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Apocalypse Machine
THE HUMAN RACE STARTED THE SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION ON EARTH.
A chain of subglacial volcanoes erupt in Iceland. The melting ice floods the countryside. Poisonous gas descends on Scotland. A tsunami devastates the Norwegian coastline. An ash cloud rises into the atmosphere, blotting out the sun across Europe, ushering in a new Ice Age. Dozens of nuclear power plants, flooded by ocean water, experience meltdowns. Millions perish. Many more are displaced. All on the first day.
On the second day, a series of earthquakes moving in a straight line, reveal the presence of something massive, walking across the landscape. Concealed by a thick, radioactive ash cloud, the ‘aberration’ heads west, toward Russia.
Abraham Wright, a science writer for Modern Scientist, who wants nothing more than to be reunited with his family, finds himself at the center of the United States’ response to the crisis. Under his new title as Assistant Science Advisor to the President, Wright is sent to Europe with a team of Army Rangers, where he uncovers the truth about the ancient behemoth laying waste to the world: there have been five mass extinctions on planet Earth, and the aberration has been present at each.
On the third day, the world fights back.
And loses.
Separated from his family by continents and oceans ravaged by countless disasters and populated by strange new life, Wright struggles to survive in an evolving world. Hoping to uncover the key to mankind’s redemption, he fights for answers, and to reach his loved ones—before the human race’s extinction.
THE APOCALYPSE MACHINE WILL FINISH IT.
Jeremy Robinson returns to the Kaiju Thriller genre he popularized with the largest Kaiju to ever appear in fiction: the Apocalypse Machine. Bursting with all the epic action, desperate struggle and complex characters that readers have come to expect, Robinson takes the world to the brink once more, pitting humanity against the greatest threat he has yet to conjure, and asking the question: Does humanity deserve to inherit the Earth, or is our time up?
A chain of subglacial volcanoes erupt in Iceland. The melting ice floods the countryside. Poisonous gas descends on Scotland. A tsunami devastates the Norwegian coastline. An ash cloud rises into the atmosphere, blotting out the sun across Europe, ushering in a new Ice Age. Dozens of nuclear power plants, flooded by ocean water, experience meltdowns. Millions perish. Many more are displaced. All on the first day.
On the second day, a series of earthquakes moving in a straight line, reveal the presence of something massive, walking across the landscape. Concealed by a thick, radioactive ash cloud, the ‘aberration’ heads west, toward Russia.
Abraham Wright, a science writer for Modern Scientist, who wants nothing more than to be reunited with his family, finds himself at the center of the United States’ response to the crisis. Under his new title as Assistant Science Advisor to the President, Wright is sent to Europe with a team of Army Rangers, where he uncovers the truth about the ancient behemoth laying waste to the world: there have been five mass extinctions on planet Earth, and the aberration has been present at each.
On the third day, the world fights back.
And loses.
Separated from his family by continents and oceans ravaged by countless disasters and populated by strange new life, Wright struggles to survive in an evolving world. Hoping to uncover the key to mankind’s redemption, he fights for answers, and to reach his loved ones—before the human race’s extinction.
THE APOCALYPSE MACHINE WILL FINISH IT.
Jeremy Robinson returns to the Kaiju Thriller genre he popularized with the largest Kaiju to ever appear in fiction: the Apocalypse Machine. Bursting with all the epic action, desperate struggle and complex characters that readers have come to expect, Robinson takes the world to the brink once more, pitting humanity against the greatest threat he has yet to conjure, and asking the question: Does humanity deserve to inherit the Earth, or is our time up?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2016
269 people are currently reading
672 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 156 reviews
February 23, 2025
Great googamooga! This was an incredible story! I went in, never reading Jeremy Robinson before, figuring that this would just be a standard kaiju trying to destroy the world kind of plot. I was not at all prepared for the absolutely stellar character study of Abraham. You got to know the man inside and out, even on a spiritual level, and it all flowed so smoothly. And this was done within the confines of a truly unique apocalyptic creature wreaking havoc, which humanity ultimately loses (Not a spoiler, as this happens fairly early in, and is also included in the book’s advertised premise.), but that’s only part of this adventure. A good deal of the story takes place after civilization falls and we continue following the same characters as they navigate this new reality. You felt yourself in these scenes with these people and truly cared for them all. The creature, the multitude of characters, the nonstop action were all masterfully woven together, reaching a level if epic that was new to me, but fully appreciated. Even the decision to include random civilians around the world and their personal losses and experiences with this ‘machine’ gave the story a level of humanity that never happens in a story with a kaiju. I’m almost at a loss for words as to how much I enjoyed myself here. I honestly can’t think of a single thing that I felt didn’t work. I think fans of most genres and styles will enjoy at least some aspects of this book, but most will love it.
May 13, 2022
**3.5 Stars**
It was buried deep in the glacier ice, waiting. Waiting to judge humanity. Now it arises from its depths because it has found us unworthy. Its mission is to destroy the earth and all living creatures to start anew. Abraham aka Science Guy survives the machine's birth from the ice to engage in a battle of survival.
The first half of the book was great. The second half, not so much for me. Predictable ending. Middle of the road for apocalypse.
It was buried deep in the glacier ice, waiting. Waiting to judge humanity. Now it arises from its depths because it has found us unworthy. Its mission is to destroy the earth and all living creatures to start anew. Abraham aka Science Guy survives the machine's birth from the ice to engage in a battle of survival.
The first half of the book was great. The second half, not so much for me. Predictable ending. Middle of the road for apocalypse.
February 28, 2022
A series of Icelandic volcano eruptions marks the beginning of the end of the world with natural destruction slowly spreading over the whole world. The story spans the next fifteen years as man battles the apocalypse machine. The idea was interesting enough, the story-line was well constructed, and the ending unusual considering the genre. Unfortunately, the hero, the perfect at everything ‘science man’, was for me, probably the most unbearable literary figure I have come across in ages. I spent quite a lot of the time debating which I would choose, spend a long train journey with him or be destroyed in the apocalypse. Worth reading despite the hero.
March 6, 2016
Seriously... can Jeremy Robinson write a bad book? Not in my opinion! Apocalypse Machine is amazing!
It's the end of the world... again! After using kaiju to destroy many different areas of the world, he has now introduced the world to a kaiju that will actually destroy the entire world! What starts with earthquakes in Iceland turns into a global apocalypse from which no one is safe. Filled with rapid paced action and suspense, massive destruction, humourous dialogue and characters that you truly care about, this book is fantastic! It's only March, but I think this will remain one of my top books for 2016.
It's the end of the world... again! After using kaiju to destroy many different areas of the world, he has now introduced the world to a kaiju that will actually destroy the entire world! What starts with earthquakes in Iceland turns into a global apocalypse from which no one is safe. Filled with rapid paced action and suspense, massive destruction, humourous dialogue and characters that you truly care about, this book is fantastic! It's only March, but I think this will remain one of my top books for 2016.
March 2, 2016
I loved this book. Jeremy Robinson impressed the heck out of me with it. I went into it expecting kaiju, but that was a mistake. It's an Apocalypse novel (with a really big monster), and a great one at that. I'm a big Robinson fan, but this is one of his best. The unnecessary but plausible possibilities of continuation with the setting/storyline boggle my mind in interesting ways. That's the only thing I could complain about, not enough content. I want more. But I'm not complaining, officially, because Apocalypse Machine is a well-conceived and written masterpiece by one of the best sci-fi/action/sometimes horror authors around.
February 15, 2017
Great fast paced thriller
I very much like this author or I wouldn't take the time to review. This is the third of his books I've read, the first being the one he co-authored with his wife called The Distance which was a sleep stopper. I'm not going to summarize this book because it already has an accurate summary. I just want to say that I'm a voracious reader, literally 2 novels a day, of all genres, thriller, mystery, horror, sci Fi, fantasy, mixed, historical fiction, suburban fantasy, umm.. Whatever else I'm missing that is still fiction. And this author's writing greatly impressed me. It's well thought out, the characters have good depth and the stories are like roller coaster rides without being too much. And I love roller coasters almost as much as a good book. So, if you're on the fence, please, jump off and read the book! It will be worth the wait in line for an excellent ride!
I very much like this author or I wouldn't take the time to review. This is the third of his books I've read, the first being the one he co-authored with his wife called The Distance which was a sleep stopper. I'm not going to summarize this book because it already has an accurate summary. I just want to say that I'm a voracious reader, literally 2 novels a day, of all genres, thriller, mystery, horror, sci Fi, fantasy, mixed, historical fiction, suburban fantasy, umm.. Whatever else I'm missing that is still fiction. And this author's writing greatly impressed me. It's well thought out, the characters have good depth and the stories are like roller coaster rides without being too much. And I love roller coasters almost as much as a good book. So, if you're on the fence, please, jump off and read the book! It will be worth the wait in line for an excellent ride!
January 6, 2024
Attention bookshop customers: The Post-Apocalyptic Fiction section has been moved to the Current Affairs Section.
This action thriller grabbed me by the eyes and stuck them to the pages! Well researched and equally well written, Jeremy Robinson throws us in the middle of Earth’s 6th extinction. Massive Icelandic volcanic eruptions release the human-ending Kaiju which stomps around The Earth, making a big mess of everything including us.
Then the story swaps to post-apocalyptic times (yes, it’s two books in one). This half of the book is made up of a collection of short stories with a common thread. Ingenious! The action is fast and unrelenting almost to the very ending. Speaking of the ending, it's biblical...literally. Go read about Abraham.
What a great, fun book!
This action thriller grabbed me by the eyes and stuck them to the pages! Well researched and equally well written, Jeremy Robinson throws us in the middle of Earth’s 6th extinction. Massive Icelandic volcanic eruptions release the human-ending Kaiju which stomps around The Earth, making a big mess of everything including us.
Then the story swaps to post-apocalyptic times (yes, it’s two books in one). This half of the book is made up of a collection of short stories with a common thread. Ingenious! The action is fast and unrelenting almost to the very ending. Speaking of the ending, it's biblical...literally. Go read about Abraham.
What a great, fun book!
October 16, 2016
I am torn on how to rate this book. The writing is good enough and the story moves forward, but I couldn't love it in the way I wanted to.
This book is a male power fantasy on an acid trip. It's written in the first person about a guy who is GOOD AT SODDING EVERYTHING. He pilots a plane spectacularly and saves them all, he manages to hurt the monster with an axe when literally all the might of the world's militaries can't even put a dent in it. He's got two wives that happily co-exist and love each other and raise his kids, he ends up as an advisor to the president and running around with Rangers when the shit hits the fan because he's SO AWESOME.
It pretty neatly wraps up in the end in a way I found very unsatisfying:
What was good about it? The post-apocalyptic world. The rise of the new world after the old was destroyed was fascinating and I wish we'd seen more of it. The dread of the seemingly unstoppable monster.
This book is a male power fantasy on an acid trip. It's written in the first person about a guy who is GOOD AT SODDING EVERYTHING. He pilots a plane spectacularly and saves them all, he manages to hurt the monster with an axe when literally all the might of the world's militaries can't even put a dent in it. He's got two wives that happily co-exist and love each other and raise his kids, he ends up as an advisor to the president and running around with Rangers when the shit hits the fan because he's SO AWESOME.
It pretty neatly wraps up in the end in a way I found very unsatisfying:
What was good about it? The post-apocalyptic world. The rise of the new world after the old was destroyed was fascinating and I wish we'd seen more of it. The dread of the seemingly unstoppable monster.
September 2, 2016
Interesting concept.
July 22, 2017
My first Kaiju book. I enjoyed this book, but the whole Abraham/Issac (Ike) story line annoyed me. Am I the only one?
November 5, 2022
So, Godzilla has nothing on the Machine. Erase any preconceptions you may have about traditional kaiju stories, Robinson blows them all out of the water with this epic tale.
August 28, 2020
I'd never read one of Robinson's books before, so I read a lot of reviews before choosing this one. I'm kind of shocked at how bad I thought this was. This is pretty much a modern retelling of Abraham's story from the Bible in the setting of a kaiju apocalypse. (Kaiju are those giant monsters found in movies like Godzilla.) Sounds pretty great, right?
Well, our protagonist is a total Mary Sue, and it is amazingly annoying. (This review sums up how I felt about him.) And the plot relies on so many coincidences to work.
There are some glimmers of genius here, hence the two stars rather than one, and I do appreciate how fast-paced it was.
Well, our protagonist is a total Mary Sue, and it is amazingly annoying. (This review sums up how I felt about him.) And the plot relies on so many coincidences to work.
There are some glimmers of genius here, hence the two stars rather than one, and I do appreciate how fast-paced it was.
April 29, 2016
Apocalypse Machine is an apocalyptical Kaiju thriller. The story grabs you from the very first page and doesn't slow down until the completely satisfying finale. As a huge Kaiju fan I can say that Jeremy Robinson has once again hit it out of the park! This story was everything I had hoped it would be. The fight to save what's left of humanity is an exciting, intense, and sometimes terrifying rollercoaster ride. The characters are realistic and easy to care about. I loved Abraham, Graham, and Mayer. I was totally invested in their struggle for survival and to get back to Abraham's family. I highly recommend this phenomenal 5 star read.
September 20, 2021
It was bound to happen... Disappointment. Especially when an author is as prolific as Jeremy Robinson. The book had all the "right" ingredients, but they were put together haphazardly, and not in the superb way I've come to expect from Mr. Robinson. "Infinite", "Tribe", and "The Dark were all amazing, and all has very different premises. Unfortunately "Apocalypse Machine" didn't have the same depth or complexity, just a lot of action. 🤷🏻♀️
2.5 rounded to 3 stars because it *was* escapist, and helped me stop pining for "The Library at Mount Char".
2.5 rounded to 3 stars because it *was* escapist, and helped me stop pining for "The Library at Mount Char".
March 10, 2016
This was an excellent book, with a massively big kaiju, that had me enthralled from the start. Not only was the monster amazing, but so was the family at the core of the story. It is always nice to see a science guy mixed in with the tough guys, and Abraham Wright was a good combination of both.
The action in this story was non-stop and I had a hard time putting it down.
The action in this story was non-stop and I had a hard time putting it down.
March 2, 2016
Scary book. A lot of sad moments, a few happy moments, but mostly sad. Just hope the world doesn't end up this way.
July 17, 2016
This my first kaiju novel and I had no idea there was such a creature. Where have I been?
July 16, 2017
Philosophers have spent lifetimes dreaming of ways our world might one day come to an end. Scientists have spent generations drafting one doomsday scenario after another. None of them saw this coming. An unlikely hero in an unwinnable situation and little hope for humanity as a force beyond imagination attempts to bring about a purge of life on earth. Welcome to Apocalypse Machine.
September 6, 2017
Epic monster story which explodes action from the first to the last page. Brilliant characters, with superb dialogue to match. I was lucky enough to have the audiobook, which is narrated, by my favourite narrator, Jeffrey Kafer. He packs so much emotion into every character, it lifts the story from the page.
Brilliant story.
Brilliant story.
August 20, 2016
Very unique and strange story; albeit a good kind of strange. I have never read a haiku book before, but I have watched most Kaine movies throughout my lifetime. This brought many different types of stories together into one novel. However, it is not a bunch of other people's stories crammed into one book. It was not predictable and I both cringed and loved the different aspects of it. I also like that it had an old-fashioned feel to it, in that it showed very tight family values, which is something you don't see to much anymore. That in itself would be why I would recommend this to everyone, much less kaiju fans. However, I have to say as a final point though, I gave it only four stars due to the awkward, fall-off-the-cliff, ending.
I can't wait to read more of his books, especially if they are as good or better than this one.
I can't wait to read more of his books, especially if they are as good or better than this one.
August 25, 2016
Great set up. Very detailed. Enjoyable and in-depth presented characters. A total surprise for me but a very welcomed one!
October 5, 2019
This book was full of surprises! It was a great ride from beginning to end. Starting off in Iceland, it looks like a group of scientists are caught in the middle of a major volcanic event. As they flee for their lives, Abe thinks he might have seen something odd, large, and impossible. But he doesn’t have time to mull is over as he and others scramble to get out of the path of disaster. Woo! I had to catch my breath after just the first 20 minutes of the book. Already, we got a sizable body count and it looks like the world will no longer be the same.
Then Abe gives some key info to the US President. In exchange for his family’s safety, he’s willing to go back out in the field. I loved Abe’s family. He and his wife Mina tried hard and long to have a child and when that didn’t happen, their relationship started to fall apart. That’s when Abe met another woman (Belle), and after a brief relationship, he learned that both ladies were pregnant. The awesomeness is that they made it work – all 3 adults living together raising two sons, Ike and Ishah.
Back in the field, Abe is with a highly trained and skilled group of soldiers. They plan to investigate the ‘aberration’ more closely, but things go horribly wrong. Pretty soon, it’s just Abe and Graham, one of the soldiers. Together, they manage to stay alive but they are separated from government and family.
Take another breath, because the action continues! One thing leads to another and then Mayer joins the small team in survival. This aberration walks the planet, going from one natural disaster to another, setting them off. Pretty soon, there isn’t any place on Earth that hasn’t been affected. The story leaps ahead several years by giving us a peek at how others around the world have survived one calamity after another.
The tale brings up a lot of great questions about mass extinctions and new species suddenly popping up in the fossil record without a clear evolutionary line. I love how a lot of people pulled together to survive, as well as learning to live with (or at least avoid) some of these new species (many of which are deadly).
Meanwhile, Abe is still dead set on finding his family. Mayer and Graham have nothing better to do, so all three make a life and a quest of it. Abe learns weapons and fighting, but he also shares his scientific knowledge and just as often keeps the three of them safe. I loved this one particular scene where he first meets the new US President. All that physical activity, training, and fighting has changed Abe, and for the better.
The one element that was a little jolting for me were Abe’s visions. These happened whenever he was in physical contact with the aberration and give him vague hints about the nature of the aberration. Even as the main plot wraps up fantastically with plenty of action, emotionally moving scenes, and sacrifice, these visions leave plenty of unanswered questions on the table. 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Jeffrey Kafer is always a joy to listen to. He gives a great performance with Abe’s voice, sounding all nerdy. He also makes a great US Army Ranger (Graham) and a deadly Israeli Mossad agent (Mayer). Kafer did a great job with Abe’s many and varied emotions throughout the book. His female voices were believable and his foreign accents were well done. There were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own.
Then Abe gives some key info to the US President. In exchange for his family’s safety, he’s willing to go back out in the field. I loved Abe’s family. He and his wife Mina tried hard and long to have a child and when that didn’t happen, their relationship started to fall apart. That’s when Abe met another woman (Belle), and after a brief relationship, he learned that both ladies were pregnant. The awesomeness is that they made it work – all 3 adults living together raising two sons, Ike and Ishah.
Back in the field, Abe is with a highly trained and skilled group of soldiers. They plan to investigate the ‘aberration’ more closely, but things go horribly wrong. Pretty soon, it’s just Abe and Graham, one of the soldiers. Together, they manage to stay alive but they are separated from government and family.
Take another breath, because the action continues! One thing leads to another and then Mayer joins the small team in survival. This aberration walks the planet, going from one natural disaster to another, setting them off. Pretty soon, there isn’t any place on Earth that hasn’t been affected. The story leaps ahead several years by giving us a peek at how others around the world have survived one calamity after another.
The tale brings up a lot of great questions about mass extinctions and new species suddenly popping up in the fossil record without a clear evolutionary line. I love how a lot of people pulled together to survive, as well as learning to live with (or at least avoid) some of these new species (many of which are deadly).
Meanwhile, Abe is still dead set on finding his family. Mayer and Graham have nothing better to do, so all three make a life and a quest of it. Abe learns weapons and fighting, but he also shares his scientific knowledge and just as often keeps the three of them safe. I loved this one particular scene where he first meets the new US President. All that physical activity, training, and fighting has changed Abe, and for the better.
The one element that was a little jolting for me were Abe’s visions. These happened whenever he was in physical contact with the aberration and give him vague hints about the nature of the aberration. Even as the main plot wraps up fantastically with plenty of action, emotionally moving scenes, and sacrifice, these visions leave plenty of unanswered questions on the table. 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Jeffrey Kafer is always a joy to listen to. He gives a great performance with Abe’s voice, sounding all nerdy. He also makes a great US Army Ranger (Graham) and a deadly Israeli Mossad agent (Mayer). Kafer did a great job with Abe’s many and varied emotions throughout the book. His female voices were believable and his foreign accents were well done. There were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own.
October 4, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Hold on and shut up."
Humanity has brought the world to the brink of destruction. Time to wipe the slate clean and start again. The first part of this book is superb - exciting, terrifying as tsunami and volcanic eruption sweep millions to near instant death, a good introduction to the main character, and mysterious glimpses to engage the immagination. The crescendo is rising loud and fast - and then there's a leap forward in years, which, though still action filled, just didn't make sense other than to fill what, to this reader, felt like an unnecessary Abraham and Isaac biblical symbolism. Was that really necessary? Or was it, even, the main point of the book? Sorry, don't know. But the time lag seemed to take away the previously are inspiring threat...
Or perhaps I just read it wrongly.
Narration was by the excellent Jeffrey Kafer, whose reading never disappoits. Always giving full commitment to the story and voicing the protagonists individua!ly, even be had a slight difficulty keeping up with the numerous characters who entered then, almost as suddenly, were gone again. But his performance definite!y raised the excitement and tensions, flowing the story forward with the intensity of the post volcanic gas clouds themselves.
My thanks to the rights holder of Apocalypse Machine, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. Jeremy Robinson's books are always well written, direct and visual, and this is no exception. Similarly, the main characters are come-to-life personalities, as are several of the lesser, or short lived, protagonists, also true in this book. But despite being the hero who will hopefully save the world, I could not really relate to Abraham (Abe), main man in this story, which, as chapters passed, began to judge out my involvement. So I am having a hard time in deciding how to date this book as a whole.
Great book for readers who enjoy apocalypse terrors and/or monster machinations. In parts, especially early, the pictures evoked are truly terrifying.
"Hold on and shut up."
Humanity has brought the world to the brink of destruction. Time to wipe the slate clean and start again. The first part of this book is superb - exciting, terrifying as tsunami and volcanic eruption sweep millions to near instant death, a good introduction to the main character, and mysterious glimpses to engage the immagination. The crescendo is rising loud and fast - and then there's a leap forward in years, which, though still action filled, just didn't make sense other than to fill what, to this reader, felt like an unnecessary Abraham and Isaac biblical symbolism. Was that really necessary? Or was it, even, the main point of the book? Sorry, don't know. But the time lag seemed to take away the previously are inspiring threat...
Or perhaps I just read it wrongly.
Narration was by the excellent Jeffrey Kafer, whose reading never disappoits. Always giving full commitment to the story and voicing the protagonists individua!ly, even be had a slight difficulty keeping up with the numerous characters who entered then, almost as suddenly, were gone again. But his performance definite!y raised the excitement and tensions, flowing the story forward with the intensity of the post volcanic gas clouds themselves.
My thanks to the rights holder of Apocalypse Machine, who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. Jeremy Robinson's books are always well written, direct and visual, and this is no exception. Similarly, the main characters are come-to-life personalities, as are several of the lesser, or short lived, protagonists, also true in this book. But despite being the hero who will hopefully save the world, I could not really relate to Abraham (Abe), main man in this story, which, as chapters passed, began to judge out my involvement. So I am having a hard time in deciding how to date this book as a whole.
Great book for readers who enjoy apocalypse terrors and/or monster machinations. In parts, especially early, the pictures evoked are truly terrifying.
May 27, 2019
I decided to read this book in anticipation of the new Godzilla movie, and boy am i glad i did. This has to be one of the best kaiju novels out there. Its a highly creative and interesting take on the whole Kaiju genre.
The Machine (or the Ancient) is a highly inventive kaiju, he is much more than just a generic monster, he is sentient, but can also act like a destructive force of nature. He does not just embark on senseless destruction, but has a purpose.
Our main character, Abraham, is likable enough. Though the parallels with the biblical figure can be kind of in your face. But it works for the kind of story the author wants to tell.
And here is where the book really shires. Its very well written. it moves at just the right pace to keep you on your toes, and delivers just the right amount of exposition and world-building to keep you engaged. My one criticism would be that the characters are, for the most part, just spectators; they dont do much. At least not until the end. I also enjoyed the non-abraham chapters, as they really help to flesh out the world and the events described in the story. And i thought those chapters were some of the best written ones.
All in all, this is a very fun read if you are into apocalyptic or kaiju fiction. The monster is great. The story is exciting and well paced. And it has some interesting symbolism. If you are at all interested, give it a shot. You wont regret it :)
The Machine (or the Ancient) is a highly inventive kaiju, he is much more than just a generic monster, he is sentient, but can also act like a destructive force of nature. He does not just embark on senseless destruction, but has a purpose.
Our main character, Abraham, is likable enough. Though the parallels with the biblical figure can be kind of in your face. But it works for the kind of story the author wants to tell.
And here is where the book really shires. Its very well written. it moves at just the right pace to keep you on your toes, and delivers just the right amount of exposition and world-building to keep you engaged. My one criticism would be that the characters are, for the most part, just spectators; they dont do much. At least not until the end. I also enjoyed the non-abraham chapters, as they really help to flesh out the world and the events described in the story. And i thought those chapters were some of the best written ones.
All in all, this is a very fun read if you are into apocalyptic or kaiju fiction. The monster is great. The story is exciting and well paced. And it has some interesting symbolism. If you are at all interested, give it a shot. You wont regret it :)
June 30, 2019
Normally a HUGE Jeremy Robinson fan. If you are new to his books, I would not suggest starting with this book. It was enjoyable as his books always are, but there is a lot about this book I dislike. The main character is just not likeable. He has two women in his life that seem to happily co-exist and love each other and raise his kids. This alone isn't the problem, but the repeated references which
is just too forced throughout the book in order to make the character believable which it does not.
Out of nowhere, he ends up as an advisor to the president and running around with Rangers and survives where many of them fail and this is not believable based on the characters development.
The monster, as usual is thought provoking and scary and as usual to his books, it is a roller coaster and very entertaining. In addition, the ending was lacking for me. It just didn't tie everything together like it usually does. Still worth reading, but may not want you hunting for every Jeremy Robinson book there is and that is usually the way you feel after his books. These are the reasons for the 3 over the 5 I would give to many of his books.
is just too forced throughout the book in order to make the character believable which it does not.
Out of nowhere, he ends up as an advisor to the president and running around with Rangers and survives where many of them fail and this is not believable based on the characters development.
The monster, as usual is thought provoking and scary and as usual to his books, it is a roller coaster and very entertaining. In addition, the ending was lacking for me. It just didn't tie everything together like it usually does. Still worth reading, but may not want you hunting for every Jeremy Robinson book there is and that is usually the way you feel after his books. These are the reasons for the 3 over the 5 I would give to many of his books.
March 27, 2018
I'm a big fan of this author, but this book just didn't work for me. It felt too disjointed!!
The plot was slow to really get going, and when it did it took an extra little while to get into because years have passed and we get introduced to way too many other characters that we have to try to connect with too. We start with Abraham and some volcanologists checking out a dormant volcano that seems to be showing some activity. His guide steps on a spike of some sort and Abraham tries to get a sample, but once he touches it, he gets images of a giant machine destroying the world. This machine has been woken to cleanse the earth because the humans have destroyed it. From there we get snippets of different peoples lives and what happens the world as the machine advances. It's up to Abraham to figure out how to stop the machine.
That's basically the first half of the book, then we get to the second half and it's jumped 15 years (I think). Again we see snippets of life from different characters about how life is now. The machine is still going, still destroying, which I found odd because you would think that after years, it would have cleansed the world!! Anyway, enter Abraham, he's survived and determined to see if he's family has too. He also needs to stop the machine!!
Personally, I felt the flow of the plot was disjointed and I didn't like it. I think there were too many characters to fully connect with, and not many of them were really likable to me, and I don't know why! The author fleshed them out fine....there was just something missing. Plus the way it was told wasn't my style either, we get first person present tense, then some third person past tense thrown in, it didn't work for me.
In all, I still think this author is amazing and I'll read everything he writes, but not every book is for every reader, and this was not my favourite one by him.
Jeffrey Kafer is one of my favourite narrators. He always delivers a great performance, is easy to listen to and reads well. I just felt that with all the characters, some sounded too alike to tell apart. I also found that he didn't bring the atmosphere to life like he usually does. Still a great performance though!
The plot was slow to really get going, and when it did it took an extra little while to get into because years have passed and we get introduced to way too many other characters that we have to try to connect with too. We start with Abraham and some volcanologists checking out a dormant volcano that seems to be showing some activity. His guide steps on a spike of some sort and Abraham tries to get a sample, but once he touches it, he gets images of a giant machine destroying the world. This machine has been woken to cleanse the earth because the humans have destroyed it. From there we get snippets of different peoples lives and what happens the world as the machine advances. It's up to Abraham to figure out how to stop the machine.
That's basically the first half of the book, then we get to the second half and it's jumped 15 years (I think). Again we see snippets of life from different characters about how life is now. The machine is still going, still destroying, which I found odd because you would think that after years, it would have cleansed the world!! Anyway, enter Abraham, he's survived and determined to see if he's family has too. He also needs to stop the machine!!
Personally, I felt the flow of the plot was disjointed and I didn't like it. I think there were too many characters to fully connect with, and not many of them were really likable to me, and I don't know why! The author fleshed them out fine....there was just something missing. Plus the way it was told wasn't my style either, we get first person present tense, then some third person past tense thrown in, it didn't work for me.
In all, I still think this author is amazing and I'll read everything he writes, but not every book is for every reader, and this was not my favourite one by him.
Jeffrey Kafer is one of my favourite narrators. He always delivers a great performance, is easy to listen to and reads well. I just felt that with all the characters, some sounded too alike to tell apart. I also found that he didn't bring the atmosphere to life like he usually does. Still a great performance though!
January 16, 2018
It was like reading the movie 2012 - in a good way. For the most part, I thought it was a fun, fast-paced read. Were there a lot of eye-rolling moments? Yes, but I could forgive almost all of them.
*** spoiler(ish) alert ***
The deus ex machina (literally) aspects were ridiculous, especially with the once-overweight-nerdy-scientist-now-super-soldier savior having visions and then casually supplanting the extremely competent female president (as evidenced by the fact that she kept the concept of the United States intact during the absolute destruction of the earth). The story didn't need either plot line and they kept me from giving this 5 stars.
*** spoiler(ish) alert ***
The deus ex machina (literally) aspects were ridiculous, especially with the once-overweight-nerdy-scientist-now-super-soldier savior having visions and then casually supplanting the extremely competent female president (as evidenced by the fact that she kept the concept of the United States intact during the absolute destruction of the earth). The story didn't need either plot line and they kept me from giving this 5 stars.
September 20, 2020
Well, that feels like an epic fail. Robinson's previous books were guaranteed to be a fun romp without turning my stomach and this one steps into it right at the very start.
>The look in her eyes says that a hero’s reward awaits me when we land, but my life is complicated enough already.
Life or death situation, but I guess dudes still think with their dick? Is that the message Robinson is trying to communicate? Considering other aspects of the protagonist's life, which I don't have a problem with in general, just add to the 'ugh' feeling of that line.
Better luck next time, I guess.
PS: the next chapter starts with a wealthy woman unhappy because she is...alone. Come on!
>The look in her eyes says that a hero’s reward awaits me when we land, but my life is complicated enough already.
Life or death situation, but I guess dudes still think with their dick? Is that the message Robinson is trying to communicate? Considering other aspects of the protagonist's life, which I don't have a problem with in general, just add to the 'ugh' feeling of that line.
Better luck next time, I guess.
PS: the next chapter starts with a wealthy woman unhappy because she is...alone. Come on!
January 25, 2018
Jeremy Robinson is one of my favorite authors. His stories rarely disappoint me, but this one was an exception. The writing was fine, the plot interesting and engaging, but I had a huge issue with the main character and his morals. I take marriage pretty seriously, so I have a hard time identifying or sympathizing with any character who doesn't, and Abraham, for all of his gifts and talents, doesn't.
I wish I could write a different review. I do. But I just couldn't get past that issue, which popped up in the story again and again, with a conclusion that was also not what I had hoped. :(
I wish I could write a different review. I do. But I just couldn't get past that issue, which popped up in the story again and again, with a conclusion that was also not what I had hoped. :(
February 5, 2021
The end behind with a hurt toe
I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this book. I enjoy Jeremy Robinson's writing and am a big kaiju fan, and I did enjoy the book, it did take a couple of twist I wasn't expecting. Such as the lead character Abraham, who has a small we say a very unique family life. I'm not going to spoil it here you're going to have to see it for yourself. It does feel like a stand alone giant monster film, actually, I wouldn't mind seeing this as a film. If you're looking for a fun story that gives you a little good for thought give it a try.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this book. I enjoy Jeremy Robinson's writing and am a big kaiju fan, and I did enjoy the book, it did take a couple of twist I wasn't expecting. Such as the lead character Abraham, who has a small we say a very unique family life. I'm not going to spoil it here you're going to have to see it for yourself. It does feel like a stand alone giant monster film, actually, I wouldn't mind seeing this as a film. If you're looking for a fun story that gives you a little good for thought give it a try.
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