Gary Jennings' Apocalypse 2012

Gary Jennings's Apocalypse 2012 #1

by Gary Jennings, Junius Podrug, Gary Jennings

Today€™s world leaders and those of 1,000 years ago face the world€™s end. The Mayan €œEnd-Time Codex€ predicts the end of the world in 2012. A young Aztec-Mayan slave tells the story of its gifted in math and astronomy, Coyotl advises the god-king, Quetzalcoatl. Gathering artists, scientists, and architects, this ruler builds the great, golden city of Tula but soon faces war, disastrous drought, death-cult priests who rip the hearts out of thousands of people. . . and an epic catastrophe threatening all humanity.Meanwhile, thousand years later, scientists have rediscovered the End-Time Codex and learned that their own time mirrors Tula€™s golden age. Can they crack the 2012 code and save their world from Tula€™s deadly fate? The countdown begins.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 9, 2009

About the author

Gary Jennings led a paradoxically picaresque life. On one hand, he was a man of acknowledged intellect and erudition. His novels were international best sellers, praised around the world for their stylish prose, lively wit and adventurously bawdy spirit. They were also massive - often topping 500,000 words - and widely acclaimed for the years of research he put into each one, both in libraries and in the field.

Jennings served in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal- a decoration rarely given to soldier-reporters- and a personal citation by South Korean President Syngman Rhee for his efforts on behalf of war orphans.

Where the erudition came from, however, was something of a mystery.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/garyje...

Reviews

[Gouty]

This has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. First off Gary Jennings has been dead for a decade. This is the literary equivalent of digging up his corpse urinating on it and reburying it face down. Some of he main characters are absolutely unbelievable, and I am very liberal about authors making far out characters. One of the main female character’s mom was “a full blooded india actually; natural born azteca-pura.” Her dad on the other hand was a dirt poor moonshiner living in the Tennessee Smokey Mountains. Just take the time and try to think of a possible scenario of how they met….Can’t think of anything? Neither could the authors. They will spend a paragraph or two to introduce a character to only have them say a few lines and then disappear. While all this is bad the ending is the absolute worst. It was like the authors ran out of Jennings notes wrote some gobbilty-gook nonsense and then tacked on “The End”. No resolution, no explanation, no wrapping up and no finality.

[Waven · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to condemn books, because I understand that many people put a lot of time and effort into getting one into print and onto the shelf. But I feel very sorry for them in this instance; Apocalypse 2012 was a 410-page waste.

Although it is attributed to Gary Jennings, this is a book written and published posthumously, a full decade after his death, with Robert Gleason and Junius Podrug as contributing authors/editors.

So, my complaints. Firstly, this book is full of plot holes, inconsistencies, and grammatical errors. I've read much better from first-time, self-published authors. Secondly, despite the bold use of "apocalypse" in the title, very little happens. Much of the book revolves around main character Coyotl wandering through cities and landscapes with no real focus. There are nebulous hints of an important intersection between secret manuscripts, mythology, and the infamous Mayan Calendar, but nothing ever materializes. (I suspect the "important intersection" is the basis for the sequel, The 2012 Codex, which looks equally unimpressive). When, at long last, an action scene or something interesting does come along, the author(s) have an uncanny ability to suck the excitement from it and bore the reader. For example, as a city burns and tides of civilization shift, the author(s) spend nearly two pages naming items looted; it reads like a shopping list, with as much thrill and suspense as that suggests.

After reading this book, I could also write a 50-page dissertation on period loincloths, which is a lot more than I needed to know about ancient underwear. And in the category of the unwanted and unnecessary, there are also two unfortunate sexual scenes, both flat but fairly lurid, one bordering on pornographic. The apparent attempt to spice things up succeeds only in degrading what little plot they involve.

The characterizations are poor, as well, with little to no development. One modern couple is described as a Chihuahuan Mexican woman of pure Aztec descent (a geneology that, arguably, doesn't even exist) and a West Virginia moonshiner. They form a marriage that stretches credulity (how, for instance, would such a couple meet? those details are handily avoided). Also of interest, those characters of questionable lineage have a daughter who is credited with killing a brown bear with a shotgun at age 12. I find this an especially interesting feat since - age and weaponry aside - the range of brown bears doesn't come within a thousand miles of West Virginia. Equally unfortunate is the fact that most of the other characters are not even sketched as well as that, just a trail of blank faces and almost non-existent personas.

I do not enjoy saying it, but this sad example of literature should be left alone if you happen to run across it. I recommend it to no one, and that is an absolute first for me.

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I recall reading the Gary Jennings novel “Aztec” several years ago and although I remember it as being soft core “violence porn” it seemed well researched historically and was an entertaining read at the time. So, when I saw Jennings name splashed on the dust jacket of this one I did what was probably expected by the publisher and picked it up without really noticing that it was written by two other authors, since unbeknownst to me Jennings had died in 1999. Sometimes you just don’t get what you pay for and this disjointed story---of Coyotl, a brilliant astronomer in training, in 1001 AD, who discovers that his golden civilization is about to come to an end---proves it. A pathetic attempt at a parallel plot set in modern times becomes confused and lost early on and should have been edited out entirely but it wasn’t and so the reader is left to scratch his head in bewilderment. Don’t bother.

[Liviu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gary Jennings passed away in 1999 and he was a great writer with a masterpiece in Aztec and excellent novels in Raptor, Journeyer and even Spangle, while Aztec Autumn was uneven but worth reading. After his death "he continued" to publish ghost novels so to speak and some were decent, at least exciting but this one is truly, truly bad.

Just an unbelievably bad book and disgracing the memory of a great writer.

At least the Aztec sort-of-sequels were exciting despite the acceptable to bad prose, but this one which seems to be the start of a series has absolutely cardboard characters and naming conventions (Dr. Cardiff sounds like the authors really have a joke at the reader's expense) in the present thread, while the Toltec/Mexica thread is a little better, but not enough to compensate.

[ARNITA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aišku indėnai ir archeologijos bei antropopogijos praeities moduliacijos yra mano silpna vieta.. haha..
Tai labai adekvačiai vertinti negaliu. Buvo įdomių momentėlių, bandyta atkurti aplinka ir socialiniai modeliai bendruomenių - tai buvo įdomu. Dalis knygos buvo su 2012 belaukiant šiais laikais - tai tos dalys buvo visos prastos. Nesuprasi kam ir kodėl rašomos beigi neišbaigtos.. tai kitiems nesiūlyčiau. Bet pati turėjau ir malonių akimirkų - patenkinančių senovės atkūrinėjimo aistrą.

[Annisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is great. Just i think the 'future' part is not necessary. It doesn't connect at all and makes the story bad. I really like Coyotl story. So much adventure and make me kinda sentimental. The description of that age were very vivid. This book makes me wanna read other Jenning's masterpiece.

[MaxC55 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trama esile e scontata.

[Jason Golomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many familiar with Gary Jennings' "Aztec" series will enjoy this book. Expectations should be measured, however, because "2012" is only Gary Jennings 'Lite'. Since 'Lite' is all one can get, then one should go for it. At the end of the day the book is enjoyable.

The delight I find from Jennings' original two "Aztec" books (and to a lesser extent in his Marco Polo-based novel "Journeyer") is the emotional depth and range of the key characters. It's been almost two years since I first discovered "Aztec" and I still find my thoughts drifting to the myriad tales of Mixtli Dark Cloud. Mixtli's inner monologue and narrative is what defines Jennings' characters. I find that tone very recognizable and comfortable.

"2012" bounces back and forth between early 1000 A.D. and modern day. The plot lines of the two times generally follow each other on a search to answer the questions of when, why, and what cataclysmic end will come to the earth. There are about twice as many pages dedicated to the main Aztec character, Coyotl, and his adventures than the modern day vignettes. If the book is Gary Jennings 'Lite', then you'll be as pleased as I was that the focus is on Coyotl, who could justifiably be considered Mixtil Dark Cloud 'Lite'.

"Apocalypse 2012" is purportedly based on Jennings' own notes found after his death in 1999. This book is not great. The storyline is unbalanced and, at some points, a little nonsensical. I found myself thumbing back through some sections trying to reconcile some of the actions. Ultimately, I threw my hands up and let myself enjoy the ride.

Though 384 pages (MUCH shorter than "Aztec"), the book is an extremely easy and quick read. Few chapters run more than 10 pages long.

If your expectations are set appropriately, and you pine for Gary Jennings, then buy this book. If you're looking for another "Aztec", then you'll have to keep searching. For those who haven't tried Jennings, this isn't a terrible introduction. But just be aware that this is more of an appetizer - the main course is "Aztec".

[Ender · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apocalypse 2012
Author: Robert Gleason, Junius Podrug, Gary Jennings
First copyright date: Published June 9th, 2009 by Forge Books
Genre: Historical fiction
Location of story: 1000 A.D-Very end 2011, America
Price: 0.1¢-8.99$
ISBN: 0765322595
ISBN 13: 9780765322593

Apocalypse 2012 by Gary Jennings the amount of sensory detail is phenomenal but at the loss of slightly undeveloped characters. The story takes place in two different periods of time engaging a slave boy known as Coyotl as we follow his adventure to the city of Tula, due to his tattoo he is known as a stargazer and an excellent dream interpreter. While we head to the future where a group of scientist discuss the apocalypse that is foreseen at the dawning of 2011. The scientist say finding this codex made millennia ago will have the key to survival. Survival from what? Well survival from what claims to be able to annihilate the human species at once. Although the story with Coyotl was engaging and really made the historical fiction aspect of the book. The present test portion didn't do such a good job with its plot or its characters. They seem all very dull along with the plot. The scientist are trying to find a codex that somehow has the key to survival when a meteor approaches destined to destroy all living things on earth which makes no sense after thinking about it. Overall it was a decent read with good detail, dull characters, a questionable plot, and a very disappointing ending.

[Michael]

This is another book supposedly written from the notes of the much missed Gary Jennings, one of my favorite writers of all time. And it is terrible. There is a guy who is doing this for a job, taking the notes of dead writers who still have a fan base and writing books under their names.

I have seen his name on the front of a Harold Robbins book, too? That guy has been gone for a LONG time. I call "Junius Podrug" the worst sort of hack, who should be thrown out a window before he does any more damage.

The last Aztec book this guy did was equally bad. Just lazy. I am wondering if he is a real person, or if this is the pen-name of some troll from a Monday open-mike poetry night in the Bronx.

He switches back and forth from 2012 to the 1000's. Sometimes this book is a modern-day lesbian adventure involving the president and military, with numerous remarks on fashion and style? Then to the life of a ancient Aztec/Toltec astronomer. In the end it it's as if he just walked off without even bothering to finish so the story made some kind of sense.

Only the vauguest hint of the rich and amazing storytelling of GJ is here. I think this could be done possibly, by someone, but Junius Podrug is a bum.

[Linda Van Wert · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ancient Mexico, the “End-Time Codex”--prophesizing the world’s end in 2012--is entombed. A young Aztec-Mayan slave tells us its story.

Gifted in math and astronomy, Coyotl rises to king’s counselor in Tula, a golden city of milk and honey ruled by the brilliant god-king, Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent of lore. Gathering artists, scientists and craftsmen, this legendary ruler builds a city that will awe humanity for one thousand years. But he also faces war, catastrophic drought, betrayal and the rise of an evil death-cult religion. Instituting the infamous “Blood Covenant,” its priests drag thousands of people a year atop temple-pyramids and rip their hearts beating from their chests. To stop them Quetzalcoatl must defy the flames of bloody civil war.

A thousand years later scientists discover the End-Time Codex. While struggling to decipher it, they realize their own age mirrors Tula’s. Can they crack the 2012 code and save their world from Tula’s deadly fate?

[Nyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by this dead author, and I actually enjoyed the book very much so much that I ordered the second book so I could read it as well.

I know nothing of those who actually wrote the book or of the attributed authors previous works, but in general the book is a good read if you have any interest in ancient south america. I wasn't a big fan of the modern parts of the book, they just didn't catch my attention as they could have but in general the book itself was a good read and one I will be adding to my own collection once I can find it at a used book shop (only reason I say used is because to me the book isn't worth the cost printed on the cover).

Id recommend the book to anyone who likes to read books on the mayans and ancient south american history in general, the 2012 isn't isn't really a connection point, its there but doesn't play as big a part in the book as one might think from the title (k it does but in a background kind of way).

[Linda Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome fictional account of the Mayan long count calander and the Quetzalcoatl Codex. I was intrigued every moment I read about the past; however, the book was ruined by bringing in modern day researchers. I felt that I was literally transformed in time as I read about Quetzalcoatl and Coyotl; but what started out as an intriging sub-plot of a modern day search for clues concerning the end date of the Mayan long count calander turned into unnecessary filler. It wasn't that I did not understand the concept that Gleason was attempting to portray, it was more that I felt the portrayal was lacking. I would like to see this book rewritten in two parts; the first concerning only the Coyotl and Quetzalcoatl epic; the second being the search for answers as to what occurred to the Mayan culture so many years ago.

[Marci Glasgow-Haire · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is completely misleading. This is a story about the author of the Mayan calendar, NOT a story about the predicted apocalypse of 2012. The authors kept stringing me along, though, because there were occasional short cut-aways to the present day, where poorly drawn characters were either meeting in the Situation Room of the White House or avoiding drug lords in South America, but definitely NOT dealing with an apocalypse.

It took me a long time to finish because it was not very well written and I kept falling asleep whenever I'd pick it up. I'd recommend reading it if you want a story about Quetzlcoatl, and are prepared for being occasionally (but thankfully briefly) interrupted by hard-edged Americans.

[Melisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, wrong title! A story about Coyotly, a aztec mayan who follows his destiny to finish the End world calender (that tells of our last days) and to uncover the story of his past and find out who he really is and where he came from! Not really much to do with the Apocalypse of 2012! It was mainly a story leading up to the destruction of the city of Tula and the finishing of the end world calender and the destiny of the mayan Coyotyl more then anything! I was expecting something leading up to our destruction!

[Andrea Russo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't even manage to finish this horrible novel. It is so slow-paced, boring, focused on useless and insignificant details that I don't how one could finish it. Kudos to those of you who have!
When I finished the first segment starring Coyotl, I was glad for the change, but the contemporary scenes were even worse than the other ones, if that's possible. First of all, the plot set in modern times was too sensationalistic, and maybe it was me but the explanations and the dialogues were confusing, I was not sure what was going on.

[Ginny Purvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected from this book, but this wasn't it. If you like the Maya/Aztec history and time, this book is for you, as 3/4 of the book is set in this time. The other 1/4 is current time. Interesting, but it does not attempt to answer any questions people may have about what may or may not happen in 2012. This story is more about the individual(s) and their storeis, who wrote the books (codices) that predict what will happen in 2012.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Gary Jenning's original works. I've been disappointed in his post-mortem-ghost-written books. Let's see how this one holds up...

OK, the answer is: It's an OK book as long as you are't expecting Gary Jennings. This title is written more like a spy-thriller-mystery and lacks the historical depth of Jenning's works. But - not a bad story, not a bad premise, just not what I was expecting from a "Gary Jennings" novel.

[Sonny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Aztec a few years ago and still remember the story. That is why it is hard for me to believe that Gary Jennings had anything to do with this drivel. Apparently Gleason and Podrug put his name on it to help sales. This was two days of my reading time I will never get back. Not worth the effort.

[Jordan arieno]

I realy wish the world doesnt end in 2012, I'm just kiden I know nothing is going to happen any time soon. But I've been wanting to read this because I've heard 1 coment about this book that makes me want to read it.

[Barbara Andrews]

I haven't really made a deciscion on how I feel about the book as of yet, I love the subject matter. It does seem extremely well researched but I don't know if I like the back and forth flow between what I assume is supposed to be the modern world and what is ancient.

[Erin Reinecke · Rating 1 out of 5]

stupid book. I picked it up at the dollar store. Now I know why it was there! Ugh. This isn't even by Gary Jennings. reviews say that his actual works are much better. I might try one of those eventually.

[Alessandro Sestito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buon titolo, do` 3 stelle per il leggere non sempre scorrevole e per la trama semplice ma a volte confusionaria. Sono dovuto ritornare indietro certe volte nel corso della lettura per capire meglio di cosa si stava parlando

[Luca Leucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un buon libro storico, mi ha affascinato la storia degli aztechi, dei maya e dei Toltechi... Un romanzo che però delude, soprattutto nel finale (a tratti ridicolo)... Peccato, voto 3 stelle solo per la trattazione storica.

[Greg Collver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fiction novel about the Aztecs, Mayans and the Toltecs. Interesting, but I did not like the ending.

[Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor, VERY poor. Nothing like any Jenning's book I've ever read.

[Patrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. The 2012 storyline is crap, the tula storyline is fine. Good description on the rise (aztecs) and fall (maya, tula) empires.

[Liz Regenold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who knew it could be possible to destroy a good idea so thoroughly? I finished it because it was like a train wreck you couldn't look away from.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished posthumously by editors.

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just kinda ended...but the Aztec stuff was cool, even if they left a lot without explanation.