Ground Zero: The X Files

The X-Files #3

by Kevin J. Anderson, Chris Carter, Gillian Anderson

Dr. Gregory, a renowned nuclear weapons researcher, is not only dead--he's been charred to a radioactive cinder. Since this is a death on Federal property, Mulder and Scully are hastily called in. As FBI agents who specialize in unexplained phenomena, they are the investigators of The X-Files, strange and inexplicable cases which are also mysteries that the FBI doesn't want solved.When a second victim, completely unrelated to nuclear science or Dr. Gregory is obliterated in the New Mexico desert, and then a third dies the same way in Washington, DC, Mulder and Scully begin to focus on the frightening dimension of their task. The bizarre deaths cannot be a coincidence. And as they work to uncover the secret unifying element that unites these deaths, it becomes clear that this twisted puzzle has fatal consequences for the entire world.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Yes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.

I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.

I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.

My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.

Reviews

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Reading this book was like taking a trip down memory lane to good old days, when I had nothing better to do than study and wait for a new episode of X-files and hoping that Mulder and Scully would hook up soon.
Thanks Anna, for your recommendation!

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for The X-Files: Ground Zero (audiobook) by Kevin J. Anderson read by Gillian Anderson. This was such a treat getting to hear Gillian Anderson read this story. It’s like a time machine taking me back to when this was on TV. It just wouldn’t be the same in another voice.

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 3 out of 5]

No me interesa el fútbol así que ayer, durante el partido de Argentina del Mundial me puse a mirar los últimos capítulos del reboot de The X Files. Entonces mientras el resto del país lloraba y sufría con Argentina, yo lloraba y sufría con el final del ojete con el que me obsequiaron luego de 25 años de seguir la serie. Gracias, señores guionistas. Gracias, Chris Carter. Se pueden ir todos a la reputísima madre que los parió.
Me queda algún consuelo, y es que anduve comprando por librerías de viejo y en MercadoLibre estos pastiches y me quedan varios por leer. Este es bastante potable, la historia está buena y en sintonía con lo que podría tranquilamente ser un capítulo del arco conspirativo (myth-arc) de la serie en los 90s- con algunas licencias inexplicables que le quitan magia, como por ejemplo que Scully es física en vez de médica y estudió en Stanford, a requerimiento de lo que necesita la trama. Pero los personajes están bastante bien logrados y el autor los retrata muy bien (como dice en la introducción, se fumó no sé cuántos capítulos cuando le encargaron esta novela para sacarles la ficha). Además escribe bien, es un autor de ciencia ficción medianamente reconocido y se nota, el libro es entretenido de leer. Hasta creo que lo puede encontrar ameno alguien que no tenga ni idea de la serie y los personajes o apenas un conocimiento superficial.
Después del bajón de ayer, le dí el último impulsito y leí de un tirón las 100 últimas páginas, como para apurar el mal trago que me dejó la TV. Y ahora, a seguir con los próximos.

*3.5 stars*

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me the TV show called the X-files have always been something special like the original Star Trek series from the sixties they were a benchmark series that changed television in style and taste. Still today when I come across the series on the telly I sit down and watch it, both Scully and Spooky Mulder are mesmerizing and their tales are interesting.
So when I passed two hardcover novel even ones written by Kevin J. Anderson whose writing delivered some of the worst Dune continuation novels (the continuing of the cliffhanger by Frank himself is abysmal in my humble opinion.) did not stop me as I did enjoy his Star Wars novels as well. This novel is no way a novelization of any episode of the X-files, it is an original story.

Ground zero in this book is meant by the place a nuclear weapon has been placed for detonation, and that is what this book is about the history of testing the nuclear arsenal and a next generation weapon that would leave no fallout whatsoever.
When the leading scientist dies under suspicious circumstances the responsible department recognizes the dead as one for FBI-agent Fox Mulder. He and Scully are brought in to investigate while at the same time kept at arms length from the secrecy around the science the dead man was involved in. Gradually we learn that more people die under the same circumstances and they were all involved in the same project of previous Nuclear testing or enabling it.
The investigation takes Mulder and Scully in the end to the Pacific where the story comes full circle.

A lovely evening with the X-files once again featuring mainly Mulder & Scully with the usual ending with Skinner in the FBI headquarters. The story in itself is fairly decent and Anderson has not reached the level of certainty he feels with these characters to his a confident stride. The book is pleasurable and that is the best it gets.

Especially for those who still keep this series a guilty pleasure around this book will not fail to hit the mark.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally really enjoyed this book. I could see how others would find it boring but I liked it so I guess that's what matters! :D

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about what you might expect from a typical episode of the television series. It's a competently done, self contained story, without ties or references to any other story or movie plot lines.
Gillian Anderson, i.e. agent Scully, does a good job with the audio narration.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Βαθμολογία: 7.5/10

Τρίτο αυτοτελές μυθιστόρημα της σειράς X-Files, πρώτο που συγγραφέας είναι ο γνωστός στο είδος της επιστημονικής φαντασίας και του Φανταστικού, Κέβιν Τζ. Άντερσον (π.χ. The Saga of Seven Suns, μυθιστορήματα Star Wars κλπ). Μου φάνηκε αρκετά καλύτερο των δυο προηγούμενων βιβλίων, πιο καλογραμμένο και σίγουρα πιο χορταστικό. Φυσικά θα πρέπει κανείς να μην σκεφτεί και πολύ κατά πόσο στέκουν όλα αυτά τα υπερφυσικά και κουλά γεγονότα της ιστορίας, για να απολαύσει την ιστορία.

Ο διακεκριμένος πυρηνικός ερευνητής, Δρ. Γκρέγκορι, πεθαίνει με φρικιαστικό τρόπο στο γραφείο του στο Κέντρο Πυρηνικών Ερευνών Τέλερ της Καλιφόρνια. Θα έλεγε κανείς ότι μια υπερβολικά μίνι πυρηνική έκρηξη σκότωσε τον επιστήμονα. Την υπόθεση θα αναλάβουν οι ειδικοί πράκτορες του FBI, Μόλντερ και Σκάλι, λόγω της φύσης του εγκλήματος και της φήμης τους. Ο Δρ. Γκρέγκορι δεν θα είναι το μοναδικό θύμα, καθώς θα υπάρξουν και άλλα, που το κοινό στοιχείο που τους ενώνει είναι ένα απόρρητο πυρηνικό πρόγραμμα, το Σχέδιο Λαμπερό Αμόνι. Καθώς οι δυο πράκτορες προσπαθούν να ξεδιαλύνουν το μυστήριο, θα δουν ότι η όλη ιστορία ξεκινά σαράντα χρόνια πριν και σχετίζεται με απόρρητα κυβερνητικά προγράμματα...

Σίγουρα έχει κάποια θεματάκια αληθοφάνειας των υπερφυσικών συμβάντων και λίγες σεναριακές ευκολίες, όμως κατά τ'άλλα πρόκειται για ένα ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένο, συναρπαστικό και χορταστικό θρίλερ επιστημονικής φαντασίας, που σίγουρα θα ικανοποιήσει τους λάτρεις της σειράς, αλλά και του είδους γενικότερα. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε πολύ καλή και ευκολοδιάβαστη, με ωραίες περιγραφές και λίγο χιούμορ, οι δυο πρωταγωνιστικοί χαρακτήρες καλοδουλεμένοι και η ατμόσφαιρα εξαιρετική.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watch the X-Files when it came out, and soon going to be re-watching everything I think this book really help quenching my thirst for new tales.

First let us focus on characters because they are half the interest on this story and it was good to see Mulder & Scully again, this time being more akin to what I remember on the series. There is no comparison between this and the previous book I've read. Mulder really behave a bit more like him, always making goofy statements. If you watch the series you know Mulder was sometimes very comedian-like others more taciturn - probably due to the writer of the show changing. Scully was more consistent on that regard - so yeah. Good characterization.

The second part is the story - which is a bit supernatural, a bit cat and mouse chase. The leader investigator dies mysteriously after receiving a package. For some reason FBI agents call Mulder due to his connection to X-Files, then its basically going from one place to the other trying to understand more what is happening and why it happened. There are some supernatural (or not) involved which was quite common on X-Files - it would depend if it was Mulder or Scully. Pretty decent book. 73/100

[Mariette T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love The X-Files!! I watched the show religiously when it first aired. I don't know I didn't read read the novels back then. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and figured out what was really going on about halfway through.

[Dean Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of the X-Files, but this awesome TV show has not been on TV for years. Nonetheless, I still watch the re-runs and I can't get enough of the stories and the main characters. The X-Files book series is a cool way to stay connected with the characters and TV show. I read another book in this series, by a different author, and I was less than impressed. I then read "X-Files: Ground Zero," by Kevin J. Anderson, and I was pleasantly surprised. Keep in mind, this book was written before 9/11, so the "Ground Zero" title has nothing to do with 9/11. It actually has to do with the site of a nuclear bomb detonation. I found the story of this book to be very interesting and intriguing, and I learned a lot about America's nuclear bomb program from the 1940s to today. I love to learn interesting, cool facts from books, and I didn't know much about America's nuclear tests. After reading this book, I gained some new knowledge about this subject, which is cool, and I also developed some interesting, personal insights into the issue of nuclear arms in general.

Like I said, I really liked the story told in this book. Without giving anything too important away, the story revolves around a nuclear scientist who dies in a very unusual way, and FBI Agents Mulder and Scully of the X-Files are sent to investigate. As is typical of an X-Files story, what they find is something that appears to go beyond the boundaries of science, and into the realm of the paranormal. Kevin J. Anderson's ideas in presenting this story are quite unique and thought provoking. This book is an easy read, but it is engaging and interesting. If you don't know a lot about nuclear testing, you'll definitely learn some new and disturbing information in this book. If you're a fan of Mulder and Scully, you'll really like this book, as the two FBI agents are portrayed well in the narrative.

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as any of the t.v. episodes.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a fan of the show and own all the episodes on DVD. Although the story was OK, Mulder and Scully were cardboard cutouts of their television selves.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very memorable book. I would recommend this only for hard-core X-Files fans.

[Άννα Morta ⛧⛧⛧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"At last the wave of fire will reach the shore of death. " 🖤

[Pedro Plasencia Martínez · Rating 3 out of 5]

No contiene la trama más trepidante precisamente, pero esta novela antibelicista de 'Expediente X' presenta una cantidad de información increíble sobre las pruebas nucleares llevadas a cabo por Estados Unidos, algunas son públicamente conocidas, pero otras fueron operaciones secretas. Si un libro me ofrece nuevos datos que desconocía y me ayuda a incrementar mi conocimiento, tengo que valorarlo positivamente. En el otro lado de 'Calcinación Espontánea', en el de las carencias, me ha faltado el elemento espeluznante que caracteriza a tantos capítulos de la serie, en su lugar han insertado activismo y drama, mostrando los efectos dañinos de las bombas y la prepotencia de los científicos que colaboran en su costrucción. Es una obra que quiere concienciar en vez de meter miedo o jugar con la paranoia. Por otra parte, la afinidad y las bromas entre Mulder y Scully que quedaban reflejadas en la serie sí se respeta bastante, para aligerar un poco el tono de vez en cuando. En general es un producto correcto que puede contentar a los fans de los thrillers políticos, de espías o judiciales que se hacían en los 90, o incluso a los lectores de las novelas de Tom Clancy, al que mencionan en una página, probablemente de forma intencionada como homenaje.

ENGLISH
It doesn't exactly have the most thrilling plot, but this anti-war "X-Files" novel presents an incredible amount of information about the nuclear tests carried out by the United States, some of which is public knowledge, but others were secret operations. If a book offers me new information I wasn't aware of and helps me increase my knowledge, I have to value it positively. On the other hand, "Ground Zero" lacks the creepy element that characterizes so many episodes of the series. Instead, they've inserted activism and drama, showing the harmful effects of the bombs and the arrogance of the scientists who collaborated in their construction. It's a work that aims to raise awareness rather than scare people or play on paranoia. Contrarily, the affinity and jokes between Mulder and Scully that were reflected in the series are quite respected, lightening the tone a bit from time to time. Overall, it's a decent product that might satisfy fans of political, spy, and courtroom thrillers made in the 1990s, or even readers of Tom Clancy's novels, whom they mention on one page, probably intentionally as a tribute.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Synopsis) - Dr. Gregory, a renowned nuclear weapons researcher, is not only dead--he's been charred to a radioactive cinder. Since this is a death on Federal property, Mulder and Scully are hastily called in. As FBI agents who specialize in unexplained phenomena, they are the investigators of The X-Files.

(Review) - I will be honest I have a fear of radiation & nuclear war, both terrify me completely so off the bat this book was already giving me chills. Now I haven't watched the X-Files show, just the movies which isn't enough to get a feel for Mulder & Scully but here I could sense that chemistry and magic they have together, that i would like to see this on screen as an episode. As it was a story/topic that was grounded and real and something we are all worried about especially now in 2023, with the potential of world war 3 and this one being fought with sticks and extra arms and less skin! But this is very gripping, as it drips with true facts about real tests of nuclear weapons, and had questions, that made you think and question humanity as to why did we build these devices and after we dropped them last and saw there destruction why did we have to go bigger? It reminds me of a quote by the doctor, "Should we leave it alone, should we back off, should we play it safe?" NAH, you think: "Let's make it BIGGER!" And the more destruction that caused! Like the tribes of the bikin atoll Islands can never return to there Island as most of it was destroyed and what's left is still poisonous! So im saying this story is a grounded realistic story, with that X-Files twist at the end that was handled so well it doesn't feel stupid, it kinda works and for me added more weight to everything and overall I ended up enjoying it a lot! This author did a way better job than the guy before him 100%.

5/5 Stars GoodReads 🌟⭐⭐⭐⭐

100/100 GingerPoints 🔥🔥

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The X-Files 03 Ground Zero by Kevin J. Anderson

4.0 Stars

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense 

Medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What is involved in a mystery? and how is Fox Mulder attracted to all these different events? Just lucky, I guess.

Instinct and seeking of the truth. Ha!

I really enjoyed this story. There was just enought factual information within the story to pull you in, and just enough "spookiness" to keep you hooked. 

Even if you could've seen it with your own eyes, would you believe. Even when so many lost their lives, were reassigned, or "disappeared"... so that you were the only ones "telling the truth" of what you had witnessed. It would be SO frustrating. Ugh.

I still love the dynamic between Mulder and Scully. We all know that Fox Mulder believes, and we also know that Dana Scully is the ultimate skeptic, but even she has gotten wrapped up in the conspiracy of the government and the coverup of what they both (and others) have seen. Why won't they acknowledge the Truth?

For obvious reasons. Right?

Had a lot of fun with this one. The reality was based in science, and the part that you had to suspend your disbelief...in this one, was less than you'd think. IMHO.

On to the next book in the series: 
The X-Files 04 Ruins by Kevin J. Anderson.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most like the TV series of any of the X-Files books I’ve read this far! I’m hoping the rest of the books will follow in it’s footsteps…

This one also spooked me waaaay more than the others, covering the topic of nuclear weaponry is untouched ground for the more supernatural side of literature but this book really went there, and it worked.

[Angus McKeogh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thus far this book was the furthest from “channeling” the X-Files series and characters. I’m thinking perhaps these characters and their stories translate best to the screen. There tends to be too much information dumping and time spent with ancillary characters in the books, instead of Mulder and Scully solving the mystery.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never watched the X-files, but I got this novel in a lot and I have read Kevin Anderson before, so I gave it a go. It is well written and unfolds nicely. If you are a Fan of X-Files, you may appreciate it more.

[Sara Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were infinite of these books. It’s not great in many respects, and I firmly disagree with many of the political assumptions made by the book, but I found it for 2 euros at a flea market in france and read it all within 24h.

[Cathy Bowyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the references to small breasted women, this did actually read like an episode of the X Files and was enjoyable

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Gloo The third · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice book on my journey to watch the actual tv series as late as possible!

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worthy of inclusion with the best episodes of the series. And a really fun read.

[Gretchen Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was SO MUCH better. The characters felt like real people, qnd their characters matched what we see on screen MUCH more closely. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Gillian Anderson, which really made it more fun; I felt like I was listening to Scully read a case file. Lots of fun. Regardless of the narration, this story was a lot more interesting and well-crafted.

[_bez_knihy_ani_krok_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenhle díl se mi líbil víc, než Smrtící šepot. Už jsem věděla co od toho očekávat a tak mne rozuzlení nezklamalo, právě naopak. Už asi 70 stran před koncem jsem měla teorii jaké to rozuzlení bude (a byla správná) ale ani mi to moc nevadilo, bylo zajímavé pozorovat jak se to všechno vyvine. Agenti Mulder a Scullyová jsou skvělá dvojice, navzájem se dokonale doplňují a Akta X jsou pro mne zajímavé čtení. Určitě se pustím i do dalších dílů <3
4,5/5*

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly had a good time reading it for the joy of criticizing every decision Kevin makes. He needs to take a writing 101 course so they can beat the insane repetition of every character description out of his head. If I have to read “the blind man” one more time I’ll die on the spot.

[Hina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge X-Files fan and have been for over twenty years, but this is my first time reading a fiction story about Mulder and Scully. I've read books about the X-Files, the actual series, but this is something else entirely. This book was recently gifted to me by a friend who's also an X-Files fan (of course not as much of a fan as I! haha!), so I figured it'd be a fun way to start my book challenge for 2022. And it definitely was!

I found myself really visualizing Mulder and Scully and hearing their voices in my head. The story itself, the plot, was quite interesting and kept me captivated. I could see this as being a standalone movie, like I Want To Believe was, or, if it were a MOTW (Monster of the Week) episode, several parts of this book would need to be cut out.

Even if you didn't know the name of the author, you could tell this book was written by a man because of the way that Dana Scully and the other female characters are described, in terms of their physical features. I mean, it's not horrible, but it does make me roll my eyes a bit. I didn't notice the men being described that way...

Anyways, the story takes Mulder and Scully on a wild chase from the Teller Nuclear Research Facility all the way out to Enika Atoll, and the skill that Anderson has at describing his female characters is relayed into vivid descriptions of the scenes. I could almost see the episode (or movie!) playing out as I read the pages.

Bottom line, if you're an X-Files fan, you'll enjoy this book as a fun read- it's definitely a page-turner and you'll enjoy the little actions and words between Mulder and Scully.