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The Predators
THE DEATHBATTLE OF THE CENTURY
Big -time promoter Augie Zisk sets up the biggest Deathbattle ever between the fiercest creature of the sea, a 20-foot, 4,000-pound Great White Shark, and the fiercest creature on land, a 12-foot, 2,000-pound Kodiak Brown Bear.
Watching on cable TV: 10 million people. They are in for one helluva surprise.
Big -time promoter Augie Zisk sets up the biggest Deathbattle ever between the fiercest creature of the sea, a 20-foot, 4,000-pound Great White Shark, and the fiercest creature on land, a 12-foot, 2,000-pound Kodiak Brown Bear.
Watching on cable TV: 10 million people. They are in for one helluva surprise.
- GenresHorror
Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 26, 2015
This book annoyed the snot out of me. I haven't read it since it was released in 1984 and I'm still pissed. That should tell you something about the book, right? Or about me, but let's stick with the book for now.
The basic premise is that some sleazy Hollywood types decide to capture the largest Kodiak bear in the world and the largest great white shark in the world and make them fight on pay per view. This is not a bad idea for a fictional story, though I hasten to add that I would gladly join PETA in storming and burning to the ground any venue that tried to pull this kind of crap in real life. Then I'd feed all the PETA people to the shark and bear, because I hate those guys too.
So most of the story is tracking down and capturing the animals, during which time we get to know Our Heroes. The main characters are a photographer and a marine biologist who are doing this for the money and trying hard to convince their consciences that no, really, it's totally okay for them to do this horrible thing, so stop judging me!
The fight itself is to take place on a small island banana republic because nowhere civilized will allow it. George Steinbrenner would refuse to allow this to happen in Yankee Stadium. Vince McMahon would kick you out of his office for even suggesting it. Illinois Nazis would say "Whoa, man, too far." That's how evil this whole idea is, it puts me in agreement with Illinois Nazis, and I hate those guys.
The bits with the training of the shark and bear were interesting, but there was too little of that and too much of the humans that no one cares about even a little bit. Eventually we get to the fight itself, which started out interesting. I honestly enjoyed the fight scenes from the POV of the bear and shark, which I'd say must've taken a fair amount of skill to write well and left me very sympathetic to both animals.
I'll put the description of the end of the book beneath spoiler tags, though it's against my better judgment because this book deserves to be spoiled. Anyway,
In conclusion, if after reading this review you decide to track down and read this book, I will give you such a smack. Thank you, and good night.
The basic premise is that some sleazy Hollywood types decide to capture the largest Kodiak bear in the world and the largest great white shark in the world and make them fight on pay per view. This is not a bad idea for a fictional story, though I hasten to add that I would gladly join PETA in storming and burning to the ground any venue that tried to pull this kind of crap in real life. Then I'd feed all the PETA people to the shark and bear, because I hate those guys too.
So most of the story is tracking down and capturing the animals, during which time we get to know Our Heroes. The main characters are a photographer and a marine biologist who are doing this for the money and trying hard to convince their consciences that no, really, it's totally okay for them to do this horrible thing, so stop judging me!
The fight itself is to take place on a small island banana republic because nowhere civilized will allow it. George Steinbrenner would refuse to allow this to happen in Yankee Stadium. Vince McMahon would kick you out of his office for even suggesting it. Illinois Nazis would say "Whoa, man, too far." That's how evil this whole idea is, it puts me in agreement with Illinois Nazis, and I hate those guys.
The bits with the training of the shark and bear were interesting, but there was too little of that and too much of the humans that no one cares about even a little bit. Eventually we get to the fight itself, which started out interesting. I honestly enjoyed the fight scenes from the POV of the bear and shark, which I'd say must've taken a fair amount of skill to write well and left me very sympathetic to both animals.
I'll put the description of the end of the book beneath spoiler tags, though it's against my better judgment because this book deserves to be spoiled. Anyway,
In conclusion, if after reading this review you decide to track down and read this book, I will give you such a smack. Thank you, and good night.
February 1, 2017
I read this book when I was a teenager in the 80s. I'm writing this review because I keep thinking about this truly awful book, and I wonder why I keep thinking about it. The premise is preposterous (a pay-per-view fight to the death between and grizzly bear and a great white shark), the characters make bizarre choices (at least in my teenage mind), and the climax of the story is completely outlandish (deus ex machina injection of a local rebellion that disrupts the PPV fight). Maybe I was just titillated by the animal violence and the human sex scenes, which I'm sure I was too young to read - especially the one in which cocaine is used for sexual enhancement. And yet, I have thought about this book for decades... What does that say about me??? Perhaps it is a testament to the power books have over us when read at an impressionable age (whatever age that might be). Maybe the lesson is to encourage your kids to read better books than this crap.
April 24, 2018
The best book you’ll ever read about a fight between a bear and a shark is the worst book you’ll ever read.
June 19, 2020
2.5 stars
The Predators is a strange novel. It’s written decently and it’s never exactly boring, but at the same time, it’s never really that good or exciting.
I think the problem is that this book wants to be so many things yet never ends up really being anything. One part creature feature, one part social diatribe against man, one part military coup...those are all good ideas, but to try an cram everything into a book that’s under 300 pages? Yeah, it just doesn’t work here.
Even the main event of The Predators doesn’t do much. I won’t give anything away, but I’ll say that the conclusion and eventual climax doesnt answer any questions or really even make much headway in the overall plot/story. Hell, the only thing that really ever happens is a bunch of gratuitous sex...which isn’t a bad thing, except when it’s overdone and way to repetitive like it is here.
The Predators is a strange novel. It’s written decently and it’s never exactly boring, but at the same time, it’s never really that good or exciting.
I think the problem is that this book wants to be so many things yet never ends up really being anything. One part creature feature, one part social diatribe against man, one part military coup...those are all good ideas, but to try an cram everything into a book that’s under 300 pages? Yeah, it just doesn’t work here.
Even the main event of The Predators doesn’t do much. I won’t give anything away, but I’ll say that the conclusion and eventual climax doesnt answer any questions or really even make much headway in the overall plot/story. Hell, the only thing that really ever happens is a bunch of gratuitous sex...which isn’t a bad thing, except when it’s overdone and way to repetitive like it is here.
September 28, 2018
A bear and a shark pitted together in a fight to the death on pay-per-view TV. What else could you possibly need to know to sell you on this book? Oh yeah , Mafia!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews