BOOKS
Pixel pages:
Great reads
If you want further reassurance of the continued validity of reading as pastime,
read on for a pick of some of the outstanding sci-? and fantasy offerings that
have been claiming a space on our Kindle and tablets of late.
THE THIRD KINGDOM
THE ATLANTIS GENE
THE EYE OF GOD
Terry Goodkind
A.G. Riddle
James Rollins
One of the heavyweights of the fantasy
genre, Goodkind returns to the protagonists
from The Sword of Truth series, Richard and
Kahlan, in his latest offering, the sequel
to The Omen Machine. Goodkind wastes
no time thrusting readers into brutal but
absorbing action, with both Richard and
Kahlan finding themselves in dire straights.
While having to contend with a new danger
in the Dark Lands, Richard also has to deal
with a conspiracy, and the lack of his power
as a war wizard, as Kahlan’s life hangs in the
balance. Granted, familiarity with The Sword
of Truth series is recommended, but for those
who have been patiently waiting to return to
The Sword of Truth’s world, this is the fantasy
title to pick up. $12 (R117) on Amazon for
Kindle edition.
The first book in The Origin Mystery series
seemingly has all the elements to entice
lovers of science fiction, adventure and
mystery. The technothriller’s premise is
certainly alluring, involving the next stage
of human evolution and genetic experimentation, a discovery of a mystery deep in
Antarctica, a global conspiracy and a race
of people with sinister ulterior motives.
The premise echoes Michael Crichton’s
and James Rollins’ work; great news for
fans of those two literary titans. Add to
this believeable characters in the form
of geneticist Kate Warner and dedicated
agent David Vale, and you have a recipe for
a highly recommended yarn. All this for a
budget-beating $5 (R50) on Amazon for the
Kindle edition.
Another perennial and old time favourite,
Rollins’ latest is a tour de force of action, suspense, smart science and future Armageddon prophecy, all tied in with some historic
context that goes back to Attila the Hun and
Genghis Kahn. In The Eye of God, just prior
to crashing, a satellite tasked with studying
dark energy sends out a disturbing image of
the Eastern seaboard of the US having been
completely devastated - in the near future.
The novel blurs the boundaries between
fiction and the realms of what could be, with
Rollins opening by questioning the nature of
reality, and referencing cutting edge, quantum
physics thought, while mixing in some gripping
action. All this makes for a compelling read.
The Eye of God is Rollins at his finest. $12
(R117) on Amazon for Kindle edition. [RN]
October 2013 | TechSmart
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