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Grim Reaper: End of Days
Patrick "Shep" Shepherd was a promising major league rookie baseball pitcher when September 11, 2001 hit. Shaken by the attacks, Shep leaves behind his soul mate and newborn daughter to enlist in the Armed Forces. Eleven years and four deployments later, Shep finds himself in Manhattans VA hospital. His left arm is gone, his wife and daughter are gone, and his tarnished soul is haunted by the nightmares of war.
December 21st: While world leaders meet at the UN, Mary Klipot, a bio-hazard level-4 scientist working at the CIA labs in Fort Dietrick, enters Manhattan with Scythe, a swift acting version of the Black Death developed to annihilate America's enemies abroad. Believing God has chosen her to bring forth the End of Days, Mary infects herself with Scythe, unleashing a pandemic. Officials rush to seal off the island, trapping three million people... the President among them, with the only vaccine now in Shep's possession.
Determined to use the vaccine to rescue his wife and child, Shep and his guide, Virgil Shechinah, trek through the plague-infested and nightmarish neighborhoods of Manhattan, which mirrors the "Nine Circles of Hell" portrayed in Dante's Inferno.
Plagued by greed, corruption, and two endless wars, it is man's ego that has brought about the End of days, unleashing the Grim Reaper upon the earth... and the Angel of Death is stalking Patrick Shepherd.
December 21st: While world leaders meet at the UN, Mary Klipot, a bio-hazard level-4 scientist working at the CIA labs in Fort Dietrick, enters Manhattan with Scythe, a swift acting version of the Black Death developed to annihilate America's enemies abroad. Believing God has chosen her to bring forth the End of Days, Mary infects herself with Scythe, unleashing a pandemic. Officials rush to seal off the island, trapping three million people... the President among them, with the only vaccine now in Shep's possession.
Determined to use the vaccine to rescue his wife and child, Shep and his guide, Virgil Shechinah, trek through the plague-infested and nightmarish neighborhoods of Manhattan, which mirrors the "Nine Circles of Hell" portrayed in Dante's Inferno.
Plagued by greed, corruption, and two endless wars, it is man's ego that has brought about the End of days, unleashing the Grim Reaper upon the earth... and the Angel of Death is stalking Patrick Shepherd.
487 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
64 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,361 followersSteve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager’s job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book, seven figure deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
September 15, 2011
At first glance, “Grim Reaper: End of Days” has all the potential attributes to make it a very thrilling horror/thriller novel. Obviously it’s written by Steve Alten, so it’s predicted it should be highly researched and well written. Secondly, the plot sounds like the makings of a summer blockbuster: A deadly plague released amongst the crowded confines of Manhattan island. And finally, just look at the cover. The grinning visage of the Grim Reaper glaring over the skyline of New York shows the capacity for a for both an entertaining, and possibly scary story.
However, “Grim Reaper” is NONE of those. It’s empty, flat, and so full of Alten’s weird mix of conspiracy theories and pseudo-religious dogma that it’s almost impossible to even read the basics of this book.
In the preface, Alten states that this book may come off as “anti-soldier” but it is in fact a statement of anti-war. That would be all well and good but then why are all of the soldiers in this book made out to be trigger happy, racist, morally obtuse, corrupt individuals. They gun down innocents in the street, disobey direct orders and in Patrick’s flashbacks are seen calling EVERY Arab a terrorist, a Godless individual and a scrounge across the Earth. Even a chaplain soldier is quoted as saying it’s America’s duty and God’s calling to kill every single Iraqi.
Speaking of God, that brings us to Altens twisted, warped and all together highly annoying views on religion. His ideas are so twisted and convoluted its almost sad and to be honest, I have no clue as to where Alten is coming from and where he’s going. Among the pages there are insights into Kabbala, Christianity, Buddhism, and Judaism. Alten somehow manages to twist all of these World views into one strange concoction into which Heaven and Hell are different dimensions where God is uncaring and Stan is the true master. It gets to a point where these ideals seem to be almost anti-religious...such that being good alone will get you the top of the 10th dimension...or wherever heaven is supposed to be.
Now, I understand novels are generally fiction and I try not to read too much into them, however, even that cannot disguise Alten’s far far far far left wing views. That Alten believes America is run by a bunch of war hungry, citizen killing, right wing nut jobs comes off the page and practically slaps the reader in the face. Honestly, you would have to be flat out dumb to not read the author’s political agenda hidden amongst the paragraphs. He accuses republicans of being instigators in attacking foreign countries and setting up the NWO, even going as far as to calling members of the tea-party , “tea-baggers.” He comes right out and blatantly blames the Bush administration for perpetuating the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 and other “false flag” events. He mentions (maybe I should say “praises” here) all the democrats that rejected the production of the hydrogen bomb, only to unnecessarily mention (“criticize”) Ronald Regan for bringing it back. He comes across as a hater of large corporations and private industry, suggests America is producing toxic chemicals to release on her own people, and makes the military out to be a bunch of gung-ho, shoot em all to death crazies. I could continue to go on but I think you get the picture.
Finally, I couldn’t get past the weird Dante’s Inferno allegory that Alten tries (unsuccessfully) to weave throughout the plot of “Grim Reaper”. I’m no stranger to horror fantasy as I’ve read both “The Stand” and “The Rising”, but while those 2 works come off as sure works of literature for entertainment’s sake, this one seems forced, as if Alten wants to shove all of his distorted views down our throats. In doing so it comes off as an empty and joyless attempt. In doing so, parts made no sense, such as John Lennon appearing for no reason whatsoever, an amputee’s prosthetic suddenly and mysteriously revealing the 72 names of God, a man who decides that carrying his new born infant son into the nearly frozen Hudson river will save everyone, a sex-trafficking operation continuing to run even under a mandatory evacuation, miraculous healing water, and a man volunteering to become the dreaded Grim Reaper. Really, there’s so much more I could write, but like this book, it would just be taking up space.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read any of Alten’s work and to say I’m disappointed with “Grim Reaper” is a humongous understatement. I won’t mince my words here when saying this was truly a ridiculously bad novel. The only reason I continued reading was in some vein attempt in hoping against hope everything would resolve itself and wrap up with a conclusion that made some lick of sense. Needless to say, it never did. What’s makes my disappointment even that much more painful is that this was done by the same author who wrote the fantastic “Meg” and the thoroughly enjoyable “The Lock”. This Steve Alten is NOT that same author and in trying to be deep and meaningful, he just makes himself that much worse.
However, “Grim Reaper” is NONE of those. It’s empty, flat, and so full of Alten’s weird mix of conspiracy theories and pseudo-religious dogma that it’s almost impossible to even read the basics of this book.
In the preface, Alten states that this book may come off as “anti-soldier” but it is in fact a statement of anti-war. That would be all well and good but then why are all of the soldiers in this book made out to be trigger happy, racist, morally obtuse, corrupt individuals. They gun down innocents in the street, disobey direct orders and in Patrick’s flashbacks are seen calling EVERY Arab a terrorist, a Godless individual and a scrounge across the Earth. Even a chaplain soldier is quoted as saying it’s America’s duty and God’s calling to kill every single Iraqi.
Speaking of God, that brings us to Altens twisted, warped and all together highly annoying views on religion. His ideas are so twisted and convoluted its almost sad and to be honest, I have no clue as to where Alten is coming from and where he’s going. Among the pages there are insights into Kabbala, Christianity, Buddhism, and Judaism. Alten somehow manages to twist all of these World views into one strange concoction into which Heaven and Hell are different dimensions where God is uncaring and Stan is the true master. It gets to a point where these ideals seem to be almost anti-religious...such that being good alone will get you the top of the 10th dimension...or wherever heaven is supposed to be.
Now, I understand novels are generally fiction and I try not to read too much into them, however, even that cannot disguise Alten’s far far far far left wing views. That Alten believes America is run by a bunch of war hungry, citizen killing, right wing nut jobs comes off the page and practically slaps the reader in the face. Honestly, you would have to be flat out dumb to not read the author’s political agenda hidden amongst the paragraphs. He accuses republicans of being instigators in attacking foreign countries and setting up the NWO, even going as far as to calling members of the tea-party , “tea-baggers.” He comes right out and blatantly blames the Bush administration for perpetuating the terrorist attacks of Sept 11 and other “false flag” events. He mentions (maybe I should say “praises” here) all the democrats that rejected the production of the hydrogen bomb, only to unnecessarily mention (“criticize”) Ronald Regan for bringing it back. He comes across as a hater of large corporations and private industry, suggests America is producing toxic chemicals to release on her own people, and makes the military out to be a bunch of gung-ho, shoot em all to death crazies. I could continue to go on but I think you get the picture.
Finally, I couldn’t get past the weird Dante’s Inferno allegory that Alten tries (unsuccessfully) to weave throughout the plot of “Grim Reaper”. I’m no stranger to horror fantasy as I’ve read both “The Stand” and “The Rising”, but while those 2 works come off as sure works of literature for entertainment’s sake, this one seems forced, as if Alten wants to shove all of his distorted views down our throats. In doing so it comes off as an empty and joyless attempt. In doing so, parts made no sense, such as John Lennon appearing for no reason whatsoever, an amputee’s prosthetic suddenly and mysteriously revealing the 72 names of God, a man who decides that carrying his new born infant son into the nearly frozen Hudson river will save everyone, a sex-trafficking operation continuing to run even under a mandatory evacuation, miraculous healing water, and a man volunteering to become the dreaded Grim Reaper. Really, there’s so much more I could write, but like this book, it would just be taking up space.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read any of Alten’s work and to say I’m disappointed with “Grim Reaper” is a humongous understatement. I won’t mince my words here when saying this was truly a ridiculously bad novel. The only reason I continued reading was in some vein attempt in hoping against hope everything would resolve itself and wrap up with a conclusion that made some lick of sense. Needless to say, it never did. What’s makes my disappointment even that much more painful is that this was done by the same author who wrote the fantastic “Meg” and the thoroughly enjoyable “The Lock”. This Steve Alten is NOT that same author and in trying to be deep and meaningful, he just makes himself that much worse.
October 6, 2014
Ayer por fin lo terminé. Hacia tiempo que no leía un libro así, que engancha que no puedes parar de leer que necesitas urgentemente saber el final, saber que pasa, como se resuelve todo. He de reconocer que me he perdido con las historias de algunos personajes, no es un librl para leer de forma distraida. Empieza siendo una historia "conspiranoica" sobre como se financia la investigación de virus potencialmente peligrosos y letales y acaba siendo una disertación sobre el bien y el mal, sobre la naturaleza egosita del hombre, y sobre Dios. No faltan ángeles, heroes, fuerzas sobrenaturales... Lo volvería a leer sin dudarlo!
December 17, 2010
Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:
I am at a loss of words on how to even begin this review other then by saying that this novel was scary as Hell! Grim Reaper: End of Days by Steve Alten is the debut novel in a new series that perfectly mixes fact and fiction until all the lines are blurred making it was impossible to tell the truth. This novel is a chillingly plausible tale about the end of days that will leave you hiding under your bed.
The facts Alten selected to use within this novel were terribly compelling. They help to substantiate and create the setting of this book giving it a present day immediacy that fits nicely with the current political turmoil. Not to mention that the political corruption sets an unnerving tone in conjunction with the man made virus Scythe, even before this deadly plague is released upon the world. There is a never ending sense of suspense, fear and unease that permeates the novel making this a dark dense read set against tones of religion.
There is a huge cast of characters within the novel that we follow, most notable Patrick Shepard. His journey through the various levels of Hell, using the modern day setting of Manhattan, gives a current and relevant face lift to the widely known Dante's Inferno. Shepard's, or rather Shep's, past is a blur and yet we are compelled by him and his journey to enlightenment, both spiritually and emotionally. While we know little about his history, the past unfolds before us in hallucinogenic glimpses that slowly unfurl the truth behind his past and present and why he chose to become a soldier and how he was injured. The cast of characters around him lead him through his journey and often times serve as tests of faith and endurance. Virgil, his main guide through this journey, is a psychiatrist who is helping aid Shep in learning the truth about himself as well as helping to enlighten the various cast about the religious implications of the current plague and it's relevance to religion. All the characters, while we don't get to know a lot about them, are highly developed and perfectly suited to aid in the various stages within the novel. You come to care about them and to despise the more corrupt among them. Truly this is a wonderful novel that shows humanity at both its best and worst making us consider who we really are as individuals and as a whole.
Steve Alten's masterful writing uses emotional appeal wonderfully throughout the novel, both as an aid and a hindrance. The range of emotions evoked is wide, varying greatly from disgust and unease to hope. The graphic nature he uses to describe the plague, otherwise known as Scythe, humanizes the disease giving it a disturbing face both through the descriptions of it's symptoms and of the history of the plague in general. It definitely has the unappealing effect of making even the strongest amongst us into germ-a-phobes!
In the end I found this novel to be thought evoking and horrific, definitely not for the light hearted. It is dark and makes the reader look long and hard at the world around them. With political and religious overtones, this novel is terrifyingly plausible.
I am at a loss of words on how to even begin this review other then by saying that this novel was scary as Hell! Grim Reaper: End of Days by Steve Alten is the debut novel in a new series that perfectly mixes fact and fiction until all the lines are blurred making it was impossible to tell the truth. This novel is a chillingly plausible tale about the end of days that will leave you hiding under your bed.
The facts Alten selected to use within this novel were terribly compelling. They help to substantiate and create the setting of this book giving it a present day immediacy that fits nicely with the current political turmoil. Not to mention that the political corruption sets an unnerving tone in conjunction with the man made virus Scythe, even before this deadly plague is released upon the world. There is a never ending sense of suspense, fear and unease that permeates the novel making this a dark dense read set against tones of religion.
There is a huge cast of characters within the novel that we follow, most notable Patrick Shepard. His journey through the various levels of Hell, using the modern day setting of Manhattan, gives a current and relevant face lift to the widely known Dante's Inferno. Shepard's, or rather Shep's, past is a blur and yet we are compelled by him and his journey to enlightenment, both spiritually and emotionally. While we know little about his history, the past unfolds before us in hallucinogenic glimpses that slowly unfurl the truth behind his past and present and why he chose to become a soldier and how he was injured. The cast of characters around him lead him through his journey and often times serve as tests of faith and endurance. Virgil, his main guide through this journey, is a psychiatrist who is helping aid Shep in learning the truth about himself as well as helping to enlighten the various cast about the religious implications of the current plague and it's relevance to religion. All the characters, while we don't get to know a lot about them, are highly developed and perfectly suited to aid in the various stages within the novel. You come to care about them and to despise the more corrupt among them. Truly this is a wonderful novel that shows humanity at both its best and worst making us consider who we really are as individuals and as a whole.
Steve Alten's masterful writing uses emotional appeal wonderfully throughout the novel, both as an aid and a hindrance. The range of emotions evoked is wide, varying greatly from disgust and unease to hope. The graphic nature he uses to describe the plague, otherwise known as Scythe, humanizes the disease giving it a disturbing face both through the descriptions of it's symptoms and of the history of the plague in general. It definitely has the unappealing effect of making even the strongest amongst us into germ-a-phobes!
In the end I found this novel to be thought evoking and horrific, definitely not for the light hearted. It is dark and makes the reader look long and hard at the world around them. With political and religious overtones, this novel is terrifyingly plausible.
January 10, 2011
Steve Alten is a best selling author and my favourite. Initially I was excited to hear about the publication of this book, inspired by the first part of Dante Alighien´s 14th century epic poem Divine Comedy, of which there are three parts – Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. Inferno – Italin for Hell. The poem describes Dante’s journey through Hell, depicted as nine circles of suffering
Steve Alten takes us on the classic journey of good versus evil, transformation and redemption.
The story is set in Manhattan, New York and brings in moral corruption in Europe before the Black Death, present day greed and deception, and also the cruelty in today´s society
This book took two years to research and complete and is the first part of a trilogy, this being the first
Mary Klipot is a scientist working on the development of a bio-defense weapon called Scythe, a version of the black plague, while working in the lab she discovers she is pregnant and is convinced she is going to give birth to “Jesus”.
The “hero” is war veteran Patrick Shepherd who is hopsitalised recoving from an explosion which resulted in him losing an arm, he has an estranged wife (who he has not seen for 11 years) and daughter, like many war veterans he is a “damaged” individual not just physically but mentally.
He is chosen by ruthless politicians who require his serves to aid the war effort, thus receiving much needed treatment and psychological guidance
Mary is in the same hospital in labour and gives birth to a baby girl, her child of Christ. She has an antidote to the DNA modified black plague and instructs Patrick´s physician where to find it.
Patrick overhears a conversation with the Secretary of Defence discussing the plague which has hit Manhattan and eventually escapes from the hospital using a helicopter taking the antidote with him.. His main aim is to save his wife and daughter. Eventually, after his helicopter is shot down, he finds himself in a dark wood and aided by Virgil, his psychiatrist, he goes on a journey through the streets of New York, now plague-ridden.
To be reunited with his family, he descends his own Nine Circles of Hell to cleanse his troubled soul, be reunited with family and of course in true hero fashion, save humanity
While many people say this is the best book Steve Alten has ever written, I politely disagree. It is well researched and written as is expected of Steve, in many respects an excellent read, but … there must be a “but”, I found it difficult, It was not a book I had difficulty in putting down, however, of its type it is excellent, however, I doubt I will read it again and this is a first for me as I read his other books over and over again!
Steve Alten takes us on the classic journey of good versus evil, transformation and redemption.
The story is set in Manhattan, New York and brings in moral corruption in Europe before the Black Death, present day greed and deception, and also the cruelty in today´s society
This book took two years to research and complete and is the first part of a trilogy, this being the first
Mary Klipot is a scientist working on the development of a bio-defense weapon called Scythe, a version of the black plague, while working in the lab she discovers she is pregnant and is convinced she is going to give birth to “Jesus”.
The “hero” is war veteran Patrick Shepherd who is hopsitalised recoving from an explosion which resulted in him losing an arm, he has an estranged wife (who he has not seen for 11 years) and daughter, like many war veterans he is a “damaged” individual not just physically but mentally.
He is chosen by ruthless politicians who require his serves to aid the war effort, thus receiving much needed treatment and psychological guidance
Mary is in the same hospital in labour and gives birth to a baby girl, her child of Christ. She has an antidote to the DNA modified black plague and instructs Patrick´s physician where to find it.
Patrick overhears a conversation with the Secretary of Defence discussing the plague which has hit Manhattan and eventually escapes from the hospital using a helicopter taking the antidote with him.. His main aim is to save his wife and daughter. Eventually, after his helicopter is shot down, he finds himself in a dark wood and aided by Virgil, his psychiatrist, he goes on a journey through the streets of New York, now plague-ridden.
To be reunited with his family, he descends his own Nine Circles of Hell to cleanse his troubled soul, be reunited with family and of course in true hero fashion, save humanity
While many people say this is the best book Steve Alten has ever written, I politely disagree. It is well researched and written as is expected of Steve, in many respects an excellent read, but … there must be a “but”, I found it difficult, It was not a book I had difficulty in putting down, however, of its type it is excellent, however, I doubt I will read it again and this is a first for me as I read his other books over and over again!
December 18, 2019
As much as I have loved all of the Alten's earlier books that I have read, not to mention how much I was looking forward to reading it, I simply HATED this. I genuinely don't understand what happened. I know that Alten can create sympathetic characters, plots and an exciting storyline. But this... this was 480 pages of political propaganda interspersed with lame and frequently gory gestures attempting to move the "plot" forward. To be honest, the last fifty pages or so, I really mostly only skimmed because I was getting too fed up!
The book consists of one, long preachy speech after another! There's no real action and an overall ridiculous "plot". I just hated this. From the political rants to the religious speeches.. there was not a single redeeming quality in this entire book and I cannot believe that I had pre-ordered this one! What a huge disappointment! And there were some factual issues, too... like the bits about the bubonic plague. It certainly hasn't been eradicated completely. And the areas where it still does crop up from time to time are exactly where the book during the outbreak said would be the last to be hit...
The book consists of one, long preachy speech after another! There's no real action and an overall ridiculous "plot". I just hated this. From the political rants to the religious speeches.. there was not a single redeeming quality in this entire book and I cannot believe that I had pre-ordered this one! What a huge disappointment! And there were some factual issues, too... like the bits about the bubonic plague. It certainly hasn't been eradicated completely. And the areas where it still does crop up from time to time are exactly where the book during the outbreak said would be the last to be hit...
April 21, 2012
This book DERAILED about 3/4 of the way though. Great potential, great disaster.
July 24, 2021
After beingin a reading slump I try this game since it's a thriller with post apocalpytic fiction so I thought it would be a sure win....
~
Well first of all, Steve Alten is not a unknown guy. I've already tried reading 7 years ago Loch having not enjoyed or at least not getting to enter the novel and giving up after 50 pages or so.
I read Meg and gave it 2 stars so not that hopeful...
So let start, first of all, this novel is divided in 3 parts. The first part is the introduction of the characters; the second part it focus on the main plot/deliver of the plague and the last part is the voyage of our main character through the nine levels of hell (allegory not real one like in dante).
This novel, if you know Dante's Inferno then you will probably enjoy a bit more, it's not necessary BUT it gives another layer. OR at least go to wikipedia and read about it. Just know what the nine levels of hell are and what they mean.
So, to start let us talk about what this novel is about. This novel is about the end of days (it's in the title) where a new disease is being conceived and delivered into US Soil. At the same time this novel is about redemption, it's about a man journey through "hell" to get salvation; it's about conspiracy theories, pseudo-religions & about the way USA treats his war veterans (spoiler - Like crap) and why and how they go to war.
I am trying not to spoil the novel BUT it's fairly difficult not to do it.
Steven Alten get us to think - and that's a good thing. I like to think about it. I like to think about why wars happen, how they happen, I like tot hink about religion and how I see it and other people see it. I like to read conspiracies theories - some may even be true, who knows it. After all a conspiracy theory is the un-accepted reality. If most people believe that X happen - then X happen. Unfortunately that's how history is make. The Nazis were the bad guys because they lost the war. If they had won, they would be "good". Isn't that so? One beautiful example is URSS - some countries are pro-communist so it's good and others it's bad. That's "History" to you guys.
Well, as I said I like all that - but I don't like being called stupid or self-blind if you will. When talking about the 9/11 you've got the "told" history like the planes hit the towers and the pentagon but there are conspiracies theories that don't support that view and think it was man-made, explosions and such. Is it true? Who knows it. I, as reader, and with open mind, have my own opinion - and I accept you have yours. Will not try to say - you're wrong. But our "writer" say just that. When they are talking about 9/11 he puts in the last line a author's note saying - "see X and Y links or don't see it....." Why? This is not the first instance he put that links and such... Why not in the end put all that stuff and either I read it or not - it's my choice but no, he had to call people who don't believe in the conspiracy theories to be self-blind and plain idiot. To me was a turnoff. so great that I stop enjoying the novel.
I don't like being told If I don't accept X I am wrong. I like authors who can give their political, religious whatever views without making you feel stupid if you don't follow them.
Another stuff, was the all pseudo-religion - he mixes several religions and twist them to his own purpose, yeah I can grab a line in the Bible and make look that all Christians are nothing but a bunch of machismo or haters. Anyone can do that. I can twist Budhism and Judaism as well... But here he just made god really un-caring and Satan the real main character of religion- It's like seeing Lucifer tv Series.
Alten also doesn't like war or soldiers - he depicts every soldier as un-caring, happy to gun down without discrimination and so on. There are bad evil soldier? Of course but not 100%.
Then there is the far-left touching communist agenda (why so many rich authors are communists? - in the communist soviet or china they would be censored and criticized or killed lol and their rich life? yeah not gonna happen) - he criticises openly about the war machine that operates in USA and their right wing agenda (LOL). He is not shy to say all wars on terrorism were bush fault and they were money related. As a portuguese I believe USA didn't enter Iraq to free Iraq. Saddam Hussein was against Bin Laden. They went due to the Oil. In Afeghnestian it's another thing... They try to take the power from the Taliban (the same ones they help during the Soviet war - if you don't want to read just watch Rambo 3)
Alten goes everywhere criticizing everything and everyone that even remotes of people of power. I am going to stop here because my complains would only amount.
Bear in mind that is not the worst book ever BUT it's not good by any means unless you are a far left communist anti-estabelishment american (which it seems there are a lot nowadays on twitter).
~
Well first of all, Steve Alten is not a unknown guy. I've already tried reading 7 years ago Loch having not enjoyed or at least not getting to enter the novel and giving up after 50 pages or so.
I read Meg and gave it 2 stars so not that hopeful...
So let start, first of all, this novel is divided in 3 parts. The first part is the introduction of the characters; the second part it focus on the main plot/deliver of the plague and the last part is the voyage of our main character through the nine levels of hell (allegory not real one like in dante).
This novel, if you know Dante's Inferno then you will probably enjoy a bit more, it's not necessary BUT it gives another layer. OR at least go to wikipedia and read about it. Just know what the nine levels of hell are and what they mean.
So, to start let us talk about what this novel is about. This novel is about the end of days (it's in the title) where a new disease is being conceived and delivered into US Soil. At the same time this novel is about redemption, it's about a man journey through "hell" to get salvation; it's about conspiracy theories, pseudo-religions & about the way USA treats his war veterans (spoiler - Like crap) and why and how they go to war.
I am trying not to spoil the novel BUT it's fairly difficult not to do it.
Steven Alten get us to think - and that's a good thing. I like to think about it. I like to think about why wars happen, how they happen, I like tot hink about religion and how I see it and other people see it. I like to read conspiracies theories - some may even be true, who knows it. After all a conspiracy theory is the un-accepted reality. If most people believe that X happen - then X happen. Unfortunately that's how history is make. The Nazis were the bad guys because they lost the war. If they had won, they would be "good". Isn't that so? One beautiful example is URSS - some countries are pro-communist so it's good and others it's bad. That's "History" to you guys.
Well, as I said I like all that - but I don't like being called stupid or self-blind if you will. When talking about the 9/11 you've got the "told" history like the planes hit the towers and the pentagon but there are conspiracies theories that don't support that view and think it was man-made, explosions and such. Is it true? Who knows it. I, as reader, and with open mind, have my own opinion - and I accept you have yours. Will not try to say - you're wrong. But our "writer" say just that. When they are talking about 9/11 he puts in the last line a author's note saying - "see X and Y links or don't see it....." Why? This is not the first instance he put that links and such... Why not in the end put all that stuff and either I read it or not - it's my choice but no, he had to call people who don't believe in the conspiracy theories to be self-blind and plain idiot. To me was a turnoff. so great that I stop enjoying the novel.
I don't like being told If I don't accept X I am wrong. I like authors who can give their political, religious whatever views without making you feel stupid if you don't follow them.
Another stuff, was the all pseudo-religion - he mixes several religions and twist them to his own purpose, yeah I can grab a line in the Bible and make look that all Christians are nothing but a bunch of machismo or haters. Anyone can do that. I can twist Budhism and Judaism as well... But here he just made god really un-caring and Satan the real main character of religion- It's like seeing Lucifer tv Series.
Alten also doesn't like war or soldiers - he depicts every soldier as un-caring, happy to gun down without discrimination and so on. There are bad evil soldier? Of course but not 100%.
Then there is the far-left touching communist agenda (why so many rich authors are communists? - in the communist soviet or china they would be censored and criticized or killed lol and their rich life? yeah not gonna happen) - he criticises openly about the war machine that operates in USA and their right wing agenda (LOL). He is not shy to say all wars on terrorism were bush fault and they were money related. As a portuguese I believe USA didn't enter Iraq to free Iraq. Saddam Hussein was against Bin Laden. They went due to the Oil. In Afeghnestian it's another thing... They try to take the power from the Taliban (the same ones they help during the Soviet war - if you don't want to read just watch Rambo 3)
Alten goes everywhere criticizing everything and everyone that even remotes of people of power. I am going to stop here because my complains would only amount.
Bear in mind that is not the worst book ever BUT it's not good by any means unless you are a far left communist anti-estabelishment american (which it seems there are a lot nowadays on twitter).
November 10, 2017
I'd earlier made an attempt but it was a DNF. This time I forced my way to the end just to see how it wrapped up. (It's part 1 of a series, just so you know.)
The best way to explain this without any spoilers or too many details: imagine Dan Brown discovered one of the mystical philosophies/religions, then went through something traumatic and partnered with a horror-thriller writer to get it out of his system.
Too much detail in some place, weird hallucinations/visions/dreams and too many layers. Not quite thriller, not quite apocalyptic, not quite horror, not quite suspense. And not worth reading even the once, IMO. Definitely not touching the second.
The best way to explain this without any spoilers or too many details: imagine Dan Brown discovered one of the mystical philosophies/religions, then went through something traumatic and partnered with a horror-thriller writer to get it out of his system.
Too much detail in some place, weird hallucinations/visions/dreams and too many layers. Not quite thriller, not quite apocalyptic, not quite horror, not quite suspense. And not worth reading even the once, IMO. Definitely not touching the second.
October 1, 2012
I first started reading Steve Alten in high school when I ran out of Peter Benchley novels and needed a quick sea monster fix. Now, however, it seems Alten is no longer content writing simple thrillers about prehistoric monsters. It's apparent from his last several books that he wants to write something that BLOWS YOUR MIND, and he's willing to throw in as much Dan Brown/Michael Moore nonsense as possible in order to do it.
You might be surprised to learn that a novel called GRIM REAPER: END OF DAYS takes itself so damn seriously. So seriously, in fact, that the author has written a lengthy Introduction just to emphasize the importance of this book's message. And what is the book's message exactly? Well, that the American government is hopelessly evil and behind everything from 9/11 to the swine flu. That most American soldiers are soulless murderers who Dick Cheney has hoodwinked into helping him steal Middle Eastern oil. That republicans are destroying the world and the only thing that can save us is Jewish mysticism, which teaches that the Bible is written in a special "code" only a handful of enlightened mystics can understand (starting to sound like Dan Brown yet?) and that people are reincarnated over and over as preparation for entering into heaven. The main character in the story is actually the reincarnation of both Noah from the Bible and Jim Morrison from The Doors. Cool, right? No? Ah, oh well...
Lots of stupid things happen in this novel. Alten tries to make the storyline parallel that of Dante's INFERNO, and the result is fairly lousy. A man who spends most of the novel becoming a pacifist suddenly chooses a path of death and retribution. John Lennon pops up out of nowhere to provide directions to a parking garage...
It's too bad because the novel actually starts out great. For the first half, it reads like a poor man's version of Stephen King's THE STAND (and I mean that in the best possible way.) Somebody needs to tell Alten to stop being so self-indulgent and just get back to writing thrillers that make at least a modicum of sense.
You might be surprised to learn that a novel called GRIM REAPER: END OF DAYS takes itself so damn seriously. So seriously, in fact, that the author has written a lengthy Introduction just to emphasize the importance of this book's message. And what is the book's message exactly? Well, that the American government is hopelessly evil and behind everything from 9/11 to the swine flu. That most American soldiers are soulless murderers who Dick Cheney has hoodwinked into helping him steal Middle Eastern oil. That republicans are destroying the world and the only thing that can save us is Jewish mysticism, which teaches that the Bible is written in a special "code" only a handful of enlightened mystics can understand (starting to sound like Dan Brown yet?) and that people are reincarnated over and over as preparation for entering into heaven. The main character in the story is actually the reincarnation of both Noah from the Bible and Jim Morrison from The Doors. Cool, right? No? Ah, oh well...
Lots of stupid things happen in this novel. Alten tries to make the storyline parallel that of Dante's INFERNO, and the result is fairly lousy. A man who spends most of the novel becoming a pacifist suddenly chooses a path of death and retribution. John Lennon pops up out of nowhere to provide directions to a parking garage...
It's too bad because the novel actually starts out great. For the first half, it reads like a poor man's version of Stephen King's THE STAND (and I mean that in the best possible way.) Somebody needs to tell Alten to stop being so self-indulgent and just get back to writing thrillers that make at least a modicum of sense.
January 20, 2011
What do you get when you take present day events, add just the right amount of conspiracy theories, mix in a dash of plague history and top it off with an end-of-the-world prophecy? You end up with a well-written novel by Steve Alten.
In Alten’s novel, “Grim Reaper: End of Days“, death walks the Earth, or at least Manhattan, when a manufactured strain of the bubonic plague is taken from a government laboratory and unleashed on the city in the form of a modern day Typhoid Mary. As the death toll begins to rise in the millions and the threat of a pandemic that could wipe out civilization as we know it approaches, humanities one hope rests with one unknown, unlikely hero.
The unlikely hero, Patrick Shepherd, an Iraq War veteran finds himself in a VA hospital in Manhattan. Shepherd, an amputee, befriended by his doctor Leigh Nelson, is about as lost as a person can get. Lost in his nightmares and struggling to cope with the loss of one arm, Shepherd clings to the hope of being reunited with his family, whom he hasn’t seen in a number of years. When a man-made plague is unleashed on Manhattan, Shepherd finds himself in a race against time to get the cure out of Manhattan and even more, to get it to his family.
This novel is not for the faint of heart, nor would I recommend it for those who cannot get pass their own political bent and enjoy it for what it is, doomsday fiction. The mixture of conspiracy theories with nefarious (fictional) government characters might hit a nerve with present day circumstances. In the battle of good vs evil, the evil being mans greed vs the goodness in the heart of a man, Alten takes us through an event filled tale of the days leading up to the prophesized Dec 21, 2012. Add the supernatural (or spiritual) presence and you have a gripping novel.
In Alten’s novel, “Grim Reaper: End of Days“, death walks the Earth, or at least Manhattan, when a manufactured strain of the bubonic plague is taken from a government laboratory and unleashed on the city in the form of a modern day Typhoid Mary. As the death toll begins to rise in the millions and the threat of a pandemic that could wipe out civilization as we know it approaches, humanities one hope rests with one unknown, unlikely hero.
The unlikely hero, Patrick Shepherd, an Iraq War veteran finds himself in a VA hospital in Manhattan. Shepherd, an amputee, befriended by his doctor Leigh Nelson, is about as lost as a person can get. Lost in his nightmares and struggling to cope with the loss of one arm, Shepherd clings to the hope of being reunited with his family, whom he hasn’t seen in a number of years. When a man-made plague is unleashed on Manhattan, Shepherd finds himself in a race against time to get the cure out of Manhattan and even more, to get it to his family.
This novel is not for the faint of heart, nor would I recommend it for those who cannot get pass their own political bent and enjoy it for what it is, doomsday fiction. The mixture of conspiracy theories with nefarious (fictional) government characters might hit a nerve with present day circumstances. In the battle of good vs evil, the evil being mans greed vs the goodness in the heart of a man, Alten takes us through an event filled tale of the days leading up to the prophesized Dec 21, 2012. Add the supernatural (or spiritual) presence and you have a gripping novel.
August 22, 2014
This is not a book I would have picked up on my own. I was only made aware of it because one of my best friends was made into a character in this book. Unfortunately, her role in this book was over at around the 50% mark.
The premise of the book was promising (who wouldn't be fascinated by the idea of weaponized bubonic plague threatening to end life as we know it?). I initially found the writing relating to bubonic plague interesting and well-researched, though his use of medical terminology was faulty at times, making me cringe in a few places (I'm trained in a health care profession, so I knew enough to pick out errors). The detailed descriptions of New York City were interesting at first, but as the story went on, it started to really feel like he was cutting and pasting from Wikipedia just to fill pages. The same especially goes for the descriptions of military vehicles and ammunition. After awhile I really just skimmed these sections, just so I could see the plot moving along.
I found the movement of the plot was particularly hindered by the character Virgil, who kept frequently launching into long sermons, often at what seemed like really inappropriate times. I'm not sure if this is how Virgil in the original "Divine Comedy" spoke, but it got very unnerving after awhile. It was VERY obvious from the beginning that the author is very devout, and really wants to share his religious views with the world. While I respect this, much like the long-winded descriptions of New York and military stuff, I really think less would have been more.
Unfortunately, I don't think I will pick up another Steve Alten novel. I gave this one two stars as the ideas he tried to tie together were very good (just not well-executed), and he did make my friend into a character.
The premise of the book was promising (who wouldn't be fascinated by the idea of weaponized bubonic plague threatening to end life as we know it?). I initially found the writing relating to bubonic plague interesting and well-researched, though his use of medical terminology was faulty at times, making me cringe in a few places (I'm trained in a health care profession, so I knew enough to pick out errors). The detailed descriptions of New York City were interesting at first, but as the story went on, it started to really feel like he was cutting and pasting from Wikipedia just to fill pages. The same especially goes for the descriptions of military vehicles and ammunition. After awhile I really just skimmed these sections, just so I could see the plot moving along.
I found the movement of the plot was particularly hindered by the character Virgil, who kept frequently launching into long sermons, often at what seemed like really inappropriate times. I'm not sure if this is how Virgil in the original "Divine Comedy" spoke, but it got very unnerving after awhile. It was VERY obvious from the beginning that the author is very devout, and really wants to share his religious views with the world. While I respect this, much like the long-winded descriptions of New York and military stuff, I really think less would have been more.
Unfortunately, I don't think I will pick up another Steve Alten novel. I gave this one two stars as the ideas he tried to tie together were very good (just not well-executed), and he did make my friend into a character.
September 6, 2023
Thriller de ciencia ficción de 2010 que sigue la historia de Patrick "Shep" Shepherd, un exjugador de béisbol de las Grandes Ligas que se convirtió en soldado. Shep está luchando para superar los traumas de la guerra cuando una pandemia de peste negra sintética se desata en la ciudad de Nueva York. La pandemia está siendo propagada por Mary Klipot, una científica que cree que es su deber divino traer el apocalipsis.
Shep es el único que tiene la vacuna contra la peste, y se embarca en una misión para encontrar a su esposa e hija, que están atrapadas en Manhattan. En el camino, se encuentra con una serie de personajes extraños y peligrosos, incluyendo a un grupo de neonazis, una banda de ladrones y un ángel de la muerte.
El libro está escrito en un estilo rápido y ágil, y está lleno de acción y suspense. Alten hace un buen trabajo de crear una atmósfera de terror y paranoia. Los personajes son bien desarrollados y creíbles, y la trama es emocionante y absorbente.
Una de las cosas que hace que el libro sea tan interesante es su exploración de los temas de la moralidad y la fe. Alten plantea preguntas sobre la naturaleza del mal y el papel de Dios en el mundo. El libro también es una advertencia sobre los peligros de la ciencia y el poder.
En general, Grim Reaper: End of Days es un libro entretenido y bien escrito que ofrece una reflexión profunda sobre temas importantes. Es una lectura obligada para los fans de la ciencia ficción, el thriller y la literatura apocalíptica.
Shep es el único que tiene la vacuna contra la peste, y se embarca en una misión para encontrar a su esposa e hija, que están atrapadas en Manhattan. En el camino, se encuentra con una serie de personajes extraños y peligrosos, incluyendo a un grupo de neonazis, una banda de ladrones y un ángel de la muerte.
El libro está escrito en un estilo rápido y ágil, y está lleno de acción y suspense. Alten hace un buen trabajo de crear una atmósfera de terror y paranoia. Los personajes son bien desarrollados y creíbles, y la trama es emocionante y absorbente.
Una de las cosas que hace que el libro sea tan interesante es su exploración de los temas de la moralidad y la fe. Alten plantea preguntas sobre la naturaleza del mal y el papel de Dios en el mundo. El libro también es una advertencia sobre los peligros de la ciencia y el poder.
En general, Grim Reaper: End of Days es un libro entretenido y bien escrito que ofrece una reflexión profunda sobre temas importantes. Es una lectura obligada para los fans de la ciencia ficción, el thriller y la literatura apocalíptica.
July 27, 2012
I picked up this book randomly on a recommendation from an acquaintance, if only just because I had made so many recommendations to her and she had followed up on most of them... I suppose though that she didn't actually recommend it, but I figured I should maybe try to read something that she had read first. :P
It was for the most part an intriguing read, if the concept of Dante's Inferno rewritten into a modern context sounds interesting to you. On the downside, there were far too many characters and consequently the book was light on development. To add to this, the nature of the plot itself requires a rather large degree of suspension of disbelief; in and of itself, that's fair, but in terms of the characters, their actions often seemed arbitrary. The author could have easily cut out half his characters in this, developed them just a little bit more each, and probably made for a much more engaging read.
That said, I didn't dislike it. On the contrary, I kept picking it back up to read a little more every chance I got. But, as I said above, it's a modern re-telling of Dante's Inferno; whether or not I would recommend it to someone would depend entirely on how they feel about that statement.
It was for the most part an intriguing read, if the concept of Dante's Inferno rewritten into a modern context sounds interesting to you. On the downside, there were far too many characters and consequently the book was light on development. To add to this, the nature of the plot itself requires a rather large degree of suspension of disbelief; in and of itself, that's fair, but in terms of the characters, their actions often seemed arbitrary. The author could have easily cut out half his characters in this, developed them just a little bit more each, and probably made for a much more engaging read.
That said, I didn't dislike it. On the contrary, I kept picking it back up to read a little more every chance I got. But, as I said above, it's a modern re-telling of Dante's Inferno; whether or not I would recommend it to someone would depend entirely on how they feel about that statement.
March 28, 2020
Jesus, what a fucking mess.
I bought this book to read about New York City getting infected by the plague, and the parts actually involving it are pretty scary, at least until Alten suddenly goes from one person having it to it literally causing society in New York to devolve into violent savagery almost instantly.
I would have been fine if it's just, but the whole book is crammed full of bullshit that adds nothing and doesn't need to be there. All the supernatural elements could be removed and it would only strengthen the main character's character arc.
There's stuff with PTSD, John Lennon shows up at one point, Satan shows up, reincarnation, the literal grim reaper, Christianity, it's just a mess. If Steve Alten's Meg series is a Big Mac hamburger that you eat when you need the calories, then this is a greasy, undercooked sandwich dripping with fat that might have gone moldy. There's probably some decent stuff in there, but it's just not worth trying it yourself to find it. Just read The Stand instead.
(Also, the idea that the U.S. Government would somehow be able to prevent this over-powered plague from spreading beyond New York City is insane, especially with how corrupt the soldiers and government, in general, are written).
I bought this book to read about New York City getting infected by the plague, and the parts actually involving it are pretty scary, at least until Alten suddenly goes from one person having it to it literally causing society in New York to devolve into violent savagery almost instantly.
I would have been fine if it's just, but the whole book is crammed full of bullshit that adds nothing and doesn't need to be there. All the supernatural elements could be removed and it would only strengthen the main character's character arc.
There's stuff with PTSD, John Lennon shows up at one point, Satan shows up, reincarnation, the literal grim reaper, Christianity, it's just a mess. If Steve Alten's Meg series is a Big Mac hamburger that you eat when you need the calories, then this is a greasy, undercooked sandwich dripping with fat that might have gone moldy. There's probably some decent stuff in there, but it's just not worth trying it yourself to find it. Just read The Stand instead.
(Also, the idea that the U.S. Government would somehow be able to prevent this over-powered plague from spreading beyond New York City is insane, especially with how corrupt the soldiers and government, in general, are written).
July 8, 2012
There were aspects of this book that I really enjoyed. The author was obviously trying to make some statements but I felt that he tried to say too much. I figured when I read the authors note that it was going to be a bit preachy, I am not a fan of religious books (fiction or otherwise) but I was interested to see the parallels between this book and "inferno".
I won't comment on the religious preachiness of this book. It's there. It's heavy handed. I expected that. What I struggled with was the other statements the author attempted to make. Statements about politics, 9/11 conspiracy theories, criticism of soldiers and the armed forces... They confused the story. They added little or nothing to the plot.
I would go from being riveted to a tense story line straight into an entire detailed section about how the government planned 9/11 to start a war. It was very disruptive.
I thought the story itself was a neat idea. The interpretation of "inferno" was clever and I enjoyed it. I just wish that I didn't have to wade through all the other weird "social commentary" peppered throughout the book.
I won't comment on the religious preachiness of this book. It's there. It's heavy handed. I expected that. What I struggled with was the other statements the author attempted to make. Statements about politics, 9/11 conspiracy theories, criticism of soldiers and the armed forces... They confused the story. They added little or nothing to the plot.
I would go from being riveted to a tense story line straight into an entire detailed section about how the government planned 9/11 to start a war. It was very disruptive.
I thought the story itself was a neat idea. The interpretation of "inferno" was clever and I enjoyed it. I just wish that I didn't have to wade through all the other weird "social commentary" peppered throughout the book.
December 12, 2016
Una decepción. Puede que yo me haya equivocado con la sinopsis y las referencias al apocalipsis, cultos prohibidos, el infierno de Dante..., o puede que venga de dos grandes lecturas de Koryta y esta no haya estado a la altura. Demasiado politiqueo, guerra biológica, y USA... Las referencias religiosas para dar misterio a la trama son desacertadísimas y forzadas... Lo de la virgencita que quiere llegar virgen al matrimonio, tiene sexo solo una vez y se cree que va a traer al mesías al mundo esta mas visto que el tebeo...
No la recomiendo
No la recomiendo
May 14, 2011
The premise of this book sounded downright awesome, but when I read the author's note my heart sank. I've yet to read a book by someone very religious that was a good story and not just a surrogate pulpit. I gave it a go, but couldn't continue - if I want to be indoctrinated into a faith system, I would go find it. Finding shameless religious propaganda in a book is like finding a roach in an ice cream cone - unwanted, unexpected and disgusting.
December 3, 2023
I am at a loss of words on how to even begin this review other then by saying that this novel was scary as Hell! Grim Reaper: End of Days by Steve Alten is the debut novel in a new series that perfectly mixes fact and fiction until all the lines are blurred making it impossible to decipher the actual truth. This novel is a chillingly plausible tale about the end of days that will leave you hiding under your bed!
The facts Alten selected to use within this novel were terribly compelling. They help to substantiate and create the setting of this book giving it a present day immediacy that fits nicely with the current political turmoil. Not to mention that the political corruption sets an unnerving tone in conjunction with the man made virus Scythe, even before this deadly plague is released upon the world. There is a never ending sense of suspense, fear and unease that permeates the novel making this a dark dense read with strong religious themes.
There is a huge cast of characters within the novel that we follow, most notable Patrick Shepard. His journey through the various levels of Hell, using the modern day setting of Manhattan, gives a current and relevant face lift to the widely known Dante's Inferno. Shepard's, or rather Shep's, past is a blur and yet we are compelled by him and his journey to enlightenment, both spiritually and emotionally. While we know little about his history, the past unfolds before us in hallucinogenic glimpses that slowly unfurl the truth behind his past and present and why he chose to become a soldier and how he was injured. The cast of characters around him lead him through his journey and often times serve as tests of faith and endurance. Virgil, his main guide through this journey, is a psychiatrist who is helping aid Shep in learning the truth about himself as well as helping to enlighten the various cast about the religious implications of the current plague and it's relevance to biblical tales, for instance the tale of 'Noah and the Ark'. All the characters, while we don't get to know a lot about them, are highly developed and perfectly suited to aid in the various stages within the novel. You come to care about them and to despise the more corrupt among them. Truly this is a wonderful novel that shows humanity at both its best and worst making us consider who we really are as individuals and as a whole.
Steve Alten's masterful writing uses emotional appeal wonderfully throughout the novel, both as an aid and a hindrance. The range of emotions evoked is wide, varying greatly from disgust and unease to hope in mankind. The themes of religion help in reminding us that we are not simply good or evil, that we as people are capable of both. That the choices we make define who and what we are and aid in reinforcing the ideology that one man can indeed make a difference. Also, the graphic nature in which he describe the plague, otherwise known as Scythe, humanizes the disease giving it a disturbing face both through the descriptions of it's symptoms and of the history of the plague and its effects on society. This gives a face to the evil that man creates and the rippling effect that it has on humanity. As with one good deed, one misdeed is sometimes all it takes to create more evil in the world.
In the end I found this novel to be thought evoking and horrific, definitely not for the light hearted. It is dark and makes the reader look long and hard at the world around them. With political and religious overtones, this novel is terrifyingly plausible.
The facts Alten selected to use within this novel were terribly compelling. They help to substantiate and create the setting of this book giving it a present day immediacy that fits nicely with the current political turmoil. Not to mention that the political corruption sets an unnerving tone in conjunction with the man made virus Scythe, even before this deadly plague is released upon the world. There is a never ending sense of suspense, fear and unease that permeates the novel making this a dark dense read with strong religious themes.
There is a huge cast of characters within the novel that we follow, most notable Patrick Shepard. His journey through the various levels of Hell, using the modern day setting of Manhattan, gives a current and relevant face lift to the widely known Dante's Inferno. Shepard's, or rather Shep's, past is a blur and yet we are compelled by him and his journey to enlightenment, both spiritually and emotionally. While we know little about his history, the past unfolds before us in hallucinogenic glimpses that slowly unfurl the truth behind his past and present and why he chose to become a soldier and how he was injured. The cast of characters around him lead him through his journey and often times serve as tests of faith and endurance. Virgil, his main guide through this journey, is a psychiatrist who is helping aid Shep in learning the truth about himself as well as helping to enlighten the various cast about the religious implications of the current plague and it's relevance to biblical tales, for instance the tale of 'Noah and the Ark'. All the characters, while we don't get to know a lot about them, are highly developed and perfectly suited to aid in the various stages within the novel. You come to care about them and to despise the more corrupt among them. Truly this is a wonderful novel that shows humanity at both its best and worst making us consider who we really are as individuals and as a whole.
Steve Alten's masterful writing uses emotional appeal wonderfully throughout the novel, both as an aid and a hindrance. The range of emotions evoked is wide, varying greatly from disgust and unease to hope in mankind. The themes of religion help in reminding us that we are not simply good or evil, that we as people are capable of both. That the choices we make define who and what we are and aid in reinforcing the ideology that one man can indeed make a difference. Also, the graphic nature in which he describe the plague, otherwise known as Scythe, humanizes the disease giving it a disturbing face both through the descriptions of it's symptoms and of the history of the plague and its effects on society. This gives a face to the evil that man creates and the rippling effect that it has on humanity. As with one good deed, one misdeed is sometimes all it takes to create more evil in the world.
In the end I found this novel to be thought evoking and horrific, definitely not for the light hearted. It is dark and makes the reader look long and hard at the world around them. With political and religious overtones, this novel is terrifyingly plausible.
August 12, 2023
Hoo boy.
This book is...a lot. At times it was entertaining in its bonkers story, at times it was repetitive and boring, and at times it was conspiracy-rich preaching that droned on and on.
Here is just a sampling of everything going on in this novel at once: man-made released bubonic plague (released by a character who literally changes personality and motivation between paragraphs); a war veteran who loses a limb but then his prosthetic gets ripped into the shape of a scythe and then ; a child sex-trafficking ring still operating during the Apocalypse; multiple pages dedicated to proving the 9/11 false flag operation; every soldier immediately being evil; the reincarnated soul of Noah (like, from the Ark); the reincarnated soul of Jim Morrison; a diary of a French guy from the 1300s talking about the plague for some reason (I suppose there is a very stretched connection at the end); an Illuminati of 9 men, one of which has no skin but is covered in keratin; an eeeeevil Secretary of Defense; a necromancer with a magic pendant; a menacing wolf; plague victims dying gruesome deaths and jumping from buildings; what you thought would be the main character doctor getting tortured and waterboarded for no reason; a heavy-handed extended allusion to Dante's Inferno; and .
Look, reading a Steve Alten each summer has been a long tradition of mine. And, the Meg series at least has some fun in even in the worst of them. But, this one was just grim. Every soldier is painted as a trigger-happy cowboy. Everyone Middle Eastern is presented as an evil terrorist. Humanity is doomed and meant to suffer.
Alten preaches at you for pages and pages. What about? Just pick one: 9/11 was an inside job, war is unjust and evil, the government just wants to go to war, religion is evil though there is a Higher Power and path to salvation. What's sad is that I actually agree on principle with many of Alten's thoughts, but he hammers you over the head constantly with his beliefs and often crosses into conspiracy nut territory.
However, the thing I couldn't get past was...where was the editing? Many times the writing veers between present, past, and perfect tenses in the same sentence. I don't mean flashback/hallucination tense differences. I mean in the same sentence. Additionally, get a thesaurus! The word "supernal" was used on nearly every page. If I took a shot each time it appeared, I'd be dead. Also, as in Meg books from this era, Alten lets you know when something shocking is happening by--
--breaking up sentences with these dashes! It's so--
--distracting!
Just write a sentence and the audience can figure out--
--how they will react!
Also, this book was supposed to be the first in a trilogy...that never received the second book. So, the ending is a bit open-ended. At the same time, I don't even know where this story would continue to go other than down even preachy-er roads so...bullet dodged?
This book is...a lot. At times it was entertaining in its bonkers story, at times it was repetitive and boring, and at times it was conspiracy-rich preaching that droned on and on.
Here is just a sampling of everything going on in this novel at once: man-made released bubonic plague (released by a character who literally changes personality and motivation between paragraphs); a war veteran who loses a limb but then his prosthetic gets ripped into the shape of a scythe and then ; a child sex-trafficking ring still operating during the Apocalypse; multiple pages dedicated to proving the 9/11 false flag operation; every soldier immediately being evil; the reincarnated soul of Noah (like, from the Ark); the reincarnated soul of Jim Morrison; a diary of a French guy from the 1300s talking about the plague for some reason (I suppose there is a very stretched connection at the end); an Illuminati of 9 men, one of which has no skin but is covered in keratin; an eeeeevil Secretary of Defense; a necromancer with a magic pendant; a menacing wolf; plague victims dying gruesome deaths and jumping from buildings; what you thought would be the main character doctor getting tortured and waterboarded for no reason; a heavy-handed extended allusion to Dante's Inferno; and .
Look, reading a Steve Alten each summer has been a long tradition of mine. And, the Meg series at least has some fun in even in the worst of them. But, this one was just grim. Every soldier is painted as a trigger-happy cowboy. Everyone Middle Eastern is presented as an evil terrorist. Humanity is doomed and meant to suffer.
Alten preaches at you for pages and pages. What about? Just pick one: 9/11 was an inside job, war is unjust and evil, the government just wants to go to war, religion is evil though there is a Higher Power and path to salvation. What's sad is that I actually agree on principle with many of Alten's thoughts, but he hammers you over the head constantly with his beliefs and often crosses into conspiracy nut territory.
However, the thing I couldn't get past was...where was the editing? Many times the writing veers between present, past, and perfect tenses in the same sentence. I don't mean flashback/hallucination tense differences. I mean in the same sentence. Additionally, get a thesaurus! The word "supernal" was used on nearly every page. If I took a shot each time it appeared, I'd be dead. Also, as in Meg books from this era, Alten lets you know when something shocking is happening by--
--breaking up sentences with these dashes! It's so--
--distracting!
Just write a sentence and the audience can figure out--
--how they will react!
Also, this book was supposed to be the first in a trilogy...that never received the second book. So, the ending is a bit open-ended. At the same time, I don't even know where this story would continue to go other than down even preachy-er roads so...bullet dodged?
May 11, 2019
Though I've enjoyed Steve Alten's books in the past, particularly the MEG series, it has been a real chore to read them because he likes to write in present tense, which drives me nuts. In Grim Reaper, he mostly uses third person, past tense. That is what I prefer. However, throughout the book, especially near the beginning, he has passages of present tense which seemed out of place with the mostly past tense narrative.
The story has all the elements of a decent apocalyptic thriller. Set in Manhattan, he incorporates all the creepy elements of the underground mixed with the density of one of the most populated pieces of real estate on the planet. The story of a disease run rampant while the government tries to contain it make for an exciting story. There are multiple main characters, or at least it seems so at first. It wasn't until the last part of the book that I finally figured out who the real MC was.
This story was mostly a page turner until I came to the rather heavy handed preaching, or maybe I should call it, the philosophizing. There is no doubt about the authors political and religious leanings. Instead of being the far right he seems to be the far left. His interest in Kabala is blatant and permeates every aspect of the story. It makes a decent plot device, but I found myself skipping pages just to get through the dogma, especially near the end.
I like the ending though. It left me mostly fulfilled, which earns points. His writing style was also easy to take with relatively short sections and paragraphs, except when he was preaching. Overall, it was worth the read. Not sure where he intends to go with the sequel, but if this one is any indication, the next one will be even heavier with the preaching. I will reserve judgment until I see the synopsis for it.
Despite what may sound like a rather negative review, I am still a fan of Mr. Alten. I can understand where the Kabala thing and some of his left-leaning views (and conspiracy theories which are not just restricted to the far right, by the way) can be keys to the plot, I just hope he can tone them down a bit in the next one and concentrate on moving the story. Recommended.
The story has all the elements of a decent apocalyptic thriller. Set in Manhattan, he incorporates all the creepy elements of the underground mixed with the density of one of the most populated pieces of real estate on the planet. The story of a disease run rampant while the government tries to contain it make for an exciting story. There are multiple main characters, or at least it seems so at first. It wasn't until the last part of the book that I finally figured out who the real MC was.
This story was mostly a page turner until I came to the rather heavy handed preaching, or maybe I should call it, the philosophizing. There is no doubt about the authors political and religious leanings. Instead of being the far right he seems to be the far left. His interest in Kabala is blatant and permeates every aspect of the story. It makes a decent plot device, but I found myself skipping pages just to get through the dogma, especially near the end.
I like the ending though. It left me mostly fulfilled, which earns points. His writing style was also easy to take with relatively short sections and paragraphs, except when he was preaching. Overall, it was worth the read. Not sure where he intends to go with the sequel, but if this one is any indication, the next one will be even heavier with the preaching. I will reserve judgment until I see the synopsis for it.
Despite what may sound like a rather negative review, I am still a fan of Mr. Alten. I can understand where the Kabala thing and some of his left-leaning views (and conspiracy theories which are not just restricted to the far right, by the way) can be keys to the plot, I just hope he can tone them down a bit in the next one and concentrate on moving the story. Recommended.
August 10, 2017
I bought the hardcover when it first came out around 7 years ago and it has sat on my shelf for all that time. Two reason's for that. One being that I have so many books I wanted to read and not enough time and the other is that Alten has been getting a little bit more heavy on conspiracy theories and I was a little nervious about some of the religious aspects that were going to be associated with the story.
Now having finished the book I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It's very well written and has an interesting main character that is developed throughout the book in a very satisfying way, but there are some religious theories/plot points that hit the last 1/3 of the book pretty hard. There are some chunks in the end that really pursue Alten's religious beliefs, which I'm fine with, but seem to slow down the book a little bit.
I will say this though. The last half of the book did keep me very interested and I was wondering where it was going to lead. I'm taking away one star only for a slow first 200 pages and some conspiracy theory stuff that's thrown in towards the end. Overall a well written book with good characters but will upset some people because of the religious aspects and the Iraq War elements. Alten even has a disclaimer at the beginning of the books saying the story is not anti-soldier (which I don't think it is) but if that might bother you maybe shy away from this one.
Now having finished the book I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It's very well written and has an interesting main character that is developed throughout the book in a very satisfying way, but there are some religious theories/plot points that hit the last 1/3 of the book pretty hard. There are some chunks in the end that really pursue Alten's religious beliefs, which I'm fine with, but seem to slow down the book a little bit.
I will say this though. The last half of the book did keep me very interested and I was wondering where it was going to lead. I'm taking away one star only for a slow first 200 pages and some conspiracy theory stuff that's thrown in towards the end. Overall a well written book with good characters but will upset some people because of the religious aspects and the Iraq War elements. Alten even has a disclaimer at the beginning of the books saying the story is not anti-soldier (which I don't think it is) but if that might bother you maybe shy away from this one.
June 11, 2023
...cada persona que llega a nuestra vida representa una oportunidad de crecimiento, de salvación y de realización...
Es un libro lleno de aventura, de una pandemia modificada por la humanidad. La peste regresa con una mortalidad no antes vista y se expande en Manhattan a una velocidad que si logra salirse acabará con el mundo en menos de una semana. Sin tratamiento conocido que le sea efectivo, es cuestión de no contagiarse y de salir a tiempo de esta isla para poder sobrevivir.
La historia si logra meterte de lleno a la odisea, pero también se mete mucho en la religión y filosofía que a mí gusto no era necesaria pero reconozco que al autor le agrada meterse en tales terrenos. Patrick Shepard es un militar retirado por un accidente que tiene que llevar la vacuna fuera de Manhattan y mientras lo hace busca a su esposa e hija. Para poder llegar de una pieza se toma un vial de vacuna y como efecto secundario tiene alucinaciones entonces su travesía se le complica mucho porque va seguido de la guadaña por todo Manhattan. Es una historia interesante que nos lleva por los 9 círculos del infierno y tiene un desenlace que no vi venir. Lo unico triste de este libro es que nos deja pidiendo más, pero no lo ha sacado el autor y por el tiempo que ha pasado no creo salga, sus libros pueden que no sean para todo el público por las cuestiones de la religión y filosofía.
Es un libro lleno de aventura, de una pandemia modificada por la humanidad. La peste regresa con una mortalidad no antes vista y se expande en Manhattan a una velocidad que si logra salirse acabará con el mundo en menos de una semana. Sin tratamiento conocido que le sea efectivo, es cuestión de no contagiarse y de salir a tiempo de esta isla para poder sobrevivir.
La historia si logra meterte de lleno a la odisea, pero también se mete mucho en la religión y filosofía que a mí gusto no era necesaria pero reconozco que al autor le agrada meterse en tales terrenos. Patrick Shepard es un militar retirado por un accidente que tiene que llevar la vacuna fuera de Manhattan y mientras lo hace busca a su esposa e hija. Para poder llegar de una pieza se toma un vial de vacuna y como efecto secundario tiene alucinaciones entonces su travesía se le complica mucho porque va seguido de la guadaña por todo Manhattan. Es una historia interesante que nos lleva por los 9 círculos del infierno y tiene un desenlace que no vi venir. Lo unico triste de este libro es que nos deja pidiendo más, pero no lo ha sacado el autor y por el tiempo que ha pasado no creo salga, sus libros pueden que no sean para todo el público por las cuestiones de la religión y filosofía.
January 31, 2024
The classic hero in the story is Patrick Shepherd - a traumatized war veteran who lost an arm in Afghanistan after joining the marine corps following the September 11 terror attacks. The story goes back and forth in time (from Noah's Ark and the great flood, to the black plague to the early 2000's.
Patrick is in a VA hospital trying to recover when a seriously mentally ill, pregnant research scientist genetically modifies the black plague and releases it in Manhattan where Patrick has been hospitalized.
The story reads like a total conspiracy theorists idea of what the United States Government is up to and how it considers American's "collateral damage" in the great war machine.
After a few twists and turns, a lot of mysticism - including reincarnation, and way too many religious lessons millions of people die. Lots of graphic descriptions of death, dying, greed, violence and sin.
Millions of people die in Manhattan and Patrick (Shep) saves the day but ultimately sacrifices himself to become the Grim Reaper.
And when it is all almost over, you discover that this is book one (?) of a series. Something that I don't care for. While I am not someone who wants every story to wrap up with a happy ending - I do want it to wrap up. I don't want to keep reading about the same people fighting the same fight over and over and over.
Patrick is in a VA hospital trying to recover when a seriously mentally ill, pregnant research scientist genetically modifies the black plague and releases it in Manhattan where Patrick has been hospitalized.
The story reads like a total conspiracy theorists idea of what the United States Government is up to and how it considers American's "collateral damage" in the great war machine.
After a few twists and turns, a lot of mysticism - including reincarnation, and way too many religious lessons millions of people die. Lots of graphic descriptions of death, dying, greed, violence and sin.
Millions of people die in Manhattan and Patrick (Shep) saves the day but ultimately sacrifices himself to become the Grim Reaper.
And when it is all almost over, you discover that this is book one (?) of a series. Something that I don't care for. While I am not someone who wants every story to wrap up with a happy ending - I do want it to wrap up. I don't want to keep reading about the same people fighting the same fight over and over and over.
September 19, 2025
If you gave me an option of reading this book again or spending thirty days in jail, just had me my orange jumpsuit. This book thinks it's so smart, but in the end it's got to be one of the most frustrating and overly complicated books I ever read. Steve Allen basically stole from Dante's Inferno to write this story. On top of that, I really hate when a writer puts things in their books that doesn't take much research to figure out that what they are writing is wrong.
For instance, the main character was a minor league pitcher in single A for the Boston RedSoxs. He gets called up because a couple of injuries to major league pitchers happen. In real life that wouldn't happen. That is too much of a jump. If anything, the RedSoxs would either A) call up a minor leaguer from triple A, or B) sign a cheap free agent pitcher. No team would call up a single A pitcher. Single A are project pitchers. Once a team feels you are progressing, they move you to double A, then triple A, and finally the majors.
That's just a small sample. I could literally write my own book about all the mistakes in this one, but I would have to read it all over again. And I am never touching this book again.
For instance, the main character was a minor league pitcher in single A for the Boston RedSoxs. He gets called up because a couple of injuries to major league pitchers happen. In real life that wouldn't happen. That is too much of a jump. If anything, the RedSoxs would either A) call up a minor leaguer from triple A, or B) sign a cheap free agent pitcher. No team would call up a single A pitcher. Single A are project pitchers. Once a team feels you are progressing, they move you to double A, then triple A, and finally the majors.
That's just a small sample. I could literally write my own book about all the mistakes in this one, but I would have to read it all over again. And I am never touching this book again.
December 26, 2019
Just, just awful. Basically, Alten writes as if he was just forced to watch and then memorize every word of a 24-hour, looped feed of Racheal Maddow melting down, interspersed with trailers of Michael Moore's latest "film." What did I just ATTEMPT to read? I get it, authors insert politics into storylines. BUT C'MON MAN! Also, For the LOVE OF GOD, do some research when writing military characters. The "Vet" protagonist is comically cliche, and as an actual veteran, I can say with total certainty that Alten did not get a single aspect of that character, correct. Wow. All I can say is this book was a 400 + page political diatribe. The entire mess is akin to watching one of those dudes, sitting in a truck, RANTING into a cell phone. Alten went off the rails on this one. I could picture the poor guy as he was writing scenes, pulling his hair, screaming at the laptop about Bush, Republicans, Rush, lol, OIL, just full-on shrieking and smashing the keyboard as he typed...Damn. Yah, it's that kind of "book."
February 19, 2024
No se como empezar, es un libro lleno de sorpresas para mi. Primero creo que me gustaría explicar mi calificación, creo que va más como a un 3.5 estrellas pero que se acerca demasiado a las 4 estrellas.
A ver, es un libro bastante interesante, una trama bastante distinta a la que suelo leer y definitivamente me sorprendió. Debo ser sincera, al principio me costó demasiado seguir la historia, eran demasiados personajes que ni siquiera lograba entender como se conectaban o cuáles eran sus propósitos. Aún después de acabarlo, me quedan algunas dudas pero creo que esto tiene más que ver con que estaba destinada a ser una saga y tener una continuación pero en mi investigación no vi que esto se llevará a cabo.
Un libro que habla demasiado de la espiritualidad, es algo que me gusta pero que igual no en exceso. Hubo momentos donde lo sentí demasiado pesado en ese sentido.
En si; me gustó, es un libro largo que transcurre en un día así que es interesante el desarrollo de los personajes en este tiempo.
Mi primer libro del autor y definitivamente me llevo una grata sorpresa, es distinto a lo que me gusta leer pero la verdad es que no menos interesante. Tengo otros libros en mi biblioteca de Steve Alten y definitivamente después probaré un poco más de su pluma. (:
A ver, es un libro bastante interesante, una trama bastante distinta a la que suelo leer y definitivamente me sorprendió. Debo ser sincera, al principio me costó demasiado seguir la historia, eran demasiados personajes que ni siquiera lograba entender como se conectaban o cuáles eran sus propósitos. Aún después de acabarlo, me quedan algunas dudas pero creo que esto tiene más que ver con que estaba destinada a ser una saga y tener una continuación pero en mi investigación no vi que esto se llevará a cabo.
Un libro que habla demasiado de la espiritualidad, es algo que me gusta pero que igual no en exceso. Hubo momentos donde lo sentí demasiado pesado en ese sentido.
En si; me gustó, es un libro largo que transcurre en un día así que es interesante el desarrollo de los personajes en este tiempo.
Mi primer libro del autor y definitivamente me llevo una grata sorpresa, es distinto a lo que me gusta leer pero la verdad es que no menos interesante. Tengo otros libros en mi biblioteca de Steve Alten y definitivamente después probaré un poco más de su pluma. (:
August 27, 2019
A simple vista, la obra tiene todo lo que me emociona.
Tenemos un malo malísimo, en este caso mala, que bajo mi punto de vista siempre es mucho mejor, que además está chiflada. Una buena trama. Un virus mortal y un héroe. Perfecto, entonces ¿por qué es el libro más aburrido que me he leído hasta la fecha? ¿Por qué tengo la sensación de haber sido estafada? Simple. Porque cuando busco un libro de ficción, no espero encontrarme uno de fantasía.
El desarrollo de la locura de Mary que ha hecho el autor es tan surrealista, que resta verosimilitud a la obra en aquellos capítulos en los que el lector, se ve arrastrado a seguir la historia bajo su perspectiva.
No creo que la locura se viva, ni se sienta como lo hace Mary, y si es así, Steve Allen no ha conseguido que me lo crea, y ha llegado incluso a aburrirme.
Tenemos un malo malísimo, en este caso mala, que bajo mi punto de vista siempre es mucho mejor, que además está chiflada. Una buena trama. Un virus mortal y un héroe. Perfecto, entonces ¿por qué es el libro más aburrido que me he leído hasta la fecha? ¿Por qué tengo la sensación de haber sido estafada? Simple. Porque cuando busco un libro de ficción, no espero encontrarme uno de fantasía.
El desarrollo de la locura de Mary que ha hecho el autor es tan surrealista, que resta verosimilitud a la obra en aquellos capítulos en los que el lector, se ve arrastrado a seguir la historia bajo su perspectiva.
No creo que la locura se viva, ni se sienta como lo hace Mary, y si es así, Steve Allen no ha conseguido que me lo crea, y ha llegado incluso a aburrirme.
April 24, 2020
Por su temática, un virus muy contagioso que amenaza con destruir a la población, posiblemente no sea una lectura muy recomendable en estos días... o tal vez sí.
No está mal, pero no me ha llegado a convencer del todo. Comienza con mucha fuerza y mucha energía, algo que siempre agradezco, y la historia se va desarrollando muy bien, pero por momentos pierde fuelle y se empieza a desinflar. A ratos coge fuerza, pero luego tiene otros tramos que nos intenta transmitir el mensaje de la novela y se pasa de mística hasta tal punto que se hace tediosa.
El final, también por momentos, parece como si el autor se hiciese un lío con el desenlace y vuelve a esa faceta mística que ha hecho que este libro no me convenza.
De verdad que parecía que prometía, pero en mi opinión, hay momentos que han estado de más.
No está mal, pero no me ha llegado a convencer del todo. Comienza con mucha fuerza y mucha energía, algo que siempre agradezco, y la historia se va desarrollando muy bien, pero por momentos pierde fuelle y se empieza a desinflar. A ratos coge fuerza, pero luego tiene otros tramos que nos intenta transmitir el mensaje de la novela y se pasa de mística hasta tal punto que se hace tediosa.
El final, también por momentos, parece como si el autor se hiciese un lío con el desenlace y vuelve a esa faceta mística que ha hecho que este libro no me convenza.
De verdad que parecía que prometía, pero en mi opinión, hay momentos que han estado de más.
November 7, 2019
Fue un libro pesado de leer inicialmente porque varias voces o personajes te hablan al tiempo.
Es una trama interesante porque se acontece a los hechos después del 11 de septiembre... Los personajes Patrick Shepherd y Mary Klipot me entretuvieron entre una pelea de bien contra el mal... Ver como se describía al ángel de la muerte me impresionaba... Lastima que hubieron varios personajes o lugares que cortaban las escenas y tiempos. Se alarga muchísimo la historia con los obstáculos una y otra vez que tiene que enfrentar Patrick, pobre hombre creí que estaba siendo castigado pero no salía de una cuando estaba en otro problema. La pag. 566 me dejo pasmada en shock sentí que Dios me regalaba esas palabras.
Me entretuvo pero fue pesado y agotador leer.
Es una trama interesante porque se acontece a los hechos después del 11 de septiembre... Los personajes Patrick Shepherd y Mary Klipot me entretuvieron entre una pelea de bien contra el mal... Ver como se describía al ángel de la muerte me impresionaba... Lastima que hubieron varios personajes o lugares que cortaban las escenas y tiempos. Se alarga muchísimo la historia con los obstáculos una y otra vez que tiene que enfrentar Patrick, pobre hombre creí que estaba siendo castigado pero no salía de una cuando estaba en otro problema. La pag. 566 me dejo pasmada en shock sentí que Dios me regalaba esas palabras.
Me entretuvo pero fue pesado y agotador leer.
March 11, 2023
A modern day Dante's Inferno? I'm in. Bad guys and bio weapons? Ditto! But this interesting premise rapidly becomes like a B movie script. Not a fun B movie that goes on your fave cult list but one that has all the entertainment value of a public service announcement on the hazards of jaywalking. I will forgive a great deal of issues with a book if it at least has interesting characters. Those are missing. Cardboard cutouts would be more endearing.
This reads like Stephen King's The Stand run through a shredder with mimeoed tracts from every rapture wishing cult. I stuck with it in sheer marvel at how bad it was even after that faint hope it would improve had died of despair. The illustrations add nothing. The sections from Guy de Chauliac add nothing. Did anyone edit this book?
This reads like Stephen King's The Stand run through a shredder with mimeoed tracts from every rapture wishing cult. I stuck with it in sheer marvel at how bad it was even after that faint hope it would improve had died of despair. The illustrations add nothing. The sections from Guy de Chauliac add nothing. Did anyone edit this book?
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