Zona: The Forbidden Land

Zona #1

by Fred G. Baker

A lost expedition. A mysterious woman. Rumors of exotic and deadly animals. A Russian spy. An unexplored region of Siberia. Direwolves. All these elements confront Dr. Grant Taylor when he is summoned to Saint Petersburg, Russia, to settle the estate of his explorer uncle, Randall Taylor, who has gone missing in Zona, a region of Siberia that doesn’t officially exist. Drawn into intrigue by his green-eyed lover, Grant finds himself on a recovery expedition to search for his uncle in a land of unknown dangers with people he cannot trust. Part adventure thriller, part speculative fiction, Zona takes the reader on a wild ride through a complex story featuring proven warriors, passionate women, and uncommon heroes. It combines the mystery of The Historian, the wonder of Jurassic Park, and the adventure of Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Genres: Amazon

411 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2018

About the author

Fred G. Baker is a hydrologist, historian, and writer living in Colorado. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and M.S and Ph.D. degrees from University of Colorado – Boulder, the later in Geology. He worked as an environmental consultant for many years and has traveled widely.

He is the author of An Imperfect Crime, Desert Sanctuary, Zona: The Forbidden Land, The Black Freighter, and the Modern Pirate Series of short and long stories. He is also the author of nonfiction works such as Growing Up Wisconsin, The Life and Times of Con James Baker of Des Moines, Chicago, and Wisconsin, The Light from a Thousand Campfires (with Hannah Pavlik), and other nonfiction works.

Reviews

[AvidBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discipline and Decorum Disrupted!

Classified documents, redacted files, mysterious keys and disappearances, unconfirmed rumors, secret nooks, identifiable Russian landmarks, and scrumptious local cuisine. I loved this initial 25% of the book!

Wolf tracks and body bags, bubbling sulfur swamps, deep volcanic rumblings, geothermal mists, and compasses confused. Mysterious lights, thermal detectors, journal entries, amplified emotions, and airborne pheromones amidst medicinal plant extracts. This next portion of the book traveled to a totally different locale but was still intriguing!

Then came malevolent dire wolves (like some Grimms’ dark fairytale hellhounds) and mammoths and saber-toothed lions. A little more fantasy/sci-fi but entertainingly exotic for sure!

Suddenly the story becomes less about botany, field research, and perimeter checks, and more about libidos, tempers, shared sex partners, and trysts. To me, this portion of the book did nothing to further develop the plot or propel the storyline. Then all the characters seem shocked when mutiny soon follows.

Their insatiably foolish desire to explore a land of unusual lifeforms (and the resultant human death toll) proves why we probably shouldn’t challenge apex predators in a territory they’ve already dominated. Soldiers and scientists then setting live animals on fire and muddling the ferocity of friends vs. foes became a bit too far-fetched to continue to enjoy.

I really enjoyed the writing style, but the story itself seemed to start high and then slide steadily downhill. At least for me. The promiscuity and excessive violence somehow zapped most of the magic away.

[Poppy Havoc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great page-turner for science fiction readers, adventurers and nature-lovers alike. A few questions were left answered. I'm assuming that must be to set a base for the next book in the series. So, looking forward to read one.

[Sudasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from onlinebookclub.org for my unedited thoughts and review.
Feel free to check out the review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

[Dr. Naushin Moledina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Grant Taylor, a geologist professor from Chichago, inherits his uncle Randall's possessions after he is legally declared deceased. With the sad news of his uncle's mysterious disappearance from an expedition to "Zona," he moves into his apartment in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to spend the summer and learn everything he can about him. He meets Irina, his uncle's lawyer and close friend Boris' niece, who assists him in preparing his apartment for occupancy by performing all necessary repairs and cleaning. He initiates an unexpected relationship with her for the time being. His investigation into his uncle's disappearance uncovers numerous conspiracies involving Uncle Boris and Irina. Fortunately, he is able to visit Zona with Irina and Boris' team on a second expedition to find his uncle Randall. Was it a good decision to go on the expedition? Can he trust Boris and Irina? Where has his Uncle Randall gone? What happened to him during the expedition? Will Grant be able to find him among the other strangers on the expedition? Grab a copy of the book and find out.

Zona: The Forbidden Land, by Fred G. Baker, is the first novel in the Zona series. It is divided into three parts: Grant's arrival in Saint Petersburg and his search for more information about the expedition; his drive to Zona despite all of the obstacles; and his experiences in Zona and his search for his uncle. The story flows naturally, incorporating adventure, mystery, speculative fiction, romance, numerous intimate relationships, and Grant's determination to find his uncle. The journey into a world of unknown dangers and untrustworthy allies provides readers with a page-turning experience.

The book has both positive and negative aspects. The benefits include: First, the author, Fred G. Baker, has a unique vocabulary of words, which has led me to learn many new ones. I also learned many common Russian phrases, including "Dobroye utro" (good morning) and "Dobry den" (good afternoon), among others. I appreciate how the author included these phrases immediately after their English translation, so readers do not have to look for them in the middle. The author has also included Russian conversations in English only for easier reading. Second, there are parts where Grant is reading his uncle's journal, and those sections are highlighted with a different font and font size, which is appreciated. Third, the novel's characters are well-developed, and Baker has included a list of all the characters and their designations who will be on the expedition. Fourth, there are maps of Zona and Grant's camp at the beginning of the book, which greatly aids understanding of the overall setup and surroundings.

There are a few drawbacks to the book, such as the large number of characters, which caused me to lose track of who was who and have to go back and check for the person, but everything was clear by the end. Another thing that bothered me was the abundance of intimate scenes in the third act, which were not explained in detail, but I was frustrated by seeing so many sexual encounters at once. The last thing that bothered me was that the ending did not explain his uncle's disappearance and survival in zona, leaving me with many unanswered questions that will most likely be addressed in the sequel.

Overall, Baker's storytelling abilities shine through as he weaves a complex story about proven warriors, passionate women, and uncommon heroes. The protagonist, Grant Taylor, is driven by the allure of green-eyed love and faces not only the physical challenges of the unexplored Siberian region but also the complexities of trust and betrayal among his expedition companions. Baker's vivid descriptions and meticulous world-building create a palpable sense of the uncharted wilderness, making Zona an exciting and immersive read. The novel's pacing, a delicate balance of suspense and revelation, keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The novel is well edited and, for the reasons stated above, deserves five out of five stars. Fred G. Baker's masterful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this novel a compelling read for those who enjoy venturing into the unknown realms of fiction.

[Linda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pretty Good Tale

I really enjoyed this book as improbable as it would seem. The story is of a valued nephew, by hook and crook, going on an expedition in far Siberia to find his missing uncle or find out what happened to his uncle in the mythic place in Siberia called Zona (the zone)
It starts in Russia where Uncle Randle owns an apartment and nephew Grant has come to clear his uncles’ affairs. The apartment is full of hidey holes and secrets. There are break-ins and spies and secrets. The beautiful niece of uncles’ banker and manager of his affairs (Boris) falls for nephew and both end up making the expedition to Siberia.
One thing I especially noticed was although there is a calendar of days, there is no calendar of when. In the beginning the story reminds me of a Sherlock Holmes time frame. When they start into the Siberian wastes I was transported to a kind of Narnia no-time.
They are supposed to come into contact with strange unknown beasts but mostly the ones described are larger than life (much larger) more prehistoric than strange. The animals we associate with are really big wolves and really big lions.
The first two thirds of the trip the company is savaged repeatedly by these big wolves. The beasts almost seem immune to gunfire and electricity. They can be shot repeatedly in the head or chest or wherever and the bullets seem to bounce off them.
Then one of the crew tells Grant she stole a bone relic from what may have been a sacred wolf site and she thinks that may be why the wolves are so mad at them. Grant then has some psychic bond with the head wolf. He returns the bone and they become fast friends with the wolf taking the role as guide and protector. All of a sudden they each understand the other... not yet as speech, for now only wants and feelings.
Finally they reach the secret spot in Siberia that is almost unknown and is in fact forbidden by the Russian government . This is where uncle Randall finally lands and then disappears. His party is attacked by really big lions. There is only one survivor who buries all the dead folk except for three people who seemingly escaped, uncle being one of the three. This survivor is leading nephews crew.
The new folk settle in Zona, working and exploring new flora and fauna. In doing so discover new plants and foods and discover they are feeling younger and healthier than ever before. All their appetites are enhanced including their libidos and there is much free love and admiration. Again I am reminded of a different time and folk...Heinleins’ Lazaros Long and friends
There is a prerequisite split in the group between the good guys enhanced traits and bad guys enhanced traits. The bad guys are attacked by the lions, the lions are defeated by the wolves, thereby saving the good guys.
By now many more of the folk can speak with the wolves and they are all living happily ever after. Of course there is a final chapter and you’ll have to read the book to know it.
All in all, the combination of spies and subterfuge and talking animals with sacred bones that we can talk to and treat with and some perfect Shangrila-type place with peace and harmony where multiple partners all get along, seems to me to be too much to enjoy...but I really enjoyed it.
The language is not too graphic, neither the bloody parts nor the sexy parts. I would recommend this book to anyone old enough to read it.

[Osman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty damn good actually. I didn't have great hopes for this going in, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's an all action thriller/sci-fi with two parts. The first set in Moscow where the protag finds out he must go on an expedtion to the Siberian wastes, and the second part where he goes.

The first part was all about running around, uncovering clues and trying to work out who was friend and who foe. It was pretty gripping and I found myself turning the pages very quickly. The author's writing style is down-to-earth and no nonsense; it's a breeze to read. He knows how to craft immersive scenes, and the pacing feels snappy.

As we move into the second part there is no let up. All the interesting details of the mysterious landscape they are travelling through keep the reader enthralled and there are action scenes galore. By the end, it did get a little silly, admittedly. I won't spoil what occurs; but let's just say that what was threatening before turns out to be rather fluffy and laughable. Still, there was no easy way to end this. There are no great shocks (no shocks at all in fact) and you will definitely feel let down on the last page. Oh well.

Also, you will reflect that much of the intrigue in the first half of the book was just venneer, and that there were no real questions there at all.

Ultimately, the book is far too long, although it doesn't feel that way untill you get to the last few chapters. I feel the first part in Moscow, in hindsight, overstayed its welcome. It set up too many intrigues that were not addressed by the end of the book.

Still, it was an enjoyable read. Fast paced and professionally written. I would read more from this guy, if it was in the same vein.

[Joanna E.Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost Horizons.

Dr. Grant Taylor Ph.D. Uncle Randell is missing and presumed dead. He goes to his uncle's apartment and look into his journals and books to get a clue to where he may be. The clues he finds lead Dr.Grant on an adventure where he first meets Irina. They go off to find a land high up in the mountains in Siberia where huge animals live. Dr. Grant and Irina meet more people Lada, and another woman on this journey and they go on a life journey that affects their lives together. I liked this book very much. It was a fun adventure to read. It was funny as well as nail-biting. I liked the bit with the pollen making everyone horny. Lol. My only complaint is I found the build-up was a little slow. I understand establishing the character however, I found it took too long a little wordy. Lol. Anyway. It is short though. The book goes lightening fast after chapter three. Lol. This is definitely an author I will look for on Amazon in the future. I received an ARC copy of this book from HIDDEN GEMS and with the compliments from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[SL Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting but it worked in the end

First time reading this author. I struggled through this story. Upon first cursory glance, I thought it was going to be a fun and exciting read. It unfortunately for me was not. I didn't like the MC Grant. Not that he was a bad person, I just didn't like him much. It felt like the author put too much of himself into the character instead of letting the character be his own person. The story had adventure but only about the last 20% of the book was more of what I expected the whole book to be like. It wasn't a horrible storyline just maybe not as well executed as I expected. I may be in the minority here but I would say read it for yourself. There are some cool concepts woven into the story that make it worth reading. There is a good bit of action and adventure.

[Nomcebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being summoned to Russia to settle his 'late' uncle's estate, Grant Taylor is forced to put his life on hold and find out what exactly happened to his uncle. Amidst all the secrets, lies and mystery surrounding his uncle's death/dissappearance on his last expedition, Taylor feels indebted and would stop at nothing until the whole truth is revealed.

In attempts to find his uncle after partaking on a deadly and scary journey to Zona, the land said to be forbidden people keeps on dying, emotions skyrocket as those who are left to fulfill the purpose of finding the lost uncle start fighting amongst each other. Will Taylor Grant survive all these misfortunes? But the big question is, will he find his uncle or at least his remains?

This is an excellent read for readers who enjoy drama and mystery, and definitely not for the faint hearted ones.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is written in three parts. The first part introduces Grant Taylor, a 32-year-old single man who works part-time at the University of Chicago and conducts paleogeography research. It is 2015, and Grant has just arrived in Russia. His scientist Uncle, an explorer, whom Grant was close to, disappeared a year ago while on an expedition to an area usually off-limits and has been pronounced dead.

Grant has inherited his Uncle Randall's house, wealth, and belongings. While sorting these out, Grant finds secret hiding places containing an envelope full of money, several unique keys, a loaded gun, and ammunition. Furthermore, a letter in a bank safe deposit box is only marked for Grant's eyes, highlighting Randall's enormous concerns about the trip. Why did Randall have a loaded gun? Moreover, what do the keys open? The book's second part describes Grant taking part in a further expedition to Zona, and the third part takes us to the heart of the Camp at Zona itself. Along the way, Grant meets many intriguing characters. Grant puts himself in danger to discover what happened to his beloved Uncle Randall. Is Randall dead, or is he very much alive?

There is so much that I love about this book. Fred G. Baker is a very talented author who thinks of
everything to give readers the best possible experience from his book. I found it very useful that at the front of the book are maps of traveling to Zona and a map of Zona itself together with a diagram of the campsite. These are handy additions and helped me to follow the story better. I enjoyed Baker's similes in this book. For example, on page fifty-four, "I felt like a peanut in a vise, and the squeezing was just going to get worse." I enjoyed learning about all the characters who come to life on the page, in particular Boris Ustinov, Randall's Lawyer, who had much more than a passing interest in Randall's expedition to Zona. Trina Ustinov, a niece of Boris, is a beautiful legal aid trained in science and law. Grant starts a relationship with her but still does not feel she is to be trusted, and Captain Oleg Godunov, a fellow scientist, warns Grant that there is more to his Uncle's disappearance than is being told!

I did not find a single part of the book which I did not enjoy. Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is a fantastic story that is well edited, I did not find a single mistake in spelling or grammar.

I want to rate Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker 5 out of 5 stars. It is a fantastic and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books involving science fiction, mystery, romance, adventure, and intrigue, as Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker has all of these in spades. There is a reasonable amount of strong swear words, so I would suggest it is aimed at an adult audience.

I'd like to thank Fred G. Baker for a free copy of Zona in exchange for a review. You can read more of my reviews at https://redmakesmyheartsing.blogspot.com OR http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-...

[Rachel Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The themes and hints the author gives at the beginning of the book gave me such high hope. But by the end of the book those themes are almost completely ignored and other things are brought in as bad distractions. The narrator also spoke with an incredible amount of continuous thought, repeating himself over and over, and to me it was very distracting. If there is a second book and I had nothing better to do I would read it for no other reason than that I want resolution to the story and all the hints dropped and then ignored.

[Ruth Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book set in Russia. Lots of intrigue, and adventure. The mysterious land of Zona, its oversized animals, and exotic plants provided some interesting reading. Toward the end, the story went a little off the charts with how the wolves communicated with the humans. While I believe in this precept, the author did not provide me with enough detail to suspend my belief. Even more confusing was some wolf packs threatened the expedition while others protected them, but overall, the story was fascinating and suspenseful.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I can't deny this book reminded me of Jules Verne's work, it was a disappointment. It took far too long (a third of the book) before it got to the part I really wanted to read, and then things just got a bit silly. I still love the idea, and the writing is very good in its style. It just didn't do it for me.

My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems Books for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Shawana Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly enjoyable! Based on the premise of obscure expeditions to the unknown wilderness of Siberia I did not expect to be drawn into the narrative. But Fred G. Baker’s writing was just so good.
There’s a love story, some sneaky spy stuff, possibly murder... lots of intrigue for sure. Some of the scenarios regarding the scientific aspects of the story are slightly unbelievable, but exciting just the same. A great read!

[Kim Radatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of mystery, suspense, and action. Zona is an unexplored area of Siberia, home to unusual plants and animals, and the last known whereabouts of an expedition team presumed dead. The cast of characters, in addition to humans, includes animals. There are strong fantasy elements in this book although it is considered science fiction, so it should appeal to readers who enjoy either of those. I’m hoping a sequel will follow soon!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this was a pretty good read. I loved the journey and what happened among the characters. I loved the writing style and the suspense. There were a couple of weird parts that I felt needed a bit more explanation. However, I have heard that there might be a second book in the works. Maybe then it will all be explained.

I wrote an entire review here on this website: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

[Russell R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun version of the Shangrila motif

I enjoyed this story. Baker sets up the story well--a mysterious tragedy to be investigated leads an American geologist in a search for his missing uncle in a remote part of northern Siberia. The expedtion encounters plants and animals not seen anywhere else on earth and finds a Shangrila -like paradise

[Linda Hussong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

This is not the type of book I would normally read. I gave it five stars because it played with all my emotions. It makes you really everything the lead character felt. Loss, pain, anger, fear, and joy. I found myself screaming at him when I thought I had it figured out only to find out I was wrong. The end left it open beautifully for a sequel.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Zone

This is not my normal type of read, so I was a bit skeptical at first; however I was pleasantly surprised.
It was well written; sometimes a bit over explained, but it was in journal format at times, so acceptable.
If you enjoy a little mystery and adventure, check this book out.

[Cynthia Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many twists and turns

CAUTION: SPOILER


I would recommend this book. It's about a guy named Grant who has found out his uncle has possibly died on an expedition. His uncle gets him to agree to go on a recovery/discovery mission with a group of strangers. They make the hard journey to Zona and establish a utopia. Not at all what I was expecting.

[Melodee]

My Review of Zona 1 : The Forbidden Land

Loved this captivating mystery! It just kept getting better and better. Some of the episodes the characters went through show their humanity and growth. Some of the main characters proved to be not as they seemed. Totally engrossing book. Am starting Zona 2 right now!

[Deborah June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zona: The Forbidden Land has many avenues to explore. The 5 out of 5 stars given by Amazon is definitely well earned. The reader goes on a roller coaster of emotions and mystery of who might die next. I highly recommend this book. Fred Baker is a clever writer.

[Lisa Shardlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review for Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is available for you to read exclusively at OnlineBookClub.org. I would really appreciate it if you could give it a read by clicking this link https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

Thank you very much!

[V.R. Sparling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what was expected

I was not expecting this book to be as good as it was. I am actually surprised as it started off rather boring and I thought it lost traction. But I stuck with it and im really glad I did

[Emily Pacheco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I liked that it keep you interested until the end and kept you wondering what happened to uncle Randall. I do not think that I would recommend this book to anyone if is really out of the box.

[O'Train Disene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book. Lovely narration. It moved the book forward at a reasonable speed. The descriptions are concise, never too revealing or sounded preachy. The ending was satisfactory and made sense. The characterisation was very good. Read it if you are into adventure.

[Booker G. A. Feniks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mediocre Sci-fi, shit action scenes, terrible resolution of plot points/mysteries, but nice plot overall. Cute polyamorous couple. Don't recommend, but I'm definitely gonna read the second part of the series/

[mybookishthings · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant

Kept me interested from beginning to end ,Looking forward to more books by this author. Was sorry it ended,would love for this to continue in a series.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

This was a very difficult book to put down. I am ready to read the next one. Communications with other species is possible but most people don’t bother to try.