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Birth of Heavy Metal #1-8
Birth of Heavy Metal Complete Boxed Set
Here's your chance to get the complete series boxed set in one place!
You thought you understood the Zoo? I'm here to tell you it's so much more than anyone ever thought!
HE WAS NOT PREPARED.
Born from the fertile imagination of bestselling author Michael Anderle
Fountain of Youth, or Valley of Death?
While eating his supper of microwave popcorn, PhD student-genius Salinger Jacobs is grabbed from his apartment in California, stuck on a C-130 military plane and sent to the Sahara Desert to witness the reality of the ZOO for himself.
With the life expectancy of untrained scientists working inside the ZOO measured in hours, he has a lot to learn.
Fast.
First order of business?
How do you shoot a gun, and just HOW MUCH is that plant worth?
The government needs the best of the best military and scientific minds working out how to pull the secrets from the ZOO, while keeping the deadly fauna and flora in check.
There is one major problem, Salinger doesn't even have a PhD.
If he can stay alive long enough, he might be able to afford something besides packaged microwave popcorn to eat.
THAT IS A BIG IF.
This Boxed Set includes all eight books in the BIRTH OF HEAVY METAL Series
1. He Was Not Prepared
2. She is His Witness
3. Backstabbing Little Assets
4. Blood of My Enemies
5. Get Out of Our Way
6. It All Falls Down
7. Justice Come Due
8. All's Fair in War
NOTE:There may or may not be gratuitous sex in this book. Or it might actually play into a later book with funny talk about men vs. women's abilities and capabilities. There is ABSOLUTELY cursing in this book. LOTS of upset cursing, cursing out of anger, fear, and other emotional issues related to carnivorous alien flora or fauna eating humans who don’t say ‘darn.’ LOTS of gratuitous cursing just because the author finds it funny, too. There is death and sadness...and more death. In fact, it’s a blender of blood out in the ZOO. Man vs. alien nature seems to justify ugly results. Plus, people have emotional hang-ups. Expect to smile, laugh, cry, and perhaps have a spate of jealousy or two. Further, there might be explicit sex, thank-you sex, and you're welcome sex. Finally, there is no Coke in the ZOO. That is probably the worst and most offensive trait in these stories. This is Michael Todd, and I approve of the shenanigans pulled in ZOO stories.
You thought you understood the Zoo? I'm here to tell you it's so much more than anyone ever thought!
HE WAS NOT PREPARED.
Born from the fertile imagination of bestselling author Michael Anderle
Fountain of Youth, or Valley of Death?
While eating his supper of microwave popcorn, PhD student-genius Salinger Jacobs is grabbed from his apartment in California, stuck on a C-130 military plane and sent to the Sahara Desert to witness the reality of the ZOO for himself.
With the life expectancy of untrained scientists working inside the ZOO measured in hours, he has a lot to learn.
Fast.
First order of business?
How do you shoot a gun, and just HOW MUCH is that plant worth?
The government needs the best of the best military and scientific minds working out how to pull the secrets from the ZOO, while keeping the deadly fauna and flora in check.
There is one major problem, Salinger doesn't even have a PhD.
If he can stay alive long enough, he might be able to afford something besides packaged microwave popcorn to eat.
THAT IS A BIG IF.
This Boxed Set includes all eight books in the BIRTH OF HEAVY METAL Series
1. He Was Not Prepared
2. She is His Witness
3. Backstabbing Little Assets
4. Blood of My Enemies
5. Get Out of Our Way
6. It All Falls Down
7. Justice Come Due
8. All's Fair in War
NOTE:There may or may not be gratuitous sex in this book. Or it might actually play into a later book with funny talk about men vs. women's abilities and capabilities. There is ABSOLUTELY cursing in this book. LOTS of upset cursing, cursing out of anger, fear, and other emotional issues related to carnivorous alien flora or fauna eating humans who don’t say ‘darn.’ LOTS of gratuitous cursing just because the author finds it funny, too. There is death and sadness...and more death. In fact, it’s a blender of blood out in the ZOO. Man vs. alien nature seems to justify ugly results. Plus, people have emotional hang-ups. Expect to smile, laugh, cry, and perhaps have a spate of jealousy or two. Further, there might be explicit sex, thank-you sex, and you're welcome sex. Finally, there is no Coke in the ZOO. That is probably the worst and most offensive trait in these stories. This is Michael Todd, and I approve of the shenanigans pulled in ZOO stories.
- GenresScience Fiction
2314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2020
310 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 27, 2021
Air Guitar
Half way through I thought I was going to give a good review. I realized I had read a zoo story before, and I had liked it. Apparently Mr. Anderle has set up this alien environment of a jungle that sprouted out of some spilled "goop" that was sent to earth by a spacecraft but intercepted by American scientists who proceed to run an experiment by spilling some of the goop in the middle of the Sahara. The experiment got out of hand, and now we have a jungle that keeps expanding, and threatens to go beyond the walls that have been built to contain it. The animals and flora in the zoo are alien but resemble earth species only bigger and nastier. For instance, almost everyone, right off, usually gets attacked by two Panthers with venomous fangs that like to drop down from the heights of the trees. To combat the zoo animals, everyone starts wearing armor that gets more sophisticated as time goes by while the zoo upgrades to defeat the armor. This boxed set follows the travails of Heavy Metal (cue air guitar), a company of mercenaries that go out to get stuff from the jungle for scientific study. It starts with the abduction of a young genius who's a PhD candidate that has skipped several years of schooling. He's wanted to help study the fauna. While in the jungle he goes through a metamorphosis that changes him from a green kid to a man with a purpose. He gets his first sexual experience when he's raped by a drunken sergeant. Louie fell in love overnight. It doesn't take long for another female to follow the sergeant's lead. Now this kid has a female on each arm with each trying to find the end of his stamina. He decides to go independent, and start his own mercenary company with his two girlfriends. Since he's smart, he's invented a few devices that make his company competitive. Each book is an adventure where he's using his genius and tools to stay alive from the ever hostile zoo. He's also accumulating enemies and useful additions to his company. He's usually performing jobs for which he's paid six figures as a minimum, but he doesn't mind becoming a vodka distributor for a couple of thousand a month. He's enterprising. Anyway, I'm enjoying the testosterone when all of a sudden I'm brought up short with a description of freefall at location 22316 wherein it is said that the heavier armor falls faster than the lighter armor. Wait a minute!! That's Galileo!! V=at + V'!! There's no "m" in there. Now I'm hyper. Science fiction can make up all sorts of pseudo science, but when it expounds upon science it better be right according to present understanding. No gold star for Michael Anderle (who use a different name when he's writing prurient fiction). Well it doesn't take long for another falsity to come out as we're doing Geiger counter checks in Chernobyl, and we're being told about killer radiation when we're not even close to ground zero. Tell that to the tourists that are going there all the time. Anyway, we proceed for a while when we run into alien acid that doesn't corrode metal, but it will eat your face off. Come on Michael!! Acid, a compound that starts with hydrogen as its combining element. It will always corrode a metal. Anyway, the science is for Bill and Ted, and doesn't belong in science fiction. As for air guitars, there's plenty of opportunity for many a riff, and there's plenty of opportunity for the superhero three point landing (cool), and don't forget those wet dreams.
Half way through I thought I was going to give a good review. I realized I had read a zoo story before, and I had liked it. Apparently Mr. Anderle has set up this alien environment of a jungle that sprouted out of some spilled "goop" that was sent to earth by a spacecraft but intercepted by American scientists who proceed to run an experiment by spilling some of the goop in the middle of the Sahara. The experiment got out of hand, and now we have a jungle that keeps expanding, and threatens to go beyond the walls that have been built to contain it. The animals and flora in the zoo are alien but resemble earth species only bigger and nastier. For instance, almost everyone, right off, usually gets attacked by two Panthers with venomous fangs that like to drop down from the heights of the trees. To combat the zoo animals, everyone starts wearing armor that gets more sophisticated as time goes by while the zoo upgrades to defeat the armor. This boxed set follows the travails of Heavy Metal (cue air guitar), a company of mercenaries that go out to get stuff from the jungle for scientific study. It starts with the abduction of a young genius who's a PhD candidate that has skipped several years of schooling. He's wanted to help study the fauna. While in the jungle he goes through a metamorphosis that changes him from a green kid to a man with a purpose. He gets his first sexual experience when he's raped by a drunken sergeant. Louie fell in love overnight. It doesn't take long for another female to follow the sergeant's lead. Now this kid has a female on each arm with each trying to find the end of his stamina. He decides to go independent, and start his own mercenary company with his two girlfriends. Since he's smart, he's invented a few devices that make his company competitive. Each book is an adventure where he's using his genius and tools to stay alive from the ever hostile zoo. He's also accumulating enemies and useful additions to his company. He's usually performing jobs for which he's paid six figures as a minimum, but he doesn't mind becoming a vodka distributor for a couple of thousand a month. He's enterprising. Anyway, I'm enjoying the testosterone when all of a sudden I'm brought up short with a description of freefall at location 22316 wherein it is said that the heavier armor falls faster than the lighter armor. Wait a minute!! That's Galileo!! V=at + V'!! There's no "m" in there. Now I'm hyper. Science fiction can make up all sorts of pseudo science, but when it expounds upon science it better be right according to present understanding. No gold star for Michael Anderle (who use a different name when he's writing prurient fiction). Well it doesn't take long for another falsity to come out as we're doing Geiger counter checks in Chernobyl, and we're being told about killer radiation when we're not even close to ground zero. Tell that to the tourists that are going there all the time. Anyway, we proceed for a while when we run into alien acid that doesn't corrode metal, but it will eat your face off. Come on Michael!! Acid, a compound that starts with hydrogen as its combining element. It will always corrode a metal. Anyway, the science is for Bill and Ted, and doesn't belong in science fiction. As for air guitars, there's plenty of opportunity for many a riff, and there's plenty of opportunity for the superhero three point landing (cool), and don't forget those wet dreams.
June 3, 2025
An amazing, wild & bumpy ride!
I have left reviews for each of the 8 books that make up this set. We are given the chance to watch a young PHD candidate go from a lazy, bored person to his growth into a confident person who is highly respected by many. Either for his intelligence or his ever improving prowess in fighting the monstrosities spawned by the Zoo.
He also changes from a self-absorbed jerk into a man who defends the weak and makes it clear to the bullies in the world that the group he represents has honor.
I have left reviews for each of the 8 books that make up this set. We are given the chance to watch a young PHD candidate go from a lazy, bored person to his growth into a confident person who is highly respected by many. Either for his intelligence or his ever improving prowess in fighting the monstrosities spawned by the Zoo.
He also changes from a self-absorbed jerk into a man who defends the weak and makes it clear to the bullies in the world that the group he represents has honor.
October 21, 2020
Book 2 is inexcusably awful, but worth skipping to get to better books
While the first book was decent, if a tad overbearing in the teenage boy's fantasy come to life tropes, the second was downright unreadable! A spec ops colonel who reminisces about his typing class, before writing up a blistering AAR? I'm guessing the author doesn't actually know too many people who have served their country, much less those who went the extra 50 miles to become spec ops. I really did skip most of book 2, and never regretted that decision. It was as bad as a sequel as Grease 2! The rest were decent pulp fiction, and the military blunders became fewer, the further you read. The stories are well-paced, with few sections that lag with an excess of inconsequential detail, beyond a merchandising campaign that rivals Spaceballs for ridiculousness.
While the first book was decent, if a tad overbearing in the teenage boy's fantasy come to life tropes, the second was downright unreadable! A spec ops colonel who reminisces about his typing class, before writing up a blistering AAR? I'm guessing the author doesn't actually know too many people who have served their country, much less those who went the extra 50 miles to become spec ops. I really did skip most of book 2, and never regretted that decision. It was as bad as a sequel as Grease 2! The rest were decent pulp fiction, and the military blunders became fewer, the further you read. The stories are well-paced, with few sections that lag with an excess of inconsequential detail, beyond a merchandising campaign that rivals Spaceballs for ridiculousness.
January 12, 2023
Two and a half stars, rounded up.
This was not my first trip to the Zoo world rodeo, and I started it with high hopes based on earlier and related stories. Todd writes somewhat better than the average volume-obsessed indie SFF entrepreneurs, so I was surprised to find that there was no spark here. (It might have had something to do with the incredible overuse of "smirk" -- a word I particularly hate -- which appears more than 200 times in 2300 pages.) I made it to 429 pages in, or 18% of the way through, before finding that the reading was getting heavier and heavier going.
March 28, 2021
This collection is a pisser.
I had trouble putting it down at night, usually only after I had fallen asleep reading a few times.
Such a long read that it's easy to keep abreast of the characters and action.
Some dithering about but plenty of interesting action scenes too.
The only slight criticism I have, because I hate critics, is sometimes jumping chapters from one piece of action to another part way through is annoying. Acceptable but a little distracting when you're in the middle of a full on battle.
About to start the sequel series "Criptic Assassin"
Here Goes.
I had trouble putting it down at night, usually only after I had fallen asleep reading a few times.
Such a long read that it's easy to keep abreast of the characters and action.
Some dithering about but plenty of interesting action scenes too.
The only slight criticism I have, because I hate critics, is sometimes jumping chapters from one piece of action to another part way through is annoying. Acceptable but a little distracting when you're in the middle of a full on battle.
About to start the sequel series "Criptic Assassin"
Here Goes.
January 20, 2022
warning : all books by Michael Anderle and company are highly addictive !
Like : Alien goop, monsters that adapt and change, and a jungle growing in the Sahara . Characters that become like family.
Recommend : for readers who love great characters, action, alien monsters, alien jungles and stories that make you wonder what is going on in the author's mind.
Welcome to the Zoo ! And clear your schedule you are going to be reading a lot.
Like : Alien goop, monsters that adapt and change, and a jungle growing in the Sahara . Characters that become like family.
Recommend : for readers who love great characters, action, alien monsters, alien jungles and stories that make you wonder what is going on in the author's mind.
Welcome to the Zoo ! And clear your schedule you are going to be reading a lot.
November 17, 2020
Overall this was an enjoyable series. The action verged on the insane at times, but that also made it fun. The origins of the Zoo never quite satisfied me. The 'scientists' did not act like scientists (I am a physicist). I didn't feel Book 8 was the end of the story, but the fractured follow on series caused me to abandon Heavy Metal and the Zoo. Still the novels were overall a great deal of fun.
March 2, 2021
Michael does it again
As always there's some expectations when you pick up a Anderle book or a book he's affiliated with. The expectations are fast paced, high body count, incredible action and a sense of humor anyone born in the early 70s will find hilarious. This series is no exception. Fantastic as always. Thanks for what you do Michael. It's really appreciated
As always there's some expectations when you pick up a Anderle book or a book he's affiliated with. The expectations are fast paced, high body count, incredible action and a sense of humor anyone born in the early 70s will find hilarious. This series is no exception. Fantastic as always. Thanks for what you do Michael. It's really appreciated
March 24, 2022
Good series
The Zoo series that has the beginning of the Heavy Metal company of freelancers. The company has both scientists and "gunners". If you manage to stay alive in the Zoo, you are make some good money with certain plant petals and also from information and samples of new flora and fauna. Danger , danger, Will Robinson.
The Zoo series that has the beginning of the Heavy Metal company of freelancers. The company has both scientists and "gunners". If you manage to stay alive in the Zoo, you are make some good money with certain plant petals and also from information and samples of new flora and fauna. Danger , danger, Will Robinson.
August 7, 2022
Great way to spend a couple of weeks with people you quickly come to care about.
Loved 8 books and will look forward to actually getting "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. Todd/Anderle provide good character development and interesting possibilities for environments.
Loved 8 books and will look forward to actually getting "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say. Todd/Anderle provide good character development and interesting possibilities for environments.
September 27, 2020
Put it down if you can...
Nonstop action very well developed plot and world! What more could you ask for besides alien incursion into our world and warriors who are ready to deal with them!
Nonstop action very well developed plot and world! What more could you ask for besides alien incursion into our world and warriors who are ready to deal with them!
October 23, 2020
Fantastic, gripping, almost unimaginable,
Don't think you could get caught in a horrowing story, read this set of books. You will be asking for more. A set of stories with the what it factor that keep you reading.
Don't think you could get caught in a horrowing story, read this set of books. You will be asking for more. A set of stories with the what it factor that keep you reading.
November 15, 2020
The Birth of Heavy Metal, complete box set.
👍 The Birth of Heavy Metal, box set. GREAT. An adventure right from start to finish. Fantastic imagination. Could not put this down,probably read this a few more times.
👍 The Birth of Heavy Metal, box set. GREAT. An adventure right from start to finish. Fantastic imagination. Could not put this down,probably read this a few more times.
December 18, 2020
Holy Mandi Batman !
Todd and Anderle have done it without having to be breaking a sweat. As always, there is lots of blood, crazy characters,and even a little whoopie😯.. Loved the series.
Todd and Anderle have done it without having to be breaking a sweat. As always, there is lots of blood, crazy characters,and even a little whoopie😯.. Loved the series.
March 17, 2021
Awesome Series
This series of books kept me busy for weeks. I couldn't get enough of the adventures of Sal and the rest of his Heavy Metal team, and look forward to getting more of the series.
This series of books kept me busy for weeks. I couldn't get enough of the adventures of Sal and the rest of his Heavy Metal team, and look forward to getting more of the series.
August 11, 2021
Fast paced action from start to finish!
An epic battle against an unknown alien lifeform that has crashed in the Sahara, turning desert into an inimical jungle filled with strange new creatures.
An epic battle against an unknown alien lifeform that has crashed in the Sahara, turning desert into an inimical jungle filled with strange new creatures.
March 4, 2022
Zoo-rific
I mean what did this book not offer it offered corporate Espionage mysterious and intriguing elements of evolution the Suave agent and super operative it has everything give it a try
I mean what did this book not offer it offered corporate Espionage mysterious and intriguing elements of evolution the Suave agent and super operative it has everything give it a try
November 2, 2020
Awesome series
This is a truly awesome series. That said, I’m sad it wasn’t longer. I guess the Zoo really does get in your head.
This is a truly awesome series. That said, I’m sad it wasn’t longer. I guess the Zoo really does get in your head.
November 20, 2020
Pretty good.
I throughly enjoyed this series. Hopefully we will see more of these characters soon. Hint hint Michael and Michael. Keep up the good work guys
I throughly enjoyed this series. Hopefully we will see more of these characters soon. Hint hint Michael and Michael. Keep up the good work guys
December 30, 2020
Good series
This was a really fun series. I now have to wonder if there are more than 8 books though, maybe that is in a different series in the same. Universe. In any case this is a super interesting universe and a fun series so I recommend it.
This was a really fun series. I now have to wonder if there are more than 8 books though, maybe that is in a different series in the same. Universe. In any case this is a super interesting universe and a fun series so I recommend it.
February 22, 2021
Review
Review
Good book and filled to make Amazon's review happy for her birthday party and then you will need some more.
Review
Good book and filled to make Amazon's review happy for her birthday party and then you will need some more.
June 26, 2021
A bit of everything
This story has action, a great plot, a fully developed characters. This and the Bohica series make a good set.
This story has action, a great plot, a fully developed characters. This and the Bohica series make a good set.
September 22, 2021
Good books
The Zoo is an interesting place to read about. Interesting characters run around that place, and want what comes out of it. That makes for some interesting stories.
The Zoo is an interesting place to read about. Interesting characters run around that place, and want what comes out of it. That makes for some interesting stories.
February 28, 2022
Fast pace very good product
Got straight into the action,and the plot unfolded at a very good pace.
Enjoyed the style and descriptive writing
More boxed sets for me please.😄
Got straight into the action,and the plot unfolded at a very good pace.
Enjoyed the style and descriptive writing
More boxed sets for me please.😄
August 13, 2024
Excellent read
Kept me enthralled to read it almost to my missing out on sleep before needing to go to work. As good as the kutherian books with Bethany Ann and Michael Nacht.
Kept me enthralled to read it almost to my missing out on sleep before needing to go to work. As good as the kutherian books with Bethany Ann and Michael Nacht.
December 4, 2020
Engrossingly different
What do you do when the ‘animals’ get together and gang up on you. A sentient organic alien 3rd party is the catalyst. Cowboys and girls verses the rest and sometime commercial rivals.
Great action, novel circumstances and ‘good’ verses ‘evil?
I could nearly put the books down, a real page turner.
What do you do when the ‘animals’ get together and gang up on you. A sentient organic alien 3rd party is the catalyst. Cowboys and girls verses the rest and sometime commercial rivals.
Great action, novel circumstances and ‘good’ verses ‘evil?
I could nearly put the books down, a real page turner.
October 18, 2021
Heavy Metal series in one book whats not to like!!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews