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Breakthrough #1
Breakthrough
Deep in the Caribbean ocean, a nuclear submarine is forced to suddenly abort its mission under mysterious circumstances. Strange facts begin to emerge that lead naval investigator John Clay to a small group of marine biologists who are quietly on the verge of making history. Alison Shaw and her team are preparing to translate the first two-way conversation with another animal species, but they are about to discover much more than they ever expected. When a mysterious object is found on the ocean floor and an unknown group suddenly becomes interested in her work, Alison learns that Clay may be the only person she can really trust. Together they find themselves embroiled in a desperate attempt to stop a catastrophe that spans the Atlantic Ocean and reaches all the way to Antarctica.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 6, 2013
21031 people are currently reading
16625 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Grumley
18 books1,316 followersMichael C. Grumley is the author of the best-selling BREAKTHROUGH series with over two million books sold. He lives in Northern California with his two young daughters. He’s an avid reader, runner and most of all father, and dotes on his girls every chance he gets. He loves hearing from readers while he works on the next ROLLBACK book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,882 reviews
January 28, 2019
How am I just now hearing about Michael C. Grumley? This guy writes old school adventure sci-fi like a boss! Reading Breakthrough made me reminiscent for some of my old favorites like The Swarm, Beast, and Jurassic Park.
Does all the science add up? Pish posh, of course not, but who cares? It works. Does it make for a great story, where you cheer on the heroes, cry for the innocents, and hold your breath when something goes boom? Yes, yes, and YES!
On my TBR short list there are a few novels waiting, including some from some potentially wonderful indie authors, but darn it all, they'll have to wait. I have Book 2 (Leap) and Book 3 (Catalyst) here in front of me, and I...can't...help...myself. It's like an addiction.
I have this overwhelming urge to go watch "The Poseidon Adventure" now. And maybe "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", if I can dig up that ancient series somewhere. I need to revisit my old adventure sci-fi roots. Where can I find old episodes of "Flipper"?
Does all the science add up? Pish posh, of course not, but who cares? It works. Does it make for a great story, where you cheer on the heroes, cry for the innocents, and hold your breath when something goes boom? Yes, yes, and YES!
On my TBR short list there are a few novels waiting, including some from some potentially wonderful indie authors, but darn it all, they'll have to wait. I have Book 2 (Leap) and Book 3 (Catalyst) here in front of me, and I...can't...help...myself. It's like an addiction.
I have this overwhelming urge to go watch "The Poseidon Adventure" now. And maybe "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", if I can dig up that ancient series somewhere. I need to revisit my old adventure sci-fi roots. Where can I find old episodes of "Flipper"?
June 14, 2015
If the year was 1948 and this book was serialized in Astounding, it would be great. It isn't and it wasn't. Mr. Grumley has done a halfhearted job of both research and thinking, and written a badly flawed book. Its one virtue is a decent amount of character development. Not outstanding, but decent, especially by 1948 standards.
Modest spoilers follow:
Firstly, and most damaging to my WSOD, the idea that aliens would be exactly like us due to some kind of mystical properties of carbon is sheer bunkum. That such aliens would go from a distant star to Earth for water is even sillier. There is a huge amount of water in any given solar system. If it's in the wrong place, the aliens' gate technology would suffice to move it without the need to go further afield or take special care. The earth water would arrive contaminated with earth life, which if the aliens are intent on saving their ecosystem is not desirable. Giant porcelain virus filters? A huge vacuum still? He doesn't give enough information to do a good calculation, but I'd suspect you'd need more than one ring. That's a very large still, each.
Second, he's used the names of actual vehicles and technologies without understanding their limitations and characteristics. Army Apache attack helicopters, for example, would not be used with a Seahawk helicopter for off-shore operations. They're not equipped for and the pilots aren't trained for that. The Marines would use AH-1 Cobra or Viper helicopters for off-shore operations. No one would gather a dozen Trident subs to fire torpedoes at a stationary target close to the Florida coast. A mix of patrol boats, frigates or destroyers would suffice. If you wanted to use subs for some bad reason, you wouldn't gather 12 of our 18 nuclear missile boats all in one place, you'd use the much more numerous Los Angeles-class attack subs, which are designed for torpedo attacks.
Third, no fusion warhead of any potency that would fit on a dolphin's back exists. There may have been some fission warheads that small, although I'm not sure even a Davy Crockett (Mk 54, 51 lb., 10-20 tons yield) would have worked. It certainly wouldn't have caused an ice shelf in Antarctica to destabilize.
Fourth, a minor point, I don't believe any nuclear missile silos were ever emplaced in the southeastern US.
Fifth, also minor, protecting a small group of natives from a nuclear detonation using the unlikely aliens' magical technology is hard to swallow, especially in the light of the spoiler below.
Finally, his inconsistent insistence on preserving background characters using magical alien technology is silly.
Immodest Spoiler:
Dirk the dolphin surviving his big smash, but said big smash happening and destabilizing the glacier makes no sense. Grumley is fine killing off a bunch of Antarctic workers, but his quirk that not one dolphin or native shall be harmed (even though it would make a better story) is nutty.
Modest spoilers follow:
Firstly, and most damaging to my WSOD, the idea that aliens would be exactly like us due to some kind of mystical properties of carbon is sheer bunkum. That such aliens would go from a distant star to Earth for water is even sillier. There is a huge amount of water in any given solar system. If it's in the wrong place, the aliens' gate technology would suffice to move it without the need to go further afield or take special care. The earth water would arrive contaminated with earth life, which if the aliens are intent on saving their ecosystem is not desirable. Giant porcelain virus filters? A huge vacuum still? He doesn't give enough information to do a good calculation, but I'd suspect you'd need more than one ring. That's a very large still, each.
Second, he's used the names of actual vehicles and technologies without understanding their limitations and characteristics. Army Apache attack helicopters, for example, would not be used with a Seahawk helicopter for off-shore operations. They're not equipped for and the pilots aren't trained for that. The Marines would use AH-1 Cobra or Viper helicopters for off-shore operations. No one would gather a dozen Trident subs to fire torpedoes at a stationary target close to the Florida coast. A mix of patrol boats, frigates or destroyers would suffice. If you wanted to use subs for some bad reason, you wouldn't gather 12 of our 18 nuclear missile boats all in one place, you'd use the much more numerous Los Angeles-class attack subs, which are designed for torpedo attacks.
Third, no fusion warhead of any potency that would fit on a dolphin's back exists. There may have been some fission warheads that small, although I'm not sure even a Davy Crockett (Mk 54, 51 lb., 10-20 tons yield) would have worked. It certainly wouldn't have caused an ice shelf in Antarctica to destabilize.
Fourth, a minor point, I don't believe any nuclear missile silos were ever emplaced in the southeastern US.
Fifth, also minor, protecting a small group of natives from a nuclear detonation using the unlikely aliens' magical technology is hard to swallow, especially in the light of the spoiler below.
Finally, his inconsistent insistence on preserving background characters using magical alien technology is silly.
Immodest Spoiler:
Dirk the dolphin surviving his big smash, but said big smash happening and destabilizing the glacier makes no sense. Grumley is fine killing off a bunch of Antarctic workers, but his quirk that not one dolphin or native shall be harmed (even though it would make a better story) is nutty.
June 10, 2021
3.5⭐
Why did I wait so long to try this book? It's been on my radar for quite some time, but seeing GR friends rave reviews really is the key that pushed me to download this story from Hoopla.
This book is about so many things, but mainly it is about resources and intelligent life forms other than humans such as dolphins and aliens. We follow two main characters, Alison Shaw, a marine biologist and John Clay, a Naval investigator. It's a pretty good thriller and its fast pace kept me interested the whole way through. I get Clive Cussler and Michael Crichton vibes from the story. The audio by Scott Brick is good. I'll definitely read the next.
Why did I wait so long to try this book? It's been on my radar for quite some time, but seeing GR friends rave reviews really is the key that pushed me to download this story from Hoopla.
This book is about so many things, but mainly it is about resources and intelligent life forms other than humans such as dolphins and aliens. We follow two main characters, Alison Shaw, a marine biologist and John Clay, a Naval investigator. It's a pretty good thriller and its fast pace kept me interested the whole way through. I get Clive Cussler and Michael Crichton vibes from the story. The audio by Scott Brick is good. I'll definitely read the next.
August 11, 2018
Breakthrough by Michael C. Grumley is a good sci-fi book where you can cheer for the dolphins, talk with the dolphins, meet with aliens, and hate on the corrupt government (esp. the idiot one that kept calling the dolphins fish!). I will certainly follow this series. The book is narrated by Scott Brick and he did a fabulous job! Loved the plot, characters, dolphins, and the aliens!
August 17, 2024
I love sci-fi, but I haven't read it for a long time. I mainly read books in my genre that I write in crime/thrillers. But this book had 8,000 reviews, as you may have guessed I am a sucker for a book with a lot of reviews.
This book is excellent. Really good.
Yes, there are some aliens, but they don't seem unbelievable. (You'll see.) Yes, the world gets saved. But it is just a solid story with a very unique element.
Imagine we could really talk to Dolphins, and carry on deep conversations with them. Not too many deep conversations in this book, but enough to be fascinating. I loved how the Dolphins loved us (people), and seemed innocent in their questions, like "Why do people wear clothes?"
But there is lots of action from guns to politics. Although science fiction, I feel almost anyone could enjoy this book.
Mike Slavin
Author of the award-winning crime thriller/vigilante Kill Crime Series and Spike 35 Kills and Smiling (think Dexter meets Reacher) mikeslavinauthor.com
This book is excellent. Really good.
Yes, there are some aliens, but they don't seem unbelievable. (You'll see.) Yes, the world gets saved. But it is just a solid story with a very unique element.
Imagine we could really talk to Dolphins, and carry on deep conversations with them. Not too many deep conversations in this book, but enough to be fascinating. I loved how the Dolphins loved us (people), and seemed innocent in their questions, like "Why do people wear clothes?"
But there is lots of action from guns to politics. Although science fiction, I feel almost anyone could enjoy this book.
Mike Slavin
Author of the award-winning crime thriller/vigilante Kill Crime Series and Spike 35 Kills and Smiling (think Dexter meets Reacher) mikeslavinauthor.com
September 29, 2014
You had me at talking dolphins and submarines. Two of my most favorite things in the world. I probably would have read any dumb story if it just had dolphins, submarines, and a principled Navy officer. But this delivered much more.
The plot is tight. Plausible and intense. The characters are smart and the dialog witty. The pace is great with lots of suspense and action. Also glad Alison and Clay did NOT turn into instant romance.
Minor nitpicks:
I noticed some editing errors: punctuation, spelling, capitalization. I may not have noticed them if I wasn't an editor myself, but it did bug me a little.
*spoilers*
I think more explanation was needed for how Dirk survived a nuclear explosion. Sally and Alison too for that matter. They seemed way too close to have survived.
I kind of wanted the traitor, Stevas, to get executed "on camera" not just disappear mysteriously. Call me Dr. Schadenfreude. But like I said, very minor nitpick. Not even a blip on the radar of awesome.
I would read this again and I plan to buy the sequel immediately. Bravo.
The plot is tight. Plausible and intense. The characters are smart and the dialog witty. The pace is great with lots of suspense and action. Also glad Alison and Clay did NOT turn into instant romance.
Minor nitpicks:
I noticed some editing errors: punctuation, spelling, capitalization. I may not have noticed them if I wasn't an editor myself, but it did bug me a little.
*spoilers*
I think more explanation was needed for how Dirk survived a nuclear explosion. Sally and Alison too for that matter. They seemed way too close to have survived.
I kind of wanted the traitor, Stevas, to get executed "on camera" not just disappear mysteriously. Call me Dr. Schadenfreude. But like I said, very minor nitpick. Not even a blip on the radar of awesome.
I would read this again and I plan to buy the sequel immediately. Bravo.
October 5, 2016
Seriously one of the worst books I have ever read. I can set aside disbelief as well as anyone, which is what one often has to do especially for science fiction writing, but this was just horrible. The author did absolutely no work at all in getting anything right in nearly all aspects of the story. For example, the bottom of the ocean does not contain "soil", it is "sediment". The head of the USGS will have a PHD, will not be called "Ms." and will not lead an expedition into the field. If you can speak with dolphins as sentient being, then how then do you deal with them being prisoners in a tank? How could they even respect humans that keep them as prisoners? Yet in this not-well-thought-out setting the dolphins are portrayed as happy go lucky individuals who love their jailers. My god, I can go on and on. This could have been a decent book with some research and explanation of the settings and Earth processes but instead it was just horrendous in its errors and complete ignorance. Don't waste your time or money. Sadly I bought the trilogy based on the reviews. I guess this speaks volumes to the vast majority of reader's ignorance on basic Earth Science in particular, but in so so many other aspects this book falls flat.
April 16, 2021
Let’s give it 3.5* and call it even!
Working off a strong recommendation by a dear friend, I chose to venture into the world of Michael C. Grumley and this series. Having sped through the prequel short story, I was intrigued to see how it would all come together. It’s hard to slot this book into a specific genre, as it is part science fiction, part action, and even part biological. However one might label it, Grumley did well in its delivery and has me wanting to know a little more. Alison Shaw has been working at an aquarium for the past five years, focussing on two dolphins. Slowly, but surely, a scientific breakthrough is made that could change the way humans see the dolphin world, but it is still too soon to reveal it all. Meanwhile, a nuclear submarine goes missing and the US Government is keen to learn more. Might the technology that Shaw and her team possess be essential to finding the sub and learning what happened? Grumley certainly piques the interest of the attentive reader with this first novel in a jam-packed series.
Deep in the ocean, a US submarine goes well off course and no one aboard can tell what’s happened. It’s panic all over the place and there is nothing that can be done. Radar shows the anomaly and yet no one can properly explain the phenomena. It is only later, when two Navy Seals find an odd ring on the ocean floor that possible theories begin to emerge.
Alison Shaw has been working at a Miami aquarium for the past five years, hoping to make something of herself. Her work with two dolphins looks promising, so much so that the latest project has her highly excited about what is to come. By recording and synthesising much of the communicative speech patterns, Shaw and her team have been able to effectively engage in two-way dialogue with the dolphins. Through a high-tech computer, basic interaction between humans and dolphins seems possible, which will surely create a stir in the scientific community, as well as with the general public.
When members of the US Government learn of the dolphins’ abilities, they come knocking, if only to tap into this new resource. Using the dolphins to probe what might be taking place deep on the ocean floor could have a numerous benefits, particularly as there is now a means by which communication is possible. However, Shaw and her team are not ready to rent out the dolphins to the highest bidder, making them more of a circus act than they appear to be to attendees of the aquarium.
On the other side of the world, a massive ice quake rocks Antarctica. A number of scientists are killed and early detection explores the possibility of a major tsunami that could rock both sides of the Atlantic, should something not be done. Early signs point to a phenomena that is not quite understood, though it might all relate to that ring on the bottom of the ocean. Who is behind the ring and what will it mean for those in military and political power? Is there a new enemy emerging, one the Americans have yet to fully respect? Grumley poses this and many other questions in this thriller that pulls on many interesting threads while keeping the reader engaged throughout.
I am the first to admit that science fiction is not usually my cup of tea, but this piece had something that pulled me in from the get-go. It might have been the realism that Michael C. Grumley presents, or even that there was a grounded science and even loose political aspect to the piece, but I am happy to have accepted the recommendation to read this book and want to know more. Grumley pushes reality up against the supernatural and presses a case for what might be out there and how current technology may be on the cusp of greatness, which boggles the mind and makes it all the more exciting.
Alison Shaw serves as the likely protagonist in this piece, pulling on much of her work to guide the book’s plot. While she has been snubbed by the US Navy before, stymying her research, she tries to keep an open mind when it comes to using this linguistic technology. She is adamant that her dolphins are not playthings for use by the highest bidder, but she is also keen to help where she can. Her drive for success can be seen throughout the piece, never overshadowed by stardom. It is a push for the truth over all else that keeps her in the middle of the story and I am eager to see what comes of her character in subsequent novels.
Grumley certainly develops a strong supporting cast in this piece to keep the reader on their toes throughout. There is so much going on throughout the various subplots that the reader is forced to entertain many names and characters whose roles play a vital part of the overall story. Grumley does well to differentiate them one from the other and never loses the momentum needed to keep everyone of interest to the reader. There are hints that some may appear throughout the series while others are surely one-offs, used to propel the plot forward.
The story was great and kept my attention throughout. While I am not fully engaged with writing that pushes things too far out of the realm of reality, I allowed myself a little reprieve in order to entertain what Grumley wanted to pass along to his readers. There is much to learn from the story and the themes emerge throughout. A strong narrative guides the story along, layered with strong characters and realistic dialogue. Grumley uses a variety of chapter lengths to keep the reader engaged, filling them with knowledge at some points and rushing them from point to point on other occasions as well. I am intrigued with where things are headed and can only hope that Grumley has something equally as exciting to come in the next novel, for which I am reaching as I finalise this review.
Kudos, Mr. Grumley, for this intriguing perspective that gets the story going. I have many questions that I hope begin to receive answers as I push forward.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Working off a strong recommendation by a dear friend, I chose to venture into the world of Michael C. Grumley and this series. Having sped through the prequel short story, I was intrigued to see how it would all come together. It’s hard to slot this book into a specific genre, as it is part science fiction, part action, and even part biological. However one might label it, Grumley did well in its delivery and has me wanting to know a little more. Alison Shaw has been working at an aquarium for the past five years, focussing on two dolphins. Slowly, but surely, a scientific breakthrough is made that could change the way humans see the dolphin world, but it is still too soon to reveal it all. Meanwhile, a nuclear submarine goes missing and the US Government is keen to learn more. Might the technology that Shaw and her team possess be essential to finding the sub and learning what happened? Grumley certainly piques the interest of the attentive reader with this first novel in a jam-packed series.
Deep in the ocean, a US submarine goes well off course and no one aboard can tell what’s happened. It’s panic all over the place and there is nothing that can be done. Radar shows the anomaly and yet no one can properly explain the phenomena. It is only later, when two Navy Seals find an odd ring on the ocean floor that possible theories begin to emerge.
Alison Shaw has been working at a Miami aquarium for the past five years, hoping to make something of herself. Her work with two dolphins looks promising, so much so that the latest project has her highly excited about what is to come. By recording and synthesising much of the communicative speech patterns, Shaw and her team have been able to effectively engage in two-way dialogue with the dolphins. Through a high-tech computer, basic interaction between humans and dolphins seems possible, which will surely create a stir in the scientific community, as well as with the general public.
When members of the US Government learn of the dolphins’ abilities, they come knocking, if only to tap into this new resource. Using the dolphins to probe what might be taking place deep on the ocean floor could have a numerous benefits, particularly as there is now a means by which communication is possible. However, Shaw and her team are not ready to rent out the dolphins to the highest bidder, making them more of a circus act than they appear to be to attendees of the aquarium.
On the other side of the world, a massive ice quake rocks Antarctica. A number of scientists are killed and early detection explores the possibility of a major tsunami that could rock both sides of the Atlantic, should something not be done. Early signs point to a phenomena that is not quite understood, though it might all relate to that ring on the bottom of the ocean. Who is behind the ring and what will it mean for those in military and political power? Is there a new enemy emerging, one the Americans have yet to fully respect? Grumley poses this and many other questions in this thriller that pulls on many interesting threads while keeping the reader engaged throughout.
I am the first to admit that science fiction is not usually my cup of tea, but this piece had something that pulled me in from the get-go. It might have been the realism that Michael C. Grumley presents, or even that there was a grounded science and even loose political aspect to the piece, but I am happy to have accepted the recommendation to read this book and want to know more. Grumley pushes reality up against the supernatural and presses a case for what might be out there and how current technology may be on the cusp of greatness, which boggles the mind and makes it all the more exciting.
Alison Shaw serves as the likely protagonist in this piece, pulling on much of her work to guide the book’s plot. While she has been snubbed by the US Navy before, stymying her research, she tries to keep an open mind when it comes to using this linguistic technology. She is adamant that her dolphins are not playthings for use by the highest bidder, but she is also keen to help where she can. Her drive for success can be seen throughout the piece, never overshadowed by stardom. It is a push for the truth over all else that keeps her in the middle of the story and I am eager to see what comes of her character in subsequent novels.
Grumley certainly develops a strong supporting cast in this piece to keep the reader on their toes throughout. There is so much going on throughout the various subplots that the reader is forced to entertain many names and characters whose roles play a vital part of the overall story. Grumley does well to differentiate them one from the other and never loses the momentum needed to keep everyone of interest to the reader. There are hints that some may appear throughout the series while others are surely one-offs, used to propel the plot forward.
The story was great and kept my attention throughout. While I am not fully engaged with writing that pushes things too far out of the realm of reality, I allowed myself a little reprieve in order to entertain what Grumley wanted to pass along to his readers. There is much to learn from the story and the themes emerge throughout. A strong narrative guides the story along, layered with strong characters and realistic dialogue. Grumley uses a variety of chapter lengths to keep the reader engaged, filling them with knowledge at some points and rushing them from point to point on other occasions as well. I am intrigued with where things are headed and can only hope that Grumley has something equally as exciting to come in the next novel, for which I am reaching as I finalise this review.
Kudos, Mr. Grumley, for this intriguing perspective that gets the story going. I have many questions that I hope begin to receive answers as I push forward.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 24, 2023
Michael C Grumley has struck a chord with me lately and in that vein I read this book from 2013. Not my favorite book of his by far, but still a worthwhile read. This book deals with the scientists studying climate change at the poles as well as those researching communications with dolphins. Recommended.
November 7, 2015
Very enjoyable reading!
Thought provoking science fiction that explores an amazing breakthrough in cross species communication. It turns out that dolphins have an developed language and culture. It boggles the mind to think how we could actually communicate with language to another specie. I think the story does a great job introducing this concept.
But there is more to this story. Another discover is made that leads to dangerous consequences for the entire planet. I'll not say more, but the plot is well developed and carries the suspense well.
The reality of such discoveries as explored in this book would no doubt be shrouded in the politics of powerful men. At the end of the day humanity seems more concerned about the power we have over the planet than it's wellbeing.
Thought provoking science fiction that explores an amazing breakthrough in cross species communication. It turns out that dolphins have an developed language and culture. It boggles the mind to think how we could actually communicate with language to another specie. I think the story does a great job introducing this concept.
But there is more to this story. Another discover is made that leads to dangerous consequences for the entire planet. I'll not say more, but the plot is well developed and carries the suspense well.
The reality of such discoveries as explored in this book would no doubt be shrouded in the politics of powerful men. At the end of the day humanity seems more concerned about the power we have over the planet than it's wellbeing.
Want to read
March 9, 2021This is the beginning of the six-book Breakthrough series. And I promise that if you can make it to chapter six of the first book while I set things up, you will be in for the ride of your life.
Michael C. Grumley
Michael C. Grumley
May 26, 2017
This is a review of the audible version. The narrator did an excellent job with the pacing and voicing.
There were lots of great parts to this plot. I loved all the action scenes. I enjoyed the discovery scenes with the dolphins and the mystery under the sea. The situation at the Antarctic was mesmerising.
Unfortunately, I can't say I loved all of it.
The action and imminent disasters kept me listening to the very end.
2.5 stars
There were lots of great parts to this plot. I loved all the action scenes. I enjoyed the discovery scenes with the dolphins and the mystery under the sea. The situation at the Antarctic was mesmerising.
Unfortunately, I can't say I loved all of it.
The action and imminent disasters kept me listening to the very end.
2.5 stars
October 26, 2013
Breakthrough is the debut novel from Michael Grumley. I picked it up as one of the freebies from Amazon. I don’t usually read science fiction, but the combination of action thriller and science fiction was totally entertaining.
Although I haven’t read a Clive Cussler novel in quite a few years, this book reminded me of Cussler’s work in so many ways. The protagonist, Clay (Dirk Pitt), his partner Caesare (Al) and Borger (Rudi) are very similar. One of the dolphins is named Dirk, giving me further reason to believe that Cussler had an influence on Grumley's writing. Other comparisons I made were to movies I had seen 10 or 15 years ago. The Abyss and Stargate both were brought to mind by the plot. Also, the major bad guy, Stevas, reminded me of an early Vince Flynn character, Stu Garrett.
If I were to give this novel any negative comment, it would be the lack of back story to the major characters. Clay is mentioned as having been a SEAL and retired, yet he is referred to as Lieutenant and he salutes another officer on one occasion. Kind of confusing to me.
The verbal interaction with the dolphins is a unique feature. We all know that dolphins appear to be able to communicate with each other, Grumley just takes it a step further.
Although I haven’t read a Clive Cussler novel in quite a few years, this book reminded me of Cussler’s work in so many ways. The protagonist, Clay (Dirk Pitt), his partner Caesare (Al) and Borger (Rudi) are very similar. One of the dolphins is named Dirk, giving me further reason to believe that Cussler had an influence on Grumley's writing. Other comparisons I made were to movies I had seen 10 or 15 years ago. The Abyss and Stargate both were brought to mind by the plot. Also, the major bad guy, Stevas, reminded me of an early Vince Flynn character, Stu Garrett.
If I were to give this novel any negative comment, it would be the lack of back story to the major characters. Clay is mentioned as having been a SEAL and retired, yet he is referred to as Lieutenant and he salutes another officer on one occasion. Kind of confusing to me.
The verbal interaction with the dolphins is a unique feature. We all know that dolphins appear to be able to communicate with each other, Grumley just takes it a step further.
June 20, 2017
I love the idea of figuring out a way to talk with dolphins and then learning from them. Breakthrough is a fast-paced, action-oriented story peppered with interesting science details and fun science fiction.
At first, there are so many characters that it's difficult to keep them straight, but then the story takes over and that doesn’t matter anymore. A few main characters do surface including strong, relatable female researchers who take on challenges while remaining human. The dolphins also become characters and some of my favorite parts include the interactions shown between the humans and dolphins.
There are plenty of twists along the way, especially when the science fiction elements are introduced. A fun, enjoyable read.
At first, there are so many characters that it's difficult to keep them straight, but then the story takes over and that doesn’t matter anymore. A few main characters do surface including strong, relatable female researchers who take on challenges while remaining human. The dolphins also become characters and some of my favorite parts include the interactions shown between the humans and dolphins.
There are plenty of twists along the way, especially when the science fiction elements are introduced. A fun, enjoyable read.
August 12, 2019
I sort of liked this book up until the people came out of the space time portal. Talking to dolphins was a fun fantasy, time/space travel through vortexes was not.
And then it got worse.
The beauty of literature is that noble virtues like self-sacrificial love deserve to be seen in stories. This author decided that the beauty of science fiction is that you can sacrifice yourself and then come back to life because, you know, holes in the space time continuum. That ruined it.
And then it got worse.
The beauty of literature is that noble virtues like self-sacrificial love deserve to be seen in stories. This author decided that the beauty of science fiction is that you can sacrifice yourself and then come back to life because, you know, holes in the space time continuum. That ruined it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2016
To authors willing to write science fiction: Please, Pretty please, do consult with scientists when building your plots. Leaving out huge logical mistakes will take out all the fun of reading your books.
Example: 2 tsunami waves colliding do not take out each over. Because waves propagate in all directions at the same time. And so does the energy they carry.
Example: can an atomic detonation create a water vacuum enough to move a glacier shelf 6000 km away? no.
Example: 2 tsunami waves colliding do not take out each over. Because waves propagate in all directions at the same time. And so does the energy they carry.
Example: can an atomic detonation create a water vacuum enough to move a glacier shelf 6000 km away? no.
July 7, 2025
Finished Reading December 18, 2015
2 Stars
I am bored to tears. I was expecting an exciting read. What I got was a whole lot of words about nothing.
Somehow even the action parts have been made boring.
It is more like some kind of movie script with lots of info on every room, wire, view, etc. With little actually happening.
I can't take it any more.
I have quit reading at page 128 (38% done).
Very Disappointing.
Purchased from Amazon December 10, 2015
2 Stars
I am bored to tears. I was expecting an exciting read. What I got was a whole lot of words about nothing.
Somehow even the action parts have been made boring.
It is more like some kind of movie script with lots of info on every room, wire, view, etc. With little actually happening.
I can't take it any more.
I have quit reading at page 128 (38% done).
Very Disappointing.
Purchased from Amazon December 10, 2015
December 16, 2015
Interesting read.
Global warming has been in the news, in this story too. Michael C. Grumley is very talented writer, but calling Dirk and Sally fish never corrected, they are MAMMALS. Beautiful island Tristan Da Cunha and Buenos Aires destroyed, again Washington twisted the story.
Global warming has been in the news, in this story too. Michael C. Grumley is very talented writer, but calling Dirk and Sally fish never corrected, they are MAMMALS. Beautiful island Tristan Da Cunha and Buenos Aires destroyed, again Washington twisted the story.
May 23, 2018
Sometimes you're in the mood for a sci-fi, alien, speculative science, military mash-up. And if you are this is a pretty good read.
We begin in a US submarine that has mysteriously gone massively off course in a matter of seconds, then we meet a group of scientist who are working on building a dolphin language translation software system and we learn that there has been an earthquake on the Ross ice shelf. When two former navy seals use the latest tether-less rover to search for an anomaly on the ocean floor our plots begin to meet up and you know those 'talking' dolphins will be getting out of the aquarium.
This is like a Sy-Fy channel version of a real book. There are some strange uses of language a female character is described as "sharp as a whip" which completely baffled me... and in addition to it being a Malaprop it feels really antiquated, I mean outside of Indiana Jones and cowboys who had used a whip in 100 years? [I started the second book and the phrase is used again and AGAIN to describe a woman... is the author implying that smart women are as rare as buggy whips?] In another scene the Admiral orders someone to "Launch the Tridents" now this could be confusing because we have Trident missiles on Submarines but would the Submarines be called Tridents by the military? Further a boat is launched when it enters the water. I would assume that all these subs were already in the water. If you want to order a boat or a ship you would deploy them.
We also get a Sterling Hayden in Doctor Strangelove type government official who is just dying to blow something up. He disdains science, calls Dolphins "Fish" and is generally a complete moron.
Then there is USGS sent to do a job that really would be the job of the Army Corp of Engineers. And wouldn't be a US decision since it takes place on Antarctica.
And the author used un-phased for unfazed.
But if you can ignore the errors and hold on for the ride you will have a great bit of silly escapism.
We begin in a US submarine that has mysteriously gone massively off course in a matter of seconds, then we meet a group of scientist who are working on building a dolphin language translation software system and we learn that there has been an earthquake on the Ross ice shelf. When two former navy seals use the latest tether-less rover to search for an anomaly on the ocean floor our plots begin to meet up and you know those 'talking' dolphins will be getting out of the aquarium.
This is like a Sy-Fy channel version of a real book. There are some strange uses of language a female character is described as "sharp as a whip" which completely baffled me... and in addition to it being a Malaprop it feels really antiquated, I mean outside of Indiana Jones and cowboys who had used a whip in 100 years? [I started the second book and the phrase is used again and AGAIN to describe a woman... is the author implying that smart women are as rare as buggy whips?] In another scene the Admiral orders someone to "Launch the Tridents" now this could be confusing because we have Trident missiles on Submarines but would the Submarines be called Tridents by the military? Further a boat is launched when it enters the water. I would assume that all these subs were already in the water. If you want to order a boat or a ship you would deploy them.
We also get a Sterling Hayden in Doctor Strangelove type government official who is just dying to blow something up. He disdains science, calls Dolphins "Fish" and is generally a complete moron.
Then there is USGS sent to do a job that really would be the job of the Army Corp of Engineers. And wouldn't be a US decision since it takes place on Antarctica.
And the author used un-phased for unfazed.
But if you can ignore the errors and hold on for the ride you will have a great bit of silly escapism.
February 13, 2018
3,5 Sterne
Auf dieses Buch mit seiner genialen Idee war ich schon vor Veröffentlichung extrem gespannt. Der Verlauf der Handlung hat mir auch während des Lesens einige Zeit sehr gut gefallen, irgendwann war dann aber doch irgendwie die Luft raus. Zumindest gegen Ende nimmt die Story aber nochmal Fahrt auf und macht mich definitiv neugierig auf den Folgeband, in dem hoffentlich ein paar meiner offen gebliebenen Fragen geklärt werden. Auch von meinen absoluten Lieblingen Dirk und Sally möchte ich unbedingt mehr erfahren!
Auf dieses Buch mit seiner genialen Idee war ich schon vor Veröffentlichung extrem gespannt. Der Verlauf der Handlung hat mir auch während des Lesens einige Zeit sehr gut gefallen, irgendwann war dann aber doch irgendwie die Luft raus. Zumindest gegen Ende nimmt die Story aber nochmal Fahrt auf und macht mich definitiv neugierig auf den Folgeband, in dem hoffentlich ein paar meiner offen gebliebenen Fragen geklärt werden. Auch von meinen absoluten Lieblingen Dirk und Sally möchte ich unbedingt mehr erfahren!
October 21, 2017
What can happen when science, nature, survival and abject terror collide with a taut and high-powered science fiction tale? Will it be the end of the world? Michael C. Grumley’s BREAKTHROUGH combines, fascinating fictional science, an alien visitation, an out-of-control governmental bureaucrat and a seemingly unavoidable end of the world scenario to give us a start to finish science fiction tale that is a mind-boggling and magnetic read for those of us who enjoy the “what-if” scenarios.
One scientific team has broken the language barrier between man and dolphin while mysterious events deep in the Caribbean Sea are wreaking havoc for both man and the very planet, itself. Enter “big government,” deadly intervention, a Neanderthal “shoot first and ask questions later,” mentality and it will be quite possible that humanity’s future “to-do” lists will never get done, unless one scientist and one government agent who goes rogue can save the day. Brilliant chaos, dialogue and two amazing dolphins make this tale a fast-paced science fiction must-read for those of us who like to let our imaginations run wild.
Michael C. Grumley has pulled together a tale that will have readers entertained while balancing on the edge of their seats!
Series: Breakthrough - Book 1
Publication Date: March 6, 2013
Publisher: Michael C. Grumley
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
One scientific team has broken the language barrier between man and dolphin while mysterious events deep in the Caribbean Sea are wreaking havoc for both man and the very planet, itself. Enter “big government,” deadly intervention, a Neanderthal “shoot first and ask questions later,” mentality and it will be quite possible that humanity’s future “to-do” lists will never get done, unless one scientist and one government agent who goes rogue can save the day. Brilliant chaos, dialogue and two amazing dolphins make this tale a fast-paced science fiction must-read for those of us who like to let our imaginations run wild.
Michael C. Grumley has pulled together a tale that will have readers entertained while balancing on the edge of their seats!
Series: Breakthrough - Book 1
Publication Date: March 6, 2013
Publisher: Michael C. Grumley
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 17, 2017
Gave up at 87%
4.4 out of 5? Really? SPOILERS AHEAD: Admitedly I don't read a lot of sci fi, but there were just too many things that rang so untrue. I was willing to go with being able to communicate with dolphins, but throw in aliens, career naval officers who suddenly decide command is wrong so they all go rogue and top it off with a secretary of defense who uses a nuclear weapon without telling the president (what happened to the president having the nuclear codes?)... well, that was at 87% and I finally couldn't stomach any more. So glad I didn't have to pay for this. So sad I didn't stop when I first wanted to, around 30 or 40% .
4.4 out of 5? Really? SPOILERS AHEAD: Admitedly I don't read a lot of sci fi, but there were just too many things that rang so untrue. I was willing to go with being able to communicate with dolphins, but throw in aliens, career naval officers who suddenly decide command is wrong so they all go rogue and top it off with a secretary of defense who uses a nuclear weapon without telling the president (what happened to the president having the nuclear codes?)... well, that was at 87% and I finally couldn't stomach any more. So glad I didn't have to pay for this. So sad I didn't stop when I first wanted to, around 30 or 40% .
November 18, 2013
I downloaded this to my Kindle from the lender's library before a trip, not expecting much. I began reading after a flight delay, and throughout my 19 hours of travel, could barely put this book down.
Grumley explains complex ideas and workings in a way that anyone can understand. The story of the relationships that can develop between humans and other mammals at times brought me to tears. There were unexpected plot twists that kept me intrigued.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an incredible novel.
Grumley explains complex ideas and workings in a way that anyone can understand. The story of the relationships that can develop between humans and other mammals at times brought me to tears. There were unexpected plot twists that kept me intrigued.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an incredible novel.
January 30, 2016
Struggled to get halfway through and gave up on it. There's too much going on, talking dolphins that start as the main focus and are gone for the rest of the book. The government turning a blind eue to geophraphical issues, earthquakes, aliens stealing Earths water. Too child fantasy like, I tried to finished dragging it out...but bought something else instead. Don't reccomend.
January 5, 2019
This was a great book to finish as my first read of 2019. Was it a deep literary fiction destined to be a classic in years to come; probably not, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and it kept my interest right to the end and I smiled many times and was intrigued at other times, and therefore it gets 5 stars from me.
It reminded me sort of Leviathan, the old 80s (?) movie, and for those that remembered and liked that movie, then I'd strongly recommend this story.
Was all the science and facts true? I don't know; I'm not a sciencey type of gal. I've noticed other reviews on GoodReads giving this book 2 or 1 stars, stating the science was wrong. When I read fiction of any sort, I am not looking for facts or even reality. I am looking for a good story, characters I can picture in my mind, a plot that keeps me engrossed and a story that has me not wanting to put down the book. That sums up this read for me. I didn't notice any glaring "that's not correct" science facts that pulled me out of the book. That's good enough for me.
The story is an environmental sci-fi, that could be the end of all life adventure and it has dolphins, (Dolphins!!) scientists communicating with the dolphins, scientists trying to save the world from military annihilation, beings from another planet and a rig on the bottom of the ocean floor. I loved the dialogue between the characters and the many various settings that the story unfolds in. I was not bored and I continually wanted to know what was going to happen next. I sort of knew from the beginning that there would be heroes and that everything would be ok from the end, just like you know when you watch a favourite sci-fi or adventure film, but getting to the ending was definitely worth the time to get there. The journey of this tale was as good as the ending for me.
It might not be to everyone's tastes, but for me it was a great story that left me feeling happy that I have read it.
It reminded me sort of Leviathan, the old 80s (?) movie, and for those that remembered and liked that movie, then I'd strongly recommend this story.
Was all the science and facts true? I don't know; I'm not a sciencey type of gal. I've noticed other reviews on GoodReads giving this book 2 or 1 stars, stating the science was wrong. When I read fiction of any sort, I am not looking for facts or even reality. I am looking for a good story, characters I can picture in my mind, a plot that keeps me engrossed and a story that has me not wanting to put down the book. That sums up this read for me. I didn't notice any glaring "that's not correct" science facts that pulled me out of the book. That's good enough for me.
The story is an environmental sci-fi, that could be the end of all life adventure and it has dolphins, (Dolphins!!) scientists communicating with the dolphins, scientists trying to save the world from military annihilation, beings from another planet and a rig on the bottom of the ocean floor. I loved the dialogue between the characters and the many various settings that the story unfolds in. I was not bored and I continually wanted to know what was going to happen next. I sort of knew from the beginning that there would be heroes and that everything would be ok from the end, just like you know when you watch a favourite sci-fi or adventure film, but getting to the ending was definitely worth the time to get there. The journey of this tale was as good as the ending for me.
It might not be to everyone's tastes, but for me it was a great story that left me feeling happy that I have read it.
November 27, 2022
You love to read, but you're in a reading slump. You look and look, start a book but then quickly get bored and put it aside. This book is not like that, at least for me it's not. The series is not like that. I just finished the 3rd book in this series and have really enjoyed each one. Such a great find! Maybe they'll make them into movies!
11/27/22:
I really love this series. Other than a few unchoice (use of deity) words - it's a really good book! I listened to the audio version this time.
Rating: physical violence, language
Language: use of deity
Recommend: yes
11/27/22:
I really love this series. Other than a few unchoice (use of deity) words - it's a really good book! I listened to the audio version this time.
Rating: physical violence, language
Language: use of deity
Recommend: yes
August 2, 2017
Douche ex machina
In the realm of possibility there's sci-fi, then fantasy and then there's this fever dream. So many unlikely head-spinning coincidences. For instance: How can the massive tsunami (hundreds of feet high!) generated by the collapse of a substantial part of the Antarctic ice shelf be completely quashed by a tactical nuking of a tiny island in the tsunami's path? Unlike reality, I like my fiction to be logically coherent.
In the realm of possibility there's sci-fi, then fantasy and then there's this fever dream. So many unlikely head-spinning coincidences. For instance: How can the massive tsunami (hundreds of feet high!) generated by the collapse of a substantial part of the Antarctic ice shelf be completely quashed by a tactical nuking of a tiny island in the tsunami's path? Unlike reality, I like my fiction to be logically coherent.
November 13, 2015
I love John Clay and Steve Caesare more than the story itself. Not saying that the story is bad. They remind me of James Rollins Sigma Force characters. Smart, patriot, and tough but not superhuman like some novels.
February 24, 2014
This book reminded me a lot of The Swarm. I'm not saying this is derivative, or suggesting plagiarism. I just think if you enjoyed reading one, you'd probably enjoy the other. I did enjoy this book quite a bit, but it left me with a lot of questions. First, the positives. This book grabs you right from the beginning and it is tough to put down. Even though it is sci-fi, none of the explanations that involve math and/or science are too complicated for even a math/science dummy like me to understand. There was a lot of good action, and I could easily see this being a movie. I also liked that even though there was just a hint of a possible romance, it didn't take over the plot of the book.
When I finished the book, I had a lot of questions. The author points the reader to his web site for a Q&A. While a lot of my questions were answered under the FAQ section, I posit that if all his readers are asking the same questions, doesn't that point to plot holes that should be addressed in the book? And I had more questions. Spoilers follow, so read at your own risk. How does Caesare live, go through the portal and come back, all without Clay knowing or seeing him until the end? Was the blue light that stopped the helicopters from the aliens? If so, how did they do that and how did they know they needed to? Why was Palin's son pointing the transporter box at the computers? Was he just trying to get himself out of there? Why didn't the computer guy (Borger? Can't remember his name...) tell anyone that the subs were destroyed by their own torpedoes instead of letting everyone think the aliens attacked them? Did the aliens have some kind of healing abilities that we don't have? Did the dolphin translator work on all dolphins? The book made it seem like it would only work with Dirk and Sally but that doesn't make sense. When Alison was transmitting the danger message over and over, why did no other dolphins swim over to see what was going on? The ocean is full of dolphins and the book makes it seem like they are superior beings with a lot of curiosity. That bothered me too. Dolphins are known to be rapists and murderers, so I didn't like Dirk and Sally getting all judge-y. And as a marine biologist, Alison should have known that, so I don't know why she put dolphins on such a pedestal. My final question is why did the female characters have to be so overly emotional and almost unlikable, and blow up at their male superiors, while the male characters remained cool and calm, even when faced with almost certain death?
I really did like this book, but I think the author could benefit from a professional editor. An editor would make sure the reader wasn't left with so many questions. The copy-editing could have been better, though sadly, I've seen much worse. A few notes for the author as far as that goes: first, directions do not need to be capitalized (north, south, etc.). Second, it's utmost, not upmost. And finally, who's means who is. The word you wanted was whose. Please pick up a copy of Strunk & White's Elements of Style and think about getting an editor. I do think you have a lot of talent that just needs some fine-tuning.
When I finished the book, I had a lot of questions. The author points the reader to his web site for a Q&A. While a lot of my questions were answered under the FAQ section, I posit that if all his readers are asking the same questions, doesn't that point to plot holes that should be addressed in the book? And I had more questions. Spoilers follow, so read at your own risk. How does Caesare live, go through the portal and come back, all without Clay knowing or seeing him until the end? Was the blue light that stopped the helicopters from the aliens? If so, how did they do that and how did they know they needed to? Why was Palin's son pointing the transporter box at the computers? Was he just trying to get himself out of there? Why didn't the computer guy (Borger? Can't remember his name...) tell anyone that the subs were destroyed by their own torpedoes instead of letting everyone think the aliens attacked them? Did the aliens have some kind of healing abilities that we don't have? Did the dolphin translator work on all dolphins? The book made it seem like it would only work with Dirk and Sally but that doesn't make sense. When Alison was transmitting the danger message over and over, why did no other dolphins swim over to see what was going on? The ocean is full of dolphins and the book makes it seem like they are superior beings with a lot of curiosity. That bothered me too. Dolphins are known to be rapists and murderers, so I didn't like Dirk and Sally getting all judge-y. And as a marine biologist, Alison should have known that, so I don't know why she put dolphins on such a pedestal. My final question is why did the female characters have to be so overly emotional and almost unlikable, and blow up at their male superiors, while the male characters remained cool and calm, even when faced with almost certain death?
I really did like this book, but I think the author could benefit from a professional editor. An editor would make sure the reader wasn't left with so many questions. The copy-editing could have been better, though sadly, I've seen much worse. A few notes for the author as far as that goes: first, directions do not need to be capitalized (north, south, etc.). Second, it's utmost, not upmost. And finally, who's means who is. The word you wanted was whose. Please pick up a copy of Strunk & White's Elements of Style and think about getting an editor. I do think you have a lot of talent that just needs some fine-tuning.
February 27, 2016
An okay read
This book kind of let me down a little. It started out with a really cool premise. The dolphins and the IMIS system were really neat. I enjoyed that. The characters were okay. Their personalities were a little flat to me, but at least they weren't obnoxious. They were believable even if they were a little cliche. Where I felt let down was the story itself. It wasn't bad, but I always felt like something was missing. I also felt like it was just too neatly wrapped up in the end without a real explanation. Everything was just magically okay. It didn't feel likely or real for everything to work out the way it did. Despite those complaints, I think this author is someone to watch. He definitely had some really cool ideas here. Some original, and some not entirely original, but still interesting. I also found his writing to be really great for self-published. I think this book is worth the read, but I hope the next ones can get to where I feel this book didn't quite get.
This book kind of let me down a little. It started out with a really cool premise. The dolphins and the IMIS system were really neat. I enjoyed that. The characters were okay. Their personalities were a little flat to me, but at least they weren't obnoxious. They were believable even if they were a little cliche. Where I felt let down was the story itself. It wasn't bad, but I always felt like something was missing. I also felt like it was just too neatly wrapped up in the end without a real explanation. Everything was just magically okay. It didn't feel likely or real for everything to work out the way it did. Despite those complaints, I think this author is someone to watch. He definitely had some really cool ideas here. Some original, and some not entirely original, but still interesting. I also found his writing to be really great for self-published. I think this book is worth the read, but I hope the next ones can get to where I feel this book didn't quite get.
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