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Point Nemo
In the heart of the South Pacific lies Point Nemo, the most desolate and remote place on Earth. At its core is a dead zone, devoid of life, where government agencies crash their obsolete satellites and space stations, confident they won't harm a soul. When the International Space Station suffers a catastrophic failure and plummets through the atmosphere, it’s here that Mission Specialist Julie Rohr, an astrobiologist studying living space dust called xylem, finds herself marooned.
Julie’s only hope for rescue lies in the hands of her estranged father, Dr. Finn Maddern, a renowned mycologist. Plucked from the depths of the Amazon rainforest, Finn is thrust into a daring rescue mission alongside a team of specialists. Their an impossible island at the center of Point Nemo—an island that shouldn’t exist—composed of xylem.
The island is a living enigma, giving birth to strange and terrifying creatures, each generation more evolved and deadly than the last. As the team delves deeper into the island’s alien mysteries, they find themselves in a race against the island is moving. If it escapes the dead zone and reaches fertile waters, nothing in humanity’s arsenal will be able to stop the invasive species from colonizing and remaking the world.
With their team dwindling and the stakes rising, Finn and Julie must confront their past and face an unthinkable choice. To save humanity, a sacrifice must be made. A life exchanged for the world. The burden of survival and the weight of their family’s legacy falls on their shoulders.
Point Nemo by New York Times and #1 Audible bestselling author, Jeremy Robinson is a chilling journey into the unknown; a tale of sacrifice and survival that blurs the line between science fiction and horror. It’s a testament to the lengths a parent will go to protect their child and a stark reminder of our fragile place in the universe.
Julie’s only hope for rescue lies in the hands of her estranged father, Dr. Finn Maddern, a renowned mycologist. Plucked from the depths of the Amazon rainforest, Finn is thrust into a daring rescue mission alongside a team of specialists. Their an impossible island at the center of Point Nemo—an island that shouldn’t exist—composed of xylem.
The island is a living enigma, giving birth to strange and terrifying creatures, each generation more evolved and deadly than the last. As the team delves deeper into the island’s alien mysteries, they find themselves in a race against the island is moving. If it escapes the dead zone and reaches fertile waters, nothing in humanity’s arsenal will be able to stop the invasive species from colonizing and remaking the world.
With their team dwindling and the stakes rising, Finn and Julie must confront their past and face an unthinkable choice. To save humanity, a sacrifice must be made. A life exchanged for the world. The burden of survival and the weight of their family’s legacy falls on their shoulders.
Point Nemo by New York Times and #1 Audible bestselling author, Jeremy Robinson is a chilling journey into the unknown; a tale of sacrifice and survival that blurs the line between science fiction and horror. It’s a testament to the lengths a parent will go to protect their child and a stark reminder of our fragile place in the universe.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2024
384 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Robinson
163 books2,596 followersJeremy Robinson is the New York Times bestselling author of seventy novels and novellas, including Apocalypse Machine, Island 731, and SecondWorld, as well as the Jack Sigler thriller series and Project Nemesis, the highest selling, original (non-licensed) kaiju novel of all time. He’s known for mixing elements of science, history and mythology, which has earned him the #1 spot in Science Fiction and Action-Adventure, and secured him as the top creature feature author. Many of his novels have been adapted into comic books, optioned for film and TV, and translated into thirteen languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children. Visit him at www.bewareofmonsters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
April 14, 2024
ZERO SPOILERs: An interesting setting meets standardish writing with some unexpected twists. The characters are not as cliched as some others of the genre. In fact, the protagonist is rather unconventional. I hope I am still in zero Spoiler country telling you that through the introductory part of the book he remains naked. As for relationships , there is the popular Widower and daughter separated over the death of wife/mother and reunion for reasons of national security act. There is a score of minor characters, mercenaries, a CIA hard-ass, and a couple of guys that get to bite the grass. Altogether a worthwhile read mostly because of a good plot and character development
March 13, 2025
4.5 stars
It had to happen. Overindulgence in December reduced my appetite for reading in January.
Finally my first completed book of 2025 and a thrilling, high-energy sci-fi adventure that pulls you in from the first page.
I had planned to start this for nearly 6 months, just putting it off. Jeremy is one of my favorite authors and I enjoy most of his stories.
This story follows a team of scientists and explorers on a mission to investigate strange happenings near Point Nemo, the most remote spot on Earth. What starts as a simple research expedition quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival as the crew faces terrifying and mysterious threats beneath the ocean’s surface.
JR’s writing is one of the book’s biggest strengths. He blends scientific intrigue with fast-paced action, creating a story that’s impossible to put down. The pacing is relentless, and with each chapter, the stakes rise, keeping readers on edge. The vivid descriptions of the ocean’s vastness and danger make the setting feel both beautiful and unnervingly ominous. You really get a sense of how isolated the crew is, heightening the tension throughout.
The characters, while not overly complex, are relatable and compelling. You’ll find yourself invested in their fates, even if some of them aren’t as fleshed out as you might hope. The interactions between them help balance out the action, giving the story emotional depth beyond the adrenaline rush.
While the plot occasionally stretches the limits of believability, the ride is so thrilling that it’s easy to overlook. However, these moments don’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment—if anything, they add to the thrill of it all.
There are some hints of Michael CrichtonThe Andromeda Strain and its sequel The Andromeda Evolution in this story and both are fantastic stories.
And this is an incredibly fun read, especially if you enjoy action-packed thrillers with a sci-fi twist. Robinson’s ability to blend suspense and adventure makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. It’s a fast, entertaining journey you won’t want to miss. This is a world created that should not be missed.
Edit - I seldom repeat a book in recent times because of so many in my TBR and many open books across my devices in various levels of completion and at least not so soon.
I have been a JR fan since the lockdown and have completed 42 of his books with another 6 currently being read. I love the way he imagines worlds and this story gave me a thrill that I had started missing in his books late into the Infinite series. So otherworldly.
It had to happen. Overindulgence in December reduced my appetite for reading in January.
Finally my first completed book of 2025 and a thrilling, high-energy sci-fi adventure that pulls you in from the first page.
I had planned to start this for nearly 6 months, just putting it off. Jeremy is one of my favorite authors and I enjoy most of his stories.
This story follows a team of scientists and explorers on a mission to investigate strange happenings near Point Nemo, the most remote spot on Earth. What starts as a simple research expedition quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival as the crew faces terrifying and mysterious threats beneath the ocean’s surface.
JR’s writing is one of the book’s biggest strengths. He blends scientific intrigue with fast-paced action, creating a story that’s impossible to put down. The pacing is relentless, and with each chapter, the stakes rise, keeping readers on edge. The vivid descriptions of the ocean’s vastness and danger make the setting feel both beautiful and unnervingly ominous. You really get a sense of how isolated the crew is, heightening the tension throughout.
The characters, while not overly complex, are relatable and compelling. You’ll find yourself invested in their fates, even if some of them aren’t as fleshed out as you might hope. The interactions between them help balance out the action, giving the story emotional depth beyond the adrenaline rush.
While the plot occasionally stretches the limits of believability, the ride is so thrilling that it’s easy to overlook. However, these moments don’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment—if anything, they add to the thrill of it all.
There are some hints of Michael CrichtonThe Andromeda Strain and its sequel The Andromeda Evolution in this story and both are fantastic stories.
And this is an incredibly fun read, especially if you enjoy action-packed thrillers with a sci-fi twist. Robinson’s ability to blend suspense and adventure makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. It’s a fast, entertaining journey you won’t want to miss. This is a world created that should not be missed.
Edit - I seldom repeat a book in recent times because of so many in my TBR and many open books across my devices in various levels of completion and at least not so soon.
I have been a JR fan since the lockdown and have completed 42 of his books with another 6 currently being read. I love the way he imagines worlds and this story gave me a thrill that I had started missing in his books late into the Infinite series. So otherworldly.
January 4, 2025
3,0 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
May 28, 2024
Actual Rating: 2.5-ish...?
Alright, how do I frame this review…? Point Nemo was… really quite bad actually… “Bad” in the same way that a bombastic B-movie can be “bad” and still be hella entertaining. And entertained I was, as I happened to be in that very particular mood where I was craving an over-the-top-B-film but in book-form.
The story follows eccentric and aging field-mycologist Dr. Finn Maddern, as his research trip into the Amazon rainforest is cut short and he suddenly finds himself part of an unlikely rescue mission to save his daughter and humanity along the way.
Julie Rohr has inherited her father’s scientific mind, and has spent the past few months studying an alien life form aboard the ISS. That was until a catastrophic malfunction sent the ISS plummeting to Earth, leaving her alongside the alien bio-sample stranded at Point Nemo; the most remote place in the Pacific Ocean. That’s when the alien organisms reveals it has quite a few survival tricks up its sleeve.
What follows is an action packed adventure across an island that shouldn’t exist, by a ragtag crew of scientist forced to use guns over their brains in order to stay alive…
Don’t expect high-brow (or even remotely accurate to actual science) science fiction; instead prepare for blazing guns, a lot of “tough-boys-testosterone” and cheesy one liners.
The setting, pacing and individual scenes are quite creative and made this a very quick and entertaining read. You can tell this story used to be a screenplay, which the author later converted into a novel, and I’d honestly love to see a movie-adaptation, as this couldn’t be more suited to it.
Big downside, which almost made me quit the book: I hated the dialogue. It’s everything you’d expect in a bad action movie: raunchy, over-the-top, and packed with locker-room-talk. Yes, that includes the occasional racist and sexist remark. And no, acknowledging on page that your statement might be racist/sexist does not suddenly make it funny…
The author tries to add substance to the characters by giving them a more serious backstory and motivation, but much of it falls flat against the aforementioned cringy dialogue. The father-daughter-dynamic was alright. The -plotline didn’t work for me. I could pick that apart for hours, but since it’s clearly not the point of the novel, I’ll stick to this:
I don’t necessarily recommend this book to my usual audience, and if you talk to me in 6 months, I might tell you this book was a heap of trash. As it stands, it was the perfect Friday-night palette-cleanser I needed after a couple of gruelingly intense weeks at work, and I appreciate it for that.
Readalikes: The Anomaly by Michael Rutger (in the sense that I liked both equally as “B-movies in bookform”.
Alright, how do I frame this review…? Point Nemo was… really quite bad actually… “Bad” in the same way that a bombastic B-movie can be “bad” and still be hella entertaining. And entertained I was, as I happened to be in that very particular mood where I was craving an over-the-top-B-film but in book-form.
The story follows eccentric and aging field-mycologist Dr. Finn Maddern, as his research trip into the Amazon rainforest is cut short and he suddenly finds himself part of an unlikely rescue mission to save his daughter and humanity along the way.
Julie Rohr has inherited her father’s scientific mind, and has spent the past few months studying an alien life form aboard the ISS. That was until a catastrophic malfunction sent the ISS plummeting to Earth, leaving her alongside the alien bio-sample stranded at Point Nemo; the most remote place in the Pacific Ocean. That’s when the alien organisms reveals it has quite a few survival tricks up its sleeve.
What follows is an action packed adventure across an island that shouldn’t exist, by a ragtag crew of scientist forced to use guns over their brains in order to stay alive…
Don’t expect high-brow (or even remotely accurate to actual science) science fiction; instead prepare for blazing guns, a lot of “tough-boys-testosterone” and cheesy one liners.
The setting, pacing and individual scenes are quite creative and made this a very quick and entertaining read. You can tell this story used to be a screenplay, which the author later converted into a novel, and I’d honestly love to see a movie-adaptation, as this couldn’t be more suited to it.
Big downside, which almost made me quit the book: I hated the dialogue. It’s everything you’d expect in a bad action movie: raunchy, over-the-top, and packed with locker-room-talk. Yes, that includes the occasional racist and sexist remark. And no, acknowledging on page that your statement might be racist/sexist does not suddenly make it funny…
The author tries to add substance to the characters by giving them a more serious backstory and motivation, but much of it falls flat against the aforementioned cringy dialogue. The father-daughter-dynamic was alright. The -plotline didn’t work for me. I could pick that apart for hours, but since it’s clearly not the point of the novel, I’ll stick to this:
I don’t necessarily recommend this book to my usual audience, and if you talk to me in 6 months, I might tell you this book was a heap of trash. As it stands, it was the perfect Friday-night palette-cleanser I needed after a couple of gruelingly intense weeks at work, and I appreciate it for that.
Readalikes: The Anomaly by Michael Rutger (in the sense that I liked both equally as “B-movies in bookform”.
June 23, 2024
Point Nemo was fantastic. To me, it was a return to Robinson’s earlier books. A science thriller with plenty of monsters, thrills, and creepiness. Wall to wall action, but with a great deal of heart. As a writer myself (and a rather imaginative one at that), I find the way in which Robinson’s mind works a fascinating thing. How he takes common things and makes them so alien…so menacing. It’s a thing of beauty. If you just read one Jeremy Robinson this year, make it Point Nemo!
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that I listened to the book via Audible. As always, Bob Bray made a stellar performance with this one. For those familiar with Bray, you know how talented he is at pulling you into the story and narrating in such a way that makes you forget you’re listening to a book and believe you’re seeing a movie in your head. I’d say his performance in this one is one of his finest. You cannot go wrong with this book, whether reading it the old fashioned way or by listening to it. If you enjoy science thrillers with a healthy portion of monsters and danger, check this one out.
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that I listened to the book via Audible. As always, Bob Bray made a stellar performance with this one. For those familiar with Bray, you know how talented he is at pulling you into the story and narrating in such a way that makes you forget you’re listening to a book and believe you’re seeing a movie in your head. I’d say his performance in this one is one of his finest. You cannot go wrong with this book, whether reading it the old fashioned way or by listening to it. If you enjoy science thrillers with a healthy portion of monsters and danger, check this one out.
April 10, 2024
Nothing beats hearing the amazing writing of Jeremy Robinson narrated by RC Bray, and Point Nemo did not disappoint. Jeremy Robinson is a master storyteller, and he takes the reader through all of the emotions as the story progresses. This book had me on the edge of my seat as they battled a very different foe, and as always, there was hilarious dialogue mixed in. But I have to admit I also had a tear or two in my eyes. He is so good at writing complex characters and exploring their relationships, it makes this book such a wonderful read. Or in my case, a wonderful listen.
June 29, 2024
Audio books just are not for me and I feel like this one really would have been better enjoyed if I was reading it. I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the world building was very cool. Sci fi alien but set on earth. Unfortunately as a lot of sci fi goes, this one reads like an action film with a lot of male bravado. The narration didn't help (no offense to the narrator, he was good but when you have a gruff dude doing voices for everyone including heartfelt convos between a father and daughter...well it's not as heartfelt as it could have been) I would maybe pick up another book by this author. This would be cool as a movie though. 3.6
April 21, 2024
finding Nemo
From space stations to the middle of the ocean, alien life arrives and a group of scientists pursue it. An exciting thriller with good questions about exploration and self preservation..
From space stations to the middle of the ocean, alien life arrives and a group of scientists pursue it. An exciting thriller with good questions about exploration and self preservation..
May 7, 2024
I loved this story line, kept me hooked.
June 30, 2024
Bloody awesome as per usual. Mr Robinson does not know how to write garbage… every story should become a bestseller!
September 17, 2024
Doesn’t bother with realistic science. Weirdly preachy. And the absolute worst case of “tell don’t show” I’ve ever had the pain of encountering.
May 16, 2025
Fungus is cool. Space fungus is scary and cool. Enjoyed how this played out and was quite frightening at times.
May 3, 2024
For the audiobook.
It's getting hard to trust some of the reviews here, there is no planet - or mushroom island, where this book is a 5/5 story.
Really, the first 5 hours are really enjoyable, the space station drama and the jungle background of the mushroom hunter were pretty good, and then it all falls apart after about 20 minutes on the island. It falls off a mushroom cliff (literally) after they discover some Chinese lab.
I had to laugh at the end when the author said it took him 3 years to work on this. Really? It's not my first rodeo with Jeremy, it's really not too much different from his other books - he has a template along with certain military characters he uses over and over again.
It's getting hard to trust some of the reviews here, there is no planet - or mushroom island, where this book is a 5/5 story.
Really, the first 5 hours are really enjoyable, the space station drama and the jungle background of the mushroom hunter were pretty good, and then it all falls apart after about 20 minutes on the island. It falls off a mushroom cliff (literally) after they discover some Chinese lab.
I had to laugh at the end when the author said it took him 3 years to work on this. Really? It's not my first rodeo with Jeremy, it's really not too much different from his other books - he has a template along with certain military characters he uses over and over again.
December 21, 2024
Alright listen up you b*stards, killer alien mushrooms have crashed into the sea via a Russian space station and the only person that can stop them is an American super-scientist living in the rainforest because his wife died of cancer. Love the rain forest back-to-basics schtick? Good it'll be mentioned once a page for the entire book. Think living in the Amazon wouldn't give you Bear Grylls alien fighting skills? Well that's too damn bad. He literally can fight a mushroom alien crocodile because he spent three years up a tree.
Still not convinced on the book? What if I told you another space station has crashed exactly where the Russian one did and it's got his daughter on it? Science.
So obviously, on the one hand, this is a dead easy read and a great creature feature. In the author’s notes he admits to the novel originally being a screen play and you can see how it was supposed to be a film (probably a like for like copy of Netflix's Annihilation to be honest).
On the other hand, it's all a bit clichéd. The only people doing anything to save the world are the Americans. If someone turns up from another nation then they last only for a single chapter, if at all (the Chinese play corpses only).
Every woman in the book is at some point stripped to her underwear or less (hence it was originally supposed to be a film) and the "final girl scene" is her in hot pants with a fresh hair cut (she had to cut it off because of a killer mushroom).
I think dads everywhere will enjoy this book as it plays out a fantasy of being a geek, going to the Amazon and rediscovering yourself as a jaguar (cat not car) fighting hero, brought out of exile to save your astronaut daughter. Everyone wants to be that guy, right?
3 out of 5 stars.
N.B. For fairness I think I should state that there is also substantial male nudity in this book. Point being therefore that the author isn't sexist, just horny.
Still not convinced on the book? What if I told you another space station has crashed exactly where the Russian one did and it's got his daughter on it? Science.
So obviously, on the one hand, this is a dead easy read and a great creature feature. In the author’s notes he admits to the novel originally being a screen play and you can see how it was supposed to be a film (probably a like for like copy of Netflix's Annihilation to be honest).
On the other hand, it's all a bit clichéd. The only people doing anything to save the world are the Americans. If someone turns up from another nation then they last only for a single chapter, if at all (the Chinese play corpses only).
Every woman in the book is at some point stripped to her underwear or less (hence it was originally supposed to be a film) and the "final girl scene" is her in hot pants with a fresh hair cut (she had to cut it off because of a killer mushroom).
I think dads everywhere will enjoy this book as it plays out a fantasy of being a geek, going to the Amazon and rediscovering yourself as a jaguar (cat not car) fighting hero, brought out of exile to save your astronaut daughter. Everyone wants to be that guy, right?
3 out of 5 stars.
N.B. For fairness I think I should state that there is also substantial male nudity in this book. Point being therefore that the author isn't sexist, just horny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2024
**minor spoilers ahead**
Every time I review one of Jeremy Robinson's books I must refrain from writing in capital letters, because everytime it is SO GODDAMN GOOD!! There, I did it. Capital letters.
Point Nemo is really no exception. Dr Finn Maddern, who recently lost his wife to cancer, is removed from his corner of the Amazon jungle because his daughter Julie crash-landed on Earth after the ISS failed. She was studying an alien space dust called Xylem... And that's the beginning of a terrifying and thrilling story.
This book - just like all of Robinson's really - had my head buzzing with excitement. Everytime I dive into one of his stories I'm swept off my feet and I just can't stop reading; it's like a movie unfolding in my mind and when I'm not with the book, I think about the book. I'm addicted!
First of all, I love Point Nemo because it made me think about so many shows and films that I like: The Last of Us of course (if I'm not mistaken cordyceps is even mentioned), Stargate with the Replicators - also, the fight at the end with the proto-xylem reminded me strongly of the fight between Mitchell and Repli-Marrick in The Ark of Truth, Terminator, and Avatar (when the island became bioluminescent after dark).
I must admit, the references that made me squeal in delight are the ones from Alter, the second-to-last book I read from JR and that I ADORED. I was so stoked to find a little bit of Gregory Zekser mentioned in Point Nemo!
The characters are wonderfully fleshed-out and I found myself empathizing with each of them, which is one of the many things I love about JR’s novels: relatable characters. I think my favorite character was Finn. Grief-stricken by the death of his wife, very intelligent and an expert in his field (mycology) and ready to do whatever it takes to rescue his daughter. To me one of the central theme of this book was: Finn lost his battle against his wife’s cancer, will he also lose his fight against the Xylem - Earth’s cancer?
I was heartbroken about the fate of Julie’s friend Nakano. She kept wanting to communicate with the island in order to save it even though it showed countless horrible times that it was anything but friendly and just wanted to expand and take over Earth. That’s what’s interesting about her character: a brilliant woman with an overwhelming determination to prove that she’s right, and I couldn’t help but wondering, "might she be true about it?" up until the (horrible) end…
Last but not least, and as in every one of his books, JR shows that he knows a thing or two and happily shares. Point Nemo is full of interesting and fascinating stuff, like the theory of a "precursor species", how the human body works and gives food for thought about other subjects.
I sound like the perfect JR fangirl haha but I just love Point Nemo so much, just like I loved Alter before it. I really can’t find any flaws in it, except maybe one: it ends too soon! Oh, and also: WHY IS IT NOT A MOVIE YET?!
Every time I review one of Jeremy Robinson's books I must refrain from writing in capital letters, because everytime it is SO GODDAMN GOOD!! There, I did it. Capital letters.
Point Nemo is really no exception. Dr Finn Maddern, who recently lost his wife to cancer, is removed from his corner of the Amazon jungle because his daughter Julie crash-landed on Earth after the ISS failed. She was studying an alien space dust called Xylem... And that's the beginning of a terrifying and thrilling story.
This book - just like all of Robinson's really - had my head buzzing with excitement. Everytime I dive into one of his stories I'm swept off my feet and I just can't stop reading; it's like a movie unfolding in my mind and when I'm not with the book, I think about the book. I'm addicted!
First of all, I love Point Nemo because it made me think about so many shows and films that I like: The Last of Us of course (if I'm not mistaken cordyceps is even mentioned), Stargate with the Replicators - also, the fight at the end with the proto-xylem reminded me strongly of the fight between Mitchell and Repli-Marrick in The Ark of Truth, Terminator, and Avatar (when the island became bioluminescent after dark).
I must admit, the references that made me squeal in delight are the ones from Alter, the second-to-last book I read from JR and that I ADORED. I was so stoked to find a little bit of Gregory Zekser mentioned in Point Nemo!
The characters are wonderfully fleshed-out and I found myself empathizing with each of them, which is one of the many things I love about JR’s novels: relatable characters. I think my favorite character was Finn. Grief-stricken by the death of his wife, very intelligent and an expert in his field (mycology) and ready to do whatever it takes to rescue his daughter. To me one of the central theme of this book was: Finn lost his battle against his wife’s cancer, will he also lose his fight against the Xylem - Earth’s cancer?
I was heartbroken about the fate of Julie’s friend Nakano. She kept wanting to communicate with the island in order to save it even though it showed countless horrible times that it was anything but friendly and just wanted to expand and take over Earth. That’s what’s interesting about her character: a brilliant woman with an overwhelming determination to prove that she’s right, and I couldn’t help but wondering, "might she be true about it?" up until the (horrible) end…
Last but not least, and as in every one of his books, JR shows that he knows a thing or two and happily shares. Point Nemo is full of interesting and fascinating stuff, like the theory of a "precursor species", how the human body works and gives food for thought about other subjects.
I sound like the perfect JR fangirl haha but I just love Point Nemo so much, just like I loved Alter before it. I really can’t find any flaws in it, except maybe one: it ends too soon! Oh, and also: WHY IS IT NOT A MOVIE YET?!
December 22, 2024
Thrilling and somewhat terrifying.
This was a good novel about how perilous and tenuous humanity’s hold on this planet is and how it may be the smallest examples of life that will lead to our downfall.
The differing opinions of the team on how best to manage the Xylem raised many good arguments and perspectives on how such first contact should be made. Military might and violence? Or communication and understanding? Both? None? A fascinating debate!
The novel has the thrilling intrigue of a space horror (set on earth) along with a good dose of “I’m not sure this will have a good ending” which kept you on the edge of your seat. I’m keen to look into the author’s backlist and see what else is out there (pun absolutely intended).
This was a good novel about how perilous and tenuous humanity’s hold on this planet is and how it may be the smallest examples of life that will lead to our downfall.
The differing opinions of the team on how best to manage the Xylem raised many good arguments and perspectives on how such first contact should be made. Military might and violence? Or communication and understanding? Both? None? A fascinating debate!
The novel has the thrilling intrigue of a space horror (set on earth) along with a good dose of “I’m not sure this will have a good ending” which kept you on the edge of your seat. I’m keen to look into the author’s backlist and see what else is out there (pun absolutely intended).
June 7, 2024
Riveting. I devoured this in about three days - hard to put down. Not a "good read" but had some great characters that are mycologists, biologists, and astronauts. An island made of xylem with creatures that evolve as they learn of the weaknesses of humans. Aliens from outer space -- are they good or pure evil? Likely mushrooms -- not everyday you read something with a mushroom-like system as the star protagonist. Pure fun
February 18, 2025
Rating: 3.9/5
lowkey scared of fungi now...
I've said it before and I'll say it again no horror movie/show can scare me as much as horror books do. Like no horror movie/show can conjure up what my imagination can
spoilers from now on:
lowkey scared of fungi now...
I've said it before and I'll say it again no horror movie/show can scare me as much as horror books do. Like no horror movie/show can conjure up what my imagination can
spoilers from now on:
April 15, 2024
4.5! Real good, full of adventure. A lot of death and a generally dim outlook about humanity throughout. Makes me think Jeremy Robinson needs a hug after writing this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2024
Don't understand the hype. DNF at 75% ish. Honestly, the author's use of "Scalzi" and "Weir" as secondary character names in some weird homage to those authors was beyond distracting. Every time their names were mentioned it took me out of the story, and the mention was FREQUENT. Better luck next book.
August 14, 2024
An incredible premise completely ruined by some allegedly intelligent characters making some pretty stupid decisions as well as some of the lamest tropes in science fiction.
This will be my last Jeremy Robinson novel. Three strikes and never again.
And what's the deal with introducing a completely new character so late in the novel??
This will be my last Jeremy Robinson novel. Three strikes and never again.
And what's the deal with introducing a completely new character so late in the novel??
March 25, 2025
Fun and would be a great movie.
July 13, 2025
Robinson never let's us down with a good story with a bit of creepy mixed in!
July 2, 2024
We are at war.
For the planet.
4 1/2 stars. A very good read that I can't help but think could have done a littttttle bit more with what was an excellent set-up. Perhaps the best way I can describe "Point Nemo" by Jeremy Robinson is in his own words. He details in the Acknowledgements that this book "was written as a screenplay first and went through two years of edits." And it is nothing else if not very, well, screenplay-ish in nature. Do I think it would make a good movie? Yeah, I think NETFLIX or any of the other cable-esque streamers out there could do a LOT worse (and have many, many times). It's full of the kinds of things that Hollywood just eats up, including a really riveting, "grab ya" start, emotional back-stories of love and loss and a fair bit of gun-play to keep the kids happy. In addition, we have some disparate opinions about how to deal with first contact and we're not talking about the cutesie approach of E.T.! This would of course get the "pundits" that exist for no other reason than riling up the masses about anything and everything involved, which would naturally just provide a ton of free publicity.
This is my first time battling intergalactic invaders.
Do I think it would work on a limited budget? No chance in hell. You just don't come up with absolutely alien ISLANDS - another aspect that I felt was handled extremely well - and get to film it on the cheap in a back lot somewhere! This is what I'm sure someone would eventually call a CGI clusterfungi (giggle), particularly as we run into scenes that would rival the 'Alien' franchise in terms of basic "well, you don't see that every day" situations. Which is a shame because I think this is probably why Robinson held back a bit in sections that I thought came close but not far enough in terms of their otherworldly weirdness. I couldn't stop myself from wishing that maybe either an author like Nicholas Sansbury Smith ("Hell Divers" and more!) or Anthony Melchiorri ("The Tide" and also more!) had added a helping hand, because again, I just felt that especially the violence - Terran or alien, your call - just never reached the peak level that was called for. And that's not just in terms of more bang for the buck (ha!), it also has to do with some scenes that would do John Carpenter proud!
Ha. Dr. Seuss would’ve loved this place.
And yeah, to be honest, this cast was pretty clichéd. Don't get me wrong: I liked them all, even the hard-ass CIA dude with a very personal secret… that just happened to coincide with some of the other crew members' life-shaping experiences and not just their fortuitous know-how about mushrooms and other fungi. If you're looking for a VERY GOOD what I call "airport bookstore adventure/horror/scifi" read, this crew fit the bill to a t(ee)! And come on: if you're not instantly smiling the minute you see that Robinson named one of the crude but loveable mercenari… I mean, independent contractors … Scalzi, then you're just not keeping up well enough with modern offers of this ilk. But this definitely leads to a balance between the loveable gang of gun-toting he-dudes (hey, wanna hear me urinate to the tune of the Star-Spangled Banner and tell funny jokes about sleeping with your mom and/or sister?) and the more scientific team that are obviously here to save the day, albeit in ways that don't have anything to do with their past education or experience in the lab. Though it does wind up being helpful that we have fermented spit on hand to push things along. That's right kids - fermented spit: it's not just for breakfast anymore!
You need to stop thinking about this place as a mushroom, or a plant. It’s neither.
Perhaps the strongest part of the book is that it's centered around a very viable "discussion" (or hypothesis depending on how awake you are) about first contact. Heck, it is even arguably based on many of the theories about how life first appeared on Earth unless you'd prefer to keep these discussions centered around your own holy fantasy tomes. And Robinson does an excellent job of keeping us somewhat in suspense throughout this part of the plot, wondering just what parts count as 'accidental' happenings and which then are based on more nefarious intents and purposes. It makes for an excellent treatise on what our own species will eventually do, particularly as we seem to be more intent on exploring the stars before we fix our home planet. And all the while the actors have to make a determination about the potential for good coming from this "invader" is worth the risk of allowing it to remain on Earth. But I digress… which in many ways is one of the purposes of this story! Sure does lend itself to a great book club discussion or three!
Greatest discovery. Greatest threat. Depends on your perspective.
In terms of the writing and execution, as is typical of a Jeremy Robinson offer, the pacing and editing are both pretty much flawless. And again, I have to underline that I thought this was a very good book. Still, my concern is that it was - well, not predictable, no - unmemorable (is that the right word?), even to the point of being somewhat predictable (I know, I know...). To phrase it differently, I'm just afraid that it won't stay with me that long. And in this, the year of books about mushrooms for me, that will definitely cost points in terms of the race to the finish line for Best Mycelium-Centric Read 2024! Still, I can definitely recommend this to fans out there including all who are laying roots and spreading their spores about accordingly. Now the real question: what shall we do tomorrow, Brain?
For the planet.
4 1/2 stars. A very good read that I can't help but think could have done a littttttle bit more with what was an excellent set-up. Perhaps the best way I can describe "Point Nemo" by Jeremy Robinson is in his own words. He details in the Acknowledgements that this book "was written as a screenplay first and went through two years of edits." And it is nothing else if not very, well, screenplay-ish in nature. Do I think it would make a good movie? Yeah, I think NETFLIX or any of the other cable-esque streamers out there could do a LOT worse (and have many, many times). It's full of the kinds of things that Hollywood just eats up, including a really riveting, "grab ya" start, emotional back-stories of love and loss and a fair bit of gun-play to keep the kids happy. In addition, we have some disparate opinions about how to deal with first contact and we're not talking about the cutesie approach of E.T.! This would of course get the "pundits" that exist for no other reason than riling up the masses about anything and everything involved, which would naturally just provide a ton of free publicity.
This is my first time battling intergalactic invaders.
Do I think it would work on a limited budget? No chance in hell. You just don't come up with absolutely alien ISLANDS - another aspect that I felt was handled extremely well - and get to film it on the cheap in a back lot somewhere! This is what I'm sure someone would eventually call a CGI clusterfungi (giggle), particularly as we run into scenes that would rival the 'Alien' franchise in terms of basic "well, you don't see that every day" situations. Which is a shame because I think this is probably why Robinson held back a bit in sections that I thought came close but not far enough in terms of their otherworldly weirdness. I couldn't stop myself from wishing that maybe either an author like Nicholas Sansbury Smith ("Hell Divers" and more!) or Anthony Melchiorri ("The Tide" and also more!) had added a helping hand, because again, I just felt that especially the violence - Terran or alien, your call - just never reached the peak level that was called for. And that's not just in terms of more bang for the buck (ha!), it also has to do with some scenes that would do John Carpenter proud!
Ha. Dr. Seuss would’ve loved this place.
And yeah, to be honest, this cast was pretty clichéd. Don't get me wrong: I liked them all, even the hard-ass CIA dude with a very personal secret… that just happened to coincide with some of the other crew members' life-shaping experiences and not just their fortuitous know-how about mushrooms and other fungi. If you're looking for a VERY GOOD what I call "airport bookstore adventure/horror/scifi" read, this crew fit the bill to a t(ee)! And come on: if you're not instantly smiling the minute you see that Robinson named one of the crude but loveable mercenari… I mean, independent contractors … Scalzi, then you're just not keeping up well enough with modern offers of this ilk. But this definitely leads to a balance between the loveable gang of gun-toting he-dudes (hey, wanna hear me urinate to the tune of the Star-Spangled Banner and tell funny jokes about sleeping with your mom and/or sister?) and the more scientific team that are obviously here to save the day, albeit in ways that don't have anything to do with their past education or experience in the lab. Though it does wind up being helpful that we have fermented spit on hand to push things along. That's right kids - fermented spit: it's not just for breakfast anymore!
You need to stop thinking about this place as a mushroom, or a plant. It’s neither.
Perhaps the strongest part of the book is that it's centered around a very viable "discussion" (or hypothesis depending on how awake you are) about first contact. Heck, it is even arguably based on many of the theories about how life first appeared on Earth unless you'd prefer to keep these discussions centered around your own holy fantasy tomes. And Robinson does an excellent job of keeping us somewhat in suspense throughout this part of the plot, wondering just what parts count as 'accidental' happenings and which then are based on more nefarious intents and purposes. It makes for an excellent treatise on what our own species will eventually do, particularly as we seem to be more intent on exploring the stars before we fix our home planet. And all the while the actors have to make a determination about the potential for good coming from this "invader" is worth the risk of allowing it to remain on Earth. But I digress… which in many ways is one of the purposes of this story! Sure does lend itself to a great book club discussion or three!
Greatest discovery. Greatest threat. Depends on your perspective.
In terms of the writing and execution, as is typical of a Jeremy Robinson offer, the pacing and editing are both pretty much flawless. And again, I have to underline that I thought this was a very good book. Still, my concern is that it was - well, not predictable, no - unmemorable (is that the right word?), even to the point of being somewhat predictable (I know, I know...). To phrase it differently, I'm just afraid that it won't stay with me that long. And in this, the year of books about mushrooms for me, that will definitely cost points in terms of the race to the finish line for Best Mycelium-Centric Read 2024! Still, I can definitely recommend this to fans out there including all who are laying roots and spreading their spores about accordingly. Now the real question: what shall we do tomorrow, Brain?
May 23, 2024
Fun book, good character interaction, but quite a few illogical parts of the story. Example, the island can suddenly open a hole under someone, swallowing them, but doesn’t open deeply enough to cut off any chance of rescue. Lot of stuff like this and some stuff which was inconsistent, such as how fast the poison was spreading through the island, killing it, because it’s alive, but when that poison reached the big bad monster at the end, which is made of the island, it magically slowed down a lot, giving it plenty of time to drag out its demise.
Overall not bad
Overall not bad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
This was an interesting modern-day science fiction concept that reminded me more of a Michael Crichton novel than the last few posthumous releases that Crichton's estate has released. The "Mushroom Man" was an interesting and atypical protagonist, and the supporting cast of characters was solid. The novel occasionally dipped into ridiculousness, but no more so than genre conventions allow for.
Note that I listened to this on audio, and R.C. Bray's narration was fantastic as always.
Note that I listened to this on audio, and R.C. Bray's narration was fantastic as always.
April 9, 2024
awesome sci fi
Point Nemo is a fungi to read. Very cool story and fast-paced, I burned through it very quickly. If you like Robinson or sci fi in general, you need to check this crazy ride out!
Point Nemo is a fungi to read. Very cool story and fast-paced, I burned through it very quickly. If you like Robinson or sci fi in general, you need to check this crazy ride out!
August 19, 2025
Point Nemo is a book that reads like an action movie — which has its pros and cons. The pros are the fast pace and intriguing setting: a mysterious alien island in the middle of the Pacific, a desperate mission of scientists and soldiers, a blend of speculative science and thriller/horror elements. The cons are the many head-scratching moments that exist to keep the danger escalating at the expense of making sense.
In the end I did enjoy the book for what it was, however there were enough distracting head scratchers that I couldn’t give it higher than ★★★☆☆
Can’t help but share some of the more nonsensical moments: (SPOILERS)
All that said, the book isn’t without charm. If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride like an action movie, Point Nemo can be pretty entertaining. 3/5 stars .
In the end I did enjoy the book for what it was, however there were enough distracting head scratchers that I couldn’t give it higher than ★★★☆☆
Can’t help but share some of the more nonsensical moments: (SPOILERS)
All that said, the book isn’t without charm. If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride like an action movie, Point Nemo can be pretty entertaining. 3/5 stars .
July 16, 2024
The always entertaining and intense Jeremy Robinson returns with a compelling and dark science fiction adventure that takes the reader on one hell of a mushroom trip with Point Nemo.
Alien life has been discovered, and it’s far closer to Earth than we ever realised. Mission Specialist Julie Rohr, an astrobiologist, has been sent to the International Space Station to study a strange, migratory space dust called xylem that has unusual properties that could benefit all of humanity. However, despite appearing benign, the xylem is both alive and extremely insidious, causing the International Space Station to fail and crash towards Earth, dragging Julie with it. The destination of the crash landing is Point Nemo.
Lying in the heart of the South Pacific, Point Nemo is the most remote and desolate place on the entire planet. Thanks to its strong and isolating currents, Point Nemo is essentially a dead zone, devoid of life or any form of land, which makes it the perfect place for the world governments to crash their satellites. However, that is no longer the case, as a mysterious island has begun growing in the middle of Point Nemo without anyone knowing. Worse, the island appears to be made up of xylem, and it has begun moving towards inhabited waters.
Determined to investigate this mysterious occurrence and rescue Julie and her research, the US government sends in a small team to find her. Among the team is Julie’s estranged father, renowned mycologist Dr Finn Maddern, who journeys from his isolation in the Amazon rainforest to save his daughter. However, that might prove to be harder than expected as the xylem-forged island is swiftly evolving, becoming ever more dangerous and giving birth to an array of strange and terrifying creatures. As the team begins to suffer tragic loses, it quickly becomes apparent that the island has hostile intentions for all of humanity, and if it escapes Point Nemo, it could destroy all life on the planet. Can Julie and her father find the secrets of the alien island before its too late, or will they end up food for the malicious life forms coming for all of humanity?
Jeremy Robinson produces another high intensity, clever, and exciting read that had me hooked the entire way through. Point Nemo was a very impressive science fiction thriller that make excellent use of the author’s intriguing story concept to create an intriguing and haunting story.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/07/16/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Alien life has been discovered, and it’s far closer to Earth than we ever realised. Mission Specialist Julie Rohr, an astrobiologist, has been sent to the International Space Station to study a strange, migratory space dust called xylem that has unusual properties that could benefit all of humanity. However, despite appearing benign, the xylem is both alive and extremely insidious, causing the International Space Station to fail and crash towards Earth, dragging Julie with it. The destination of the crash landing is Point Nemo.
Lying in the heart of the South Pacific, Point Nemo is the most remote and desolate place on the entire planet. Thanks to its strong and isolating currents, Point Nemo is essentially a dead zone, devoid of life or any form of land, which makes it the perfect place for the world governments to crash their satellites. However, that is no longer the case, as a mysterious island has begun growing in the middle of Point Nemo without anyone knowing. Worse, the island appears to be made up of xylem, and it has begun moving towards inhabited waters.
Determined to investigate this mysterious occurrence and rescue Julie and her research, the US government sends in a small team to find her. Among the team is Julie’s estranged father, renowned mycologist Dr Finn Maddern, who journeys from his isolation in the Amazon rainforest to save his daughter. However, that might prove to be harder than expected as the xylem-forged island is swiftly evolving, becoming ever more dangerous and giving birth to an array of strange and terrifying creatures. As the team begins to suffer tragic loses, it quickly becomes apparent that the island has hostile intentions for all of humanity, and if it escapes Point Nemo, it could destroy all life on the planet. Can Julie and her father find the secrets of the alien island before its too late, or will they end up food for the malicious life forms coming for all of humanity?
Jeremy Robinson produces another high intensity, clever, and exciting read that had me hooked the entire way through. Point Nemo was a very impressive science fiction thriller that make excellent use of the author’s intriguing story concept to create an intriguing and haunting story.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/07/16/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
April 20, 2024
Robinson and Bray Deliver!!
I listened to the audiobook version with RC Bray doing a fantastic job narrating the story.
A substance called xylem is discovered coating the ISS in orbit around the earth. Julie Rohr, a NASA scientist, is researching this substance when a disaster on the ISS destroys the ISS, with Julie narrowly managing to escape via the Soyuz module. The Soyuz descends to Point Nemo, located in the Pacific and the most remote location on the planet. There, an unnatural island exists, composed of xylem. From Julie's work, NASA understands that the xylem shares similar properties to fungus/mushrooms and gets the world's foremost expert on mycology, Julie's father, who has spent the past two years in the Amazon jungle seeking a cure for what killed his wife, to aid in the rescue and deal with this alien substance.
This book is classic Robinson and, combined with RC Brays' terrific narration, makes this a 5-star story. The story is fast-paced and kept me fully engaged. The story is told in the first person from Dr. Finn Maddern's (Julie's father) perspective. This perspective allows us to see a man whose life perspective evolves as he reconnects with his daughter. We see what see just how far he is willing to go to save his daughter and the world.
In the author's note, Robinson explains that this book took three years to write rather than his typical 2-3 months. It started as a screenplay and eventually worked backwards to develop the novel. Well done.
The ending of the book was totally satisfying—no cliffhanger—but Robinson leaves a hook on which another book could be added to the series. I think Robinson's challenge in his next book is to match the quality of this first book. He admits that he deviated from his normal approach to writing the book—hence the three years it took him to write it. But, given the excellent books he has written, I think his challenge is minimal. Read this book - and maybe, just maybe, some producer out there will want to make a movie of TV series out of it.
I listened to the audiobook version with RC Bray doing a fantastic job narrating the story.
A substance called xylem is discovered coating the ISS in orbit around the earth. Julie Rohr, a NASA scientist, is researching this substance when a disaster on the ISS destroys the ISS, with Julie narrowly managing to escape via the Soyuz module. The Soyuz descends to Point Nemo, located in the Pacific and the most remote location on the planet. There, an unnatural island exists, composed of xylem. From Julie's work, NASA understands that the xylem shares similar properties to fungus/mushrooms and gets the world's foremost expert on mycology, Julie's father, who has spent the past two years in the Amazon jungle seeking a cure for what killed his wife, to aid in the rescue and deal with this alien substance.
This book is classic Robinson and, combined with RC Brays' terrific narration, makes this a 5-star story. The story is fast-paced and kept me fully engaged. The story is told in the first person from Dr. Finn Maddern's (Julie's father) perspective. This perspective allows us to see a man whose life perspective evolves as he reconnects with his daughter. We see what see just how far he is willing to go to save his daughter and the world.
In the author's note, Robinson explains that this book took three years to write rather than his typical 2-3 months. It started as a screenplay and eventually worked backwards to develop the novel. Well done.
The ending of the book was totally satisfying—no cliffhanger—but Robinson leaves a hook on which another book could be added to the series. I think Robinson's challenge in his next book is to match the quality of this first book. He admits that he deviated from his normal approach to writing the book—hence the three years it took him to write it. But, given the excellent books he has written, I think his challenge is minimal. Read this book - and maybe, just maybe, some producer out there will want to make a movie of TV series out of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews