What do you think?
Rate this book
Smilodon
Jason Bristol, ex-prize fighter and expert animal tracker, and part-time drunk, teams up with beautiful wildlife biologist Norah Phelps as they pursue a man-eating predator that threatens to derail her father's prize real estate development project in north central Idaho.
Against the majestic pristine backdrop of Idaho's Bitterroot Wilderness Area, the adventure unfolds. Jason, with Norah's assistance, soon discovers the ghosts of his past are nothing compared to the battle he's undertaken.
Smilodon. A saber-toothed cat. He's angry, he's frightened, he's hungry, and he's 12,000 years from home!
Smilodon--75,000 words or about 300 pages
Against the majestic pristine backdrop of Idaho's Bitterroot Wilderness Area, the adventure unfolds. Jason, with Norah's assistance, soon discovers the ghosts of his past are nothing compared to the battle he's undertaken.
Smilodon. A saber-toothed cat. He's angry, he's frightened, he's hungry, and he's 12,000 years from home!
Smilodon--75,000 words or about 300 pages
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2011
156 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Alan Nayes
25 books379 followersAlan Nayes is the author of numerous novels and short stories. He resides in Southern California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 28, 2012
I am a total sucker for a great cover. This one dug its fangs in, the blurb sunk them deeper, and the writing locked Smilodon’s jaws to hold my attention until I reached the high-octane ending. Again, WOW! Cougars are one of my favorite animals, and big cats in general are just plain awesome, but the thought of the big cat in this book loose in wilderness is downright chilling. Nayes’ descriptions brought the scenes alive in my head and raised the hair on the nape of my neck at times. Lastly, I’d like to request: Hollywood, make this a movie, please!
September 26, 2012
Once again, I'm wading against the tide.
I got this story because I'm still looking for books to fill my Crichton void, and I do love me some giant animals eating people stories, and this one had a lot of good reviews at Amazon. It was okay, but it never really got me. It took until 20% through the story for me to feel like it really got started.
Now, I like the movie JAWS, but I felt like a lot of elements in this story were just pulled from that, moved inland and changed into a giant cat. This might not bother me in other books, but for some reason, maybe I expected more of this one.
My bigger problem, however, was that (except for one scene about halfway through), I felt this strange emotional disconnect from the characters. I never really hooked into them, even if as general character sketches -- their personal histories and personalities and what not -- they should be good characters to relate to. I just didn't.
The story was over all well-crafted. I mean, it was competently written and put together. I just never hooked into it or the characters, so I never really felt the tension or drama. Not that I ever really felt emotionally connected to characters in Crichton stories, but those had other elements to compel you along. Didn't really feel that here.
So, I'm giving this a 3.
I got this story because I'm still looking for books to fill my Crichton void, and I do love me some giant animals eating people stories, and this one had a lot of good reviews at Amazon. It was okay, but it never really got me. It took until 20% through the story for me to feel like it really got started.
Now, I like the movie JAWS, but I felt like a lot of elements in this story were just pulled from that, moved inland and changed into a giant cat. This might not bother me in other books, but for some reason, maybe I expected more of this one.
My bigger problem, however, was that (except for one scene about halfway through), I felt this strange emotional disconnect from the characters. I never really hooked into them, even if as general character sketches -- their personal histories and personalities and what not -- they should be good characters to relate to. I just didn't.
The story was over all well-crafted. I mean, it was competently written and put together. I just never hooked into it or the characters, so I never really felt the tension or drama. Not that I ever really felt emotionally connected to characters in Crichton stories, but those had other elements to compel you along. Didn't really feel that here.
So, I'm giving this a 3.
March 31, 2019
Loved this book. Yes, a bit of suspension of disbelief was necessary at times, and it was very similar to a number of movies, but it was a pleasure to read. Of course now I can just remember two: Jaws and Alligator.
It's a bit on the gory side, although not too bad. And it ended exactly as I suspected.
This is definitely worth the read!
It's a bit on the gory side, although not too bad. And it ended exactly as I suspected.
This is definitely worth the read!
January 6, 2015
This was...okay, in the way that mindless explodey popcorn movies are okay. It's a cliché storm. This is the type of book you might enjoy if you were suffering through a long layover and felt brain dead, or if you were trapped in an elevator alone and you'd tired of reading the buttons. Or if you're a guy--not to insult men and their tastes, but this book was clearly geared toward men, and a particular brand of men, at that. There are detailed lists of what type of gun each character is toting, asides to tell us how many cc's the snowmobile has, and action-breaking (though blessedly short) scenes where male characters are muscle-bound and female characters are nubile, and then they have sex.
Not that there's really anything wrong with most of that. This might make a good action movie (if they change the ending), and I'm sure there are readers who know and care deeply about what type of weaponry the characters have. I don't know or care about guns or snowmobile engines, so those types of details were distracting and even boring, when they went on for too long. This book obviously wasn't for me, in that regard. Notably, Jurassic Park (which Smilodon bears some similarity to) managed to include enough of that kind of detail without going overboard or boring me, so there is that to consider.
However, the sexism is not a matter of tastes, and I found it offensive. Of the three notable female characters we meet, one is an attractive reporter and the other two are considered extremely sexy by all of the male characters. We are told that all three are good at their jobs, but in the case of the reporter, this seems to amount to annoying people; in the case of the trainer, this seems to amount to being eye candy and screwing her boss; and in the case of Norah, this is pretty close to true, minus the fact that she's employed by her father. Nepotism is always so reassuring. So no, I don't consider them strong characters. Granted, most of the male characters are one-note stereotypes, too, so I suppose I ought to take that into consideration. Still, I would have respected this book more if, say, Norah had been kind and interesting and good at her job, but was unfortunately ugly.
The other thing I took issue with was the ending. It was extremely unsatisfying and made me want to smack the crap out of the character responsible. I also found the 'ominous' epilogue more tedious and irritating than anything else.
Sometimes the author tries to show off his ability to use a thesaurus, which is sometimes annoying and sometimes downright confusing. For example, toward the end, some woman shackles the butler. ? Why would she do that? What did the poor guy ever do to her? How did he manage to escape if he was shackled? Unknown....
And finally, there are unanswered questions that are, unbelievably, brought up by the book. How did no one ever encounter this cat before in seventeen years? No one knows. Why did the cat suddenly start attacking people? Shrug. Frustrating!
I was going to give it one star for those annoyances, but I did promise to forgive the author some of these sins if everyone I wanted to make it through lived and everyone I wanted dead died. This is what happened (with one very aggravating exception), so I relented and am giving it the second star it, admittedly, probably deserves. After all, it wasn’t the worst book ever, it didn’t make me burn with rage--it was just okay.
Not that there's really anything wrong with most of that. This might make a good action movie (if they change the ending), and I'm sure there are readers who know and care deeply about what type of weaponry the characters have. I don't know or care about guns or snowmobile engines, so those types of details were distracting and even boring, when they went on for too long. This book obviously wasn't for me, in that regard. Notably, Jurassic Park (which Smilodon bears some similarity to) managed to include enough of that kind of detail without going overboard or boring me, so there is that to consider.
However, the sexism is not a matter of tastes, and I found it offensive. Of the three notable female characters we meet, one is an attractive reporter and the other two are considered extremely sexy by all of the male characters. We are told that all three are good at their jobs, but in the case of the reporter, this seems to amount to annoying people; in the case of the trainer, this seems to amount to being eye candy and screwing her boss; and in the case of Norah, this is pretty close to true, minus the fact that she's employed by her father. Nepotism is always so reassuring. So no, I don't consider them strong characters. Granted, most of the male characters are one-note stereotypes, too, so I suppose I ought to take that into consideration. Still, I would have respected this book more if, say, Norah had been kind and interesting and good at her job, but was unfortunately ugly.
The other thing I took issue with was the ending. It was extremely unsatisfying and made me want to smack the crap out of the character responsible. I also found the 'ominous' epilogue more tedious and irritating than anything else.
Sometimes the author tries to show off his ability to use a thesaurus, which is sometimes annoying and sometimes downright confusing. For example, toward the end, some woman shackles the butler. ? Why would she do that? What did the poor guy ever do to her? How did he manage to escape if he was shackled? Unknown....
And finally, there are unanswered questions that are, unbelievably, brought up by the book. How did no one ever encounter this cat before in seventeen years? No one knows. Why did the cat suddenly start attacking people? Shrug. Frustrating!
I was going to give it one star for those annoyances, but I did promise to forgive the author some of these sins if everyone I wanted to make it through lived and everyone I wanted dead died. This is what happened (with one very aggravating exception), so I relented and am giving it the second star it, admittedly, probably deserves. After all, it wasn’t the worst book ever, it didn’t make me burn with rage--it was just okay.
dnf
April 30, 2018Sorry, wasn't mine.
After a fairly promising start I found that the storytelling wasn't able to hold my interest.
I've seen some comparision to Crichton, which initially added to the promise, but personally I feel that the writer's style more closely resembles Dan Brown's. Short chapters of only a couple pages length each, which should make for a fast read but do not allow for much depth.
After a fairly promising start I found that the storytelling wasn't able to hold my interest.
I've seen some comparision to Crichton, which initially added to the promise, but personally I feel that the writer's style more closely resembles Dan Brown's. Short chapters of only a couple pages length each, which should make for a fast read but do not allow for much depth.
March 13, 2019
Smilodon
This was an amazing story to experience! I strongly recommend this book for your next reading, and definitely for your library. The back-stories are told succinctly, and you will find yourself rooting for the underdog, or perhaps the undercat well before the ending. Never a dull moment, the action and anticipation will have you on the edge of your seat constantly. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Naye's stories. A riveting thriller, and definitely 5 stars and thumbs-up! 👍👍👍👍👍
This was an amazing story to experience! I strongly recommend this book for your next reading, and definitely for your library. The back-stories are told succinctly, and you will find yourself rooting for the underdog, or perhaps the undercat well before the ending. Never a dull moment, the action and anticipation will have you on the edge of your seat constantly. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Naye's stories. A riveting thriller, and definitely 5 stars and thumbs-up! 👍👍👍👍👍
March 22, 2019
As a Cat Person, I've always wanted a Savannah Cat as my indoor cat. Large, mostly friendly, but still a cat. I'm not sure a Smilodon is in the same concept, but the story is incredible in its texture and attention to detail. It was also nice to see Native Americans not portrayed as some sort of semi-mystical entities with a preternatural understanding of the world, just as everyday folks who have learned not to forget what they were told. Great book!
March 12, 2019
OMG!
This book is amazing. The characters are really well done. The action and terror are high level. I absolutely could not put this one down.
This book is amazing. The characters are really well done. The action and terror are high level. I absolutely could not put this one down.
April 14, 2019
Good story.
December 5, 2020
I enjoyed this book as much as Nayes's other book called Abominable. The ending was good but felt a little rushed. There is a quick somewhat cliffhanger at the end that could either lead into another book or stand alone. I'd love to read more of these prehistoric creature stories from the author.
February 9, 2017
Fun read
Well-written and believable. Well defined characters. Smilodon is one scary kitty! You won't be disappointed! Take a look at it!
Well-written and believable. Well defined characters. Smilodon is one scary kitty! You won't be disappointed! Take a look at it!
May 1, 2018
What an adventure!!
What a completely fantastic story! I couldn't put this book down once I started it. Mr. Nayes, you have a great imagination and thank you for sharing it with me! One of the best books I've read in a long time! More, please?
What a completely fantastic story! I couldn't put this book down once I started it. Mr. Nayes, you have a great imagination and thank you for sharing it with me! One of the best books I've read in a long time! More, please?
April 13, 2013
This is my kind of book! If the language was PG I could've given it 5 stars. But overall I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be, although when doesn't the "bad" guy get what's "due" him in the end & the "hero" do heroic things. But I liked the main character, Jason & that the author didn't feel the need to put him & Norah, in a "relationship" but kept it a friendly attraction. It flowed great from chapter to chapter. And unlike some other reviews I wasn't disappointed by the ending.
My rating-
R-
Language
Graphic scenes
My rating-
R-
Language
Graphic scenes
February 8, 2015
I'm into odd books, so that might explain the high rating. This book involves a living fossil and the typical back country hunt for it. I love the tracking sections of the book. It reminds me of James Byron Huggins book Hunter. If you like environmental arguments, back country survival, tracking, and hunting, then you'll love this book. Jaws is in the mountains.
September 27, 2012
Oh I dearly love a book prehistoric animals fast forwarded, to current time. The subject is awesome, and I do appreciate the authors work. Three stars for all the animals who are the stars of the book, the humans were a bit stilted and boring.
February 7, 2013
Meh. Two stars for the attempt to give characters some depth. But the writing was clunky and got in the way at times - e.g. "He radioed their position on the radio." Plus I think lots of missed opportunities to scare us with this big cat. C'mon Mr. Nayes, it seems you can do better.
December 1, 2014
An excellent medium paced book that is well written & kept me guessing. The story is believable, & neither it nor the characters are overly complex so you can focus on all of the good stuff. Never a dull moment either, & I would highly recommend it.
November 27, 2014
Excellent book about a sabre tooth tiger on the lose. I enjoyed this book. I thought it was bloody enough. I know some say not enough blood, gut, gore.
This is a new genre for me. I loved this story.
This is a new genre for me. I loved this story.
June 16, 2015
I love a book about monsters, especially pre-historic, and the hunt to kill them or try to capture them. This book did not disappoint. Lots of action and flawed characters trying to do their best, or some of them anyway. Enjoyed this read very much.
March 14, 2014
If you liked Jurassic Park, you should enjoy this book. It can hold your attention and tell a good story of how a meteor crashing in Russia can effect a future in the US. Be ready for a page turner.
October 8, 2015
This was a good read. Rate sabertooth tigers are as good as sharks.
January 4, 2015
Fun holiday read when I was trapped indoors.
March 30, 2019
My husband seemed really excited about a book he was reading. He even brought it into the living room with his headset while I was watching some show. He doesn't usually read during the day. He is usually on the computer during the day. So I asked him about the book. It sounded exciting. I was able to borrow it on Kindle.
He was right it was right. It was exciting.
Anyone who reads my reviews know I am on a mission to read mostly female authors with strong female characters. After all, I spent my first sixty years like most people, reading mostly male authors and male characters. This book didn't fit my new goal. But my husband convinced me that is was intriguing. So I couldn't resist.
I have to admit that the first few chapters were boring. It was male heavy. And the only females were eye-candy. The main female (secondary character) was the ranger in charge but was seldom given her due of being in charge.
Beyond those complaints, the Smilodon part of the story was exciting. Imagine a creature that big that takes over a park! I don't want to give any spoilers. It is well worth the read, but maybe not at night. It was hard to sleep after!
He was right it was right. It was exciting.
Anyone who reads my reviews know I am on a mission to read mostly female authors with strong female characters. After all, I spent my first sixty years like most people, reading mostly male authors and male characters. This book didn't fit my new goal. But my husband convinced me that is was intriguing. So I couldn't resist.
I have to admit that the first few chapters were boring. It was male heavy. And the only females were eye-candy. The main female (secondary character) was the ranger in charge but was seldom given her due of being in charge.
Beyond those complaints, the Smilodon part of the story was exciting. Imagine a creature that big that takes over a park! I don't want to give any spoilers. It is well worth the read, but maybe not at night. It was hard to sleep after!
March 16, 2019
Bad timing. A billionaire is planning the grand opening of his very elite mountain resort just as a late april blizzard hits. And just as his grandson is lost in the mountains. And just as a huge saber-toothed cat has decided that this area belongs to it. And just as the power goes out. And.. well you get the idea. Whatever can go wrong does. Which is what makes disaster movies and monster stories fun, and this one is fun and exciting to read. Corny and predictable, but fun.
January 1, 2020
Action-packed Thriller!
I really enjoyed this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Never a dull moment and the science was good. The characters were interesting especially the main character Jason whose complexities are explored.
I would have given it 5 stars except that I was disappointed with the ending which I felt wasn’t believable given the prior build-up which I won’t divulge. Read yourself, still a page turner.
I really enjoyed this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Never a dull moment and the science was good. The characters were interesting especially the main character Jason whose complexities are explored.
I would have given it 5 stars except that I was disappointed with the ending which I felt wasn’t believable given the prior build-up which I won’t divulge. Read yourself, still a page turner.
March 16, 2020
Superb and fantastic tale
Alan nayes is on par with such greats as benchley,crichton,and Steve altons tales of horror and mayhem from what are suppose to be extinct species...i highly enjoyed this and wish I had the finances to read another of his books that look interesting called abominable...but if you are a fan of the authors I mentioned earlier then this book is for you...or if you don't know them this book is damn good monster novel
Alan nayes is on par with such greats as benchley,crichton,and Steve altons tales of horror and mayhem from what are suppose to be extinct species...i highly enjoyed this and wish I had the finances to read another of his books that look interesting called abominable...but if you are a fan of the authors I mentioned earlier then this book is for you...or if you don't know them this book is damn good monster novel
March 13, 2019
About what you'd expect, but a fun fast paced adventure.
It seemed pretty formulaic, but was none the less entertaining, which is all I think it was supposed to be.
Adventure, wounded, and scarred hero, faithfully Labradors companion, beautiful heroine, greedy rich bastard, and a mutant throw-back sabertoothed cat in Idaho. Good fun.
It seemed pretty formulaic, but was none the less entertaining, which is all I think it was supposed to be.
Adventure, wounded, and scarred hero, faithfully Labradors companion, beautiful heroine, greedy rich bastard, and a mutant throw-back sabertoothed cat in Idaho. Good fun.
August 29, 2019
This book had all the makings of silly fluff, but actually surprised me. The writing was very good, and to the point, no endless meandering to fill pages. The characters were interesting and relatable, and the badies were at least believable. The only downside was the over the top ending, which was a bit of a letdown after a so far enjoyable read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
June 10, 2018
A very, very good read!.
I particularly enjoy a good large/rare predator book, and "Smilodon" for the bill admirably. I will definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys the genre!
I particularly enjoy a good large/rare predator book, and "Smilodon" for the bill admirably. I will definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys the genre!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews