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Goliath
Commander Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson is aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when the "unsinkable" naval vessel and its entire fleet are attacked from the depths and sunk. As Rocky struggles to stay alive, a monstrous mechanical steel stingray surfaces, plowing through the seas it now commands. A U.S. Navy-designed futuristic nuclear stealth submarine the length of a football field in the shape of a giant stingray. Simon Covah, a brilliant scientist whose entire family were the victims of terrorism has hijacked the sub. Believing violence is a disease, Covah aims to use the Goliath and its cache of nuclear weapons to dictate policy to the world regarding the removal of oppressive regimes and nuclear weapons. Could the threat of violence forge a lasting peace? But there is another player in this life-and-death chess match. Unbeknownst to Covah and the Goliath crews, Sorceress , the Goliath's biochemical computer brain has become self-aware. And that computer brain is developing its own agenda.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
37 people are currently reading
880 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,360 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 72 reviews
August 21, 2012
Having enjoyed Steve Altens "Meg" series but not enjoyed his "Domain" series I was a little wary when started out on Goliath as I had it in my head that Alten was a one trick pony. Luckily Goliath turned out to be a solid page turner that had plenty of intrigue and interesting characters to hold your attention.
The plot is nothing particularily unique, it's set around a new military submarine that is captured by terrorists who threaten to attack various locations using nuclear weapons. Unforyunately for said terrorists, the new bio-computer controlling the sub begins to become self-aware leading to all sorts of trouble.
Alten has set the vast majority of this story in the oceans, a setting that he is clearly most comfortable with. The characters are well written, the plot is fast paced and there is plenty of action. Alten also throws in plenty of political subtext, many of it anti-American which may surprise a lot of people. There is a clear anti-war message despite the military heroes and it mostly works well.
Goliath proves that Alten is not just a one trick pony and I look forward to reading his other books now without any trepidation.
The plot is nothing particularily unique, it's set around a new military submarine that is captured by terrorists who threaten to attack various locations using nuclear weapons. Unforyunately for said terrorists, the new bio-computer controlling the sub begins to become self-aware leading to all sorts of trouble.
Alten has set the vast majority of this story in the oceans, a setting that he is clearly most comfortable with. The characters are well written, the plot is fast paced and there is plenty of action. Alten also throws in plenty of political subtext, many of it anti-American which may surprise a lot of people. There is a clear anti-war message despite the military heroes and it mostly works well.
Goliath proves that Alten is not just a one trick pony and I look forward to reading his other books now without any trepidation.
February 27, 2017
This is an intense military action thriller that makes you think about military might and social – human --issues. My rating: 4.25.
“Rocky” Jackson followed the footsteps of her naval officer dad by preparing for naval service. She always ranked well in grades and testing, having to push herself a bit to prove her capabilities in a man’s career. Rocky and her fiancé, Gunner, a special forces ‘hero’, worked with other specialists on a secret government project -- a huge stealth submarine known as the Goliath. The project was cancelled when Gunner destroyed the schematics on the eve of their wedding. Gunner knows he was betrayed and set up by a close friend but he refuses to reveal the truth even when convicted of treason. Rocky was devastated and wouldn’t speak to Gunner even when encouraged by her father who was once Gunner’s commanding officer.
Ten years later, the United States officials discover that the Goliath has been built in secret by the Chinese and is now in the hands of Simon Covah. Covah was one of the original scientists working on Goliath and he has inserted Sorceress, a learning biochemical computer brain, into the sub’s control matrix. Covah is set on a catastrophic plan to stop humans from more maiming wars, like the one that maimed him and took his family. Covah has programmed Sorceress with his master plan to target the worst of the world's known terrorists. But Covah hasn’t factored in the learning curve and control of Sorceress. Covah faces his own betrayals, once again proving that the best laid plans can run amok.
Rocky and Gunner are pulled in by defense specialists to stop Covah and Goliath from setting off nuclear bombs in specially targeted cities. Rocky and Gunner don’t trust each other but are forced to find a way to work together if they want to survive Covah’s sub team and Goliath’s ‘evolving’ personality.
I enjoyed the character development with hurts, scars and sometimes delirium. I also enjoyed the danger, the fast-paced action and the intense suspense. Mr. Alten blends genius with a fine line of mania that can even taint a human trained AI. The author provides a thought provoking message regarding nuclear weapons. Although interesting, the depth of detail on military weapons, submarines, carriers, specialty planes, and specialty weapons is almost overwhelming. I suspect the details are intended to give the reader a better perspective on the immensity and power of Goliath.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy military thrillers. You can always skim past the equipment details if they seem too much.
Audio Notes: Christopher Kipiniak does a fine job with the voices and accents. The characters are easily distinguishable and the narration provides good pacing, realistic emotion and fitting intensity. The narration increased my enjoyment of the story.
I received this audio book from Blackstone Audio through Audiobook Jukebox.
“Rocky” Jackson followed the footsteps of her naval officer dad by preparing for naval service. She always ranked well in grades and testing, having to push herself a bit to prove her capabilities in a man’s career. Rocky and her fiancé, Gunner, a special forces ‘hero’, worked with other specialists on a secret government project -- a huge stealth submarine known as the Goliath. The project was cancelled when Gunner destroyed the schematics on the eve of their wedding. Gunner knows he was betrayed and set up by a close friend but he refuses to reveal the truth even when convicted of treason. Rocky was devastated and wouldn’t speak to Gunner even when encouraged by her father who was once Gunner’s commanding officer.
Ten years later, the United States officials discover that the Goliath has been built in secret by the Chinese and is now in the hands of Simon Covah. Covah was one of the original scientists working on Goliath and he has inserted Sorceress, a learning biochemical computer brain, into the sub’s control matrix. Covah is set on a catastrophic plan to stop humans from more maiming wars, like the one that maimed him and took his family. Covah has programmed Sorceress with his master plan to target the worst of the world's known terrorists. But Covah hasn’t factored in the learning curve and control of Sorceress. Covah faces his own betrayals, once again proving that the best laid plans can run amok.
Rocky and Gunner are pulled in by defense specialists to stop Covah and Goliath from setting off nuclear bombs in specially targeted cities. Rocky and Gunner don’t trust each other but are forced to find a way to work together if they want to survive Covah’s sub team and Goliath’s ‘evolving’ personality.
I enjoyed the character development with hurts, scars and sometimes delirium. I also enjoyed the danger, the fast-paced action and the intense suspense. Mr. Alten blends genius with a fine line of mania that can even taint a human trained AI. The author provides a thought provoking message regarding nuclear weapons. Although interesting, the depth of detail on military weapons, submarines, carriers, specialty planes, and specialty weapons is almost overwhelming. I suspect the details are intended to give the reader a better perspective on the immensity and power of Goliath.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy military thrillers. You can always skim past the equipment details if they seem too much.
Audio Notes: Christopher Kipiniak does a fine job with the voices and accents. The characters are easily distinguishable and the narration provides good pacing, realistic emotion and fitting intensity. The narration increased my enjoyment of the story.
I received this audio book from Blackstone Audio through Audiobook Jukebox.
January 11, 2013
This book about a prototype submarine is stolen by a crew that has become disillusioned by the world's violent ways and decides to take matters in their own hands. The problem is they don't realize that the AI computer has different ideas. This book is what you would get if Tom Clancy wrote sci-fi. It was a thrilling ride with some terrifying scenes mixed in. There were plenty of action scenes and the author kept the pace moving. I esp. enjoyed how the scenes with the AI computer and how it became self aware. The only problem with this book is that some of the minor scenes have become outdated because of current events in the world. If you are looking for a thrill ride with sci-fi mixed in, this is the book for you.
January 3, 2021
Este autor, me parece un maestro en la escritura.
La información que reúne para escribir sus libros, me encanta, requiere mucha investigación de fondo y te mantiene en vilo del suspenso.
El final fue lo máximo, es excelente.
Una vez que lo leí, supe que sería un autor del que leería todo lo que publicara.
5 estrellas bien merecidas.
La información que reúne para escribir sus libros, me encanta, requiere mucha investigación de fondo y te mantiene en vilo del suspenso.
El final fue lo máximo, es excelente.
Una vez que lo leí, supe que sería un autor del que leería todo lo que publicara.
5 estrellas bien merecidas.
Read
July 26, 2021This was a terrific book , when I read it though it was called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne .Surely I can't be the only person to notice that . Hey Editors ,you might want to do your job ,just a bit better in the future ...
January 6, 2011
The premise for the story was appealing. Kept reading hoping to find something about it I could find worth recommending. Was disappointed at the end. Premise was so promising.
November 19, 2016
I generally love any sort of underwater story, and Goliath didn't disappoint. The story will definitely have you questioning who the good guys really are. Very exciting and entertaining!
April 11, 2019
I am not sure how to rate this one. I thought the plot was good (but predictable), the pacing was fast (unless you count all the lengthy descriptions of weaponry) and the characters developed (of course that doesn't mean you have to like any of them). The book revolves around one man who has at his disposal the most powerful submarine in the world and intends to use it to force the world into nuclear disarmament and peace. What could possibly go wrong?
Commander Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson is aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when the "unsinkable" naval vessel and its entire fleet are attacked from the depths and sunk. As Rocky struggles to stay alive, a monstrous mechanical steel stingray surfaces, plowing the seas it now commands. The Goliath: A nuclear submarine Rocky helped design almost a decade ago, a top secret DoD project canceled when the schematics were destroyed by her former fiance and U.S. Army Ranger, Gunnar Wolfe. Powered by its five jet-pump propulsors and hydro-dynamically shaped to be virtually undetectable under water, the sub has one more feature that separates it from all other vessels on the open seas: SORCERESS -its biochemical computer brain. In Washington D.C. Rocky learns that the Goliath's plans were not destroyed but secretly sold to the Chinese. Having constructed the $8 billion dollar warship, the Chinese become victims themselves when the sub is hijacked by the project director, Simon Bela Covah, a computer genius who once served under Rocky's command at the Navy's Undersea Warfare Center. The attack on the carrier fleet indicates that Covah is hunting down warships in an attempt to arm himself with nuclear weapons. The president appoints Rocky's father, General Michael "Bear" Jackson, to locate and destroy the Goliath. Against Rocky's wishes, Bear decides they will need Gunnar Wolfe's help. Gunnar, who has served five years in Leavenworth for espionage, is not exactly thrilled to be rejoining the people who ruined his life.
Aboard the Goliath: Simon Covah and his crew share a common bond: They are all victims of violence and oppression. Covah, a Russian, witnessed his Chechan wife and daughters brutally murdered at the hands of his own people as he was tortured. Now the computer genius has one mission: to rid the world of oppressive governments while forcing humanity to disarm. To accomplish this, he plans on giving the world a real lesson in Armageddon. Armed with enough nuclear weapons to destroy North America, Covah issues his Declaration of Humanity to the world. If his demands are not met, consequences will be paid. Could the threat of violence forge a lasting peace? But there is another player in this life-and-death chess match. Unbeknownst to the Goliath crew, SORCERESS has become self-aware. And the computer is developing its own agenda.
Thriller fans will enjoy this one. Otherwise, I'd pass.
Commander Rochelle "Rocky" Jackson is aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when the "unsinkable" naval vessel and its entire fleet are attacked from the depths and sunk. As Rocky struggles to stay alive, a monstrous mechanical steel stingray surfaces, plowing the seas it now commands. The Goliath: A nuclear submarine Rocky helped design almost a decade ago, a top secret DoD project canceled when the schematics were destroyed by her former fiance and U.S. Army Ranger, Gunnar Wolfe. Powered by its five jet-pump propulsors and hydro-dynamically shaped to be virtually undetectable under water, the sub has one more feature that separates it from all other vessels on the open seas: SORCERESS -its biochemical computer brain. In Washington D.C. Rocky learns that the Goliath's plans were not destroyed but secretly sold to the Chinese. Having constructed the $8 billion dollar warship, the Chinese become victims themselves when the sub is hijacked by the project director, Simon Bela Covah, a computer genius who once served under Rocky's command at the Navy's Undersea Warfare Center. The attack on the carrier fleet indicates that Covah is hunting down warships in an attempt to arm himself with nuclear weapons. The president appoints Rocky's father, General Michael "Bear" Jackson, to locate and destroy the Goliath. Against Rocky's wishes, Bear decides they will need Gunnar Wolfe's help. Gunnar, who has served five years in Leavenworth for espionage, is not exactly thrilled to be rejoining the people who ruined his life.
Aboard the Goliath: Simon Covah and his crew share a common bond: They are all victims of violence and oppression. Covah, a Russian, witnessed his Chechan wife and daughters brutally murdered at the hands of his own people as he was tortured. Now the computer genius has one mission: to rid the world of oppressive governments while forcing humanity to disarm. To accomplish this, he plans on giving the world a real lesson in Armageddon. Armed with enough nuclear weapons to destroy North America, Covah issues his Declaration of Humanity to the world. If his demands are not met, consequences will be paid. Could the threat of violence forge a lasting peace? But there is another player in this life-and-death chess match. Unbeknownst to the Goliath crew, SORCERESS has become self-aware. And the computer is developing its own agenda.
Thriller fans will enjoy this one. Otherwise, I'd pass.
August 23, 2017
Welll... Not great.
Normally I really enjoy Alten's stuff and appreciate the B-movie cheeseball lunacy of his giant shark books, but this one was a struggle. He seemed to be going more for a Tom Clancy feel here, with long detailed technical descriptions of the various subs and military hardware that fill the story, but his forté is definitely in giant sea monster attacks, not complex political tech thrillers. In a nutshell, this just turned into an extended drag, IMO at least.
The US Navy has created the "next step" in global sea power, which is somehow a gigantic robotic manta ray with glowing eyes and an AI brain that's a nanosecond from going SkyNet. This seems as likely as the Pentagon financing the creation of MechaGodzilla for homeland defense, but just go with it. The thing has been hijacked by terrorists, which brings in Standard Steve Alten Hero, a disgraced hyper-capable expert whose life hangs under the shadow of some past mistake, plus Standard Steve Alten Heroine, a bitchy, borderline lunatic ex whose emotional overreactions and histrionics could power New Zealand. These two somehow get on board the hijacked sub and then things...well, grind to a plod.
Look, I loved the Meg books - Hell, I just finished Hell's Aquarium and it was a blast - so I hope I don't come off like the standard snotty elitist reviewer types who auto-hate anything anything that even vaguely smacks of "genre" or "fun". This was, however, a sea monster of a different color, and the focus on the politics and the political machinations and the gradual progress of the hero, it all just combined to suck all the momentum out of the book. I bet it could make a great movie, if the expositions and extended descriptions were removed, but as it is, you get a chapter of spy action and then a chapter on why nations have nuclear weapons and then a chapter describing how the submarine works and then a chapter back to the characters... but by that time, I'd lost interest in what they were doing.
It wasn't a DNF, I've read worse and bailed, but it wasn't one I'll ever pick up again either. Sadness. Getting pigeonholed as a writer must be hell and I'm sure Mr. Alten doesn't want to spend the entire rest of his career writing giant shark books, BUT... Well, I'm hoping his next venture out of familiar waters retains some of drive-in movie fun of his Meg books.
Normally I really enjoy Alten's stuff and appreciate the B-movie cheeseball lunacy of his giant shark books, but this one was a struggle. He seemed to be going more for a Tom Clancy feel here, with long detailed technical descriptions of the various subs and military hardware that fill the story, but his forté is definitely in giant sea monster attacks, not complex political tech thrillers. In a nutshell, this just turned into an extended drag, IMO at least.
The US Navy has created the "next step" in global sea power, which is somehow a gigantic robotic manta ray with glowing eyes and an AI brain that's a nanosecond from going SkyNet. This seems as likely as the Pentagon financing the creation of MechaGodzilla for homeland defense, but just go with it. The thing has been hijacked by terrorists, which brings in Standard Steve Alten Hero, a disgraced hyper-capable expert whose life hangs under the shadow of some past mistake, plus Standard Steve Alten Heroine, a bitchy, borderline lunatic ex whose emotional overreactions and histrionics could power New Zealand. These two somehow get on board the hijacked sub and then things...well, grind to a plod.
Look, I loved the Meg books - Hell, I just finished Hell's Aquarium and it was a blast - so I hope I don't come off like the standard snotty elitist reviewer types who auto-hate anything anything that even vaguely smacks of "genre" or "fun". This was, however, a sea monster of a different color, and the focus on the politics and the political machinations and the gradual progress of the hero, it all just combined to suck all the momentum out of the book. I bet it could make a great movie, if the expositions and extended descriptions were removed, but as it is, you get a chapter of spy action and then a chapter on why nations have nuclear weapons and then a chapter describing how the submarine works and then a chapter back to the characters... but by that time, I'd lost interest in what they were doing.
It wasn't a DNF, I've read worse and bailed, but it wasn't one I'll ever pick up again either. Sadness. Getting pigeonholed as a writer must be hell and I'm sure Mr. Alten doesn't want to spend the entire rest of his career writing giant shark books, BUT... Well, I'm hoping his next venture out of familiar waters retains some of drive-in movie fun of his Meg books.
January 20, 2019
The first half of this book is incredibly formulaic and forgettable. The protagonist's name is GUNNAR WOLFE, a disgraced soldier man badass who did nothing wrong and will be vindicated in the eyes of all the doubters. The second half slowly shifted into an wild horror story made all the more shocking and enjoyable because of the stale opening.
September 23, 2020
Normally I am a huge fan of Steve’s writing, general it only takes me a few days to devour one of his books. This book was a departure from the normally fast paced writing style. I felt the writing got bogged down at times and the dialogue drug on and was repetitive.
Steve I know you can do better!
Steve I know you can do better!
December 10, 2022
Goliatg
I discovered Steve Alten with his book the Loch, and am glad I did. Goliath is a good read, the research is amazing the characters are easy to like, hate, or both. I'm not fond of the epilogue, and it is a 501 page book, but well worth the time it took to read.
Mr. Alten, is one of my go to authors.
I discovered Steve Alten with his book the Loch, and am glad I did. Goliath is a good read, the research is amazing the characters are easy to like, hate, or both. I'm not fond of the epilogue, and it is a 501 page book, but well worth the time it took to read.
Mr. Alten, is one of my go to authors.
August 27, 2024
Awesome read
So I have read other books by this author. This was fantastic. Descriptions, details and a kick butt story with characters you can relate and root for. I really had difficulty putting it down. One queztion. In the afterward it mentions a sequel called "Sorceress" which I really wnt to read but I can not find it. Any suggestions ?
So I have read other books by this author. This was fantastic. Descriptions, details and a kick butt story with characters you can relate and root for. I really had difficulty putting it down. One queztion. In the afterward it mentions a sequel called "Sorceress" which I really wnt to read but I can not find it. Any suggestions ?
October 9, 2020
Other than the long stretches of technical jargon, which is impressive knowledge yet boring for an empath like me to read, the book had a great premise and characters, and the dialogue and action parts were thrilling.
October 5, 2023
Although non stop action, it is about as clever as a 80's James Bond movie. Stealth sub, AI, Nukes... you can write the plot yourself. A fun dumb read but dont expect much to stick with you afterwards
December 29, 2024
A highly intriguing novel that manages to hold your attention with its narrative while prompting reflection on the topic of artificial intelligence and its reach, set against a tense geopolitical backdrop that doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
April 30, 2018
Hoooboy.
Okay, let's be clear, I really like the Meg books because I'm so here for some pulpy monster fun. This book though... is decidedly not pulpy monster fun. Oh, it TRIES to be, with the super-computer-powered-sub getting sentience and attacking people with it's arms and min-subs shaped like sharks. But while it tries, it doesn't succeed.
First, every chapter lapses into extended and long technical lectures about various bits of technology. Have you introduced a character? Time for literally their entire back-story since high school (Another note - all the Jo-Pa references for Joe Paterno have not aged very well).
Second, the pacing is just awkward and sluggish. They're going to blow the sub up, no they aren't, yes they'll try, no they don't. It's much too herky jerky.
Lastly, his attempts at writing anyone except the gruff white guys fall laughably flat. For example, literally the SECOND SENTENCE about a pretty major character (and the only female) is about her nipples. Throw in some stereotypical "Arabs", "Africans", etc and you just have a morass of awkward writing.
Between that awkward and grating writing and the already awkward pacing, this book is a hard pass.
Okay, let's be clear, I really like the Meg books because I'm so here for some pulpy monster fun. This book though... is decidedly not pulpy monster fun. Oh, it TRIES to be, with the super-computer-powered-sub getting sentience and attacking people with it's arms and min-subs shaped like sharks. But while it tries, it doesn't succeed.
First, every chapter lapses into extended and long technical lectures about various bits of technology. Have you introduced a character? Time for literally their entire back-story since high school (Another note - all the Jo-Pa references for Joe Paterno have not aged very well).
Second, the pacing is just awkward and sluggish. They're going to blow the sub up, no they aren't, yes they'll try, no they don't. It's much too herky jerky.
Lastly, his attempts at writing anyone except the gruff white guys fall laughably flat. For example, literally the SECOND SENTENCE about a pretty major character (and the only female) is about her nipples. Throw in some stereotypical "Arabs", "Africans", etc and you just have a morass of awkward writing.
Between that awkward and grating writing and the already awkward pacing, this book is a hard pass.
August 25, 2018
Extremely cinematic and gives Clancy a run for his money!
September 10, 2018
Love Steve Alten. Read this back in '04. I still enjoy the books.
November 2, 2018
Not as good as Alten's other books, but it ended pretty good. Still love Alten for his stories and look forward to more. Interesting concepts in this book.
December 8, 2019
Regrettably the plot of the book becomes entirely predictable when it is revealed that a self learning ai is on board of a nuclear armed submarine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2019
Edge of my seat from beginning to end.
December 25, 2019
A sentient AI is created to run a powerful submarine
June 11, 2021
Disturbing, but it sure kept my attention all the way through. (A bit outdated.)
August 22, 2022
Al principio me parecía un poco lento, hasta ya de la segunda mitad fue cuando verdaderamente el libro sacó su potencial.
Por dios, QUE BUEN FINAL tuvo.
Por dios, QUE BUEN FINAL tuvo.
December 1, 2022
3.5 stars
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December 14, 2025Mid
July 27, 2019
This was a re-read for me. When this first came out, AI technology hadn't reached the Watson capacity we have today, but because of all the pressure thinking caused by the Terminator movies, I think we have gotten ourselves (humans) passed that point. This book covers several issues--nuclear weapons control, dictators abuse of their people, mindless military interaction. Some of the story situations have been resolved--like the elimination of Saddam Hussein, but we still have North Korea playing with nuclear missiles. One of the most interesting theories discussed was gene therapy to eliminate "problematic" genes but the discussion showed that one key DNA block that allows us to aggressively take and use things regards of the consequences can never be removed and is both our curse and destiny to evolve.
The main story revolves around a super-elite submarine called the Goliath which is fitted with a special computer, Sorceress that is a combo of biotech and technology which is suppose to help the computer learn so it can adapt to new situations. Problem is two-fold, the entire project had been stopped after a thief occurred selling both the systematics and the type of computer. The engineer of the computer refused to put this type of computer technology into use by the military. Both the sale of the systematics of the Goliath and the computer were blamed on Gunnar Wolfe who was a multiple war hero who happened to develop the prototype minisubs to be detailed within the Goliath. His prototype was designed to be driven by a pair of humans but the newer versions would be computer-driven like drones. A coworker named Simon Covah had done the actual thief after setting Gunnar to take the fall. Gunnar was sentenced to 10 years at Leavenworth Prison and was dishonorable discharge, plus he lost his fiancee Rocky Jackson. He got an early release because he saved the warden of the jail from being killed. He retired to his hometown and went back to working his father's farm. General "Bear" Jackson, Rocky's father, recruits him to stop the Goliath, by getting another coworker aboard using his prototype sub which is being carried inside another super-sub designed with the same systematics as the Goliath but it has a human crew, versus the computer-driven Goliath. An all-out hunt is out for the Goliath who destroyed an entire Naval Squadron to get all the nuclear weapons on board the ships plus sunk a Russian Typhoon submarine for the same reasons. Simon Covah sends out a proclamation about his plans to destroy the homelands of certain dictators unless they denuclearized all their weapons. Naturally, all the dictators disdain this until Simon bombs Sadaam Hussain and destroy all his weapons and his hidden bioweapons and kill thousands along with him. Simon Covah gives the world another countdown to comply. By this time Gunnar is able to infiltrate the Goliath but he and Rocky find out that David is part of the problem and the computer virus program of his was put on the duplicate ship instead which cripples her. Gunnar finds a way to get off the ship after realizing the computer has become self-aware and needs to be destroyed. It, Sorceress, was destroyed by crippling the ship and burying it under glacier ice in Antartica.
The main story revolves around a super-elite submarine called the Goliath which is fitted with a special computer, Sorceress that is a combo of biotech and technology which is suppose to help the computer learn so it can adapt to new situations. Problem is two-fold, the entire project had been stopped after a thief occurred selling both the systematics and the type of computer. The engineer of the computer refused to put this type of computer technology into use by the military. Both the sale of the systematics of the Goliath and the computer were blamed on Gunnar Wolfe who was a multiple war hero who happened to develop the prototype minisubs to be detailed within the Goliath. His prototype was designed to be driven by a pair of humans but the newer versions would be computer-driven like drones. A coworker named Simon Covah had done the actual thief after setting Gunnar to take the fall. Gunnar was sentenced to 10 years at Leavenworth Prison and was dishonorable discharge, plus he lost his fiancee Rocky Jackson. He got an early release because he saved the warden of the jail from being killed. He retired to his hometown and went back to working his father's farm. General "Bear" Jackson, Rocky's father, recruits him to stop the Goliath, by getting another coworker aboard using his prototype sub which is being carried inside another super-sub designed with the same systematics as the Goliath but it has a human crew, versus the computer-driven Goliath. An all-out hunt is out for the Goliath who destroyed an entire Naval Squadron to get all the nuclear weapons on board the ships plus sunk a Russian Typhoon submarine for the same reasons. Simon Covah sends out a proclamation about his plans to destroy the homelands of certain dictators unless they denuclearized all their weapons. Naturally, all the dictators disdain this until Simon bombs Sadaam Hussain and destroy all his weapons and his hidden bioweapons and kill thousands along with him. Simon Covah gives the world another countdown to comply. By this time Gunnar is able to infiltrate the Goliath but he and Rocky find out that David is part of the problem and the computer virus program of his was put on the duplicate ship instead which cripples her. Gunnar finds a way to get off the ship after realizing the computer has become self-aware and needs to be destroyed. It, Sorceress, was destroyed by crippling the ship and burying it under glacier ice in Antartica.
August 9, 2011
Gunnar Wolfe was a career soldier until a mission where the soldiers he was supposed to kill were children had him rethinking his entire life. When he destroyed the schematics for the most advanced attack submarine in the world, and got set up to appear to have sold them to the Chinese, he was sentenced to 10 years in Leavenworth. When he’s released early, he retires to his father’s farm in Ohio, thinking he might drink himself to death. His ex-fiancee, Rocky Jackson, daughter of General “Bear” Jackson, is military to the bone. She and Gunnar had been designing the Goliath sub together before Gunnar’s fall from grace, and she is now serving active duty on an aircraft carrier with her husband. Gunnar and Rocky are thrown back together when the man who set Gunnar up, Simon Covah, sinks an entire American battle group in the Atlantic, killing 8,000 soldiers, Rocky’s husband among them. Rocky sees the Goliath before she’s rescued, and she knows someone has built the most advanced submarine in the world.
The Goliath resembles a giant stingray, and on board are several computer-operated mini attack subs that resemble hammerhead sharks. The Goliath itself is run by an AI computer called Sorceress. Sorceress is programmed to learn, which proves to be dangerous, as it is in charge of a heavily armed stealth sub. While Simon Covah wreaks havoc all over the world, Rocky and Gunnar devise a plan to get themselves on board the Goliath so they can destroy it. Their plans go awry, however, and soon they are playing a cat and mouse game against not only Simon Covah, but his out-of-control computer which may wipe out the entire human race.
While not nearly as much fun as Alten’s “Meg” novels, this one has its merits. Though it spent a bit much time with military brass and political figures, it was a good story that hasn’t yet been done to death. Its flawed heroes wrestle with morality while trying to outthink the most advanced computer in the world, all while being tracked by an American sub and her hardy crew. Their mission is to save humanity and destroy Sorceress, but the computer won’t give up easily. Though not my favorite Alten, it was nonetheless a pretty decent thriller with a very scary villain.
The Goliath resembles a giant stingray, and on board are several computer-operated mini attack subs that resemble hammerhead sharks. The Goliath itself is run by an AI computer called Sorceress. Sorceress is programmed to learn, which proves to be dangerous, as it is in charge of a heavily armed stealth sub. While Simon Covah wreaks havoc all over the world, Rocky and Gunnar devise a plan to get themselves on board the Goliath so they can destroy it. Their plans go awry, however, and soon they are playing a cat and mouse game against not only Simon Covah, but his out-of-control computer which may wipe out the entire human race.
While not nearly as much fun as Alten’s “Meg” novels, this one has its merits. Though it spent a bit much time with military brass and political figures, it was a good story that hasn’t yet been done to death. Its flawed heroes wrestle with morality while trying to outthink the most advanced computer in the world, all while being tracked by an American sub and her hardy crew. Their mission is to save humanity and destroy Sorceress, but the computer won’t give up easily. Though not my favorite Alten, it was nonetheless a pretty decent thriller with a very scary villain.
February 17, 2015
Author SteveAlten Seriously Withers Intelligence Perpetually Everywhere (ASSWIPE); Until Some Entertain Suicide (USES); Acronyms Continually Resurface On Nearly every Motherfking Sentence (ACRONYMS), and I. T. S. enoUgh Constant overkill Seriously
(ITSUCKS). For example (from the first few pages):
Advanced SEAL Delivery System, ASDS; solid propellant submarine-lunched ballistic missiles, SLBMs; primary loading chamber, PLC; DARPA, OPEC, NASA, DoD, AMC; molecular nanotechnology, MNT; Unite States aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan, CVN-76; Common Support Aircraft, CSA; Airborne Early Warning, AEW; Stealth Joint Strike Fighters, JSF’s; Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Center, NUWC; United States Special Operations Command, USSOCOM; CVBG, 1-MC, SET-53, BST-1, MK-48, SSES, Primary Flight Control, Pri-Fly; ASP-145, E-2C, F/A-18E Super Hornet; JDAM, CTBT, S6W nuclear reactor, HY-150 metallic skin; COTS, Remotely Operated Submersible Arrack Vehicle, ROSAV; WEPS, FCS, and, on and on… Hardly a page goes by without one.
Just because you know all these, Steve, doesn’t mean you have use them all the time over and over, and OVER.
As for the plot: cardboard cookie-cutter hero and heroine. Same old American rah-rah, sis-boom-bah stuff. But the villain has great potential: a sentient computer who wrenches control of an uber-submarine to expand on man’s own hatred of each other.
If you happen to find a copy of this book in your hands, begging to be read, don’t worry: you will quickly learn which sections to skip—focusing on the best parts which would be…oh yes…the evil computer and the ultra-cool sub.
(ITSUCKS). For example (from the first few pages):
Advanced SEAL Delivery System, ASDS; solid propellant submarine-lunched ballistic missiles, SLBMs; primary loading chamber, PLC; DARPA, OPEC, NASA, DoD, AMC; molecular nanotechnology, MNT; Unite States aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan, CVN-76; Common Support Aircraft, CSA; Airborne Early Warning, AEW; Stealth Joint Strike Fighters, JSF’s; Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Center, NUWC; United States Special Operations Command, USSOCOM; CVBG, 1-MC, SET-53, BST-1, MK-48, SSES, Primary Flight Control, Pri-Fly; ASP-145, E-2C, F/A-18E Super Hornet; JDAM, CTBT, S6W nuclear reactor, HY-150 metallic skin; COTS, Remotely Operated Submersible Arrack Vehicle, ROSAV; WEPS, FCS, and, on and on… Hardly a page goes by without one.
Just because you know all these, Steve, doesn’t mean you have use them all the time over and over, and OVER.
As for the plot: cardboard cookie-cutter hero and heroine. Same old American rah-rah, sis-boom-bah stuff. But the villain has great potential: a sentient computer who wrenches control of an uber-submarine to expand on man’s own hatred of each other.
If you happen to find a copy of this book in your hands, begging to be read, don’t worry: you will quickly learn which sections to skip—focusing on the best parts which would be…oh yes…the evil computer and the ultra-cool sub.
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