X-Files Classics: Ground Zero

by Kevin J. Anderson

Adapts the best-selling novel by Kevin J. 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. 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. As they work to uncover the secret unifying element that ties these deaths, it becomes clear that this twisted puzzle has fatal consequences for the entire world.

Genres: Comics, Paranormal, Science Fiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2015

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

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

X-Files:Ground Zero
By Kevin J. Anderson
Our favorite duo will try to find the answer to the mystery of the string of murders involving government and scientists. They deal with strange consequences, or is it really ghosts.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is an authorized adaptation of a bestselling X-Files novel that I haven’t read. The book may be awesome but I’ll never know because I have too much to read and this version was a little “meh” for me. I’ve always preferred the monster of the week stories to the gov’t conspiracy plots. I guess this one is a little of both but it just didn’t thrill me.

The opening panel features a group of protesters surrounding a research facility. Apparently the evil scientist inside is up to no damn good. The scientist gets a suspicious package in the mail containing a vial of black powder and, uh oh, the lights start flickering, his skin goes all tingly and KABOOM! He’s frizzle fried just like that.

Enter Scully and Mulder on the scene. They start poking around because this is an X-Files book and the scientist’s death is a wee bit abnormal.  They don’t get very far though because the scientist’s project is top secret and the military intends to keep it that way.  Two more weird deaths occur in the same manner and Scully and Mulder are hot on the scene.

Oops, sorry. Wrong book. There’s none of that going on I’m sad to say. We do get to see Scully in some lead undies though.

You’re welcome.

Anyway, it turns out that a group of skeezy scientists are far too anxious to test out their nuclear experiment called “Bright Anvil”, whatever the eff that is, on far away islands they up and declare uninhabited without really double checking. Turns out this isn’t the first time they’ve done something like this and you can bet it will come back to haunt them . . .

There are some panels featuring science mumbo jumbo about a warhead that operates beyond the laws of physics or something that honestly just hurt my head. Most anyone will likely understand it better than I.

Mostly I found it a little boring and lacking in scares and/or humor and there wasn’t enough Mulder/Scully dialogue to hold my attention.

Maybe the next one will be more fun?

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

[Christopher Fergo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noticeably better writing than the ones written by Charles Grant. This would definitely make for an interesting episode of The X-Files.

Not really a spoiler, but one odd plot point, how would Agent Scully never have heard of the USS Indianapolis? She's an academic. That was an infamous attack from WWII and spawned a very famous speech by Quint in JAWS.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story that does well to fit the x-file mold. It would be interesting to read the novel (though I'm not interested enough to actually go read it) because I think the story would have been better with more details.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the death scenes and the conclusion were exciting, but the investigation scenes dragged a bit.

All in all, a good episode.

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this exact Edition. The edition I read was the 1997 comic series adaptation of the novel, which is 4 issues and apparently not on goodreads.