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Area 7 / Contest
AREA 7 & CONTEST [Paperback] Reilly, Matthew
493 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Reilly
68 books6,269 followersBorn in Sydney in 1974, Matthew Reilly was not always a big fan of reading. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying law.
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2012
My first two books (in one) by this author and they have left me wanting to get the others now :). Both stories whilst being so different in plot and location were fast paced and (moreso in Area 7) kept the plot twists coming thick and fast.
One area that I found different in Area 7 was character development, Reilly gives you enough character detail to be able to form an image and personality but doesn't let that get in the way of the pace of the story and if needed will kill off characters (don't always expect the good guys to win :) )
Roll on the next books :)
One area that I found different in Area 7 was character development, Reilly gives you enough character detail to be able to form an image and personality but doesn't let that get in the way of the pace of the story and if needed will kill off characters (don't always expect the good guys to win :) )
Roll on the next books :)
February 13, 2021
Possibly my favourite of Matthew Reilly's ultra-action novels so far. Reilly works on the principle of putting as many disturbing and frightening things into an enclosed space and asks his heroes to deal with the situation. This time it's a terrifying mix of bears, psychopaths, elite forces, megalomaniacs, nuclear weapons, killer viruses, the president of the USA and komodo dragons. And you think I'm joking!
With so much hi-octane action there's little time for the usual staples of plot, realism and character development, but to be honest who cares? This is the literary equivalent of a roller coaster ride with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the controls. And as it states in the author interview at the end - one critic had written that none of the characters actually live long enough to justify character development!
It's pacey, fun and genuinely funny. If you need a dose of adrenalin in book form, give it a go.
With so much hi-octane action there's little time for the usual staples of plot, realism and character development, but to be honest who cares? This is the literary equivalent of a roller coaster ride with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the controls. And as it states in the author interview at the end - one critic had written that none of the characters actually live long enough to justify character development!
It's pacey, fun and genuinely funny. If you need a dose of adrenalin in book form, give it a go.
January 6, 2020
Audiobook :I know it is full of action, but some sections of the book get really on your nerves, when reading the names of people in the unit with their link... No need for that at all.
The second thing I found annoying, is this area 7. Unless you have been there you can get lost in the details of the site.
There are however some gripping sections which I enjoyed.
It is worth reading and form your own opinion.
I just how that other books are better than this one.
The second thing I found annoying, is this area 7. Unless you have been there you can get lost in the details of the site.
There are however some gripping sections which I enjoyed.
It is worth reading and form your own opinion.
I just how that other books are better than this one.
March 7, 2019
The bloodiest book ever...you have a death or a kill in almost every page...close to 500 pages of blood gore and death. Highly improbable plot.but you can't put the book down either!
August 7, 2020
Not my usual type of book but I absolutely loved both of these. Read them both in one day each. The action, although sometimes gruesome, keeps you conpletely engrossed. Highly recommended.
Read
December 7, 2021Great read
May 27, 2013
A political leader is in danger, lives are in danger, all at the mercy of a violent mind needing some fun. Who is to save us? Call sign: Scarecrow.
YEAH BABY! that's what I am talking about. Pure, heart thumping, tunnel vision inducing raw action writing. Commando versus commando, room to room combat, all the while there is a goddamn serial killer on the prowl. I almost beat my chest like King Kong after the first chapter.
Phew! does Mr. Reilly know to write or what?
Read in Optimus Prime's voice: I am Optimus Prime and I am sending this message. Read this book. Prime out.
YEAH BABY! that's what I am talking about. Pure, heart thumping, tunnel vision inducing raw action writing. Commando versus commando, room to room combat, all the while there is a goddamn serial killer on the prowl. I almost beat my chest like King Kong after the first chapter.
Phew! does Mr. Reilly know to write or what?
Read in Optimus Prime's voice: I am Optimus Prime and I am sending this message. Read this book. Prime out.
January 23, 2017
Area 7: 3.5*** I enjoyed this book having picked it up cheaply and I'm not a bit action thriller reader. It did grip me quite a lot and I connected with the characters so was a decent read.
Contest: 3*** I didn't feel the same way about this one, thought the plot was quite simple and often predictable. You could tell that this was the author's first novel and is not as well developed as Area 7 and I'd imagine the later 'Schofield' novels are.
Contest: 3*** I didn't feel the same way about this one, thought the plot was quite simple and often predictable. You could tell that this was the author's first novel and is not as well developed as Area 7 and I'd imagine the later 'Schofield' novels are.
October 25, 2013
It's a shame I didn't write my review when I read the book,because I don't remember much now. What I do remember, however, is that I really enjoyed it. As with any Reilly's book,it's well-written and action-packed. I'd reccomend any of his books, they are all wonderful reads.
March 10, 2011
One of the best books I have ever read
April 27, 2011
a cracking good read, i like this author, ive read this and a few others all been good in there own way..
October 26, 2016
fast paced, great
June 6, 2016
All action. Pretty average.
May 10, 2010
Great writing, fast moving
July 11, 2013
Loved this book, but what can I say I love they way Matthew Reilly wirtes
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews