combat skills but I'm
willing to let that detail slide. If you're looking for a book to
escape with, one that transports you to another world, yet still has
the familiar themes we all know, survival of the fittest, action and so
on, then look no further than Contest. The alien species described in
the book are obviously the product of a great imagination and as you
read it you find yourself putting wagers on which ones will be the most
likely to survive. You find yourself cheering for some, booing for
others and hoping for their demise. I guess you could liken the
experience to watching a wrestling match between intergalactic
competitors.... except that it's actually real.
Although the villains in the book are aliens as a reader we see
qualities in them that we find in the human villains in most Hollywood
films. They prey on the weak and defenseless, they are always very sure
that they will win, they cheat and bend, sometimes break the rules to
gain even the smallest advantage and we love to watch their defeat
because (in most instances) we know it is inevitable. As the song goes
"it's sad but the bad guys always die" and Contest does not disappoint
in this regard.
It's a great first book, packed with action but also with characters
that you immediately empathise with and you find yourself cheering them
on as the contest unfolds. I've yet to read Temple and Ice Station or
Reilly's latest book but if it's anywhere near as good as Contest I
will definitely be adding a review for it soon.
Resumos Relacionados
- The Da Vinci Code
- Mirrors
- Lord Of The Rings
- The 8th Habit
- Symbol Of Unity
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