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Scorpius Rex
Petroleum engineers drilling in the African desert uncover a pocket of mysterious, life-preserving gas, and the hellish creatures hibernating within—a colony of ten-foot prehistoric scorpions. After 400 million years, Scorpius Rex has risen to reclaim its throne as Earth’s apex predator. A humanitarian mission gone awry traps Dave Brank’s security team inside the drilling complex’s electrified perimeter, locked in a life or death battle against hordes of flesh-eating scorpions. Brank, a decorated soldier unjustly drummed out of the army, is determined to save his men and the neighboring village. But outside the fence lurks another kind of monster—renegade commandos with a barbaric plan to lure the scorpions out . . . by feeding them women and children. Only Brank’s team can stop the slaughter and, just maybe, save the world. Unfortunately, these aren’t elite Delta Force Operators; they’re mercenaries—battle-scarred mavericks who kill for a paycheck, not to save mankind. But with humanity’s survival at stake and Brank calling the shots, even these hired guns can become heroes. Scorpius Rex is William Burke’s second novel. He created the Destination America series, Hauntings and Horrors, and produced HBO’s Forbidden Science.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2020
69 people are currently reading
1247 people want to read
About the author
William Burke
163 books124 followersDOOMSDAY PLANET is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.
During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.
Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.
He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.
He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com
His YouTube Channel is http://www.youtube.com/c/BillBurke
His Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pg/williambu...
During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.
Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.
He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.
He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com
His YouTube Channel is http://www.youtube.com/c/BillBurke
His Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pg/williambu...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 30, 2020
William Burke is the author of this gripping horror adventure set in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe, 25 kilometers north of the South African border. Having had an unorthodox childhood in a New Age cult style home, where his evenings were spent watching late-night horror stories, he went into the Air Force, then had a successful career in the film industry. However, he then decided he wanted a change of career, and being no stranger to horror and suspense, he wrote his first book, the critically acclaimed ‘VOODOO CHILD: ZOMBIE UPRISING.’ This new release, ‘SCORPIUS REX,’ was he believes, inspired by his childhood love of the classic horror film ‘Them,’ and if you want an exciting adventure, giant monsters, lots of shooting, and non-stop action, this is the book for you!
The story begins at the African desert location where Zander Kotze is the drilling engineer for Graff Engineering. Already disillusioned with the money-saving attitude of the company and its onsite representative Aaron Momberg, Zander and his team are about to discover that these cost-cutting measures are about to cause horrific consequences beyond their wildest imagination.
A dangerous gas is discovered, then a blow-out occurs and causes an enormous hole, out of which terrifying creatures begin to appear…
Eighteen hours later we find Dave Bank and his security team flying into the area. They are with Ruby Flynn their US Aid Officer on a humanitarian mission. However, their investigations soon lead them to the now-abandoned drilling refinery. There they discover they are trapped, and in a fight for their lives against the most fearsome prehistoric creatures they could ever have imagined. The question is, can Dave and his security team win the battle against creatures which seem impossible to kill, and what other horrors lie within the void?
In Summary: This story is a real page-turner. Written in a similar style to Matthew Reilly, it has a really exciting storyline, a plot full of surprises, and the characters are incredible. A wonderful mix between Alien and Indiana Jones, it will appeal to horror adventure readers of all ages.
The story begins at the African desert location where Zander Kotze is the drilling engineer for Graff Engineering. Already disillusioned with the money-saving attitude of the company and its onsite representative Aaron Momberg, Zander and his team are about to discover that these cost-cutting measures are about to cause horrific consequences beyond their wildest imagination.
A dangerous gas is discovered, then a blow-out occurs and causes an enormous hole, out of which terrifying creatures begin to appear…
Eighteen hours later we find Dave Bank and his security team flying into the area. They are with Ruby Flynn their US Aid Officer on a humanitarian mission. However, their investigations soon lead them to the now-abandoned drilling refinery. There they discover they are trapped, and in a fight for their lives against the most fearsome prehistoric creatures they could ever have imagined. The question is, can Dave and his security team win the battle against creatures which seem impossible to kill, and what other horrors lie within the void?
In Summary: This story is a real page-turner. Written in a similar style to Matthew Reilly, it has a really exciting storyline, a plot full of surprises, and the characters are incredible. A wonderful mix between Alien and Indiana Jones, it will appeal to horror adventure readers of all ages.
September 15, 2020
After the initial stage setting, the heart-racing, action-packed latest thriller by Burke that began with a drilling operation gone awry and a colony of gigantic, prehistoric creatures coming to life never slows.
A drilling team headed by Zander Kotze, the drilling engineer for Graff Engineering, unearths a pocket of mysterious, life-preserving gas, and the monstrous creatures hibernating within—a colony of ten-foot prehistoric scorpions, Scorpius Rex. After 400 million years, the terrifying creature is ready to reclaim its throne as Earth’s apex predator once again. Dave Brank and his security team under the command of Ruby Flynn, a US Aid Officer on a humanitarian mission, arrives at the location only to find themselves trapped inside the drilling complex’s electrified perimeter. Locked in a life or death battle against the flesh-eating creatures, Brank and his team’s worries increase as a group of dangerous mercenaries come out with their own barbaric plan to fight the monstrous creatures. Now it’s up to Brank and his team to stop the slaughter and save the world.
Burke deftly combines the best elements of military thrillers and hard SF novels, and his own military and film expertise add flavor and heft to the action plot. Despite its tense action sequences and a hefty dose of bloodshed, Burke skillfully portrays his protagonists’ complex inner struggles. His characters offer enough flesh and blood to be relatable and convincing; Brank with his inner turmoil and scarred past is sketched with perception and sympathy. Although Ruby’s self-assurance sometimes veers into smug arrogance, she’s a courageous and intelligent protagonist. Emily makes for a nice distraction among the hard-core weaponry experts.
Depictions of callous battle-scarred mercenaries who kill for a paycheck and those on a humanitarian mission with a conscience have depth and nuance, coming across as real-life, flesh-and-blood characters.
The terrifying world of prehistoric scorpion colony set against the backdrop of the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe is both scary and believable. The twists and revelations come at breakneck speed, keeping readers turning pages nonstop. Wildly imaginative worldbuilding mixes well with a gripping narrative, and Burke keeps various plot threads thrumming and action high.
The extreme scenes of graphic violence make the book unsuitable for the faint of heart. The blood-splattering, violent play of flesh-eating scorpions, high-tech weaponry, unforeseen catastrophes, and death-defying escapes makes the book as over-the-top and satisfying as a wide-screen Hollywood blockbuster.
This is a thoroughly terrifying, creepy, and spellbinding techno-thriller.
A drilling team headed by Zander Kotze, the drilling engineer for Graff Engineering, unearths a pocket of mysterious, life-preserving gas, and the monstrous creatures hibernating within—a colony of ten-foot prehistoric scorpions, Scorpius Rex. After 400 million years, the terrifying creature is ready to reclaim its throne as Earth’s apex predator once again. Dave Brank and his security team under the command of Ruby Flynn, a US Aid Officer on a humanitarian mission, arrives at the location only to find themselves trapped inside the drilling complex’s electrified perimeter. Locked in a life or death battle against the flesh-eating creatures, Brank and his team’s worries increase as a group of dangerous mercenaries come out with their own barbaric plan to fight the monstrous creatures. Now it’s up to Brank and his team to stop the slaughter and save the world.
Burke deftly combines the best elements of military thrillers and hard SF novels, and his own military and film expertise add flavor and heft to the action plot. Despite its tense action sequences and a hefty dose of bloodshed, Burke skillfully portrays his protagonists’ complex inner struggles. His characters offer enough flesh and blood to be relatable and convincing; Brank with his inner turmoil and scarred past is sketched with perception and sympathy. Although Ruby’s self-assurance sometimes veers into smug arrogance, she’s a courageous and intelligent protagonist. Emily makes for a nice distraction among the hard-core weaponry experts.
Depictions of callous battle-scarred mercenaries who kill for a paycheck and those on a humanitarian mission with a conscience have depth and nuance, coming across as real-life, flesh-and-blood characters.
The terrifying world of prehistoric scorpion colony set against the backdrop of the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe is both scary and believable. The twists and revelations come at breakneck speed, keeping readers turning pages nonstop. Wildly imaginative worldbuilding mixes well with a gripping narrative, and Burke keeps various plot threads thrumming and action high.
The extreme scenes of graphic violence make the book unsuitable for the faint of heart. The blood-splattering, violent play of flesh-eating scorpions, high-tech weaponry, unforeseen catastrophes, and death-defying escapes makes the book as over-the-top and satisfying as a wide-screen Hollywood blockbuster.
This is a thoroughly terrifying, creepy, and spellbinding techno-thriller.
October 10, 2020
So I won this book for FREE y'all on Goodreads' giveaways and in return am giving an honest review. I am NOT being paid for this and everything that follows is straight from me! 😁
HOLY WHAT A RIDE!! I was so wrapped in this book that even when I wasn't reading it I was constantly thinking about it! So intense, so griping, SO EXCITING I can STILL feel my pulse racing and adrenaline running when all I'm doing is sitting here! I'm not afraid of scorpions, even had a couple of Kings as pets but imagining them as the sizes of these critters in the story just make my insides shrivel up. WELL DONE to William Burke for this awesome nightmare!!!! And thank you for letting 3 out of 4 of my favorites survive (poor Hansie!) haha!!!
HOLY WHAT A RIDE!! I was so wrapped in this book that even when I wasn't reading it I was constantly thinking about it! So intense, so griping, SO EXCITING I can STILL feel my pulse racing and adrenaline running when all I'm doing is sitting here! I'm not afraid of scorpions, even had a couple of Kings as pets but imagining them as the sizes of these critters in the story just make my insides shrivel up. WELL DONE to William Burke for this awesome nightmare!!!! And thank you for letting 3 out of 4 of my favorites survive (poor Hansie!) haha!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
Scorpius Rex is a very cohesive Action/Adventure. There is a great balance between the characters, their life, and the Action/Horror aspects. The themes and setting really helped set this book apart from others.
The plot was fast paced and flowed smoothly and the characters were those who I really liked reading about. They were interesting and compelling.
This is just the first book I've read by William Burke and I am excited to read more from him soon!
The plot was fast paced and flowed smoothly and the characters were those who I really liked reading about. They were interesting and compelling.
This is just the first book I've read by William Burke and I am excited to read more from him soon!
September 15, 2020
First thoughts… this book was an exciting, thrilling and captivating fast read.
I found myself completely enthralled and it was hard to put down once it got going.
The blurb suggests a fast-paced read with plenty of thrills and horror, the opening chapters don’t disappoint and the author doesn’t take his foot off the pedal either.
My own imagination can run amuck at times but this is imagination gone to the dark side and I loved every minute of it!
I found myself completely enthralled and it was hard to put down once it got going.
The blurb suggests a fast-paced read with plenty of thrills and horror, the opening chapters don’t disappoint and the author doesn’t take his foot off the pedal either.
My own imagination can run amuck at times but this is imagination gone to the dark side and I loved every minute of it!
September 30, 2020
This was an amazing read from the start!
If you want to stretch you imagination a little, this is the one for you. It's dark and creepy in the best way.
I liked the way the author created the creatures that are highlighted in the book.
Military, Horror, Scorpions... what more do you need?
Definitely kept you engrossed and guessing right up to the end and beyond.
If you want to stretch you imagination a little, this is the one for you. It's dark and creepy in the best way.
I liked the way the author created the creatures that are highlighted in the book.
Military, Horror, Scorpions... what more do you need?
Definitely kept you engrossed and guessing right up to the end and beyond.
October 5, 2020
This is a wonderful Horror, Action/Adventure / Military-esc type novel!
Great character development with a fast and heart pounding plot. The idea of the scorpions being the monsters really reminded me of Starship Troopers. Blast from the past!
Overall it is very well written, fun to read and provides a few hours of distraction in a great way.
Great character development with a fast and heart pounding plot. The idea of the scorpions being the monsters really reminded me of Starship Troopers. Blast from the past!
Overall it is very well written, fun to read and provides a few hours of distraction in a great way.
May 17, 2021
Nightmares
Excellent book. Great for someone who likes an on your toes story. I enjoy books that keep you on edge. I do not feel this is a book for everyone. There is a lot of violence and killing. Definitely not for everyone.
Excellent book. Great for someone who likes an on your toes story. I enjoy books that keep you on edge. I do not feel this is a book for everyone. There is a lot of violence and killing. Definitely not for everyone.
December 29, 2021
Good Story
I liked this book a lot of adventure. Good character building it was a shame that most of the characters were sacrificed. Scary in parts and lots of gore. This is his first book, I liked the second one better.
I liked this book a lot of adventure. Good character building it was a shame that most of the characters were sacrificed. Scary in parts and lots of gore. This is his first book, I liked the second one better.
October 2, 2020
Enjoyable adventure
Well written with enjoyable characters. Plenty of blood and action as well. If you enjoy creature features, this is definitely worth a quick read.
Well written with enjoyable characters. Plenty of blood and action as well. If you enjoy creature features, this is definitely worth a quick read.
November 15, 2020
Exciting
Action pack adventure with lots of killing monsters. I am looking forward to my next read with this author. Awesome!
Action pack adventure with lots of killing monsters. I am looking forward to my next read with this author. Awesome!
January 2, 2021
Review to come on Sci-Fi & Scary.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the author/pub for review consideration.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the author/pub for review consideration.
January 31, 2022
1st Burke book
I really enjoyed this book! Very easy to read and kept me interested all throughout! Can't wait to find another Burke book!
I really enjoyed this book! Very easy to read and kept me interested all throughout! Can't wait to find another Burke book!
May 3, 2025
**Both fun and flailing**
While I personally don't consider a 3-star rating bad, it isn't automatically good either, especially when the third star was given for generosity's sake on my part.
Because look, on the one hand, this thing had GREAT stuff. A prehistoric creature feature depicting scorpions on a rampage of death? Bring it on. Not to mention the properly grotesque/violent scenarios that perform well in showcasing the new threat in the world. You can't have menacingly gigantic arachnids running amuck and then NOT have gore. So, major yay for THAT tidbit.
But on the other hand, even stories with a great premise often need a sturdy foundation. And this was rather messy. While the characters were interesting and likeable, their development was weak. There was no depth to them. Scenes and their transitions were erratic. Sure, there's fun action, but too often I found myself having difficulty keeping track of almost everything going on.
At any rate, I did mostly like this story. It was solid at the start for sure. So intriguing. I just wish all the moving parts of it were more to my liking/preference. I wish the characters were better established, wish the POVs were more neatly presented. Wish it wasn't so dang disjointed, at least in the way that leaves too many things undone. Will I continue the journey? Eh. Not feeling it. But in the future, who knows?
While I personally don't consider a 3-star rating bad, it isn't automatically good either, especially when the third star was given for generosity's sake on my part.
Because look, on the one hand, this thing had GREAT stuff. A prehistoric creature feature depicting scorpions on a rampage of death? Bring it on. Not to mention the properly grotesque/violent scenarios that perform well in showcasing the new threat in the world. You can't have menacingly gigantic arachnids running amuck and then NOT have gore. So, major yay for THAT tidbit.
But on the other hand, even stories with a great premise often need a sturdy foundation. And this was rather messy. While the characters were interesting and likeable, their development was weak. There was no depth to them. Scenes and their transitions were erratic. Sure, there's fun action, but too often I found myself having difficulty keeping track of almost everything going on.
At any rate, I did mostly like this story. It was solid at the start for sure. So intriguing. I just wish all the moving parts of it were more to my liking/preference. I wish the characters were better established, wish the POVs were more neatly presented. Wish it wasn't so dang disjointed, at least in the way that leaves too many things undone. Will I continue the journey? Eh. Not feeling it. But in the future, who knows?
November 16, 2024
A Fun Enjoyable action packed story!
Wasn't sure about this one but the reviews convinced me to give it a try.
Glad I did cause it was a thoroughly enjoyable fun read.
Good action, good witty banter, lots of blood, lots of people die - but the good guys win in the end and the villains get their just deserts!
Would definitely make a great creature feature and with the right director, casting, and production would probably do pretty well!
Wasn't sure about this one but the reviews convinced me to give it a try.
Glad I did cause it was a thoroughly enjoyable fun read.
Good action, good witty banter, lots of blood, lots of people die - but the good guys win in the end and the villains get their just deserts!
Would definitely make a great creature feature and with the right director, casting, and production would probably do pretty well!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews