When paleontologists Samira and Kit uncover dinosaur skeletons in northern Thailand, they also find the remains of an ancient genetic technology that nations will kill to control. Catapulted into a web of murder and intrigue involving the Chinese Ministry of State Security, a powerful Asian crime syndicate, the CIA, and a beautiful Thai princess, Samira and Kit don’t know who they can trust. Torn apart by competing factions and stranded on opposite sides of the world, they race to discover the truth before the world goes to war. Can they bring the past to life before it kills them all?
Living Memory is the first book of a globe-spanning thriller series by the author of The Genius Plague.
David loves to read science fiction and lives near Philadelphia with his wife and eight children. His latest series, LIVING MEMORY, is a thriller in which paleontologists save the world.
"Walton has brought hard sci-fi roaring back to life." —The Wall Street Journal
“One of my favorite science fiction writers, Walton consistently delivers exciting thrillers packed with likeable characters and big ideas.” —Craig DiLouie
"...gives the reader exciting insights into the threats and the promises that are coming our way." —Vernor Vinge
There is a LOT to like in David Walton’s Living Memory. Where should I start? The original premise is clever and the worldbuilding original. The characters are warm and believable. There is thoughtful, non-cliché exploration of issues like authoritarianism and gender dominance and distrust of outsiders. The plot is suspenseful, and the action sequences are gripping without being overdone. Finally, the book has a decent resolution but leaves enough fodder for books 2 and 3 in the trilogy. The book description carefully contains no spoilers, and I want to adhere to that, so I will just say that the “ancient genetic technology” at the heart of the story is intriguing and imaginative, unlike anything I have read before. I am left with some questions about how it would work in some respects, showing the author has engaged my analytic brain as well as my fondness for a good story. I do not appreciate prolonged data dumps in my SF, but I will count on Walton to explore the technology more in the sequels. David Walton’s books are quite varied, but one consistent characteristic I like about them is their warmth. Even in the face of dire events, his characters can show caring and kindness, just like real people. The warmth extends to the small details as well. For example, I enjoyed the antics of Cope and Marsh, the Asian crows that Samira rescued on site in Thailand, and was sad when the scientists had to leave the crows behind when they evacuated. The characters in Living Memory are nicely developed. Paleontologists Beth and Samira are colleagues, but they are also sisters. This is doubly surprising to those who meet them, because Beth is “tiny and lightweight…with pale blotchy skin and blond hair that collected static electricity like a polyester suit”, and Samira, who was adopted by her American missionary parents from her birth country of Ethiopia, is six feet tall with dark black skin. The Thai paleontologist Kit is also interesting, torn between loyalty to his country and culture and dedication to his field. “He believed in science and its inherent value to the human race. He believed that humanity could be transformed, not by accepting what was, but by striving toward a future they could create together. Yeah, not a very good Buddhist at all.” There is even an activist Thai princess who, I learned, is a real person! What kind of reader will enjoy this book? Walton fans will find this a very satisfying addition to his works. If you are new to David Walton, the best comparison I might make would be to Robert J. Sawyer, who I noticed has praised this book, so he must agree! I will certainly nominate it for my science fiction book group, where I know it will provide fodder for some excellent discussion. Thank you, David Walton, for sending me an advance review copy of your book. I look forward to its publication so that my husband can enjoy it, too!
A team of American paleontologists working on a dig in Thailand uncovers the find of a lifetime, not only a new species perfectly fossilized in the sedimentary rock but what looks very much like a graveyard, with fossil after fossil buried in neat rows. Could this be evidence of something as incredible as sentience among the creatures who dies out 66 million years ago? The researchers aren’t going to have time to find answers to that, and other burning questions, because a coup has replaced the Thai government that sanctioned their work, and the new, China-backed government wants them out of the country in just days. Their local colleague, Kit, has mixed feelings about that. He would very much want the fossils to remain in Thailand so he can study them, and grow his country’s scientific reputation, but the hasty departure means that careful excavation is being thrown out the window as the Americans grab what they can. To be fair, they feel really bad about it.
But it’s not to be, because the fossils have a secret that the scientists appear to be the last to discover. Along with the bones, there are traces of a green liquid whose smell evokes a wide range of emotional and hallucinogenic responses…only, hallucinogens don’t convey actual information, do they?
What follows is a thriller that takes place across deep time and the ends of the Earth. Walton has come up with a story that requires the reader to jump a megalodon or two to accept his scientific premise about how much information can be encoded in a scent. Still, science fiction readers take more outrageous things in stride all the time, and the surrounding paleo-science is all spot on, as are the real-world political tensions.
The success of the story rests on the shoulders of the characters, and they carry the burden well. The American team is led by two sisters fiercely determined to get to the bottom of not just the scientific mystery, but why both the CIA and Chinese intelligence is so keen on their research. The Thai team has to balance their drive to do actual research with the military’s demand for them to isolate the green goo from the remains.
The author plays with some interesting ideas;, sentient dinosaurs that communicate by scent (does that make them scentient?), advanced technology based on biological constructs rather than machines, physical and social sexual dimorphism, both human and dinosaurian, and communication across species lines and deep time. It’s a lot to take in, but he’s made it a fun ride.
David Walton is often compared to Michael Crichton, and the Jurassic Park elements of Living Memory will certainly attest to the likeness, but he’s also got a fair amount of Rob Sawyer in him, especially apparent to anyone who read that author’s brilliant early work about intelligent dinosaurs going through an age of enlightenment: The Quintaglio Ascension.
Living Memory is supposed to be the first in a series. I don’t know how many books Walton is hoping to add, but I think it would make a solid trilogy. The first book has both a solid story arc and a definite hook into the sequel. It’s out in Kindle and Audiobook form, and if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can read it for free.
I always have a lot of fun with David Walton’s books. From battling deadly parasitic fungal diseases in The Genius Plague to surviving self-driving vehicles run amok in Three Laws Lethal, they’re always filled with fast-paced plots full of cinematic action, high-octane thrills and mind-blowing scientific concepts. So when I was offered a copy of Living Memory to review, I jumped at the chance. I mean, you couldn’t have possibly expected me to say no, could you, especially with a dinosaur on the cover?
Our story begins in Thailand, where the selling of dinosaur fossils on the black market has become a lucrative business. For two smugglers though, their latest find proves fatal as something else was discovered among the bones of a newly discovered miniraptor. Meanwhile, power is about to change hands in the Thai government, and a group of American-sponsored paleontologists are working around the clock to extract as many specimens as possible to ship back to the United States before they are kicked out of the country. Led by Samira and with help from local Thai paleontologist Kit, the team had made an extraordinary find of what appears to be a mass grave filled with the bones of many individual miniraptors arranged in neat rows—too neat to be the result of random chance. Their discovery suggests this to be some sort of ceremonial burial ground, which shouldn’t be possible.
But before any of the fossils can be transported, the Thai government seizes the shipment, and Samira and all the other foreign paleontologists are taken into custody for questioning and deportation. Kit is approached by the Thai military with an opportunity to lead his own dig at the mass burial site to uncover its mysteries. Among the dinosaur skeletons there, a green liquid substance had been found which, when inhaled, can cause a wide range of hallucinatory effects like visions to strong compulsions. The incoming regime suspects that Thailand’s biggest organized crime network may be using this substance to spread terror and gain influence across the countryside and wants Kit to find out as much as he can about it so they can put an end to all the gang activities. Back in the United States, Samira is surprised and uneasy to learn that her research in Thailand had been funded by the CIA all this time. They have known for a while about the strange substance and are plotting an operation to return to the dig site, ensuring its secrets won’t fall into the wrong hands.
There’s a lot to take in here, and I haven’t even gone into a major aspect of the book (and arguably it’s biggest hook) yet, though I’ve hinted at it. While I will not spoil the surprise, I will say this as a warning: it’s way off the plausibility charts and as someone with a bit of background in evolutionary ecology and paleobiology, I found the premise too farfetched to fully embrace. That said, by shutting up that part of my brain, I was able to enjoy the story and I think it’s possible to do so as long as you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and not ask too many questions.
The good news is, those who are drawn to Living Memory because of dinosaurs will not be disappointed. Yes, you will definitely get your dinosaur fix—though maybe not in the way you’d expect. In spite of myself, I enjoyed the ideas exploring miniraptor society, but even more fascinating to me were the present-day shenanigans such as the struggle between global powers, the rivalry between different science teams, or the race to stop the criminal network from unraveling the fabric of Thai society. Like I said, it’s a lot, but Walton still finds time to develop the characters and give them interesting backstories to make you care for them and feel invested in their goals.
I did have a moment of disappointment near the end when I thought things wrapped a little too quickly and anticlimactically before being hit with a cliffhanger ending, but then was very quickly mollified when I discovered Living Memory is only the opening volume to a planned series so there will be more. With the amount of fun I had, there’s no way I won’t return. Here’s to another action-packed dino adventure in the sequel!
I went into this thinking it was going to be a dino-monster slash-'em-up. But what I got was a crazy-good sci-fi about a hidden ancient culture, a look at modern-day paleontology, some international intrigue, and scary chemical warfare.
The nitty-gritty: David Walton's latest is part action-packed thriller, part fascinating dinosaur science, and 100% fun.
I love David Walton’s books, so when he asked me to read and review his latest, I couldn’t say no. Walton has a flair for combining science and technology with fast-paced, high stakes plots and engaging characters, and his ideas are mind-boggling at times. Living Memory might have the most unique idea I’ve run across in a long time: Walton imagines a scenario where a bird-like breed of dinosaurs called maniraptors were highly intelligent creatures, so intelligent that—well, it would spoil things if I told you, but trust me, you’re going to want to find out!
The story opens at a dig site in Thailand, where a group of paleontologists have just made a startling discovery. We meet Samira, an American who has secured permission to extract fossils from the site and take them back to the United States, and Kit, a native Thai paleontologist on Samira’s team who is acting as a local expert and helping Samira navigate the unfamiliar Thai landscape and customs. With advanced imaging technology, the team has uncovered rows of dinosaur skeletons, arranged so precisely as to suggest a formal burial ground of sorts.
But their excitement over the find is ruined when the Thai government informs them that American expats are no longer welcome in Thailand, due to a recent change of regime. And before Samira can finish her work, all of her fossils are seized and she and her team members are thrown into a holding cell for questioning.
Meanwhile, Kit has made his own discovery. While extracting one of the fossils, he found a strange, green liquid embedded in the rock, and when he breathed it in, he experienced an intense feeling of fear and vivid hallucinations. When a lieutenant approaches Kit and asks him to help uncover a drug smuggling ring, Kit suspects that it has something to do with this odd liquid.
In alternating chapters, we go back in time sixty-six million years and meet a maniraptor named Prey (whose full name is Sweet Blood of Easy Prey Just After Slaughter!), just one of a large group of intelligent dinosaurs who use scent to communicate. Prey has just seen something incredible—and terrifying. Now all he has to do is convince the others that this potentially life-changing event is real.
All these elements come together in a thrilling—and sometimes confusing—-story involving the CIA, Thai gangs, drug traffickers, a vengeful princess and a group of scientists who are determined to reveal the truth about the organized burial ground and its significance to the scientific world.
So there is a whole lot going on in Living Memory, and I guarantee you’ll never be bored. I absolutely loved the scientific elements and the way Walton blended them with the speculative idea of a super intelligent dinosaur species. I thought it was a bold choice to tell part of the story from the dinosaur's point of view, and Walton’s idea of what an intelligent dino might look like actually made sense in a lot of ways. Because of their large olfactory cavities, their sense of smell goes above and beyond simple scent and allows them a sophisticated communication system. I loved the way the author references intelligence in other species like chimpanzees and birds as a valid way to explain why dinosaurs might have had similar abilities. The maniraptor society is a matriarchy, and the females are twice as big as the males and set all of the society’s rules. I loved watching Prey try to get the females to listen to him, and in a weird role reversal, he’s disappointed when they brush him off. I was also very fond of the full names of the maniraptors—a couple of my favorites were Lush Warmth of Ocean Thermals after Rain and Fear Stink of Injured Mammal Limping Through the Sand, lol.
As for the human characters, I particularly liked Samira and her sister Beth (who is also a scientist), both fierce, independent women who are trying to survive in a male dominated field. Samira is Ethiopian and was adopted as a child, and despite her loving adoptive family, she’s been trying to fit in ever since. Among the many topics Walton explores in his story is that of faith. Beth believes that her religion will take care of her, while Samira questions everything and puts her faith in science. I loved that the sisters have such a close, loving relationship despite these differences.
I also really liked Kit, who is loyal to the Thai government but is feeling the sand shift beneath his feet as the new regime seems to go against everything he’s come to believe in. Kit is a dedicated scientist who simply wants the world to see that Thailand has much to offer in the field of paleontology, but he’s also glimpsed the seedy side of the country in its illegal drug and sex trafficking, and it horrifies him.
The story does go off the rails a bit at the end with some crazy, over-the-top action, but honestly, it was so much fun I just went with it. And I was actually surprised when I got to the last page and realized this is the start of a series! I’m not sure how I missed that going in, but the cliffhanger ending is the perfect hook to snag readers back for the next installment. Living Memory was a ton of fun, so if the combination of dinosaurs, politics and thriller-type action are your jam, you won’t want to miss this.
Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
Nooooo! You can't just end it there! I knew this would happen as soon as I preorderd this and read it was the start of a triloogy, but waiting until next May? Seriously? That's cruel!
Standout scene set in modernity has to be Mai in the mess hall in chapter 19, brilliant. And of course the historic stuff is just amazing, as you'd expect from Walton. I'm a little saddened that all the rest of his works have been longer, more complete stories, yet now I know there's going to absolutely be something to read in May 2023 that i'll enjoy.
A new author and narrator for me and love finding new great listens.
This was such an amazing listen so different but addictive.. it brought in current politics, science fiction, human relationships all together. All in all I cannot wait to see how thus develops.
the narration suited the book and made each category unique.
Disclaimer: I did receive this as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts my own and I was not paid to promote this book.
If you grew up loving films like Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, I think you’re going to really enjoy this book. It’s a terrific blend of sci-fi/fantasy adventure and tense political/espionage/action thriller and Walton has put together a rock solid twist on the archaeology/dinosaur side that is so incredibly fun. The leap that he has taken from The Genius Plague to Living Memory shows that Walton is a name every sci-fi fan should probably pay attention to.
I highly recommend you add this one to your watch list and make sure to grab a copy once it is released this October. If it wasn’t for the slightly disjointed feel of the two parts of the story through the early part of this book this would have edged up to a 5 star read for me. The story was still greatly enjoyable and well worth the adventure!
I’ve been a fan of David Walton for many years and was excited for his next venture—and it’s about dinosaurs!
Living Memory felt very different from his other works but still held itself well with a new topic of science. I loved the various locations and timelines presented in the book and how the characters were all humanized.
I wasn’t sure how the ending would turn out and I absolutely LOVED the cliffhanger. I’m already so excited for the second book in the series!
Now, here’s a story that involves dinosaurs, Thai human traffickers, teams of paleontologists, and the CIA. They all come together in David Walton’s thrilling new science fiction novel, Living Memory. Walton, an engineer, writes hard science fiction, thoroughly grounded in known science. And that’s fully on display here. Most of the action in the story unfolds in northeastern Thailand, a favorite locale for paleontologists as well as smugglers on the hunt for dinosaur fossils. The details about the dinosaurs in the novel are accurate (up to a point), and the preoccupations of the scientists who study them are clearly in evidence. Even the political events that overshadow the action are credible. Just don’t expect the story as a whole to be realistic.
PALEONTOLOGISTS IN BITTER CONFLICT As the novel opens, we meet the three scientists who are central to the tale. Sisters Samira and Beth Shannon are American paleontologists excavating a promising site on a generous research grant. Their Thai colleague, Dr. Kittipoom Chongsuttanamanee, known as Kit, is struggling to build up a center for paleontology at the local university. He deeply resents their plan to ship the fossils they find back to America instead of leaving them in his museum. The seeds for conflict are clear. And that conflict breaks out into the open when China engineers a coup in the Thai government, and soldiers descend on the worksite to seize Samira and Beth as “CIA spies.”
A TWO-TRACK STORY SPANNING 66 MILLION YEARS There is something passing strange about the fossils the paleontologists are seeking to wrench from the ground. They represent a new species of maniraptor, an important discovery in its own right. The skull on one of the fossils is nearly intact, which is exceedingly rare. Their olfactory bulbs are enormous. And, strangest of all, “they had located twenty-seven distinct skeletons, all oriented the same way, arranged in neat rows.” It’s almost as though the dinosaurs had buried them in a cemetery.
Or had they?
Not long into the story we learn that, yes, these maniraptors might well have buried their dead in a cemetery. We meet them in their element, sixty-six million years ago. Our guide is a brilliant mathematician and astronomer named Easy Prey—full name Sweet Blood of Easy Prey Just After Slaughter—who, as a male, is subservient to the much larger females who rule their society. His name reflects the facts that they communicate largely by scent and are astonishingly successful organic chemists and geneticists. And Easy Prey soon makes an astounding discovery in the heavens. Unfortunately, no matter how exhaustively he presents the facts, he can’t convince the powers that be that it represents a threat to them. Naturally, knowing how all but the avian dinosaurs died, we understand perfectly well what Easy Prey has found.
A THRILLER TO THE END Expect fireworks in Living Memory, which will hold your attention to its shocking conclusion. The conflict between Thai and American paleontologists is merely a pale reflection of the larger drama playing out on the international stage. As you’ll see when an American special ops team enters the picture..
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Living Memory is David Walton‘s eighth science fiction novel. Since his debut as a novelist in 2008, he has twice won major awards in the genre for his books. In his author website, Walton explains that he is a Christian but makes clear that he does not share the extremist views of some American Christians today. His views on religion surface in one important passage in the novel. He lives near Philadelphia with his wife and seven children.
I should've known better. Mr. Walton can easily juggle multiple story ideas at one time, and yet he completely faked me out. Living Memory started out as a ho-hum dino dig in Thailand when world politics kicked in and the American dig team was given a week's notice to collect their gear and go home. Then, in a fascinating turn the story completely shifts gears and tone to 66 millions years ago when the subjects of the dig are alive and thriving but their lives have taken on a desperate urgency. Then we are back to the present and all hell is breaking loose as the CIA gets involved along with the Chinese state security apparatus, a ruthless Asian crime syndicate, a beautiful Thai princess and two primary characters are HALOed into Thailand.
Just as I was wondering how on earth Mr. Walton was going to wrap things up he hits the reader with a cliffhanger ending! I couldn't believe it!
Librarians, your male readers will enjoy this book, especially the ones who normally avoid science fiction.
Firstly, do not be scared off by this novel’s cover art… there is an entertaining read within.
What I always enjoy about David Walton’s brand of science fiction are the strong ties to the world we know — whether that be real-world events, geo-political tensions or scientific advancements. From these solid and highly credible footings, he then challenges readers to step outside of their comfort zone. In the case of Living Memory, he asks us to consider the notion of a technologically advanced society having existed many millions before our own.
Living Memory features the widest time span between alternating narratives I’ve ever read, and its ensemble cast (human and other!) is comprised of strongly drawn and engaging characters with diverse backstories. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/...
Really interesting story told from three perspectives--an American paleontologist, struggling with being kicked off her dig due to a coup in the host country on the verge of an amazing find; the host country colleague, who resents that he needs foreign support to conduct scientific research and has conflicted feelings about working with the military to continue the dig; and...one of the dinosaurs they were studying, in the time just before the mass extinction event. While some of the plot elements seem far-fetched, and yes, some suspension of disbelief is necessary, Walton melds them all into a well-paced story. The real negative is the cliffhanger ending, essentially concluding with "find out what happens next" previewing the next book. I really dislike books that can't stand alone, even if they do draw the reader into the second book.
What a great read! Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? I was way into them as a kid and collected fossils as well. It’s amazing how all of those scientific interests and more got turned into a science fiction thriller. The characters are from many different backgrounds with different viewpoints on the world, and they all seem like real people with real problems and imperfections. The conflicts over nationality, religion, how science is carried out, and more feel realistic and fair to each group from the characters in that perspective. And it all fits together into an exciting story full of discovery and wonder. An excellent read.
There's a reason why dinosaurs have large olfactory chambers...
What starts as a tale of intriguing archaeological findings takes a sudden turn when one of the characters 'experiences' a dinosaur memory that's been chemically preserved. Dinosaur society runs on biochemical technology, and things become interesting in the modern world when the same chemistry can be used to control human behaviour. Yes, it does take some suspension of belief that the chemistry can achieve such complexity and doesn't decay over millions of years, but the ideas in the novel are fascinating and entertaining - I only wish the story was longer, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Living Memory is Book 1 in the Living Memory Series by David Walton. I thought this book was interesting. It is set in Thailand with American and Thailand paleontologist with a new discovery of dinosaur fossils. There is a green substance that gives a sweet sickly decaying smell. Does it bring the dinosaurs back to life? Maybe/maybe not! You have to read this different thriller to discover the truth. I found this book to be very interesting. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
A very interesting book that kept me listening to it all the way. A new refreshing book and topic on paleontology. There are not many out there. I like the storyline and all its facets. Kit, a Thai paleontologist, is especially intriguing since he struggles with whether to be loyal to his nation and culture or to his profession. He strongly believed in science and its intrinsic worth to the human race. He thought that humanity could change by working toward a future they could build rather than accepting what was. I will recommend the listen of this book
This book grabbed from the start. A palentologists dream is to find intact dinosaur remains and the ultimate is to have them so well preserved there is still some biological matter. Sentient dinosaurs was an unexpected twist. I thought it was going to become an episode of the 90s tv show Dinosaurs but the hard science and real world social and political issues really saved it from being a farce. The storyline had lots of action but the characters were also well developed and likeable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Highly recommend.
An amazingly good and original sci-fi idea brought down to an average book by the authors inability to write adult human dialogue – and to mention just one problem on that side how many protagonist tantrums of the ”I demand to know everything the CIA has and/or think about whatever this is before I sign up” are we really exspected to believe a highly intelligent civilian academic would throw? This is basically YA, but with lots of swear words, some sex trade villains and some religious pondering for spicey flavour. Three stars.
I picked out this book because I was drawn to the cover and subject matter. I thought I pretty well knew what I was going to get. I was wrong. I was expecting a Jurassic Park type story but got so so much more. This was way beyond my expectations and I was delighted with the story. I expected to enjoy it but what a treat it was. Absolutely looking forward to book 2. I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion of the tale.
A well crafted, engaging, entertaining, scientific error-free, well performed audio book for anyone who like Jurassic Park. Paleontologists working in Thailand find paradigm shifting fossils of interest to many world powers. International worlds intrigue and scientific endeavors ensue. Great story!
David Walton's latest book is an adventure in two time periods: now-ish and 60+ million years ago. Both timelines are full of action, though I admit I loved hanging out with the dinosaurs more than anything else. There's not a ton I can say without spoiling a lot of content, but if you like dinosaurs and crave more science-y action with them, I highly recommend this book.
....and then disaster struck. Reading the first 3 pages of chapter 6, did this book in. I mean really, dinosaurs with jobs. WTH!! Stupidest thing I've ever read....ever!! No way could I read any further. Too bad, as up until then, it was pretty good.
David Walton is an excellent author. This book is outstanding in its depth of imagination. Paleontologists uncover dinosaur skeletons in northern Thailand. And the action ensues. There is science and culture and military involvement from several sides. Any incredible concept perfectly written.
An interesting story, although the archeological and biological consequences are more than far-fetched. But, taken as a combination of political intrigue and the ramifications of a hypothetical game-changing weapon/discovery, it is a pretty interesting exploration.
This was surprisingly good! Like, goofy as heck, but dinosaurs are very fun. And let's just say that the final scene delivers on the promise implicit in the narrative decision to introduce us to dinosaur society and characters from 65 million years ago.
What an unusual and exciting story! Living Memory is well-written, there are a number of appealing characters, especially Prey, and there's plenty of action. However, it's the ideas that captured my attention and kept me reading.
Living Memory brought to mind one of the conundrums I often consider when reading science fiction, that if we ever come across communications or computer technology alien from our own species, how will we ever know how to connect with it, much less comprehend it?
If I found an eight-track tape, even if I didn't have an eight-track player, I'd know what the cassette was and what equipment I'd need to look for to play it. Even a culture we know only from earliest historical writings had as their basis the same basic cultural features we see today. With time and luck, like finding the Rosetta Stone, we've gained a rough understanding of what our ancient ancestors were like.
But, they were people, like us. The ability to understand the motivations of beings that are radically different from ourselves biologically and culturally would be a formidable task. David Walton has created a unique work-around for these problems to bring us this book.
The science behind the core premise really challenged me and will be food for thought for some time. I don't know enough about the fields of study involved to claim that what happens in the book is entirely plausible, but it's presented believably. It's a terrifically suspenseful science fiction thriller. I can't wait for the sequel!
I'd like to thank David Walton and BookSirens for the free advance reader's copy of Living Memory. My review is given freely, without any sense of obligation. It's a terrific read
Really original concepts in re dinosaurs and how they might have develped a highly intelligent society, and for you action fans that's in the mix as well, but dang that cliffhanger ending!