Missing Link

by Walt Becker

Deep in Africa, an international team of paleontologists is in search of the key to mankind's past. They're after bones. Ancient human bones. But what they'll find will change the course of history. At stake is nothing less than the final piece in the evolutionary puzzle, a prize that will confer instant immortality upon its discoverer. With the answer to this riddle comes technology so advanced that the future of the human race cannot go unchanged. For the long-sought “missing link” that made the leap from ape to man may have been stranger than we'd ever imagine. Fast-paced and provocative, this is a thriller that races the heart and challenges the mind.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Fantasy, Action, Horror

463 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining Indiana Jones-type archaeology adventure. The discovery is made of an extraterrestial skeleton in Africa and we're back to the theory that aliens were involved in the creation of the human race. An interesting idea--I remember being intrigued by the book "Chariots of the Gods" when it came out in the 70s. But, basically, this is a standard adventure story, not particularly well-written (as compared to, say, Michael Crichton). I give it 3 stars.

[Alana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the worst books I have ever read. It used cheap writing tactics like cliff hangers to further a plot riddled with problematic themes and concepts. It glorified the theft of indigenous artifacts "for the good of humanity." The only two women in the entire book were over-sexualized and seemed to be there only to glorify the men. The female militia member was described as "wanting to be rescued from her rough life by a man" (paraphrased) and her only backstory was a brief account of r*pe which served no purpose in the overall story (her character would've been just as one-dimensional without this inclusion). Variations of the phrase "in the world of men" were used no less than four times throughout the book when it came to describing the female scientist (as a woman in science myself, I can testify that wanting to forge a place for myself "in the world of men" is not a dominant motivation for why women go into science). This book also mixed up the terms hypothesis and theory when giving a "scientific" explanation for why Darwinist evolution is wrong (a mix-up of those terms is a huge part of why climate change deniers and creationists are able to give an argument against science). In its favour, the author did do research into the field and included a bibliography at the end. Additionally, though I have not read many books where this is the case, I suppose the indigenous people and women could've been written worse than they were. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

[Stanimira Deleva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very stereotypical - when reading it, it sounds in my head like a script for a straight-to-video bad adventure movie. All of the characters are very typical - the hot female anthropologist, the rebel ex-boyfriend scientist, the rich guy that goes with them. Everything that you read has already been written/shown on screen countless times. I will not bother finishing this book.

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Link" is a simplistic thriller that takes a high concept idea but does very little with it besides your typical, run-of-the-mill characterizations and plot twists. This is a very light, by-the-numbers effort that takes a good concept and ruins it with lackluster writing.

BUT: If you are a fan of 'Ancient Aliens' on the 'History Channel' you will find this novel to be excellent supplemental material.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a fast paced adventure novel. This was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the story line, and find the different scientific and historical ideas interesting.

[Elektrohase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Auf der einen Seite gut recherchiert, auf der anderen sehr dumme Charaktere (schlecht recherchiert??) und zu viel Romantik und Eifersüchteleien.

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very ambitious first novel that occasionally gets lost in the science involved. Here's the basic premise: a female paleoanthropologist on a dig in Mali uncovers an extraterrestrial skeleton that has been well preserved inside a lava flow. Realizing she doesn't have the knowledge or experience to pursue the find, she calls her ex who has been teaching anthropology courses in Ecuador. He rushes to her side, and a series of clues lead them to the ruins of Tiahuanaco two miles above the Bolivian rain forest. Gaining access to a large series of rooms beneath the ruins, they find evidence that this was the long-ago home of a group of extraterrestrials, and, further, that sexual dalliances between these aliens and humans might have been the "missing link" between Homo sapiens and Homo erectus. This is not an easy read because of the many disciplines involved; Mr. Becker draws from a variety of fields such as astronomy, archaeology, engineering, geology, mathematics, paleontology, and mythology. In fact, there was a section during a discussion of gene therapy and DNA sequencing that I felt I was back in college listening to a lecture! But Link is a fun read if you can wrap your mind around it.

[Dokusha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Die Geschichte wird spannend erzählt und man wartet auf die Auflösung des Rätsels. Zudem gelingt es dem Autoren, ein Ende zu schreiben, das weder dämlich ist noch mehr Fragen aufwirft, als es löst.
Soweit das Positive. Weshalb ich trotzdem nur zwei Sterne vergeben habe, ist dies: der psseudo-wissenschaftliche Unterbau der Geschichte ist zum weglaufen. Der Autor hat die Evolutionstheorie nicht verstanden. Dazu schmeißt er eine Menge wilder Behauptungen in den Raum, die alle bei näherer Betrachtung Unsinn sind und bestenfalls von ein paar Esoterikern ernstgenommen werden. Dadurch wird der Roman viel zu stark in die Ecke von von Däniken und Co. gestellt und ist entsprechend unseriös - was sich mit dem Thema und seiner Aufmachung beißt.
Auérdem (dafür kann der Autor aber nichts) gibt es relativ viele Druck- und/oder Übersetzungsfehler, die einem das Lesen auch nicht gerade versüßen.
Eine gute Idee, aber leider nicht gut umgesetzt.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

(How come this title didn't come up when I typed it in?) Anyway, this is a rather exciting book, which could probably be made into a nice film. The main characters are Samantha Colby, a paleoanthropologist, her current lover and the rich guy who is footing the bill for her explorations--Dorn, her former lover and scientist, Jack Austin, and Ricardo Olivarez, a third scientist. It begins in Mali where Sam and Ricardo have located an interesting fossil of a pre-human. Jack gets wind of it and joins the group, which then moves to Ecuador where four fingered very tall skeletons show up. The premise is that extraterrestrials came to earth, taught the Dogons of Africa and the Ecuadorians various things, and then couldn't get back. Dorn wants all the findings, as do some men from the US government. What happens next?

[Tara Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good book that could have been great. Some archaeologists dig up proof of extraterrestrial life in the form of a missing link between Neanderthal Man and Homo Sapiens Man. But by books end, all proof is destroyed by a greedy man out to exploit the alien technology, so the world stays in the dark about this link. It was well-written, and I really rooted for the characters, I just thought they deserved more that just surviving with their knowledge of their find at the end of the book.

[Michael Moats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise but felt more like a Raiders of the Lost Ark re-written. Pace was fine but the characters were not very complex. As the story progressed it became apparent that it was actually written as a rebuttal to the theory of evolution. Benevolent aliens replaced the Judeo-Christian God as the "creators" who elevated humans into civilization. Why? Because there can be no other rational explanation. Ridiculous.

[Michael Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book a long time ago. Picked it up in an airport because I forgot to bring a book along. I burned through it. Highly entertaining, well-written, and just enough "science" behind it to keep you pondering the possibilities long after you've finished reading. In fact, I still think about the theory behind this book from time to time. A great, casual read.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

God, I read so many bad books last summer. I was stuck in at my grandma's house in Germany for a month, and the only English books she has are shitty paperbacks my dad buys at the airport and leaves in Germany when he visits.

[Kenneth Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

not my typical literature genre, but I loved this book. fun ancient aliens/indiana Jones feel. I'd be interested in reading more books in this vein.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this again not remembering I read it. I remember it being fun, but not worth a re read.

[Chris Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The female characters were so randomly over sexualised that they served nothing to the plot. Each male character had some dialogue about how hot and sexy with someone they had just met.

I liked the story and idea behind the story, but some of the writing felt very corny and massively stereotyped. The characters were sometimes insufferable, and the dialogue was extremely cheesy.

Apart from that, I like how they did research to further their argument of ancient technology and extraterrestrials. It was an interesting adventure book but nothing special.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Space-Kreationismus??

Das Buch fing wirklich super an und versprach eine Geschichte im Indiana Jones Stil. Leider wurde das Ganze, je weiter ich gelesen habe, immer abstruser und die Charaktere klischeehafter. Was mich aber vor allem gestört hat, war dass ich das Gefühl hatte, der Autor nutzt die Geschichte um merkwürdige teils kreationistische Theorien auszuführen und unter die Leute zu bringen. Drei Sterne sind da eigentlich noch recht hoch gegriffen, aber es gab zwischendurch auch immer wieder Passagen die mir Spaß gemacht haben.

[KCiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was slightly turned off shortly after starting it for reasons I won't say to avoid spoiling anything, but I stuck with it and was delightfully surprised. The story progressed nicely and was interesting if a bit predictable at times.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable story, with a nice mix of science, myth, and action.

[DK · Rating 3 out of 5]

paleoanthropologists discover alien fossils and technology and the missing link; very interesting and based on mysterious "facts"

[Cindy Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Not the most engaging writing.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1998. In a tiny cave in Central Africa, paleoanthropologist Samantha Cody has discovered the skeleton of what might be the long sought 'missing link'.

[Steve Skoe]

read

[Reinhold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wenn Erich von Däniken Romane schriebe ...

... dann würden sie dieses Thema umkreisen. In der afrikanischen Wüste finden Wissenschafter das Skelett eines vor vielen Jahrtausenden gestorbenen Außerirdischen und ein Artefakt, das offenbar ein Gerät dieses Außerirdischen darstellt. In eine Geschichte um Herz, Schmerz, Liebe, Abenteuer und viel Action verpackt der Autor die von Erich von Däniken seit Jahrzehnten gepredigte Idee, dass Außerirdische auf der Erde gelandet sind und mit den Menschen in Kontakt getreten sind. Ein Stoff also aus dem man wahrlich große Romane schaffen könnte, wenn ...

... ja wenn nicht der Autor in billigste Klischees abgerutscht wäre und die Geschichte zu simpel und durchschaubar gestrickt hätte. Sprachlich erregt das Werk ebenfalls kein Aufsehen, aber es ist auch kein Groschenroman. Die Handlung ist sehr gerafft und es kommt niemals Langeweile auf, für meinen Geschmack jedoch ist einfach zu viel Action und insgesamt erscheint mir alles à la schlechter Hollywood-Produktion. Das soll heißen, die guten Wissenschafter die ausschließlich am Wohl der Menschheit interessiert sind, gegen die bösen Wirtschaftsbosse und die CIA, die beide über Leichen gehen um ihre Ziele zu erreichen. Alles ist schwarz und weiß, es gibt praktisch kein grau. Noch schlimmer allerdings ist, dass Becker permanent die Spannung ans Äußerste treibt und immer alles in letzter - in allerletzter - Sekunde wieder gerichtet wird. Das Ende des Romans ist dann die letzte Krise in die er hineinschlittert, es wird einfach offengelassen - für eine etwaige Fortsetzung?

Was also soll man nun also jemandem raten? Wenn Sie pure Unterhaltung ohne Anspruch suchen, dann greifen Sie beruhigt zu, erwarten Sie nicht zu viel und Sie werden nicht enttäuscht. Finden Sie, dass Ihre Zeit zu wertvoll ist sie mit Groschenromanen zu verschwenden, dann überlegen Sie zweimal, ob Sie wirklich dieses Buch lesen wollen.
Kommentar Kommentar | Kommentar als Link

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome good!! Action packed throughout!! My Dad gave me this book to read about 12 years ago and it finally leapt off the shelf and into my hands. It's not my "normal" kind of genre, which is why I think I put it off for so long, but I loved the adventure.

The characters are stereotypical in a lot of ways, but I found that it really didn't matter. If I had one complaint, it's that the Paleoanthropologists and scientists tend to let their passion and excitement lead the way rather than their brains. This was completely acceptable and expected in Dorn's character, but unrealistic in the others. Still . . it's an action adventure and if you let that "realism" go, it's just fantastic. Like reading a Indiana Jones movie! At one point, I found myself wondering OUT LOUD who had come to the rescue ~ and it wasn't who I thought.

I also wondered, especially as the author is a screenwritier, why this book has never been made into a movie. Yes, some of the premise is far-fetched, but you tend to forget that with the writing. It would make a fantastic movie!

Finally, I like it's thought provoking-ness. It's makes you wonder about the origins of man and what the possibilities are. AND I love that Becker includes a bibliography at the end so you can see for yourself where his ideas came from and how they may not be so far from the truth. Fantastic way to take an idea and run, run, run with it!!

[Nancy Zorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel sat on my shelf for ages before I decided to give it a go. I was put off by the cover and the whole “missing link” premise. As it turned out, I actually rather enjoyed the story. It read very much like an Indiana Jones meets alien archaeology adventure. Mali? Rain forest jungles of Brazil? Exotic, no? Becker wove factual unsolved mysteries into his tale like the Dogon tribe and their knowledge of certain astrological phenomenon thousands of years before Western science and the existence of the Piri Reis map. (It's real. Google it.) I wasn't thrilled by the ending, but I had fun getting there. How this escaped being picked up and adapted for the screen is a bit of a mystery in itself since it reads very much like it was written for the screen. It shouldn't be surprising to learn the author is a director and screenwriter. I thought for sure my husband would love the novel given the exotic locations. He quit after less than 100 pages. Either I'm really shallow or my low expectations allowed me to enjoy what others thought was a marginal read.

[Alexandria Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

What made me pick up this book was the cover, I thought the book looked interesting becasue there was a image of a sekeleton hand with only four fingers. What I liked about the book was that it was about aliens, and I've not read a alien book in a while. What I didn't like was that there wasn't any alien encouters. what could have made the book better if the took out some unnessary facts and that it should be fast-paced. What I want to read now is a book that has some fiction and supernatural. I recommend this book to people who like some romance and adventure.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good tale of the anthropological find of the ages - a skeleton of man's ancestor that shows that there was alien intervention in human development. Of course, there are those who scoff and want it surpressed. But, there are others who . . . I will not give that away and ruin it for you. Let's just say that this novel takes that alien intervention one step further. This is a good suspense thriller.

[Jonathan]

Enjoyed the book - nice mix of science and an amazing reference list of books at the end of the book showed he did his research. Exciting plot turns and interesting speculation about some of the mysteries of the ancient world. A very easy read and perfect for a downtime relaxing read. Main characters were fairly well developed, though from the beginning I did not imagine that the main character would have become the action figure that he becomes at the end.

[Javier Robayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, fast-paced, a total eye openener that despite being a work of fiction, lends much credibility to some of the newer theories about one of the most inexplicable facets of human history: How did the Ancients know so much about space?
There is so much you will learn from this amazing novel, and plenty of things that will keep you up at night as you ponder the possibilities of our own origin