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MEG #0.5
Origins
Meg: Origins is a prequel to the main plot of the Meg Saga. It follows Jonas Taylor before he released the Meg from the Mariana Trench. It shows what happened back when he thought he saw the Meg while on a trench dive and accidentally caused two of the men aboard to die.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2011
215 people are currently reading
2273 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,359 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 231 reviews
June 25, 2020
In the preface, Steve Alten brags about the popularity of his first novel, Meg, and how even school teachers have used it to inspire science students. As a lover of all things scientific, I find this assertion hard to believe. However if it's true, then the future of STEM is in serious trouble.
Regardless, I can tell you right now, there is NO WAY any teacher will use Meg: Origins for the purpose of promoting the sciences among our youth, unless gambling, escorts, and "D cups" are on the syllabus.
This novel rivals The Godfather in its disrespect for women. And the rest of this campy book, just like Meg itself, reads more like a Sharknado script than a science-based novel. Two grudging stars.
Regardless, I can tell you right now, there is NO WAY any teacher will use Meg: Origins for the purpose of promoting the sciences among our youth, unless gambling, escorts, and "D cups" are on the syllabus.
This novel rivals The Godfather in its disrespect for women. And the rest of this campy book, just like Meg itself, reads more like a Sharknado script than a science-based novel. Two grudging stars.
August 5, 2019
That was actually quite good.
I think I might have underestimated Alten. Not in the way I did with Stephen King, before I read Needful Things. Far from it. But still.
Decent writing, some suspense, a few hilarious moments as well. Some cringeworthy scenes too, of course. But that’s somehow part of the game.
It was fairly entertaining. But suffered a bit from being a prequel to an already established series. It’s a little too short and might benefit from the reader knowing the main character already.
All in all it was fun.
I think I might have underestimated Alten. Not in the way I did with Stephen King, before I read Needful Things. Far from it. But still.
Decent writing, some suspense, a few hilarious moments as well. Some cringeworthy scenes too, of course. But that’s somehow part of the game.
It was fairly entertaining. But suffered a bit from being a prequel to an already established series. It’s a little too short and might benefit from the reader knowing the main character already.
All in all it was fun.
May 31, 2018
Odd mix of National Geographic and eye-roll worthy pulp fiction.
For example “... her tan, oiled breasts two swollen grapefruits in the skimpy red bikini.“
That is just so bad...
And then we have gems like this: „Fueled by the release of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the luciferase caused the luciferin to oxidize, creating a bioluminescent light.“
Come again? Not a sentence I want to read in an action novella that precedes a blockbuster movie.
It was entertaining enough, despite a portrayal of women as out-dated as the Megalodon and too detailed scientific information, that didn‘t flow with the narrative and read as if it had be copied straight out of Wikipedia.
Normally I would say I am not reading this author again, but this novella is part of my revised and expanded (soon to be a major motion picture) Kindle edition of Meg, so I‘ll hold my final evaluation until I finished reading that. Where is the popcorn?
3 bioluminescent stars.
For example “... her tan, oiled breasts two swollen grapefruits in the skimpy red bikini.“
That is just so bad...
And then we have gems like this: „Fueled by the release of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the luciferase caused the luciferin to oxidize, creating a bioluminescent light.“
Come again? Not a sentence I want to read in an action novella that precedes a blockbuster movie.
It was entertaining enough, despite a portrayal of women as out-dated as the Megalodon and too detailed scientific information, that didn‘t flow with the narrative and read as if it had be copied straight out of Wikipedia.
Normally I would say I am not reading this author again, but this novella is part of my revised and expanded (soon to be a major motion picture) Kindle edition of Meg, so I‘ll hold my final evaluation until I finished reading that. Where is the popcorn?
3 bioluminescent stars.
January 11, 2019
This prequel was ultimately unnecessary. You pretty much know everything you need to know about this event from reading MEG, so this doesn't add much to the story. I'm excited to read the second book in the series though!
August 20, 2025
More a novella than a novel, "Meg: Origins" is the prequel to the first book of Steve Alten's Meg series---currently about six books strong---about a prehistoric megalodon shark that escapes its natural habitat of several hundred thousand miles underwater into shallow feeding grounds.
The book basically fleshes out the story that is talked about in the first book, namely Jonas Taylor's initial introduction to the Carcharadon Megaladon in the Mariana Trench, back when he was a submersible pilot in the navy.
We find out why and how our intrepid hero was dishonorably discharged, and we discover how he met his life-long sidekick, James "Mac" Mackreides.
Totally superfluous and absolutely pointless, "Meg: Origins" is nevertheless a fun and exciting read that carries on the adventures of Taylor and his Ahab-like quest to destroy the megaladon.
This novella is an added bonus for the "Revised and Expanded Edition" of "Meg" #1, currently in mass market paperback edition.
The book basically fleshes out the story that is talked about in the first book, namely Jonas Taylor's initial introduction to the Carcharadon Megaladon in the Mariana Trench, back when he was a submersible pilot in the navy.
We find out why and how our intrepid hero was dishonorably discharged, and we discover how he met his life-long sidekick, James "Mac" Mackreides.
Totally superfluous and absolutely pointless, "Meg: Origins" is nevertheless a fun and exciting read that carries on the adventures of Taylor and his Ahab-like quest to destroy the megaladon.
This novella is an added bonus for the "Revised and Expanded Edition" of "Meg" #1, currently in mass market paperback edition.
August 10, 2018
At 76 pages, this is a neat, little prequel novella to the 'Meg' series. Action-packed, exciting and almost educational.
The occasionally misogynist dialogue and awful jokes were painful, though. You're killin' me with that stuff, Steve...
The occasionally misogynist dialogue and awful jokes were painful, though. You're killin' me with that stuff, Steve...
April 19, 2018
As a stand alone, this doesn’t really stand alone. The characters are all suggestive of persons you will get to know in the coming book. But it seems assumed that you have already read Meg #1 and so their appearance will be meaningful and enjoyable. If you haven’t read ahead to Meg #1, then they are just characters plopped onto the page, without explanation or back story, who then go on a minor adventure that ultimately leads no where.
Those problems aside, the reading was fun. The action moved at a nice steady clip. The asides that read like National Geographic entries - which I thought would get annoying - actually never did. In fact, they became an enjoyable part of the writing.
Those problems aside, the reading was fun. The action moved at a nice steady clip. The asides that read like National Geographic entries - which I thought would get annoying - actually never did. In fact, they became an enjoyable part of the writing.
July 29, 2014
My fascination with cheesy monster stories began with the release of movies like Anaconda, Deep Blue Sea, and Lake Placid, and continues with this series of books. It's a nice, easy read with an enticingly horrific monster -- the presumed extinct, mind-numbingly large, stuff of which nautical nightmares are made Carcharodon megalodon! Gigantic prehistoric sharks on the loose = campy reading fun that is perfect for when you're stuck at home sick, tired of those dry textbooks, or need a break from the classics. One downside of this book, though -- I don't want to go anywhere near the ocean now! ;)
August 3, 2014
-Ordeñando depredadores prehistóricos marinos.-
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Tras un breve prólogo en el mar de Filipinas en el último cuarto del siglo XIX, nos desplazamos en el tiempo al mismo lugar en el presente, cuando Jonas Taylor está a punto de participar en una misión secreta de exploración de la fosa de las Marianas. Precuela del libro “Meg”.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Tras un breve prólogo en el mar de Filipinas en el último cuarto del siglo XIX, nos desplazamos en el tiempo al mismo lugar en el presente, cuando Jonas Taylor está a punto de participar en una misión secreta de exploración de la fosa de las Marianas. Precuela del libro “Meg”.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 27, 2018
This 76 pg prequel to Meg is the story of what happened when Jonah comes into contact with the meg initially, and loses not only fellow men (he is the sole survivor of this dreaded expedition) but his credibility.
it was okay, the meg's scene was great but a lot of it felt like drivel. Skippable.
it was okay, the meg's scene was great but a lot of it felt like drivel. Skippable.
August 15, 2019
This was a fun prequel to read because, having seen the movie before my read of the first book in the series, I KNOW certain things happened in the past of our protagonist. But this book allows the reader to explore what happened in its truth along with the horror and pain. We really get inside Jonas's head and learn a little bit more of how he became the man he is. Fun prequel and definitely recommended!
4 stars!
4 stars!
July 12, 2018
Getting ready to start Meg. I have a good feeling reading this first was the right call.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 13, 2012
MEG: ORIGINS is a prequel of sorts to the author's first novel, MEG, the tale of Jonas Taylor's second encounter with the Megalodon, the ancestor to the modern Great White shark, still alive in the depths of the Mariana Trench, seven miles deep, forty miles wide, heated by thermal vents.
I've heard a great deal about that novel MEG, one that it had to be heavily rewritten by a ghost writer before it was publishable. Not sure if I believe that. I enjoyed it while realizing it was a first novel. Like any good author, and Alten is a good author, make no mistake, a writer gets better as he continues to practice his craft.
This novella tells the tale from Jonas Taylor's past mentioned in MEG, that caused two scientists' deaths and got Taylor a dishonorable discharge from the Navy. His first encounter with the Megalodons, that only he saw, and was covered up by Naval officers covering their asses when they learned the truth.
One amusing bit in the prologue was a nod to Peter Benchley's novel, JAWS, which inspired him to write MEG when he read it as a teenager. In that prologue, set more than a hundred years in the past, a scientific vessel is off the Mariana Islands, examining sharks teeth dredged up from the bottom, and wondering if those huge sharks might still exist in the depths of the nearby trench. When discussing just how big they would be, one exclaimed, "We'd need a bigger boat!"
Enjoyed this one.
I've heard a great deal about that novel MEG, one that it had to be heavily rewritten by a ghost writer before it was publishable. Not sure if I believe that. I enjoyed it while realizing it was a first novel. Like any good author, and Alten is a good author, make no mistake, a writer gets better as he continues to practice his craft.
This novella tells the tale from Jonas Taylor's past mentioned in MEG, that caused two scientists' deaths and got Taylor a dishonorable discharge from the Navy. His first encounter with the Megalodons, that only he saw, and was covered up by Naval officers covering their asses when they learned the truth.
One amusing bit in the prologue was a nod to Peter Benchley's novel, JAWS, which inspired him to write MEG when he read it as a teenager. In that prologue, set more than a hundred years in the past, a scientific vessel is off the Mariana Islands, examining sharks teeth dredged up from the bottom, and wondering if those huge sharks might still exist in the depths of the nearby trench. When discussing just how big they would be, one exclaimed, "We'd need a bigger boat!"
Enjoyed this one.
November 8, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Since this was included in my iBook of Meg, I figured I may as well read it, especially since I figure I’m in need of serotonin so badly that I’ll read this whole dumb, awful, incredibly enjoyable series. Origins is a prequel novella which more or less just contextualises The Incident™️ that lead to Jonas’ initial troubles. I didn’t feel like I gained anything new from the story (I already hated Heller and Danielson and it was clear I was supposed to adore Jonas and Mac in Meg). The only thing I am taking away from this is a newly discovered annoyance at the overuse of two terms interchangeably (cuttlefish, squid and cephalopods all being squeezed into a single sentence was a touch exhausting). As always, proceed with the understanding that this is a book written by a white guy in the 90’s and reads very self-insert, men-writing-women (aka it’s chauvinistic af and I don’t care about anyone) BUT it is also just a no thoughts head empty type of enjoyable I can really get behind.
Since this was included in my iBook of Meg, I figured I may as well read it, especially since I figure I’m in need of serotonin so badly that I’ll read this whole dumb, awful, incredibly enjoyable series. Origins is a prequel novella which more or less just contextualises The Incident™️ that lead to Jonas’ initial troubles. I didn’t feel like I gained anything new from the story (I already hated Heller and Danielson and it was clear I was supposed to adore Jonas and Mac in Meg). The only thing I am taking away from this is a newly discovered annoyance at the overuse of two terms interchangeably (cuttlefish, squid and cephalopods all being squeezed into a single sentence was a touch exhausting). As always, proceed with the understanding that this is a book written by a white guy in the 90’s and reads very self-insert, men-writing-women (aka it’s chauvinistic af and I don’t care about anyone) BUT it is also just a no thoughts head empty type of enjoyable I can really get behind.
January 26, 2021
I wish I had read this before I read The Meg, but it was an enjoyable little read.
June 30, 2022
Although I didn't like it as much as Meg, this was a good intro to this universe.
July 18, 2025
Geloof het of niet maar in deze boeken over haaien is misogynie het hoofd onderwerp.
August 30, 2013
A prequel novella to the Meg series. This describes the first encounter between Jonas and the Meg shark. I thought the author did a good job with this prequel and I enjoyed it. For me, it is difficult to give a novella a higher rating because of length. Not enough volume to get totally absorbed in the book. That being said, this was a nice quick prequel which is worth the read.
August 26, 2018
A set of bonus chapters that don't quite add up to a novel of their own, but are a fun read - and hold up well if you're going to read the Meg series in series order, rather than chronological order. There are some curious disconnects between Meg: Origins and Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror - but it introduces the series in a way that adds to it, and doesn't dumb it down at all in the process. Steve Alten is a capable writer whose greatest accomplishment may be having devoted himself to making reading for pleasure a part of the lives of many young people and readers who otherwise wouldn't be.
August 26, 2018
3.75 stars
Not inherently needed story, but interesting to see, instead of hear, about the events that happened prior to Jonas in the first book Meg and other events that added to it.
We follow Jonas in the upcoming descent and all the factors that added up to its inevitable outcome. The story just accentuated the dislike for a couple of characters.
We saw a little bit of Mac's story which, for me, would have been hilarious to read first hand.
Nice little novella that delved you back into the world. I will read more of this series.
Eventually *insert Fawlty Towers accent*.
Not inherently needed story, but interesting to see, instead of hear, about the events that happened prior to Jonas in the first book Meg and other events that added to it.
We follow Jonas in the upcoming descent and all the factors that added up to its inevitable outcome. The story just accentuated the dislike for a couple of characters.
We saw a little bit of Mac's story which, for me, would have been hilarious to read first hand.
Nice little novella that delved you back into the world. I will read more of this series.
Eventually *insert Fawlty Towers accent*.
February 6, 2021
Origins is the prequel to the Meg: A novel of deep terror.
The story is about Jonas Taylor's first introduction to the Megaladon in the Mariana Trench, back when he was a submersible pilot.
This was a quick, fun read that provided some great backstory.
The story is about Jonas Taylor's first introduction to the Megaladon in the Mariana Trench, back when he was a submersible pilot.
This was a quick, fun read that provided some great backstory.
dnf-for-good
August 29, 2018DNF. Boring. I hate when authors write prequels at the end of the series. Ugh!
September 5, 2020
A bit of a rehash, since the basic story has been told over and over in pieces throughout the volumes, but still an entertaining catch-up read before I start the next installment.
June 16, 2021
Fun, silly, and fast-paced novella. Short, but it provides a good background for The Meg by Steve Alten.
June 27, 2023
This was an interesting story on the backgrounds of the characters from the first book.
February 26, 2024
i fear i am about to read the entire series
August 13, 2020
Kind of boring and wishing I didn't waste my time listening to this.
September 1, 2021
I appreciate the good scientific approach, but I wonder if it was necessary to write this book. It just gives some extra details to a story that is already known beforehand
March 26, 2025
The writing, plot, and overall atmosphere isn't bad. The only thing ruining it for me is the objectification of women and over sexualising them. I just can't seem to get over it. Again, I don't think I'm the target audience for his books.
January 21, 2016
"...it was in this area that they netted some of the biggest fossilized shark teeth of the entire voyage, including a few that dated back less than ten thousand years."
"How big were the teeth?"
"Six to seven inches, the edges all serrated. Like a steak knife."
"What kind of--"
"Megalodon. A prehistoric relative of the Great White shark. If you figure an inch of tooth equals ten feet of shark...well, you get the idea."
"That's a big-ass shark."
"Here's the real scary part: if the teeth were less than ten thousand years old, then that means some of these sharks survived the last Ice Age by going deep to inhabit the warm layer heated by the volcanic vents."
That would be these teeth:
From this jaw (the big one, not the little one):
So basically, this is a Jaws retread, right down the the sharks eye view. But I missed Shark Week this year, it was short, and I was in the mood. And really, all you need to say to me at times like that is this:
Giant. Angry. Prehistoric. Albino. Shark.
Yum!
"How big were the teeth?"
"Six to seven inches, the edges all serrated. Like a steak knife."
"What kind of--"
"Megalodon. A prehistoric relative of the Great White shark. If you figure an inch of tooth equals ten feet of shark...well, you get the idea."
"That's a big-ass shark."
"Here's the real scary part: if the teeth were less than ten thousand years old, then that means some of these sharks survived the last Ice Age by going deep to inhabit the warm layer heated by the volcanic vents."
That would be these teeth:
From this jaw (the big one, not the little one):
So basically, this is a Jaws retread, right down the the sharks eye view. But I missed Shark Week this year, it was short, and I was in the mood. And really, all you need to say to me at times like that is this:
Giant. Angry. Prehistoric. Albino. Shark.
Yum!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews