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MEG #3
Primal Waters
New York Times bestselling author Steve Alten's Primal Waters continues his thrilling action adventure series--the basis for the feature film The Meg, starring Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor.Eighteen years have passed since Angel, the Megalodon shark broke free of the Tanaka Lagoon and returned to the Mariana Trench. Meanwhile, Jonas Taylor-adventurer, has become Jonas Taylor, middle-aged father of two, overwhelmed by mountains of bills and the daily strife of raising a family. But life is about to change.A Hollywood television producer wants Jonah to join his new survival Daredevils. For the next six weeks, two teams of crazy daredevils on a South Pacific Ocean voyage on-board a replica of a Spanish Galleon will try to outperform one another in front of the cameras.Jonas needs the money, and the job seems easy enough-doing color commentary. But behind the scenes, someone else is pulling the strings. And before it's over, Jonas, Terry, and Mac will again come face to face with the most dangerous creatures ever to stalk the Earth.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
330 people are currently reading
2876 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,358 followersSteve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager’s job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book, seven figure deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
February 10, 2011
I'm not going to belabor the point and write up a long and detailed review of MEG: Primal Waters.
Suffice it to say, Steve Alten's "Meg" series (of which this is the 3rd), is for me what smut erotica is for its readership: hot sex, steamy sex, and nasty-is-that-even-physically-possible??-sex.
I like Alten's meg books for the butt clenching, nail biting, what if??, prehistoric-great-white-shark-eats-copious-amounts-of-humans-in-a-blood-and-gore-buffet kind of way.
I won't lie. Alten's writing isn't steller. His characters aren't well developed and his storylines can be so unbelievable as to be laughable. What it IS, however, is a good 'ole cheap thrill, and I need that thrill every 20 books or so. I just prefer mine to have 6 inch razor sharp serrated teeth instead of an 12 inch wanker...different strokes and all that...
Suffice it to say, Steve Alten's "Meg" series (of which this is the 3rd), is for me what smut erotica is for its readership: hot sex, steamy sex, and nasty-is-that-even-physically-possible??-sex.
I like Alten's meg books for the butt clenching, nail biting, what if??, prehistoric-great-white-shark-eats-copious-amounts-of-humans-in-a-blood-and-gore-buffet kind of way.
I won't lie. Alten's writing isn't steller. His characters aren't well developed and his storylines can be so unbelievable as to be laughable. What it IS, however, is a good 'ole cheap thrill, and I need that thrill every 20 books or so. I just prefer mine to have 6 inch razor sharp serrated teeth instead of an 12 inch wanker...different strokes and all that...
September 13, 2020
So Romance Week is over and I spent it reading a book about ginourmous prehistoric sharks eating ginourmously stupid people.
Yep, that’s the romantic I am (in my reading).
Unfortunately, since the first book, which I really liked, this series is only going downhill for me.
Here we have Mr. Alten alternating between
1. a boring story arc of a Late Pleistocene megalodon,
2. a mostly boring story arc of a reality tv show with some dumbasses (and our MC Jonas) on board of a Spanish galleon, doing dumbass stunts that in all likelihood will get them killed on tv,
3. a slightly interesting story arc of Jonas‘ son David trying to fix things at the Tanaka Oceanographic Institute and his subsequent encounter with a meg,
4. a mostly boring story arc of Jonas‘ wife Terry hunting down still another meg and
5. unbelievably boring wikipedia-like info dumps about megalodons (heard it all before, because believe it or not I’ve read the previous books) and landscapes (didn’t care).
The one interesting story arc suffered a lot from David being written way too mature for a fourteen year old kid.
But Alten makes up for it (or maybe not) by writing all the other characters as completely immature dumbasses.
The one thing he has going for him are the death scenes. Those were mostly fun. And let’s face it, we’re here to see stupid people die, die, die in preferably horrendous and/or laughable ways. And he delivers on that front.
But a little more of an entertaining story in between, some likeable characters one actually wants to see survive and some suspense here and there would have been nice. I mean, you’ve got this big bad monster of a shark here. How difficult can it be to write more than only one scene that keeps readers on the edge of their seats?!
And why, oh why Steve Alten did you have to completely ruin the best character of the previous books by turning Mac into a pathetic drunk? Why?
Eh, I don’t know. 2.5 stars?
This book is best to be read together with a friend. So thank you, Cathy, for making this a lot more fun than it had any right to be.
I hope everyone had a nice V-day. I did.
So long,
and thanks for all the fish!
Yep, that’s the romantic I am (in my reading).
Unfortunately, since the first book, which I really liked, this series is only going downhill for me.
Here we have Mr. Alten alternating between
1. a boring story arc of a Late Pleistocene megalodon,
2. a mostly boring story arc of a reality tv show with some dumbasses (and our MC Jonas) on board of a Spanish galleon, doing dumbass stunts that in all likelihood will get them killed on tv,
3. a slightly interesting story arc of Jonas‘ son David trying to fix things at the Tanaka Oceanographic Institute and his subsequent encounter with a meg,
4. a mostly boring story arc of Jonas‘ wife Terry hunting down still another meg and
5. unbelievably boring wikipedia-like info dumps about megalodons (heard it all before, because believe it or not I’ve read the previous books) and landscapes (didn’t care).
The one interesting story arc suffered a lot from David being written way too mature for a fourteen year old kid.
But Alten makes up for it (or maybe not) by writing all the other characters as completely immature dumbasses.
The one thing he has going for him are the death scenes. Those were mostly fun. And let’s face it, we’re here to see stupid people die, die, die in preferably horrendous and/or laughable ways. And he delivers on that front.
But a little more of an entertaining story in between, some likeable characters one actually wants to see survive and some suspense here and there would have been nice. I mean, you’ve got this big bad monster of a shark here. How difficult can it be to write more than only one scene that keeps readers on the edge of their seats?!
And why, oh why Steve Alten did you have to completely ruin the best character of the previous books by turning Mac into a pathetic drunk? Why?
Eh, I don’t know. 2.5 stars?
This book is best to be read together with a friend. So thank you, Cathy, for making this a lot more fun than it had any right to be.
I hope everyone had a nice V-day. I did.
So long,
and thanks for all the fish!
September 20, 2018
In this third novel old enemies, both human and animal, re-surface to haunt Jonas Taylor and his wife.
There is quite the big time jump between the second and third book. JT is 64 now and has a daughter and son with Terry. The Tanaka Institute has failed after the disaster of the second book and whales refusing to use the lagoon because of the lingering scent of Angel. Thus, Mr. Tanaka had to borrow a lot of money and is now in financial trouble. JT and Terry aren't doing much better so we're off to a very depressive start.
It isn't helping that the characters themselves are downtrodden and depressed as hell.
Sadly, the author decided to also make the best character, Mac, become a sorry excuse for a human being.
ANYWAY, despite this rocky start that made progress slow and laboursome, the author soon introduces a reality TV show - classic horror movie territory - and, thus, there finally was some bloodshed.
I have to say that I was disappointed since many of the earlier deaths in this book were either not meg-related at all or only marginally. I felt cheated. Moreover, when a death finally was thanks to a meg-encounter, the scene faded to black instead of giving us the blood and gore we're all here for. Not cool, Mr. Alten, not cool!
The last 25% of the novel were finally bloody and suspenseful again and I enjoyed stupid people being taken care of by a certain apex predator as much as the set-up for the Jurassic Park-like continuation of this series. However, that was not enough to make up for some quite troublesome or simply boring things happening in the first 75% of the book so I have to hope the next volume will be better again - but I won't find out immediately since I think I need a break for now.
There is quite the big time jump between the second and third book. JT is 64 now and has a daughter and son with Terry. The Tanaka Institute has failed after the disaster of the second book and whales refusing to use the lagoon because of the lingering scent of Angel. Thus, Mr. Tanaka had to borrow a lot of money and is now in financial trouble. JT and Terry aren't doing much better so we're off to a very depressive start.
It isn't helping that the characters themselves are downtrodden and depressed as hell.
Sadly, the author decided to also make the best character, Mac, become a sorry excuse for a human being.
ANYWAY, despite this rocky start that made progress slow and laboursome, the author soon introduces a reality TV show - classic horror movie territory - and, thus, there finally was some bloodshed.
I have to say that I was disappointed since many of the earlier deaths in this book were either not meg-related at all or only marginally. I felt cheated. Moreover, when a death finally was thanks to a meg-encounter, the scene faded to black instead of giving us the blood and gore we're all here for. Not cool, Mr. Alten, not cool!
The last 25% of the novel were finally bloody and suspenseful again and I enjoyed stupid people being taken care of by a certain apex predator as much as the set-up for the Jurassic Park-like continuation of this series. However, that was not enough to make up for some quite troublesome or simply boring things happening in the first 75% of the book so I have to hope the next volume will be better again - but I won't find out immediately since I think I need a break for now.
July 25, 2024
Meg: Primal Waters
By Steve Alten
I thought this was good but not as good as previous books. The more I read about this guy's family, the more I want to use them for shark bait. 🦈 They get better near the end.
By Steve Alten
I thought this was good but not as good as previous books. The more I read about this guy's family, the more I want to use them for shark bait. 🦈 They get better near the end.
September 15, 2018
I think I must have been more than usually willing to suffer trash this month. Do I like trash? Well... sometimes... especially when it's horror trash.
This fits the bill... a little. :) Jaws on steroids. Chum in the water. A Reality TV show going really, really wrong.
Well, that part was pretty cool. :)
What I didn't care all that much for was the MC's. Jonah in his late sixties is kinda... hmmm... expectedly or unexpectedly boring. His damaged wife, too.
For the most part, I just waited to see who would become shark food. That's Okay. :)
I will never recommend this series unless you A: LOVE SHARKS or B: LOVE to see sharks EAT PEOPLE.
Fortunately, there's a big market for this kind of thing, so I don't have to single-handedly support the industry. :)
This fits the bill... a little. :) Jaws on steroids. Chum in the water. A Reality TV show going really, really wrong.
Well, that part was pretty cool. :)
What I didn't care all that much for was the MC's. Jonah in his late sixties is kinda... hmmm... expectedly or unexpectedly boring. His damaged wife, too.
For the most part, I just waited to see who would become shark food. That's Okay. :)
I will never recommend this series unless you A: LOVE SHARKS or B: LOVE to see sharks EAT PEOPLE.
Fortunately, there's a big market for this kind of thing, so I don't have to single-handedly support the industry. :)
February 16, 2019
Monster pulp fiction had a love child with a National Geographic documentary. Shark Week! It‘s like a really horrible train wreck—I haven‘t been able to look away for the third book in a row now.
Immature characters. Stupid, stupid people. Not passing the Bechdel test. If you are sensitive to that, don‘t touch this book. Oh, and add some fat shaming as well.
Anyway... If you can get past that without ripping the book into teeny, weeny pieces in frustration and exasperation, it‘s pretty fun to read about the ways stupid humans can get eaten by sharks. If I counted right, Megalodon won 17 to nil.
The only character that feels a little like a real person is Jonas Taylor. It probably helps that every time he shows up on page, my hind brain goes „Jason Staham! Yay!“
Prologue and first chapter are mostly recap of the previous two books, with minimal set-up, plus some repetitive and not very exciting info dumps. In the beginning less telling, more showing would have been good. The Daredevil sequences are not all bad. Then there is a good scene in between with David and Mac stuck in the lagoon on a sinking ship. As the action ramps up towards the end of the book, it is indeed fun to read this.
Still, lots of issues with the characters. I can‘t in good conscience give this more than 2 stars... well, maybe ★★½...
Will I read the fourth book? Goodness, it‘s a possibility. But not for a good, long while... There have to be shark/underwater horror books that are written better than this? I am open for suggestions!
Immature characters. Stupid, stupid people. Not passing the Bechdel test. If you are sensitive to that, don‘t touch this book. Oh, and add some fat shaming as well.
Anyway... If you can get past that without ripping the book into teeny, weeny pieces in frustration and exasperation, it‘s pretty fun to read about the ways stupid humans can get eaten by sharks. If I counted right, Megalodon won 17 to nil.
The only character that feels a little like a real person is Jonas Taylor. It probably helps that every time he shows up on page, my hind brain goes „Jason Staham! Yay!“
Prologue and first chapter are mostly recap of the previous two books, with minimal set-up, plus some repetitive and not very exciting info dumps. In the beginning less telling, more showing would have been good. The Daredevil sequences are not all bad. Then there is a good scene in between with David and Mac stuck in the lagoon on a sinking ship. As the action ramps up towards the end of the book, it is indeed fun to read this.
Still, lots of issues with the characters. I can‘t in good conscience give this more than 2 stars... well, maybe ★★½...
Will I read the fourth book? Goodness, it‘s a possibility. But not for a good, long while... There have to be shark/underwater horror books that are written better than this? I am open for suggestions!
October 12, 2018
The first part of the book had about as much energy as the main characters we all used to love; 18 years later and Mac is a dirty drunk, Jonas is Victor Meldrew, and Terry is still having nightmares from her kidnapping in the last book. They're mentally much older than their physical selves and it shows. I have some (teeny tiny) sympathy considering what they've been through but stop whining, dammit, Angel's back...
Thankfully, almost everyone gets a chance to redeem themselves in the last third. Apart from the people who get dead. It's fun and tense and full of blood and body parts. Angel is as brilliant as ever. She's just hungry and a bit pissed off all the time- and I feel that. The Megs never let themselves down, always up for a bit of crunchy body munchy action. Honestly, as long as they keep eating people in ever more inventive ways, I'm here for it.
Thankfully, almost everyone gets a chance to redeem themselves in the last third. Apart from the people who get dead. It's fun and tense and full of blood and body parts. Angel is as brilliant as ever. She's just hungry and a bit pissed off all the time- and I feel that. The Megs never let themselves down, always up for a bit of crunchy body munchy action. Honestly, as long as they keep eating people in ever more inventive ways, I'm here for it.
August 20, 2025
What’s worse than giant prehistoric killer sharks? The answer, of course, is “Reality TV shows”. Seriously, nothing good ever came from watching that shit, and I say that as someone who is a “Jersey Shore” fan.
Book 3 of Steve Alten’s cheesily pulpy yet strangely addictive action/adventure series involving a megaladon named Angel, “Meg: Primal Waters”, is much like a reality show in its utter pointlessness, lack of any morally redeeming qualities, and almost mesmerizing ability to make the reader unable to put the damn book down. It’s almost as if Alten made a deal with a devil for the talent of writing un-put-down-able books in exchange for his eternal soul.
Good call, Alten.
“Primal Waters” is set more than a decade after the events of “The Trench”. Jonas and Terry Taylor are happily married with two wonderful kids, working in jobs that they love.
Okay, that’s not necessarily true. Their marriage is on the rocks, simply out of boredom and the minutiae of child-raising and adulting. Their kids are spoiled, entitled little brats who are always talking shit to their parents, and Jonas pretty much hates his boring life of constantly trying to find income to help pay bills.
An opportunity for easy money turns up when the producers of a popular reality game show called Daredevils (think “Fear Factor” meets “The Amazing Race”) asks Jonas to be an on-air consultant. In season 2 of the show, the producers are planning to take an upgraded sailing vessel onto the high seas, where they will film contestants doing crazy shit like para-sailing and swimming with sharks. What could go wrong?
Meanwhile, Terry is asked to investigate a mass of whales and sea lions beaching themselves along the west coast. Her fears are confirmed when reports of shark attacks pop up with more frequency. Angel is back, for some reason.
Unbeknownst to either of them, an unseen hand is choreographing the whole show, with thoughts of revenge against Jonas. Now, Jonas’s family and friends are in grave danger against an enemy more cunning and calculating than a prehistoric shark.
As he has demonstrated in his previous books, Alten can write a fast-paced, suspenseful-as-hell thriller. The shark attacks alone are worth the price of admission, but Alten is also good at creating exciting human drama with actual human villains. Indeed, the bad guys are usually worse than the sharks. While the villains do, at times, feel two-dimensional (think Bond villains), the action and suspense more than makes up for the shortcomings in character development. Plus, it’s pretty much a given that the villains are going to bite it in the end anyway. (or rather, get “bit”, if yaknowhatimean...)
And, of course, it’s a given that all will be peachy within the Taylor household by the end of the novel. This is, after all, deep down, a family drama... with sharks...
Book 3 of Steve Alten’s cheesily pulpy yet strangely addictive action/adventure series involving a megaladon named Angel, “Meg: Primal Waters”, is much like a reality show in its utter pointlessness, lack of any morally redeeming qualities, and almost mesmerizing ability to make the reader unable to put the damn book down. It’s almost as if Alten made a deal with a devil for the talent of writing un-put-down-able books in exchange for his eternal soul.
Good call, Alten.
“Primal Waters” is set more than a decade after the events of “The Trench”. Jonas and Terry Taylor are happily married with two wonderful kids, working in jobs that they love.
Okay, that’s not necessarily true. Their marriage is on the rocks, simply out of boredom and the minutiae of child-raising and adulting. Their kids are spoiled, entitled little brats who are always talking shit to their parents, and Jonas pretty much hates his boring life of constantly trying to find income to help pay bills.
An opportunity for easy money turns up when the producers of a popular reality game show called Daredevils (think “Fear Factor” meets “The Amazing Race”) asks Jonas to be an on-air consultant. In season 2 of the show, the producers are planning to take an upgraded sailing vessel onto the high seas, where they will film contestants doing crazy shit like para-sailing and swimming with sharks. What could go wrong?
Meanwhile, Terry is asked to investigate a mass of whales and sea lions beaching themselves along the west coast. Her fears are confirmed when reports of shark attacks pop up with more frequency. Angel is back, for some reason.
Unbeknownst to either of them, an unseen hand is choreographing the whole show, with thoughts of revenge against Jonas. Now, Jonas’s family and friends are in grave danger against an enemy more cunning and calculating than a prehistoric shark.
As he has demonstrated in his previous books, Alten can write a fast-paced, suspenseful-as-hell thriller. The shark attacks alone are worth the price of admission, but Alten is also good at creating exciting human drama with actual human villains. Indeed, the bad guys are usually worse than the sharks. While the villains do, at times, feel two-dimensional (think Bond villains), the action and suspense more than makes up for the shortcomings in character development. Plus, it’s pretty much a given that the villains are going to bite it in the end anyway. (or rather, get “bit”, if yaknowhatimean...)
And, of course, it’s a given that all will be peachy within the Taylor household by the end of the novel. This is, after all, deep down, a family drama... with sharks...
September 3, 2018
I passed this book on the shelf and immediately was drawn to the massive shark on the cover. I have loved sharks for as long as I can remember - from watching Jaws at too young of an age, to pouring over non-fiction books and staying glued to the television for every single year of Shark Week. Needless to say, I was shocked that I had never stumbled across this thriller before. Though I soon realized that this is a middle book in the MEG series (and I loathe reading books out of order), I couldn’t put it down long enough to track down the first two books in the series. And I actually enjoyed this shark book quite a bit more than even I expected to. Yes, parts of it were a little dumb (it is a book about a prehistoric shark, after all - so don’t expect high literature here!), but overall, it was an exciting, fun, chock-full of sharks book that teemed with plenty of adventure and entertainment. There's not much else to say, as this was a straightforward book. That being said, I am definitely keep an eye out for his other books (both in the series and outside of it) - they are quite exciting and great for summer. Steve Alten
July 27, 2023
I shouldn't give this book 4 stars I really shouldn't. The story is so far fetched...
You ever see that movie Sharknado? If you did then admit you sat thru the whole movie didn't you? For as much ridiculousness as there is in this novel it’s still a lot of fun.
You ever see that movie Sharknado? If you did then admit you sat thru the whole movie didn't you? For as much ridiculousness as there is in this novel it’s still a lot of fun.
September 5, 2023
4 stars may be stretching this one. Probably should be at 3 but I do like Alten and this series but this was a weak entry. Definitely a decline in plot, suspense and character building from first 2 books in series.
I read the first 5 in this series and after the first 2 I just thought the plots were becoming very redundant. Add a couple of characters here, a reason and motive to free a meg or two there and 💥 ...different story.
In this case we get an older Jonas, with 2 children, with financial issues. Thus, he joins a reality TV show that is right up his alley. This is sometimes seen in horror movies and stories but in this case it's used in this sci fi thriller to add more characters and give Jonas a reason to get back in water.
Doesn't pick up until more than halfway through. 3 stars but I'm giving it 4 because it's part of an Alten series I enjoy.
RE READ 9/5/23 So after re reading this for the second time I will leave this at 4 stars. This takes place 18 years after the second novel. We get Megs in this story ( plural) 3 of them. Angel from the first and what turns out to be 2 males both from her litter of the second one I believe. One is names Scarface by Michael Maren , who is this novels Baddie and is out for revenge against Mac and Jonas. He is the one pulling the strings with the Daredevil reality show getting Jonas back in the sea and luring Scarface to the stunt show. Terry is off dealing with another Meg in the northwest causing whales to beach themselves. Her son and Mac is working on fixing the Lagoon doors at the institute because David thinks Angel has returned to the area. There is a lot of action between these three story lines and three Megs. Dani , Jonas Daughter, is a nice addition to the main characters.
I read the first 5 in this series and after the first 2 I just thought the plots were becoming very redundant. Add a couple of characters here, a reason and motive to free a meg or two there and 💥 ...different story.
In this case we get an older Jonas, with 2 children, with financial issues. Thus, he joins a reality TV show that is right up his alley. This is sometimes seen in horror movies and stories but in this case it's used in this sci fi thriller to add more characters and give Jonas a reason to get back in water.
Doesn't pick up until more than halfway through. 3 stars but I'm giving it 4 because it's part of an Alten series I enjoy.
RE READ 9/5/23 So after re reading this for the second time I will leave this at 4 stars. This takes place 18 years after the second novel. We get Megs in this story ( plural) 3 of them. Angel from the first and what turns out to be 2 males both from her litter of the second one I believe. One is names Scarface by Michael Maren , who is this novels Baddie and is out for revenge against Mac and Jonas. He is the one pulling the strings with the Daredevil reality show getting Jonas back in the sea and luring Scarface to the stunt show. Terry is off dealing with another Meg in the northwest causing whales to beach themselves. Her son and Mac is working on fixing the Lagoon doors at the institute because David thinks Angel has returned to the area. There is a lot of action between these three story lines and three Megs. Dani , Jonas Daughter, is a nice addition to the main characters.
November 15, 2019
Disappointing installment. Never thought I'd be wishing I could go back in time to re-experience the relative glamor & intrigue of its superior predecessor, The Trench.
Actually, this started out pretty good. Like watching Captain Kirk in Star Trek VI, we get heartfelt reflections on the passage of time and Jonas's missteps in transition from middle to old age. I also enjoyed the family dynamics--the conflicts between teen and parent and the realistic yet commonplace household financial struggles that are often unexamined in contemporary fiction.
But then the theme of growing old gets beaten to death, with every page reminding us of how ancient and out-of-step Jonas feels.
The satire of reality TV shows is overblown and unbelievable. How many cast members would really have to die before the network pulls the plug?
I also got a bit tired of the two- or three-narrative structure of these novels. Once again, Jonas and Terry are separated, each tempted by potential sex partners, each battling their own megalodon. Am I asking too much to see both of our main characters on the same stage at the same time facing a common foe together?
Maybe it's time I switch to The Loch series...
Actually, this started out pretty good. Like watching Captain Kirk in Star Trek VI, we get heartfelt reflections on the passage of time and Jonas's missteps in transition from middle to old age. I also enjoyed the family dynamics--the conflicts between teen and parent and the realistic yet commonplace household financial struggles that are often unexamined in contemporary fiction.
But then the theme of growing old gets beaten to death, with every page reminding us of how ancient and out-of-step Jonas feels.
The satire of reality TV shows is overblown and unbelievable. How many cast members would really have to die before the network pulls the plug?
I also got a bit tired of the two- or three-narrative structure of these novels. Once again, Jonas and Terry are separated, each tempted by potential sex partners, each battling their own megalodon. Am I asking too much to see both of our main characters on the same stage at the same time facing a common foe together?
Maybe it's time I switch to The Loch series...
October 30, 2013
This novel is the third one of a series. This can be a stand alone novel. Angel the shark is back and once again terrorizing the waters and causing chaos. This novel fulfills its intention. It is entertaining and does not claim to be serious literature. It has plenty of action and what could be better than a massive shark chomping on people? If you looking to be entertained and do not care how realistic a novel is, try this book.
May 27, 2020
Oh my. This book could have been about 250 pages shorter...but then, how would we ever have witnessed the glory of THREE megalodons?!?! This one was tough to get through. All the characters are whiny and rancid. I just wanted the shark to eat them all. Also, the women tend to pass out a lot. Good thing the men are there to jump through the gills of a shark, get sucked up through a dredge hose, and make disgusting passes at them constantly! How many more to go in this series?!
August 13, 2019
A third entry in the series that brought back the Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon) in which 18 years have passed since the adventures of Jonas Taylor and Terry Taylor, who now have a family a daughter Dani (Daniella) who is almost eighteen and a son David who is fourteen.
The sea bassin who used to house the Megalodon and who escaped hangs like a stone around their necks and does start to sink them financially with no solution in sight.
So Jonas jumps at the chance to participate in a reality show about young daredevils for which he gets a fat paycheck, not without any doubts, but his wife sends their daughter along with Jonas so they can spend some time together. So they go off to the Pacific to host the nautical themed new season of this popular TV show with the best of intentions. However there is somebody who still wants to take his revenge on Jonas. And of course a confrontation with a new Megalodon is bound to happen and the 63 year old Jonas has to show who is still a real daredevil.
In the mean time a big shark is terrorizing the Canadian coast and Terry gets coaxed to have a look and to catch the beastie and possibly return it to the Bassin in order to create a big public attraction once again in the man made bassin. She gets face to face with a Megalodon and it pulls her out of her comfortzone onze again.
In the mean time Mac and David are preparing the bassin for the return of the Megalodon named Angel so she can restore the families finances and sanity. They come face to face with Angel before they are ready and will they get a rematch?
In this third installment it is about greed and daft people, the only creatures in this book who do anything expected are the big sharks, the average human in this book is total moron or a daft bugger. It does get a wee tiresome how people never get to smarten up. As a result they tend to get eaten so that is that.
Another installment of the MEG series that does not fail to entertain even if the dumb people in this episode are kinda more stupid than the ones in the earlier books. They did learn nothing from the past experiences. But then again the story needs shark-bait so all ends well.
Not sure about the story of the Megalodon several thousand years ago and what was meant with it, it might be me who is thick. And a lot of descriptions about nature and sharks that feel like copied from a manual about the Megalodon, this lacked from the previous books and so occasionally takes you out of the high adventure story about a bloody big shark.
I do want to lay the series to rest and perhaps read the other 3 books at a later time, I do have these on my kobo e-reader. Good entertainment nonetheless.
The sea bassin who used to house the Megalodon and who escaped hangs like a stone around their necks and does start to sink them financially with no solution in sight.
So Jonas jumps at the chance to participate in a reality show about young daredevils for which he gets a fat paycheck, not without any doubts, but his wife sends their daughter along with Jonas so they can spend some time together. So they go off to the Pacific to host the nautical themed new season of this popular TV show with the best of intentions. However there is somebody who still wants to take his revenge on Jonas. And of course a confrontation with a new Megalodon is bound to happen and the 63 year old Jonas has to show who is still a real daredevil.
In the mean time a big shark is terrorizing the Canadian coast and Terry gets coaxed to have a look and to catch the beastie and possibly return it to the Bassin in order to create a big public attraction once again in the man made bassin. She gets face to face with a Megalodon and it pulls her out of her comfortzone onze again.
In the mean time Mac and David are preparing the bassin for the return of the Megalodon named Angel so she can restore the families finances and sanity. They come face to face with Angel before they are ready and will they get a rematch?
In this third installment it is about greed and daft people, the only creatures in this book who do anything expected are the big sharks, the average human in this book is total moron or a daft bugger. It does get a wee tiresome how people never get to smarten up. As a result they tend to get eaten so that is that.
Another installment of the MEG series that does not fail to entertain even if the dumb people in this episode are kinda more stupid than the ones in the earlier books. They did learn nothing from the past experiences. But then again the story needs shark-bait so all ends well.
Not sure about the story of the Megalodon several thousand years ago and what was meant with it, it might be me who is thick. And a lot of descriptions about nature and sharks that feel like copied from a manual about the Megalodon, this lacked from the previous books and so occasionally takes you out of the high adventure story about a bloody big shark.
I do want to lay the series to rest and perhaps read the other 3 books at a later time, I do have these on my kobo e-reader. Good entertainment nonetheless.
August 14, 2018
Descriptions are literally copy-pasted from the previous books in the series. Fewer loving descriptions of bare breasts in this one, but lots of thong bikinis. Jonas goes from bemoaning his aching back in one scene to outswimming a Meg in the next. Too much bopping between plotlines-- at one point I actually lost track of how many Megs were in action. Overall, total fantasy-fulfillment lit for retired men.
February 14, 2021
I really enjoy this genere. Give me all the sharks.
Eighteen years have passed since Angel last surfaced. Now she is back, and she is not alone. We have three parallel story lines, each featuring their own megalodon.
I enjoyed the reality TV show plot in this one, as well as the discovery of more prehistoric creatures!
I found the entire book fun, but with a lot of repetition.
I'm ready for book four.
Eighteen years have passed since Angel last surfaced. Now she is back, and she is not alone. We have three parallel story lines, each featuring their own megalodon.
I enjoyed the reality TV show plot in this one, as well as the discovery of more prehistoric creatures!
I found the entire book fun, but with a lot of repetition.
I'm ready for book four.
February 11, 2022
Entretenido, pero para lo mucho que pareció avanzar en el segundo esto es volver a pescar humanos sin apenas algún argumento.
March 21, 2021
I really enjoyed book 3, the narration was great. I became annoyed with the kids in this book but it was still enjoyable. I'm looking forward to see where book 4 takes me.
March 22, 2020
Was this ghostwritten?
After a large time jump Jonas and Terry now have teenage children and the Tanaka institute has failed. Their marriage isn't doing great and their finances are woeful. When Jonas gets the opportunity to consult and be a part of an extreme reality show he has no option but to accept due to the large sum of money offered.
Do far so good, sounds promising sadly the crazy, OTT, badly written yet highly entertaining series grounds to a halt with book no 3. I honestly think it was ghostwritten, on the surface its the same as the others-crazy, unbelievable, comedic at times, awful female characters, overly manly male characters, mysoginistic, repetitive yet something still felt off about it. Surely I'm also not the onl one who picked up on the fact they can't seem to agree on Jonas' and Terry's ages. Their age gap seemed to change from chapter to chapter.
At this point Jonas is too old to be believable as the hero who always saves the day. The plots were even more ridiculous and no longer in a fun way.
I won't bother continue with the rest of the series.
After a large time jump Jonas and Terry now have teenage children and the Tanaka institute has failed. Their marriage isn't doing great and their finances are woeful. When Jonas gets the opportunity to consult and be a part of an extreme reality show he has no option but to accept due to the large sum of money offered.
Do far so good, sounds promising sadly the crazy, OTT, badly written yet highly entertaining series grounds to a halt with book no 3. I honestly think it was ghostwritten, on the surface its the same as the others-crazy, unbelievable, comedic at times, awful female characters, overly manly male characters, mysoginistic, repetitive yet something still felt off about it. Surely I'm also not the onl one who picked up on the fact they can't seem to agree on Jonas' and Terry's ages. Their age gap seemed to change from chapter to chapter.
At this point Jonas is too old to be believable as the hero who always saves the day. The plots were even more ridiculous and no longer in a fun way.
I won't bother continue with the rest of the series.
August 10, 2017
The front of this book has the blurb "Two words: Jurassic Shark!"
My review can be summed as:
Two words: Why say two words when you can say 3, or 4, or 50?
Seriously, there is so much info dumping about the history of every place, person, and object mentioned in the story. Every location (and there are several) basically has a full history explained, even though none of it pertains to the story at all.
At 25 pages, I wondered when the story was going to start.
At 50 pages, I seriously contemplated giving up as I still hadn't reached much story.
At 100 pages, I started to grasp the storyline, and took at guess at everything that would happen.
I did read all 460+ pages, and encountered not one surprise, everything was easily predicted. At the actual story probably could have been told in 200 pages.
Just ugh. What a waste of a day spent reading this monstrosity. It would make a way better movie since all the fluff would be removed.
My review can be summed as:
Two words: Why say two words when you can say 3, or 4, or 50?
Seriously, there is so much info dumping about the history of every place, person, and object mentioned in the story. Every location (and there are several) basically has a full history explained, even though none of it pertains to the story at all.
At 25 pages, I wondered when the story was going to start.
At 50 pages, I seriously contemplated giving up as I still hadn't reached much story.
At 100 pages, I started to grasp the storyline, and took at guess at everything that would happen.
I did read all 460+ pages, and encountered not one surprise, everything was easily predicted. At the actual story probably could have been told in 200 pages.
Just ugh. What a waste of a day spent reading this monstrosity. It would make a way better movie since all the fluff would be removed.
May 21, 2020
Just another reason why Steve Alten is my favorite author, and the king of shark fiction (other than Peter Benchley).
Just when you think the nightmare is over for Jonas Taylor... MEG: Primal Waters Alten provides an awesome third installment to the series. The plot is very believable I felt as to how Jonas once again finds himself face to face with the meg. I didn't like this one as much as MEG or The Trench (the trench is the best of the series in my opinion - hands down)!
Regardless, MEG: Primal Waters does not disappoint! And that cover art doe! - Perfection!
- Review from science-fiction novelist Julian Michael Carver
Just when you think the nightmare is over for Jonas Taylor... MEG: Primal Waters Alten provides an awesome third installment to the series. The plot is very believable I felt as to how Jonas once again finds himself face to face with the meg. I didn't like this one as much as MEG or The Trench (the trench is the best of the series in my opinion - hands down)!
Regardless, MEG: Primal Waters does not disappoint! And that cover art doe! - Perfection!
- Review from science-fiction novelist Julian Michael Carver
August 15, 2020
Meg(s)
This chapter in the Meg series is one i read a long time ago and have recently revisited and it surprised me on this read through just how much i remembered of a book I read around a decade ago. Steve Altens books are nothing if not memorable.
In another big deviation from the previous book (which was all action) Primal Waters is a bit slower going and takes some time to reintroduce us to characters and to set the events of the novel in motion. In principle, i thought this was a smart move. While i loved the breakneck pace of book 2, i must admit that characterisation took a bit of a back seat as a result. So, while this book does adopt a more languid pace that builds up to an action packed finale, there are some places where this is a benefit and others where its a bit of a step back.
The introduction of two new Taylors (the daughter and son of Terri and Jonas) was interesting, and I'm hoping we see them developed a bit more in book 4 because, here, they are a little one dimensional (mostly sticking rigidly to the rebellious teen daughter and geeky younger son tropes) and the villian of the piece is a bit lacking in comparison to book twos mad billionaire genius. I thought that the author took some existing characters in bold and unexpected directions (namely Mac and Terri) and i loved the concept of the Daredevil show as the reason for getting Jonas and the Megs back together again. The Daredevils themselves were largely unbearable, but made satisfying fodder for the real star of the book.
Altens trademark research is evident in this book, same as the preceding two, and we get a lot of real life history and background to the people, places and animals he introduces and, while i always thought it fit seamlessly in the first two books, the slower pacing of this one made this bits stand out more and, once or twice, i found them more distracting than enlightening.
The shark action itself is just as exciting and gory and ridiculous as always and, minor quibbles aside, i thought this was a great continuation of a thoroughly enjoyable series. Can't wait to move onto book four and see what happens next...
This chapter in the Meg series is one i read a long time ago and have recently revisited and it surprised me on this read through just how much i remembered of a book I read around a decade ago. Steve Altens books are nothing if not memorable.
In another big deviation from the previous book (which was all action) Primal Waters is a bit slower going and takes some time to reintroduce us to characters and to set the events of the novel in motion. In principle, i thought this was a smart move. While i loved the breakneck pace of book 2, i must admit that characterisation took a bit of a back seat as a result. So, while this book does adopt a more languid pace that builds up to an action packed finale, there are some places where this is a benefit and others where its a bit of a step back.
The introduction of two new Taylors (the daughter and son of Terri and Jonas) was interesting, and I'm hoping we see them developed a bit more in book 4 because, here, they are a little one dimensional (mostly sticking rigidly to the rebellious teen daughter and geeky younger son tropes) and the villian of the piece is a bit lacking in comparison to book twos mad billionaire genius. I thought that the author took some existing characters in bold and unexpected directions (namely Mac and Terri) and i loved the concept of the Daredevil show as the reason for getting Jonas and the Megs back together again. The Daredevils themselves were largely unbearable, but made satisfying fodder for the real star of the book.
Altens trademark research is evident in this book, same as the preceding two, and we get a lot of real life history and background to the people, places and animals he introduces and, while i always thought it fit seamlessly in the first two books, the slower pacing of this one made this bits stand out more and, once or twice, i found them more distracting than enlightening.
The shark action itself is just as exciting and gory and ridiculous as always and, minor quibbles aside, i thought this was a great continuation of a thoroughly enjoyable series. Can't wait to move onto book four and see what happens next...
June 29, 2019
Book three in the Meg series launches with an intriguing premise. It has been eighteen years since Jonas Taylor last crossed paths with a colossal Carcharodon megalodon, a.k.a. “Jurassic shark.” At sixty-four, he’s the father of a soon-to-be eighteen-year-old daughter and a slightly younger son. Along with his wife, Terry, he’s juggling family and mounting bills, when he gets an offer he can’t refuse—doing commentary on a reality TV survival show called Daredevils. Taking the job means going to sea for six weeks, his daughter in tow, along with a film crew and an adrenalin-fueled cast of thrill seekers. But all is not on the level, and there is more than one Meg haunting the Pacific, presenting separate challenges for each member of the Taylor family.
Once again Alten knows how to ramp up the excitement. The book starts off with a slow burn, the reader knowing there is more behind the Daredevils offer than meets the eye.
There are also plenty of opportunities for various Megs to answer the dinner bell. The Daredevil characters—good and bad—are all well drawn, and the reality TV angle adds a great edge. I particularly loved when Jonas intentionally flubs the name of the show’s airhead host after she repeatedly goofs his. Small things like this add flavor to the book, especially given the high-octane action scenes. I do wish Jonas and Terry weren’t always fighting off unwanted sexual advances (a theme in the last two books), but those small distractions aside, this is summer popcorn reading at its best. Give those sharks 5 stars!
Once again Alten knows how to ramp up the excitement. The book starts off with a slow burn, the reader knowing there is more behind the Daredevils offer than meets the eye.
There are also plenty of opportunities for various Megs to answer the dinner bell. The Daredevil characters—good and bad—are all well drawn, and the reality TV angle adds a great edge. I particularly loved when Jonas intentionally flubs the name of the show’s airhead host after she repeatedly goofs his. Small things like this add flavor to the book, especially given the high-octane action scenes. I do wish Jonas and Terry weren’t always fighting off unwanted sexual advances (a theme in the last two books), but those small distractions aside, this is summer popcorn reading at its best. Give those sharks 5 stars!
September 27, 2017
This installment has taken me the longest to finish so far and it was the least enjoyable as well. Fast forward a couple decades and we have an older Jonas and his family including two teen children, one who thinks she can do anything she wants because she's almost 18. She really grated on my nerves and I did not like how her character progressed at all. We again have the dual POV situation here, but it didn't bother me in this installment as much as it did in the second book.
The reality TV show aspect of this installment wasn't enjoyable at all and it wasn't believable to me considering the situations these characters were in. I am still going to progress through to the next book in the series though, because though I enjoy them less and less, this series is still keeping my interest at the moment.
The reality TV show aspect of this installment wasn't enjoyable at all and it wasn't believable to me considering the situations these characters were in. I am still going to progress through to the next book in the series though, because though I enjoy them less and less, this series is still keeping my interest at the moment.
March 31, 2023
3.5 Angel “of death” Megalodon returns to the Tanaka Institute and her capture does not go as planned (otherwise this book would be way shorter). Meanwhile Jonas is now in his 60s and he’s doing things you may need to just accept because it’s hard to believe in some spots. Entertaining nonetheless with many new characters who don’t stick around very long and a few favourites who wont die, probably, until the end of the series due to old age. I may pick up #4 in a few months for curiosity’s sake.
August 9, 2025
I wasn’t as enthusiastic when I started reading this installment of the series. I don’t care much for reality shows and there was a huge time jump from the last book, almost 20 years. Jonas and Terry now have 2 kids, ages 14 and almost 18. There were also so many characters to keep straight. However, once we settled in after the first third of the book or so, the carnage begins! Jonas and their daughter, Dani, are in one part of the world, Terry in another, and their son David and Mac the pilot in yet a third location. Everything culminates into a very exciting ending and fans of the series won’t be disappointed. I wasn’t! A solid 4 stars!
August 13, 2019
4.1 Overall. A good fun read, and takes you right back into the mix with the megs. If you did not read the 1st too it still fills enough info in to be a stand alone book. Fast paced, back and forth story really keeps you wanting to read on. Not sure why they did the whole prehistoric chapters. More character development than the 1st too, but as the main characters are aging, it seems appropriate.
October 15, 2019
Un megalodonte rispunta dalla fossa delle Marianne e fa strage di esseri umani, non mi sarei mai aspettato di trovare gradevole questa saga, eppure i primi due romanzi di Steve Alten furono un piacere non colpevole. Rasenta quanto basta il trash per non scadere nella cafonata - non è Sharknado su carta insomma - ma in questo terzo capitolo, assai più lungo dei predecessori, le lungaggini iniziano a farsi sentire e pesano quanto l'età del protagonista Jonas nella lotta ai Meg. Nonostante questo non ha ucciso la mia curiosità di leggere come prosegue per ben altri cinque libri.
September 21, 2020
3.5 stars
This is so fun. It’s like watching a movie. All the characters work but Danielle who I never had a chance to like her. I always wanted to slap her. Loved David! I kept thinking I’d get tired of the technical information concerning underwater life but I didn’t. I learned a lot. *I did have one WTH moment: The Coast Guard does respond to 911. Everyone who works near water should know that!* I think it’s the pacing with intelligent logic that allows this book to work.
This is so fun. It’s like watching a movie. All the characters work but Danielle who I never had a chance to like her. I always wanted to slap her. Loved David! I kept thinking I’d get tired of the technical information concerning underwater life but I didn’t. I learned a lot. *I did have one WTH moment: The Coast Guard does respond to 911. Everyone who works near water should know that!* I think it’s the pacing with intelligent logic that allows this book to work.
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