What do you think?
Rate this book
Leviathan
Conner felt an eerie sensation as he studied the image on the ancient Viking a great, fiery dragon with wings as wide as the universe, viciously locked in battle with a heroic, winged figure that grimly held the dragon's hideous head, struggling breath to breath. "Every man must face the dragon once in his life," Thor told him. "It is then he learns what he truly loves."
387 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
140 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
James Byron Huggins
24 books222 followersA veteran novelist and best-selling author, James Byron Huggins' life story reads more like fiction than fact. His career as a writer began normally enough. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from Troy State University, and then worked as a reporter for the Hartselle Enquirer in Hartselle, Alabama.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 25, 2019
So, this was a lot of fun, though it did drag just a bit in the middle.
I love a good chompy beast story. This was originally published back in 1995 and retains a little bit of that vintage feel. So – if you read this and start feeling like you’ve read some of this before, just remember that he did it before many of these current books!
The real fun in this book comes not from our critter oddly enough, but from our human characters. The author is very, very good with characterization and has given us complex characters that are a blast to read.
Very glad I read this one, even if at times I was rooting a little more for our critter than for our humans.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
I love a good chompy beast story. This was originally published back in 1995 and retains a little bit of that vintage feel. So – if you read this and start feeling like you’ve read some of this before, just remember that he did it before many of these current books!
The real fun in this book comes not from our critter oddly enough, but from our human characters. The author is very, very good with characterization and has given us complex characters that are a blast to read.
Very glad I read this one, even if at times I was rooting a little more for our critter than for our humans.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
August 5, 2017
It's too bad about this book. It's like the author had a good idea for a techno-thriller sort of story, a clear vision for where he wanted to go with it and some great themes to work into it - but his actual writing skills just weren't quite up to the task. I'm talking about the business of choosing the right word and crafting a great sentence. Huggins's solution was just to try to make every scene "epic", and every sentence as intense as possible, shooting his lines full of superlatives and over-the-top adjectives, and the result is melodrama and pulpy dialogue. It's a little like Michael Crichton wrote a book at the age of 17, with his teenager friends as the intended audience. Or more like, Michael Crichton wrote a book, and Donald Trump adapted it into a screenplay for an action movie to be directed by Michael Bay. That creative process would yield something like Leviathan, except without this book's spiritual overtones.
And yet, for all it's flaws, there's enough of a living soul to the book that comes through, that I hate to give it just two stars. I would give it 2 and a half if I could, and if I stand back and close one eye and sort of squint at the book with the other, it almost looks worthy of 3 stars. But when you look up close at the individual brush strokes you can't help but see how sloppy they are, the lack of control and polish to the technique. Really, how many times can you use the word "mushroom" or "mushrooming" as a verb in one book, to describe flames or an explosion? The adjective "volcanic" is thrown in to intensify the action so often it becomes sadly comical, though not so much so as when Huggins resorts to "galactic" for something really intense, as in "galactically enraged." Most of the characters aren't quite believable as real people either, mostly due to dialogue that is too often weak, occasionally even sounding like it was lifted from an action cartoon.
But after a while you almost don't even care, because after all the clumsy exposition in the first part of the book, the action is pretty non-stop and well-imagined. And the story manages to mostly hold to a worldview and set of values I would agree with. One scene actually makes a great theological point quite effectively, without it coming off too preachy. From what I can remember, I enjoyed the book when I was a teenager, though with a dim sense that this is not how you're supposed to write. I believe I will let my own teenager read it, though with a stern warning to never use "mushroom" as a verb.
And yet, for all it's flaws, there's enough of a living soul to the book that comes through, that I hate to give it just two stars. I would give it 2 and a half if I could, and if I stand back and close one eye and sort of squint at the book with the other, it almost looks worthy of 3 stars. But when you look up close at the individual brush strokes you can't help but see how sloppy they are, the lack of control and polish to the technique. Really, how many times can you use the word "mushroom" or "mushrooming" as a verb in one book, to describe flames or an explosion? The adjective "volcanic" is thrown in to intensify the action so often it becomes sadly comical, though not so much so as when Huggins resorts to "galactic" for something really intense, as in "galactically enraged." Most of the characters aren't quite believable as real people either, mostly due to dialogue that is too often weak, occasionally even sounding like it was lifted from an action cartoon.
But after a while you almost don't even care, because after all the clumsy exposition in the first part of the book, the action is pretty non-stop and well-imagined. And the story manages to mostly hold to a worldview and set of values I would agree with. One scene actually makes a great theological point quite effectively, without it coming off too preachy. From what I can remember, I enjoyed the book when I was a teenager, though with a dim sense that this is not how you're supposed to write. I believe I will let my own teenager read it, though with a stern warning to never use "mushroom" as a verb.
August 13, 2019
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book
its the ultimate story of good v evil....
man the inventor has done it again...on an island underground they have tweeked something and made it happen...but can they control it.. the ultimate weapon....
as things spiral out of control only one man with his faith in god and his strength can beat this thing but at what cost...
love all the characters in this book...even the baddies are really bad and hateful...man how i wanted to hit that scientist...once you get into this book its none stop action that we know and love with this author right to the last page
going to be keeping an eye out for more books from this author
its the ultimate story of good v evil....
man the inventor has done it again...on an island underground they have tweeked something and made it happen...but can they control it.. the ultimate weapon....
as things spiral out of control only one man with his faith in god and his strength can beat this thing but at what cost...
love all the characters in this book...even the baddies are really bad and hateful...man how i wanted to hit that scientist...once you get into this book its none stop action that we know and love with this author right to the last page
going to be keeping an eye out for more books from this author
March 11, 2016
This book was incredibly exciting. I could not put it down. Huggins has a real knack for creating scary monsters and very despicable human villains. This is a balls-out winner.!
October 5, 2019
I still remember reading this book back when it first came out, the sense of 'shock-and-awe' that there could be such a thing as a "Christian 'technothriller'" that was exciting and crazy and good and still have a bit of a message behind it (mostly in the conversations that one of the characters has with other characters). I have read it numerous times since, and I still enjoy reading it today. While I do recognize that it does have various 'problems' with it, I still find it an amazing story, and, once it really gets its steam going, it does not let down until the end.
In terms of any kind of 'technical stuff,' the character development is decent; some of the secondary characters seem more 'cut-out' than others and very few tertiary characters are given names or really stand-out in my mind. In the beginning, some of the dialogue (especially between Connor and his son, Jordan) is pretty stilted and feels forced; it gets more 'natural' as the story progresses, but it is a bit rough in the beginning. The story begins with some initial excitement; to draw the reader in, I am sure! Then it gets into more of an expository stage that sets up the rest of the book. Various 'important characters' are introduced during this point (scattered over the course of the narrative). But, once the action really begins, it is quite a ride!
Some quibbles:
A picture is definitely worth a thousand words!
I loved Thor (Thor Magnusson) in this book; i thought he was an amazing character.
I did like the 'basic plot' of the story; I thought it was quite clever and a fascinating concept.
About Beth Connor.
Regarding Jackson Connor, . He was probably my second-favorite character in the book.
The book does have a lot of information dumps, and I felt they were done in such a way that both maintained the flow of the story and were interesting at the same time. The author did remind of Tom Clancy and Clancy's ability to explain 'complicated' processes and concepts in a way that was easy for the common reader to understand. I felt like this author had (has) the same knack, and his info dumps did not detract from the overall story/plot (in my opinion).
It was a fun book; it was a crazy book; it was intense all the way to the end. It focused on the dynamics between military members and civilians, on the dynamics between government agencies and the civilians who are hired to work for and support said agencies, genetic manipulation, biogenetically created weapons of war, combat, family dynamics, relationships forged under the fire of conflict, interagency politics, nuclear bombs, a potential change to the face of warfare, Viking warrior-king(s), the historical basis for the existence of dragons, how electricity can be used offensively and defensively, some spiritual and existential discussions, what it means to be courageous, and what a man will do to protect his family. It has quite a bit packed between its covers, and it is still one of my favorite books to read. I am glad that I reread it (after not having read it for quite some time). It was an intensely fun and fast read.
In terms of any kind of 'technical stuff,' the character development is decent; some of the secondary characters seem more 'cut-out' than others and very few tertiary characters are given names or really stand-out in my mind. In the beginning, some of the dialogue (especially between Connor and his son, Jordan) is pretty stilted and feels forced; it gets more 'natural' as the story progresses, but it is a bit rough in the beginning. The story begins with some initial excitement; to draw the reader in, I am sure! Then it gets into more of an expository stage that sets up the rest of the book. Various 'important characters' are introduced during this point (scattered over the course of the narrative). But, once the action really begins, it is quite a ride!
Some quibbles:
A picture is definitely worth a thousand words!
I loved Thor (Thor Magnusson) in this book; i thought he was an amazing character.
I did like the 'basic plot' of the story; I thought it was quite clever and a fascinating concept.
About Beth Connor.
Regarding Jackson Connor, . He was probably my second-favorite character in the book.
The book does have a lot of information dumps, and I felt they were done in such a way that both maintained the flow of the story and were interesting at the same time. The author did remind of Tom Clancy and Clancy's ability to explain 'complicated' processes and concepts in a way that was easy for the common reader to understand. I felt like this author had (has) the same knack, and his info dumps did not detract from the overall story/plot (in my opinion).
It was a fun book; it was a crazy book; it was intense all the way to the end. It focused on the dynamics between military members and civilians, on the dynamics between government agencies and the civilians who are hired to work for and support said agencies, genetic manipulation, biogenetically created weapons of war, combat, family dynamics, relationships forged under the fire of conflict, interagency politics, nuclear bombs, a potential change to the face of warfare, Viking warrior-king(s), the historical basis for the existence of dragons, how electricity can be used offensively and defensively, some spiritual and existential discussions, what it means to be courageous, and what a man will do to protect his family. It has quite a bit packed between its covers, and it is still one of my favorite books to read. I am glad that I reread it (after not having read it for quite some time). It was an intensely fun and fast read.
October 18, 2020
Jackson Connor decides to have financial security and works at a top secret research facility. As electrician he doesn't know what is going on there, but that quickly changes when the monster the researchers have created breaks out. The monster is engineered to kill and heals surprisingly quickly when wounded. Researcher fear it might escape through the tunnels into the ocean. They need to stop him but killing him turns out almost impossible. Not killing it will detonate the nuclear bomb placed on the island to protect the world from this creature. Together with his wife and friend Thor, as well as a bunch or army people Connor manages to injure the animal badly, as well as Thor, who dies in the fight.
It seems as if the author uses a good plot for Connor with his electrical engineering background. It keeps coming back in the story. The plot does get somewhat repetitive as the flee for the monster and block its passage through the tunnels by closing vaults one after the other. The idea behind the genetic engineering is somewhat far-fatched, but when not thinking about this flaws the story is actually nice to read.
It seems as if the author uses a good plot for Connor with his electrical engineering background. It keeps coming back in the story. The plot does get somewhat repetitive as the flee for the monster and block its passage through the tunnels by closing vaults one after the other. The idea behind the genetic engineering is somewhat far-fatched, but when not thinking about this flaws the story is actually nice to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2020
I love this book. I know it’s dated. I know it has mistakes in it. But I still love it. I don’t know if it is some kind of “nostalgia” factor at work or something, but this book is still a lot of fun to read. It is the author’s third work, and it is 25+ years old. I think some elements still stand up well to the “test of time,” and other elements do not. The character development is decent; some characters are obviously developed better than others (and I felt some “secondary character” actually developed better than some main characters). There is plenty of action in the book (especially once all of the characters are in place and the plot gets moving). I also liked the intermixing of “spiritual themes” that were interwoven throughout the story.
Regarding the characters, Thor was my favorite character in the book. Barley was probably my second-favorite character. Connor is still in my “top five favorite” characters in the book, but this time around, he seemed a little “wooden and stiff,” for some reason. Beth was a pretty cool character.
There were some “funny things” I noticed this time around. Oh, well.
I enjoyed the discussions about the parallels in religions separated by time and space. I thought the author had some interesting explanations as to why this is the case. The discussion about dragons appearing throughout history was also fun to read (no explanations are given, like in Matthew Reilly’s book; the readers are expected to “just accept them” as presented in the story; it works).
There were some “one-liners” I enjoyed as well.
I reread this because of my “dino-fic kick” I am on (expanded to include dragons and “giant monsters” and “oversized creatures”), otherwise I probably would not have read it again so soon. In any case, it was still fun to read because of how crazy and over-the-top it gets, especially toward the end. It is a fun read and I am glad I reread it.
Regarding the characters, Thor was my favorite character in the book. Barley was probably my second-favorite character. Connor is still in my “top five favorite” characters in the book, but this time around, he seemed a little “wooden and stiff,” for some reason. Beth was a pretty cool character.
There were some “funny things” I noticed this time around. Oh, well.
I enjoyed the discussions about the parallels in religions separated by time and space. I thought the author had some interesting explanations as to why this is the case. The discussion about dragons appearing throughout history was also fun to read (no explanations are given, like in Matthew Reilly’s book; the readers are expected to “just accept them” as presented in the story; it works).
There were some “one-liners” I enjoyed as well.
I reread this because of my “dino-fic kick” I am on (expanded to include dragons and “giant monsters” and “oversized creatures”), otherwise I probably would not have read it again so soon. In any case, it was still fun to read because of how crazy and over-the-top it gets, especially toward the end. It is a fun read and I am glad I reread it.
October 16, 2019
In a hidden facility deep underground, something terrible seeks escape. It could be a world ending event if it escapes confinement. Above ground, the many men and their families who keep the facility in operation are clueless to what is coming. Leviathan is awake. Hungry. And very, very angry.
I bought this book back when there used to be Book Of The Month Clubs. Remember those. You had a selection offered each month and you chose which ones you wanted sent? This was one of my choices and it became a favorite I returned to more times than I can remember.
Jackson Connor is the kind of man I’d want in my corner. He’s honest, hard working and loves his family and friends fiercely. He put them before everything else. And he put himself in front of the monster down below. It would have to get past him and that wasn’t going to happen.
It was a toss up on who was my favorite character. Jackson was a star. But, so was his best friend, Thor, a viking giant who, along with his magnificent stallion, resides in the ruins of a castle on the other end of the island. He’s jolly, intelligent and lonely, and finds the company of Jackson and the others a blessing. I was very curious how he came to be all alone on the island. And there was something almost mythical at play with his situation. Almost like he was meant to be there, at that moment, to fight the monster about to emerge. I mentioned he was jolly. I’ll explain. He has this big booming laugh and there’s this scene where he’s on top of a hill and the men are trying to topple him. He laughs as he shrugs them off, tossing them to the muddy bottom. I could so easily picture this and laughed out loud.
Now for the creature. It’s ancient. Shouldn’t exist. And with modern DNA tampering, the scientists don’t know what they’ve created, or what it’s about to unleash on everyone on the island. It’s not just one or two scenes that leave you trembling. It’s so many you become almost as exhausted in mind as the character’s must be in body and spirit. I have to say, the action in this book is the most I’ve ever read and not for one moment was I bored or thinking enough is enough. It’s an epic battle, and nerve wracking as it seems so hopeless.
Will they conquer the beast? Who will survive Grimwald Island? Will Jackson and his family ever have that dream ranch back home? It’s not looking too good. From the first paragraph to the last word, I was completely trapped in this story.
My recommendation is a shout from the roof tops, read this book!
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
I bought this book back when there used to be Book Of The Month Clubs. Remember those. You had a selection offered each month and you chose which ones you wanted sent? This was one of my choices and it became a favorite I returned to more times than I can remember.
Jackson Connor is the kind of man I’d want in my corner. He’s honest, hard working and loves his family and friends fiercely. He put them before everything else. And he put himself in front of the monster down below. It would have to get past him and that wasn’t going to happen.
It was a toss up on who was my favorite character. Jackson was a star. But, so was his best friend, Thor, a viking giant who, along with his magnificent stallion, resides in the ruins of a castle on the other end of the island. He’s jolly, intelligent and lonely, and finds the company of Jackson and the others a blessing. I was very curious how he came to be all alone on the island. And there was something almost mythical at play with his situation. Almost like he was meant to be there, at that moment, to fight the monster about to emerge. I mentioned he was jolly. I’ll explain. He has this big booming laugh and there’s this scene where he’s on top of a hill and the men are trying to topple him. He laughs as he shrugs them off, tossing them to the muddy bottom. I could so easily picture this and laughed out loud.
Now for the creature. It’s ancient. Shouldn’t exist. And with modern DNA tampering, the scientists don’t know what they’ve created, or what it’s about to unleash on everyone on the island. It’s not just one or two scenes that leave you trembling. It’s so many you become almost as exhausted in mind as the character’s must be in body and spirit. I have to say, the action in this book is the most I’ve ever read and not for one moment was I bored or thinking enough is enough. It’s an epic battle, and nerve wracking as it seems so hopeless.
Will they conquer the beast? Who will survive Grimwald Island? Will Jackson and his family ever have that dream ranch back home? It’s not looking too good. From the first paragraph to the last word, I was completely trapped in this story.
My recommendation is a shout from the roof tops, read this book!
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
March 29, 2021
Full Review Here
Leviathan had a degree of predictability. From the off-set, you knew what was going to happen.
The stakes were high from the start but that danger didn’t dwindle. You grew to care about the characters, which made it engaging. It was enjoyable – but dragged at times, and lacked forward momentum.
There are a number of characters introduced in quick succession. It was hard to initially establish who are our protagonists, and who gets in the way.
Connor is our main guy: an electrician who knows there is far more going on. Connor is determined and loyal to the end. His love for his family keeps him fighting and he’s a strong character. The majority of the narration follows Connor as he fights for survival, and you get to know him.
Thor was likeable… but I didn’t understand him. An outcast who waxed about good and evil, and threw numerous religious references into the fray, it was hard to figure out exactly who he was.
There are numerous secondary characters. Connor’s wife, an army colonel, the scientists responsible. They were all decent characters, but there is nothing particularly rememberable about them. They played their part rather than having room to grow.
My trouble with Leviathan was the pacing.
It starts slow. We’re introduced to the experiment with so much science the only thing I understood was it’s bad. We then get a story about good and evil.
Once events kick off, the tension is racked up – and stays that way. They’re fighting something impossible and their continuous failure means you stop noticing the tension.
Characters make great sacrifices in this. They all felt undermined by nothing working. By this point in the book, we’re ready for a change of pace and not delivering on that meant I started to get bored.
This is a book about good and evil, with some science thrown in.
The black and white nature of the good guys versus the beast felt cliché. Religion kept coming up, but in a way that felt forced rather than natural. It made a point, then pushed it too far.
Leviathan isn’t a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. But the lack of rise and fall of tension made it seem flat, and the overwhelming science stopped a reader with no scientific background from fully engaging. Good characters; good premise; should have been shorter to be more effective.
Leviathan had a degree of predictability. From the off-set, you knew what was going to happen.
The stakes were high from the start but that danger didn’t dwindle. You grew to care about the characters, which made it engaging. It was enjoyable – but dragged at times, and lacked forward momentum.
There are a number of characters introduced in quick succession. It was hard to initially establish who are our protagonists, and who gets in the way.
Connor is our main guy: an electrician who knows there is far more going on. Connor is determined and loyal to the end. His love for his family keeps him fighting and he’s a strong character. The majority of the narration follows Connor as he fights for survival, and you get to know him.
Thor was likeable… but I didn’t understand him. An outcast who waxed about good and evil, and threw numerous religious references into the fray, it was hard to figure out exactly who he was.
There are numerous secondary characters. Connor’s wife, an army colonel, the scientists responsible. They were all decent characters, but there is nothing particularly rememberable about them. They played their part rather than having room to grow.
My trouble with Leviathan was the pacing.
It starts slow. We’re introduced to the experiment with so much science the only thing I understood was it’s bad. We then get a story about good and evil.
Once events kick off, the tension is racked up – and stays that way. They’re fighting something impossible and their continuous failure means you stop noticing the tension.
Characters make great sacrifices in this. They all felt undermined by nothing working. By this point in the book, we’re ready for a change of pace and not delivering on that meant I started to get bored.
This is a book about good and evil, with some science thrown in.
The black and white nature of the good guys versus the beast felt cliché. Religion kept coming up, but in a way that felt forced rather than natural. It made a point, then pushed it too far.
Leviathan isn’t a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. But the lack of rise and fall of tension made it seem flat, and the overwhelming science stopped a reader with no scientific background from fully engaging. Good characters; good premise; should have been shorter to be more effective.
June 22, 2016
The book started out with lots of promise, but I felt it got a little long winded and should have ended about 40 pages earlier because it gets overly predictable, cliched and unbelievable.
Scientists create a "Leviathan" - basically a dragon, which is also biologically enhanced with computer AI - because, well, why not!? Thus making it the perfect and *ahem* indestructible killing machine. Of course the smarty scientist who invented the science didn't want anything bad to happen and the military only wants to use it to dominate their enemies. But uh-oh, something goes wrong and the super-intelligent unkillable monster has outsmarted its creators!! Who can stop it? IronMan? Batman? How about an electrician! oh and a guy named Thor!
Scientists create a "Leviathan" - basically a dragon, which is also biologically enhanced with computer AI - because, well, why not!? Thus making it the perfect and *ahem* indestructible killing machine. Of course the smarty scientist who invented the science didn't want anything bad to happen and the military only wants to use it to dominate their enemies. But uh-oh, something goes wrong and the super-intelligent unkillable monster has outsmarted its creators!! Who can stop it? IronMan? Batman? How about an electrician! oh and a guy named Thor!
December 29, 2021
This is the first book I seriously considered DNF'ing. The writing style was seriously horrendous and borderline unreadable. The story was unoriginal and predictable. The action was too constant and over the top at all times, losing it's shock value rather quickly. They tried every electric trap 4 or 5 times and shot with ineffetive grenades for 200 pages. Every explosion was white hot like a mushroom or a volcano. The characters all almost died or fainted multiple times, but were invigorated somehow everytime. Their emotions and screaming were too forced, unrealistic and repetitive. The story and the secret base trope had potential, but this book was a very poor execution in my opinion. Overall the worst book I read all year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2007
This book is fast paced and action packed. It has a mysterious hero, a more mysterious (evil?) monster/villain, difficult choices and battle scenes. It is one of the first "Christian fiction" books that I read and I read it a couple times in the space of a few months. My gut feeling is that this is the kind of book that I would recommend to an adolescent or young adult looking for a good read in an author they're not familiar with.
December 31, 2013
This book is considered to be Christian literature, but personally it feels like it was written by a good works to get to heaven type. That being said, this book is awesome! It is a moral, exciting, and fresh take on the plot of ancient beast takes on the modern world. I loved it!!
May 18, 2011
Everything this guy writes is great.
February 21, 2024
A Christian Jurassic Park? (3 stars)
Leviathan is one of Huggins’ earliest novels, and precedes “Cain”, a book which established him in mainstream fiction and was also developed into a movie. “Leviathan” is the name of a powerful beast that is the product of a secret science project in an underground facility deep in the Arctic Circle. But Leviathan proves to be stronger and smarter than its creators, and when it escapes its containment chamber, it threatens to kill everyone in reach. But that isn’t the only problem – Leviathan’s escape sets off a fail-safe sequence that will detonate a nuclear device within 24 hours. There is only one way to escape the nuclear holocaust: by killing Leviathan within 24 hours. This book features heart-stopping suspense as the only ones who can stop Leviathan are the giant Norwegian Thor, and the unassuming electrical wizard Connor. Can they stop Leviathan? Can they do it within 24 hours? Two words sum up the plot that unravels:
1. Action thriller. The novel starts with a bang, and rarely slows down. Huggins has a style that will leave your heart pounding, and you’ll find yourself racing over the words and through the pages. The action never lets up, so prepare yourself for a roller-coaster ride of action. Only one problem: expect to see the same scenery. The “terrible roar” of Leviathan and the “hate-filled rage” of its hunters rapidly wears thin after the umpteenth time. Certainly the action is fast and furious, but the dragon’s repeated roar and the repeated shouts and shooting of his hunters gets tiresome after a while. Also be warned that the extent of blood and gore is not suitable for children.
2. Apocalyptic themes. Unlike most thrillers, Huggins is clearly working with deeper themes. There is a clear and cosmic conflict between good and evil, and Huggins makes several Biblical references to ensure that we understand this is a picture of the conflict between God and Satan. The name “Leviathan” is drawn straight from the Bible (p.44), and is an ancient name for “dragon” (p.68). Although Huggins’ exegesis and historical description of Leviathan is questionable (p.73ff), the apocalyptic imagery is unmistakable, as we get glimpses of the beast rising from the sea described in Revelation. Huggins’ story does not completely fit with Revelation, which describes both a dragon and several beasts. Revelation’s imagery is symbolic – whereas Huggins tries to present this as a real conflict with a real dragon. But probably it would be unfair to criticize him too severely for this: he intends the conflict against Leviathan to be a spiritual picture of the great struggle against evil and its master, Satan. He takes great pains to describe the background of this conflict as the fall into sin, and presents the battle against Leviathan as a microcosm of the great and last battle, the Armageddon (p.63-4). In Huggins’ view, all of life is spiritual, and is part of the great struggle of good and evil (p.231). Thor is the Messiah figure who features prominently in the great battle against evil, and like Christ is even pierced in his side (p.326), as he struggles valiantly against the dragon, even willing to give his own life for those he loves.
But ultimately the philosophy and deeper religious significance is washed away by a superficial stream of repetitive story-line. Although gripping and suspenseful, the plot is not always completely convincing, its characters not completely credible. Any serious message that this book has to offer is hampered by a plot that seems to have the same fighting, rage and fire over and over again. The great deal of technical jargon about computers and science does lend the novel some authenticity, but also weighs it down unnecessarily. Whatever religious meaning the novel does have to offer is further undermined by the stream of hate and curses unleashed by its hero Thor, and the surprisingly frequent instances of blasphemy (p.137,148,205,313) and unnecessary oaths (p.239,260).
In the end, I felt that I was reading a script for a revised movie of Jurassic Park, rather than a Christian thriller novel. If you like reading about men being crunched in the jaws of a giant predator and fighting back with all kinds of weapons, you’ll love this novel. It’s Jurassic Park all over again, with a Christian slant, but not quite with an equally successful execution. Don’t expect a whole lot more than that.
Leviathan is one of Huggins’ earliest novels, and precedes “Cain”, a book which established him in mainstream fiction and was also developed into a movie. “Leviathan” is the name of a powerful beast that is the product of a secret science project in an underground facility deep in the Arctic Circle. But Leviathan proves to be stronger and smarter than its creators, and when it escapes its containment chamber, it threatens to kill everyone in reach. But that isn’t the only problem – Leviathan’s escape sets off a fail-safe sequence that will detonate a nuclear device within 24 hours. There is only one way to escape the nuclear holocaust: by killing Leviathan within 24 hours. This book features heart-stopping suspense as the only ones who can stop Leviathan are the giant Norwegian Thor, and the unassuming electrical wizard Connor. Can they stop Leviathan? Can they do it within 24 hours? Two words sum up the plot that unravels:
1. Action thriller. The novel starts with a bang, and rarely slows down. Huggins has a style that will leave your heart pounding, and you’ll find yourself racing over the words and through the pages. The action never lets up, so prepare yourself for a roller-coaster ride of action. Only one problem: expect to see the same scenery. The “terrible roar” of Leviathan and the “hate-filled rage” of its hunters rapidly wears thin after the umpteenth time. Certainly the action is fast and furious, but the dragon’s repeated roar and the repeated shouts and shooting of his hunters gets tiresome after a while. Also be warned that the extent of blood and gore is not suitable for children.
2. Apocalyptic themes. Unlike most thrillers, Huggins is clearly working with deeper themes. There is a clear and cosmic conflict between good and evil, and Huggins makes several Biblical references to ensure that we understand this is a picture of the conflict between God and Satan. The name “Leviathan” is drawn straight from the Bible (p.44), and is an ancient name for “dragon” (p.68). Although Huggins’ exegesis and historical description of Leviathan is questionable (p.73ff), the apocalyptic imagery is unmistakable, as we get glimpses of the beast rising from the sea described in Revelation. Huggins’ story does not completely fit with Revelation, which describes both a dragon and several beasts. Revelation’s imagery is symbolic – whereas Huggins tries to present this as a real conflict with a real dragon. But probably it would be unfair to criticize him too severely for this: he intends the conflict against Leviathan to be a spiritual picture of the great struggle against evil and its master, Satan. He takes great pains to describe the background of this conflict as the fall into sin, and presents the battle against Leviathan as a microcosm of the great and last battle, the Armageddon (p.63-4). In Huggins’ view, all of life is spiritual, and is part of the great struggle of good and evil (p.231). Thor is the Messiah figure who features prominently in the great battle against evil, and like Christ is even pierced in his side (p.326), as he struggles valiantly against the dragon, even willing to give his own life for those he loves.
But ultimately the philosophy and deeper religious significance is washed away by a superficial stream of repetitive story-line. Although gripping and suspenseful, the plot is not always completely convincing, its characters not completely credible. Any serious message that this book has to offer is hampered by a plot that seems to have the same fighting, rage and fire over and over again. The great deal of technical jargon about computers and science does lend the novel some authenticity, but also weighs it down unnecessarily. Whatever religious meaning the novel does have to offer is further undermined by the stream of hate and curses unleashed by its hero Thor, and the surprisingly frequent instances of blasphemy (p.137,148,205,313) and unnecessary oaths (p.239,260).
In the end, I felt that I was reading a script for a revised movie of Jurassic Park, rather than a Christian thriller novel. If you like reading about men being crunched in the jaws of a giant predator and fighting back with all kinds of weapons, you’ll love this novel. It’s Jurassic Park all over again, with a Christian slant, but not quite with an equally successful execution. Don’t expect a whole lot more than that.
October 26, 2018
In a hidden facility deep underground, something terrible seeks escape. It could be a world ending event if it escapes confinement. Above ground, the many men and their families who keep the facility in operation are clueless to what is coming. Leviathan is awake. Hungry. And very, very angry.
I bought this book back when there used to be Book Of The Month Clubs. Remember those. You had a selection offered each month and you chose which ones you wanted sent? This was one of my choices and it became a favorite I returned to more times than I can remember.
Jackson Connor is the kind of man I’d want in my corner. He’s honest, hard working and loves his family and friends fiercely. He put them before everything else. And he put himself in front of the monster down below. It would have to get past him and that wasn’t going to happen.
It was a toss up on who was my favorite character. Jackson was a star. But, so was his best friend, Thor, a viking giant who, along with his magnificent stallion, resides in the ruins of a castle on the other end of the island. He’s jolly, intelligent and lonely, and finds the company of Jackson and the others a blessing. I was very curious how he came to be all alone on the island. And there was something almost mythical at play with his situation. Almost like he was meant to be there, at that moment, to fight the monster about to emerge. I mentioned he was jolly. I’ll explain. He has this big booming laugh and there’s this scene where he’s on top of a hill and the men are trying to topple him. He laughs as he shrugs them off, tossing them to the muddy bottom. I could so easily picture this and laughed out loud.
Now for the creature. It’s ancient. Shouldn’t exist. And with modern DNA tampering, the scientists don’t know what they’ve created, or what it’s about to unleash on everyone on the island. It’s not just one or two scenes that leave you trembling. It’s so many you become almost as exhausted in mind as the character’s must be in body and spirit. I have to say, the action in this book is the most I’ve ever read and not for one moment was I bored or thinking enough is enough. It’s an epic battle, and nerve wracking as it seems so hopeless.
Will they conquer the beast? Who will survive Grimwald Island? Will Jackson and his family ever have that dream ranch back home? It’s not looking too good. From the first paragraph to the last word, I was completely trapped in this story.
My recommendation is a shout from the roof tops, read this book!
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
I bought this book back when there used to be Book Of The Month Clubs. Remember those. You had a selection offered each month and you chose which ones you wanted sent? This was one of my choices and it became a favorite I returned to more times than I can remember.
Jackson Connor is the kind of man I’d want in my corner. He’s honest, hard working and loves his family and friends fiercely. He put them before everything else. And he put himself in front of the monster down below. It would have to get past him and that wasn’t going to happen.
It was a toss up on who was my favorite character. Jackson was a star. But, so was his best friend, Thor, a viking giant who, along with his magnificent stallion, resides in the ruins of a castle on the other end of the island. He’s jolly, intelligent and lonely, and finds the company of Jackson and the others a blessing. I was very curious how he came to be all alone on the island. And there was something almost mythical at play with his situation. Almost like he was meant to be there, at that moment, to fight the monster about to emerge. I mentioned he was jolly. I’ll explain. He has this big booming laugh and there’s this scene where he’s on top of a hill and the men are trying to topple him. He laughs as he shrugs them off, tossing them to the muddy bottom. I could so easily picture this and laughed out loud.
Now for the creature. It’s ancient. Shouldn’t exist. And with modern DNA tampering, the scientists don’t know what they’ve created, or what it’s about to unleash on everyone on the island. It’s not just one or two scenes that leave you trembling. It’s so many you become almost as exhausted in mind as the character’s must be in body and spirit. I have to say, the action in this book is the most I’ve ever read and not for one moment was I bored or thinking enough is enough. It’s an epic battle, and nerve wracking as it seems so hopeless.
Will they conquer the beast? Who will survive Grimwald Island? Will Jackson and his family ever have that dream ranch back home? It’s not looking too good. From the first paragraph to the last word, I was completely trapped in this story.
My recommendation is a shout from the roof tops, read this book!
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
July 30, 2020
Author James Byron Huggins (https://www.jamesbyronhuggins.com) published the novel “Leviathan” in 2019. My Huggins has published a dozen novels.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as “R” because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in contemporary times on a remote Icelandic island. There are three primary characters. Jackson Connor runs a construction company working on the island. His wife Beth Connor runs the island's communications center. Thor Magnusson is a recluse living on the island that looks like an ancient Viking war god.
On the island, an experiment is underway to develop the ultimate biological weapon. Secret laboratories buried deep into the volcanic island contains the research. They are developing not a virus but a creature that is invincible. A creature that can be controlled. Of course, things do not go as planned.
The creature escapes its confinement and a battle ensues. The creature is driven to kill all life it encounters. The staff must find a way to survive this killing machine. They must also contain or kill the creature before it finds its way off of the island. If it escapes all humanity is at risk. As you might expect the Connors and Magnusson find their way to the front lines of that battle.
I enjoyed the 10.5+ hours I spent reading this 407-page science fiction novel. The novel contains a lot of action. In a way, it reminds me of "Jurassic Park". Though the writing isn't nearly that well done and much of the 'science' in this novel is pure fabrication. The cover art is certainly appropriate for the novel. I give this novel a 3.3 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as “R” because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in contemporary times on a remote Icelandic island. There are three primary characters. Jackson Connor runs a construction company working on the island. His wife Beth Connor runs the island's communications center. Thor Magnusson is a recluse living on the island that looks like an ancient Viking war god.
On the island, an experiment is underway to develop the ultimate biological weapon. Secret laboratories buried deep into the volcanic island contains the research. They are developing not a virus but a creature that is invincible. A creature that can be controlled. Of course, things do not go as planned.
The creature escapes its confinement and a battle ensues. The creature is driven to kill all life it encounters. The staff must find a way to survive this killing machine. They must also contain or kill the creature before it finds its way off of the island. If it escapes all humanity is at risk. As you might expect the Connors and Magnusson find their way to the front lines of that battle.
I enjoyed the 10.5+ hours I spent reading this 407-page science fiction novel. The novel contains a lot of action. In a way, it reminds me of "Jurassic Park". Though the writing isn't nearly that well done and much of the 'science' in this novel is pure fabrication. The cover art is certainly appropriate for the novel. I give this novel a 3.3 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
July 22, 2019
This was the first book by James Byron Huggins I ever read, and I knew right away it would not be the last. A story of man's hubris and the even worse forces of evil that will always be willing to take advantage of it, LEVIATHAN is not only as fine a creature feature as you will ever read but an outstanding morality tale. The action is non-stop and the suspense at times unbearable, but each page pushes you irresistibly towards the next. Who will live, who will die, and can anything stop the worst monster from our collective nightmares? A masterful thriller built on a strong Christian foundation (like most of Huggins's efforts), LEVIATHAN is one of the standout works from the best action/horror writer in the business.
April 16, 2022
Great Read
I've reread this book no less than four times over the years. It really is an awesome book that will grab you from the beginning. Huggins is an awesome writer and I've read many of his books. If you read thks book and like it I strongly encourage you to read his book called Cain.....
I've reread this book no less than four times over the years. It really is an awesome book that will grab you from the beginning. Huggins is an awesome writer and I've read many of his books. If you read thks book and like it I strongly encourage you to read his book called Cain.....
February 5, 2018
I've read a few other books by JBH (Hunter, Cain). If you like what I'm calling Christian Thriller Sci-Fi Horror, you will like this. The religious sentiments don't resonate with me, but for interesting, enjoyable, techno-thriller adventure, his books are a good choice.
August 5, 2019
Great creature book, a good read
November 27, 2021
Great story! TERRIBLE writing. This would make a great movie, the pieces and scenes are all there. JB Huggins, call me if you want an editor for the 2nd edition.
March 7, 2021
This sci-fi thriller had plenty of action and was very engaging. The beginning was a little slow, but the wide variety of characters were entertaining if not a little one-dimensional. The secondary battle of good vs evil also added to the epic nature of this story.
You have to remember this novel was written over 25 years ago. Some of the techno aspects were a little dated like, "modem" but it really doesn't draw anything away from the story. Though I enjoyed this book, it wasn't up to the level of some of the author's other works, like "Cain" or "Hunter". Still it kept me turning pages into the night.
You have to remember this novel was written over 25 years ago. Some of the techno aspects were a little dated like, "modem" but it really doesn't draw anything away from the story. Though I enjoyed this book, it wasn't up to the level of some of the author's other works, like "Cain" or "Hunter". Still it kept me turning pages into the night.
December 13, 2019
Just OK
This creature novel was not as good as some of Huggins' other books. While the plot was decent, the writing was amateurish.
This creature novel was not as good as some of Huggins' other books. While the plot was decent, the writing was amateurish.
Read
January 8, 2021Start time:5:30pm
Stop time: 6:50
It seems like that the is fast pacing through the book. It is a exciting read. It seems weird that scientists are trying to bring an extinct creature as the ultimate killing machine. There is no way that they can control the creature., but its exciting to see what will they figure out a way to kill it.
Start time:11:00am
Stop time:12:15pm
Now, Connor and his mysterious friend Thor is standing between it and the destruction of everyone on the island. Before he was an honest, hardworking electrician. Then came the opportunity of a lifetime-financial security for life in exchange for three year work at a top secret research facility deep beneath desolate Grimwald Island. The reality will be awful.
Stop time: 6:50
It seems like that the is fast pacing through the book. It is a exciting read. It seems weird that scientists are trying to bring an extinct creature as the ultimate killing machine. There is no way that they can control the creature., but its exciting to see what will they figure out a way to kill it.
Start time:11:00am
Stop time:12:15pm
Now, Connor and his mysterious friend Thor is standing between it and the destruction of everyone on the island. Before he was an honest, hardworking electrician. Then came the opportunity of a lifetime-financial security for life in exchange for three year work at a top secret research facility deep beneath desolate Grimwald Island. The reality will be awful.
February 26, 2021
I didn’t enjoy it as much as I used to. It’s in bad need of a real editor. It’s like he didn’t have the vocabulary to express the magnitude of the situation emotions so there’s just a constant pattern of word, same word. Ie dark,dark. still, still. Kill,kill. There’s no bloodlust, pitch black, still as a statue, and word/phrase to express how deep the emotion or anything was.
The last 200 pages got repetitive as well. I never thought I’d say this, but shooting, launching grenades, and electrocuting the same monster can get old. As the cast of characters dies down, it becomes less plot and more of the same in a different room of the massive cave. There are bits of poignant humanity that bring forth emotion, but then it’s back to a different still alive character trying the same thing to kill the monster in a different room. I actually skipped pages at the end to see who all survived.
It starts off amazing, the battles are fun, but it could use some editing and about 50 pages could go.
The last 200 pages got repetitive as well. I never thought I’d say this, but shooting, launching grenades, and electrocuting the same monster can get old. As the cast of characters dies down, it becomes less plot and more of the same in a different room of the massive cave. There are bits of poignant humanity that bring forth emotion, but then it’s back to a different still alive character trying the same thing to kill the monster in a different room. I actually skipped pages at the end to see who all survived.
It starts off amazing, the battles are fun, but it could use some editing and about 50 pages could go.
May 14, 2013
Another Huggins thriller I first read years ago and have in Trade Paperback size on my shelf right. That said, I still plan to get and read the e-book version now that is available (finally!).
A giant monster, tons of action, a count-down to a nuclear explosion, family, love, redemption, and oh year, more action!
I am reading Project Nemesis by Jeremy Robinson right now, and Nemesis harkens to the like of Leviathan. If you love big monster books then you will love this one as well.
I love all the characters, especially Thor (6 ft + ex priest). Is the action over the TOP? Yes, but I like it that way! Looking foward to reading this on my Kindle.
A giant monster, tons of action, a count-down to a nuclear explosion, family, love, redemption, and oh year, more action!
I am reading Project Nemesis by Jeremy Robinson right now, and Nemesis harkens to the like of Leviathan. If you love big monster books then you will love this one as well.
I love all the characters, especially Thor (6 ft + ex priest). Is the action over the TOP? Yes, but I like it that way! Looking foward to reading this on my Kindle.
February 10, 2020
I have read this book three times myself and have read it to all four of my children to boot. It remains among my top five favorite books. Huggins is a very effective and knowledgeable novelist and he has crafted a monster tale that will have the reader hopelessly enthralled until the very end. This book, it could be said, is everything Jurassic Park should have been in some ways.
If this is any indication...I only read Jurassic Park once and Michael Crichton is one of my all-time favorite writer.
I add to this review on 2-9-2020! I have read this book twice more. Once for my two youngest children. And once as research...as James Byron Huggins himself allowed me to write the screen adaptation (the screenplay) and spearhead an effort to bring LEVIATHAN to the big screen!
If this is any indication...I only read Jurassic Park once and Michael Crichton is one of my all-time favorite writer.
I add to this review on 2-9-2020! I have read this book twice more. Once for my two youngest children. And once as research...as James Byron Huggins himself allowed me to write the screen adaptation (the screenplay) and spearhead an effort to bring LEVIATHAN to the big screen!
September 6, 2013
7/10
Monstrously fun! It has all the signature Huggins traits: a soulful soldier (actually two!), mythic battles, excitement and it’s imaginative in portrayal and word.
The mood builds steadily in the first third. Sometimes here, however, some of the interesting background information is too expositional. It could have done with more keen editing.
Then it unleashes the plot without mercy and there’s no going back.
Also working in the plot’s favour were several well-brushed supporting characters who had their own stories to complete.
Monstrously fun! It has all the signature Huggins traits: a soulful soldier (actually two!), mythic battles, excitement and it’s imaginative in portrayal and word.
The mood builds steadily in the first third. Sometimes here, however, some of the interesting background information is too expositional. It could have done with more keen editing.
Then it unleashes the plot without mercy and there’s no going back.
Also working in the plot’s favour were several well-brushed supporting characters who had their own stories to complete.
December 6, 2023
There are many similarities between this book and Huggins "Hunter." A bio-experiment that goes horribly wrong. Messing with ancient DNA and adding unknown elements to create something new. The storyline is that in a Top Secret facility an animal has been created that is nearly unstoppable. When it gets out of control, it's up to a small group of survivors to end the monster. I really liked the fact that the main person fighting the monster was basicly a handyman/electrician. He was so much more, but he mainly used his knowledge of electricity and electrical systems to fight the monster.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews