Altar of Eden

by James Rollins

Baghdad falls . . . and armed men are seen looting the city zoo. Amid a hail of bullets, a concealed underground lab is ransacked—and something horrific is set loose upon the world.

Seven years later, Louisiana state veterinarian Lorna Polk investigates an abandoned shipwrecked fishing trawler carrying exotic caged animals, part of a black market smuggling ring. But there is something disturbingly wrong with these beasts—each an unsettling mutation of the natural order, all sharing one uncanny trait: incredibly heightened intelligence.

Joining forces with U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jack Menard—a man who shares with her a dark and bloody past—Lorna sets out to uncover the truth about this strange cargo and the terrorist threat it poses. Because a beast escaped the shipwreck and is running amok—and what is about to be born upon the altar of Eden could threaten not only the future of the world but the very foundation of what it means to be human.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction, Mystery, Action, Suspense

492 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 10, 2009

About the author

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolute trash and I loved every second of it.

[Shariful Sadaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining adventure/mystery about scientific experimentation with animal and the results. Liked the characters!

I'm a fan of Rollins, particularly his Sigma series. Anyway, the point is, this was like old school Rollins. The character are interesting but they don't take over.There’s a good balance between the story and the actors in it.

Though, i could totally see Sigma wanting to snap these two up. Maybe if they did. So, here we have Jack and Lorna. Jack is a border patrol agent, and Lorna is a veterinarian. Sounds kind of mundane, huh?
Well, Jack finds a ship full of strange animals and calls in Lorna. They grew up together, she and his younger brother were high school sweethearts. Over the course of the book, we find out that brother died and Lorna was blamed, but Jack was party to the car accident that killed his brother too. See, Lorna was being attacked while the brother was passed out, Jack busted in and saved her. Without understanding the whole situation, he told her to drive. She crashed and the brother died.

They’ve kept the secret of what really happened all these years.

While the interactions between Jack and Lorna are great, what i like best is the actual progression of the mystery.

One of my favourite things about Rollins is the way his stories take facts and combine and twist them to make such interesting adventures.

This is all about genetic manipulation. The animals they find are enhanced in such a way that being together increases their brain function, making them smarter than your average animals. So, investigation this leads to an island. On the island are humanoid people who are similarly networked together. Along with some animals.

The idea is to create super soldiers. Of course. Why else do people do these things do.

They end up torturing their subjects to the point of psychotic break. Add to that, they kidnapped the children and keep them separated, physically and psychically. I think most parents would be fairly pissed. The idea is that by isolating them they are keeping them pure and non-violent.

Yeah, they don't get the idea that they caused the violence.

All’s well that ends well. Lorna and Jack escape the island with the children. The adult experiments choose to take out the bad guys and stay on the island. Which is exploding.

I'd live to see a follow up book. The children age quickly. The age of maturity is like 10. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but just a bit. Jack and Lorna keep the kids a secret, but how long can they keep it that way? I'd like to see a sequel that takes place in 20 years or so. It would be, a couple generations of the kids. Jack and Lorna would have been married for about that long. Maybe have kids of their own. Older kids, what if someone found out or knew about the kids? Maybe someone involved in the experiments wasn’t on the island. Or descendent? Relative? I don't know.

Basically, i just want to know what happen next the mark of a good story.

[Mitch · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHY are people rating this book so highly???

The characters were cardboard cutouts, the plot was obviously manipulated, the scenarios were so unlikely...the story was more like a series of explosions and gunfights loosely linked together until it finally expired. Having survived to the end, I know a lot more about weaponry and am reassured that one-dimensional good guys can only get wounded no matter how many rounds are fired per minute, while no-dimensional bad guys inevitably get something sheared off by alligators, have their intestines toyed with by giant foxes, or get taken out by a reinforced baby crib. (I'm not exaggerating here, people.)

Gosh, I hope I didn't spoil the book for anyone...wait- that's impossible!

-Why does that phrase sound familiar? Oh yeah- it's because I used it a lot while reading this book.

It's too bad really, because there were some interesting scientific ideas buried under tons of written rubble. No amount of excavation could get them out in time, though.

This book is best read while recovering from a lobotomy.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It is a quick read. I picked it up just to take a look and read seven chapters before I put it back down. I highly recommend all of James Rollins books, but "Altar of Eden" is definitely my favorite.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorna is innocently driving to work in Louisiana one morning after a strong storm thinking of how her day is going to go. However, once she gets to work, she finds that she has been told that she is going out to inspect a ship-wrecked boat. What??? She is a vet, what do they need her for? Once she gets there however, she not only has to deal with Jack, a dark and sexy Border Patrol agent from her deep and painful past, she also has to deal with some animals on the ship. Not just any animals mind, special animals the kind that creep into your nightmares at night and make you scream. So begins her and Jack's attempt to find out who, what and where about the animals. The only problem is, the owners know full well where the animals are at and have now sent their own animal in order to get them back. As Lorna and Jack enter the race to not only find answers they also have to figure out how to capture the animal that has escaped and headed toward population. Never mind the animal zeroing in on their location, ready to make a capture of its own.

It is not very often I get a warm fuzzy when I finish a horror/suspense book, for this one I did. JR has a way of taking a situation one may hear about in the news and turning it into a heck of a great story. Your heart is in your throat most of the time and I wanted to go check my windows and doors more than once. Not that it matters to these animals. I also love the thread of romance that JR has running through the story. It is light, but more feelings than touching and kissing, but it was sweet and very fitting for the story. Yes, I wanted more of an ending for Lorna and Jack, but after all it was wrote by a man not a woman, so I will take what I can get.

If you don't often read horror suspense, this may be a book to get your feet wet with. I didn't feel that it was overly graphic as much as scary interesting. It is also a standalone and not apart of a series. As good as this book was though, Amazonia still remains my favorite of his and I am jonesing for some Painter Crowe and Gray Pierce.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve heard many good things about James Rollins and have had his books recommended to me on numerous occasions, but it took me a while before I finally picked one up. After reading Altar of Eden, I’ll certainly be devouring many of his other books.

With Altar of Eden, we have a thriller with a science-fiction edge, something I adore. It was not perfect – there were some elements I saw coming from early on and there were some aspects that were a bit too farfetched – but the action had me powering through to see how everything came together. With each page I turned, I was pulled in deeper and I found myself finishing this one quickly.

With plenty of action and a gripping storyline, Altar of Eden has me eager to read more James Rollins.

[Doug Bolden · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first glimpse into James Rollins occurred around 2006. I was managing an overstock bookstore at the time—Book Gallery—and a customer came in asking if we had any of Rollins's works. We had two—Amazonia and Ice Hunt—that he already had read, and so I personally picked them up and brought them home to drop on my never ending and ephemerally conceptualized to-read list. Why? Because he had used such phrases as "like Michael Crichton but way more exciting" and "seriously the best novels!" Phrases that are the review equivalent of mixed metaphors, for sure, a hint of an adrenalin junkie's addiction aimed at words and plot; but nevertheless phrases of unwavering praise.

To say Altar of Eden is the Michael Bay equivalent of a novel is perhaps inaccurate, but I think it will suffice. We are talking of a book that includes four primary scenes of pyrotechnics, each roughly a stage up from the last, along with multiple helicopters and gun porn mixed in with those good [with firearms and the ladies] soldiers who somehow put personal ethics in front of the rules but don't end up court-martialled. Toss in some elementary level morality lessons with a heavy handed double-thick icing of Christian iconography at key times, and there you go. What's missing? Well, that's simple, you just need a blonde (redhaired also acceptable) female scientist with an emotional roadblock in her past and a general vacancy next to her heart and a smoldering, swarthy military type man with his own emotional upheaval and a soft inside wrapped around his tough, down-to-business exterior. And he has to save her. Top off the whole thing with bad guys largely described by (a) their disrespect for women and (b) the disregard for the sanctity of motherhood and children and you have a complete package.

To explain, or to at least elaborate, on what I am saying, let's take a look at a scene at an alligator farm early on in the novel. A group of boyscouts are staying over. An escaped genetic experiment is on its way. A scientist from a project designed to preserve endangered species, who is also knowledgeable about big predators, is with a group of special forces types trying to intercept. Except before they get to the farm, two boats are capsized and set fire to the water and woods around it. Now they have to penetrate the flames while avoiding the genetically augmented killing machine. Fastforward past the point where they have accomplished a portion of this. They are bringing in a copter, of course, when a would-be rapist life-long bully and beneficiary of nepotism comes out with an automatic shotgun, trips, and shoots the helicopter carrying good guys out of the air. Leading to another crash. There is more to that scene, but I'll leave it be.

I guess I should give some semblance of a plot. Ok. A boat load of genetic freak animals crashes down south of New Orleans. Some of the animals are rescued by Lorna Polk, the aforementioned blonde scientist with emotional roadblocks past. She brought on board by Jack Menard (soldering 'n swarthy). They find that at least one of the experiments has escaped, a massive killing machine, and start to hunt it (see above alligator farm on flames). By this time, they are in up to their neck and people with deep pockets and a lack of morals (and a total disrespect for the sanctity of motherhood) need them out of the way. All leading to an island-based battle between men with guns, down-home boys from the bayou with guns, not so much evil as just following orders scientists, horribly scarred, women-disrespecting men with bigger guns and explosives, and preternaturally intelligent animals and ape-things. It's nearly too much book for its circa 500 pages, and barely enough actual story to fill a YA adult novel half that size.

But people who want to read this aren't in it for the story, in the way that someone who rereads Howard's End for the third time are picking at the story for subtly missed details. They are in it for the story in the way that every explosion, ever heart-racing glance at a would-be lover, and every boat speeding to save the day is a story in its own right. This is a novel of events, peopled by characters you have met a dozen times before with different names, and building up to a big idea that can be summed up simply as where money meets human hubris. In the midst of this you get speeches about science gone awry and the power of life. And if you thought I was describing Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park, you are getting the point of the "seen before" sentence. Perhaps the single biggest misstep is allowing key points in the book to have some of the worst writing, apparently trying to focus more on the flow behind the words being considered more important the words itself. That, and having the brilliant scientist's eyes go wide as she finds out about fractals, a concept she has apparently never heard of before, and then even wider as a computer draws triangles on a screen.

With all my sarcasm aside, it's a readable book, even if you have to sometimes take the lumps with the gravy. It doesn't take long, and at worst is only truly bad in a half-dozen places and it is good in about as many. With a beer in the other hand a beach in front of you, this might be a great book. Otherwise, maybe think of it is as Fair if what you are after is action and a way to pass the time. If what you are looking for is something more groundbreaking, better paced, and better written, you might need to drop that a peg.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as airport novels go, this book was a sleeper...the kind that literally puts you to sleep. That's an odd thing to say about a book that has some of the loudest prose I've ever read, the kind that shouts, shoots, and explodes on every page. But I found it rather dull. I liked the premise and there was a nice amount of science-babble in it. Yet Rollin's cardboard characters with their TV formula problems bored me. This is the first Rollins novel I've read. I know a number of people who like his brand of techno-thriller but he comes across to me as a poor man's Micheal Crichton.

[Yona Racheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by James Rollins . I love how in his books there are always adventure but a little romance as well. And facts, for example how the brain can produce enough electricity all the time to feed a flashlight.
Lorna and Jack were very strong character, but I liked all the side ones too.

When you read you enjoy the book, you feel what the characters feels, you learn new things and it's like you are there. The author is that good.

[Fred Rayworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy when his new book came out and not at all disappointed that it wasn't part of his previous series. He started out in the business with individual stories, and for Altar of Eden, he returned to his roots. Being a veterinarian, it is not surprising he wrote a story about animals. What I liked about his earlier books was that he incorporated weird animals (or as I call them, "icky bugs") into the story. In this case, the icky bugs are genetically modified mutant animals (of various species) and a few surprises.

The story is well plotted out and I really liked the cast of characters, from the hero and heroine to the baddest of the bad guys. The bit of redemption for one character at the end was a twist I didn't see coming.

This is also a very well-written story. He keeps his chapters and paragraphs short and to the point, and the story moves very well. I was able to read it during commercials without getting lost in the middle of a chapter. However, in this case, I read most of the book while waiting to get the brakes done on my car. It made the time pass fast and I had one great time sitting in that waiting room.

James also knows how to write with modern "rules" which is something many other authors could pick up on. The POV's are always right there, and you have no doubt who is driving each scene. The grammar, punctuation and syntax are virtually perfect, and there is no author intrusion.

Altar of Eden was a thoroughly enjoyable read with never a dull moment. I highly recommend it.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing plots and intricate characters that virtually reach out to snare like tentacles, Rollins continues to stagger us with his mind-blowing style in the introduction of his stand-alone thriller, “Altar of Eden”. Beautifully crafted and set in the backcountry of Louisiana, it only takes a small squint of the eyes to see the landscape unfurl as Rollins words progress.

When veterinarian Lorna Polk is summoned to the scene of an abandoned shipwreck, she couldn’t have been prepared for the shock when she encounters an individual from her painful past and a vessel crammed with exotic animals. Each, a slightly unnatural version of a recognizable beast has an obvious and extraordinary intelligence. These animals—now orphans of the storm—are an incredible find even after the collective realization that a modern day monster, a female jaguar with the teeth of a saber tooth and a hungry cub, is on the loose.

As the mission morphs into a hunt for the beast, the company that stands to lose all is taking no prisoners and leaving no evidence. They will not allow anyone to discover the truth behind their life’s work even while it threatens the very fabric of our world.

Teeming with creativity, Rollins’ mix of the wide-ranging worlds of suspense and science equal a perfect cocktail to satisfy anyone’s literary palette.

Reviewed by Shannon Raab with Suspense Magazine
www.suspensemagazine.com

[Sazzad Hossen · Rating 4 out of 5]

আমাজনিয়া পড়ার পর স্বভাবতই আমি জেমস রোলিন্স এর ভক্ত হয়ে গেছি।এই বইটা তেমনি থ্রিলার, সাই-ফাই সংমিশ্রণে এক কথায় অনবদ্য লেগেছে।বইটা পড়ে মনে হলো যেন কোন হলিউড মুভি দেখছি।

[Rakib Hasan · Rating 3 out of 5]

প্লটটা বেশ ভাল কিন্তু রলিন্স এর অন্য গল্পগুলোর তুলনায় কিছুটা দুর্বল লেগেছে। সবমিলিয়ে ভালই ছিল।

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The popular writer of the Sigma Force series, James Rollins, wrote this standalone novel, Altar of Eden, in 2010. As I read this novel, I initially felt that it was an extremely original idea, but as the novel progressed, my mind kept reverting to a classic I had read as a boy many years ago, The Island of Dr. Moreau. I'm not saying that Altar of Eden is identical to H. G. Wells' classic, but it does have some very similar themes.

In any case, the premise of this novel centers around the experimental production (or cloning, breeding, etc.) of species to create some that are more intelligent and advanced than their predecessors. Add the idea of a defense contractor whose ultimate goal is making money and the stage is set. As is usual in this type of story, things begin to backfire and people begin to die. Hello Jurassic Park.

In my opinion, the novel was very fast reading, and the story was full of tense moments which helps to keep the reader's interest. The characters are well defined, particularly the primary good and bad guys. In addition, Mr. Rollins' description of the setting which primarily takes place in Louisiana and some remote island in the Caribbean (I believe) is well defined and easily understood. At the end of the book, the author also provides some support for the basis of his story, so if you decide to read this exciting novel and you are wondering if there is any grounds for his speculation, refer to the final few pages.

If you like science fiction/government conspiracy/evil contractor/remote island/scary monster type books, this novel is for you.

[Amy Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

ScienceThrillers.com review: Altar of Eden is a stand-alone novel, not part of Rollins’ popular Sigma Force series. It bears his signature strengths: a strong, believable female character, and best-in-the-business action sequences. Altar of Eden adds two things to the Rollins repertoire: a veterinarian protagonist and vivid scenes + characters in the Louisiana bayou.

But overall, in my opinion Altar of Eden is not James Rollins’ finest work. His weaker books are still better than most writers’ best, so if you’re a fan, read and enjoy Altar of Eden. But if you have not yet discovered the thrill of reading a really good James Rollins novel, start with a different title.

The main shortcoming of this book is a somewhat disjointed plot. The novel is divided into three distinct sections, which is fine, except I felt they didn’t flow together into a unified whole. Act One, “First Blood,” has a terrific opening sequence with plenty of action and mystery but gets bogged down in a too-lengthy scene set in a swamp. Again plenty of action, but I missed an overall sense of real threat; the hunt through the swamp is a distraction from the main story line and the evil behind it.

When the real bad guys are revealed, their actions are clearly evil but the more the reader learns, the more those actions seem ridiculous. I never did quite understand how their unethical, bizarre machinations could have any military applications, nor was it clear to me how much manipulation the people had done and how much was due to the mysterious virus.

Parent alert: Altar of Eden contains more profanity than most Rollins novels (all the language is character-appropriate and used well). Be aware that abortion is a plot element. It is not prominent, politicized, or inflammatory, but if you don’t want to even go there, I’m giving you a “heads up.”

Biohazard rating: 3 out of 5. Science is part of the plot, but as is typical of Rollins novels, the tech wanders from science into speculative fiction. I’d say the science in this one is even more loosey-goosey than usual; I’m having a hard time coming up with a list of key words. The story does touch on junk DNA, bioweapons, latent viruses, biomagnets, animal behavior, extinction, EEGs, coma (though not always with depth or clarity). In this novel, Rollins finally explores some veterinary medicine–for this veterinarian/author, home turf that he has largely avoided in his other books.

[Michelle♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Get to the Chopper!!!! PSSHUEJKFFMG! Gunfire! More Gunfire! The CHOPPER! Yeah, that's my impersonation of Arnold. Ok moving on...



Ok so...this book kept me turning the pages, that's for sure. But was I really all that excited about it? Did I really want to see how things turned out? No, not really.

Yes, this was typical Rollins with mixing DARPA, science, weapons, and a lot of scientific jargon. BUT, and this is a major "but" for me, he incorporated animals into this one WAY too much!

Similar to one of the SIGMA Force novels, the name of it escapes me at this point, but it was the one with the menagrie of animals, Chernobyl, and mutated kids, he incorporated animals being mutated, their genetics being messed with.

SPOILER! I can't believe he almost made me think that Burt was dead! I KNEW that he wouldn't have let that happen, but c'mon. Even that fathom of a doubt kind of pissed me off. And besides, I hated the fact that the jaguar and her cub had to die.

After the point of Lorna, did not like that name by the way, being captured, and finding out they were not only tinkering with animals' lives but with humans, it was just too far fetched for me. Yeah, I wanted to see where it lead and how the story mircalously ended, but I did not care for the fact that the mutated and regressed furry humans worked together with the "good" humans. Just to much beyond belief at that point. I literally had to laugh at it. I did not like how it got twisted that way on the islands of Eden.

Totally NOT what I thought this book was going to be about. Really just wanted another SIGMA force novel.

Yes, it was nice to see that Rollins actually utilized his veternanian skills in writing one of this books, but we normally see that with his other books. There's always an animal in there somewhere.

Not his best, and definitely NOT worth a re-read.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

While "Altar of Eden" isn't on the same level of interest and/or quality for this reviewer as the earliest novels (i.e. "Amazonia", "Ice Hunt", and "Subterranean") written by author James Rollins, his fans will enjoy this imaginative and action-filled book, nonetheless.

The novel creates an interesting plot that's connected to reality in a few ways (which Rollins carefully points out at the end of the book). The premise revolves around experimentation on animals and humans in order to create the "perfect army". Rollins does a credible job of encouraging the reader to buy into the fantastic plot. The main characters, veterinarian Lorna Polk and US Border Patrol agent Jack Menard stumble on to the scheme and spend the bulk of the book attempting to stop the plan before it comes into fruition. Rollins, like his fellow thriller compatriot, Matthew Reilly, knows how to keep the plot moving, impresses the reader with a bunch of exotic weaponry, while continually pouring on the action throughout the book.

The book is hindered somewhat by some wooden characters, but the sheer magnitude of action keeps "Altar of Eden" moving toward a satisfying conclusion. NOTE: this is not a Sigma Force adventure which this reader found especially appealing. 3 and 1/2 stars.

[Moumita Hride · Rating 3 out of 5]

রোলিন্স এর অন্যান্য গল্প থেকে একটু কম ভালো লেগেছে। তবে প্লট টা খুবই ভালো। কিন্তু অনুবাদ একদম ভালো লাগে নি। অনুবাদের জন্যেই বেশি খারাপ লেগেছে বইটা। :(

[Martin Pingree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun to read. Jurassic Park story line with a lot more violence but an outstanding cast of characters keeps you reading to the end.

[Vivone Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kad uzmem Rollinsa, točno znam što želim čitati -pustolovnu akcijsku napeticu s mrvicom fantastičnog. I nikad me ne razočara.
Ova knjiga nije u sklopu Sigma Force serijala. Likovi su posve novi. Zbog tog mi je malo trebalo da mi se počne sviđati. Ali tema mi je odlična: manipulacija genima životinja (a i ljudi) u biološkom ratovanju. Cilj je stvoriti super vojnike i super oružja. U dijelu knjige gdje se opisuje manipulacija DNA, ništa nisam kužila, ali sam zato uživala u ostatku knjige. Nabijena je akcijom i brzo se čita, kao i sve ostale Rollinsove knjige.
I da, na kraju Rollins uvijek objasni što su stvarne činjenice, a što je on izmislio. To baš volim kod njega.

[هادی امینی · Rating 2 out of 5]

احتمالا از بس کتابهای رولینز رو خوندم، دیگه خیلی برام جذاب نیستند.
داستان یک سری آزمایش ژنتیکی روی حیوانات و انسانها بود که به طور مخفیانه توی آمریکای جنوبی انجام میشه و در حین حمل نمونه‌های حیوانی به ایالات متحده، پای مرزبانی و یک دامپزشک زن و یک سری آدم دیگه به ماجرا باز میشه.

[Sakib A. Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

বিজ্ঞান আশীর্বাদ। মানুষের জীবনযাত্রা সহজ করে নেপথ্যে এই বিজ্ঞানের অবদান অনেক বেশি। মানুষ তার সুফল বুঝছে। ফলে যুগের আধুনিকায়নে মানুষ এখন বিজ্ঞানের সাথেই বসবাস করছে। আর প্রতিনিয়ত উন্নত থেকে উন্নততর হচ্ছে। কিন্তু প্রতিটি মুদ্রার উলটো দিক থাকে, ভালোর বিপরীতে খারাপ। বিজ্ঞানের এই আশীর্বাদ অনেক সময় অভিশাপে রূপান্তরিত হয়। ভুল মানুষের হাতে পড়ে বিজ্ঞান তার অন্ধকার দিকও অনুধাবন করে।

প্রাচীনকাল থেকেই মানুষ কৌতূহলী। এই কৌতূহলের কারণে অপার সম্ভাবনার দুয়ার খুলে যায় মানুষের সামনে। আবিস্কার হয় একের পর এক জিনিস। আমাদের মানবদেহের রহস্য অনেক। সেই রহস্য ভেদ করার চেষ্টা বিজ্ঞানীরা প্রতিনিয়ত করে যায়। এমন কিছুর দেখা হয়তো পাওয়া সম্ভব, যা বদলে দিতে পারে পুরো ইতিহাস।

আমাদের জিনগত অনেক বৈশিষ্ট্য আজও অজানা। হয়তো অনেকভাবে এই জিনগত বৈশিষ্ট্যগুলো ফুটে ওঠে। কখনও এর মিল সম্ভব না হলে হারিয়ে যায় বহু প্রজাতি। তাদের রক্ষা করতেও চেষ্টার ত্রুটি থাকে না। কিন্তু সব মিলিয়ে কতটা সম্ভব হয়? বিভিন্ন পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষা চলে। গোপনে গোপনে এমন সব গবেষণা চলে, যা মাথা ঘুরিয়ে দিতে যথেষ্ট। যদি ভুল কোনো পরীক্ষা হয়? যা থেকে এমন কিছু তৈরি হয়, যেগুলো মানব সমাজের জন্য হুমকিস্বরূপ! তাহলে?

▪️কাহিনি সংক্ষেপ :

বাগাদাদের পতন ঘটেছে। মার্কিন সেনাবাহিনীর আক্রমণে বাগদাদ এখন ধ্বংসস্তূপ। সেই ধ্বংসস্তূপে দাঁড়িয়ে দুইভাই খুঁজছে তাদের প্রিয় চিড়িয়াখানার প্রিয় প্রাণীদের। কিন্তু সব যেন মাটির সাথে মিশে গিয়েছে। যুদ্ধবিধ্বস্ত এলাকায় যেমন হয়, তেমনটি ঘটে বাগদাদেও। চলে লুটপাট। বাগদাদ পাঠাগারের পাশাপাশি বিভিন্ন এলাকার মূল্যবান সমগ্র বেহাত হয়ে যায়। বেহাত হয় বাগদাদের সেই চিড়িয়াখানার কিছু প্রাণীও। যাদের নিয়ে গোপনে গবেষণা চলত। আড়ালে থাকা এক বিজ্ঞানাগার প্রাণীদের নিয়ে যে গবেষণা চালিয়েছে, তার মূল লক্ষ্য ছিল পৃথিবীর ইতিহাসে এক ধরনের পরিবর্তন আনা। যা প্রাণীদের অস্তিত্বে নতুন দিগন্ত খুলে দিবে। এই গবেষণার সুফল কি পাওয়া যাবে? না-কি হতে বিপরীত হবে?

তুমুল ঝড়ের মধ্যে সাগরে পাওয়া গেল একটি কার্গো জাহাজ। যার ভিতরে প্রবেশ করলে হতবাক হতে হয়। কেননা সেই জাহাজ বোঝাই কিছু প্রাণী দিয়ে। যেসব প্রাণীকে ঠিক স্বাভাবিক মনে হচ্ছে না। স্বভাব-বিরুদ্ধ কিছু পরিবর্তন লক্ষ্য করা যাচ্ছে। তাছাড়া বেশিরভাগ প্রাণীই অনেক অনেক বছর আগে বিলুপ্ত হয়ে গিয়েছে। কী হয়েছে তাদের সাথে? কার্গো জাহাজ উদ্ধার করা এজেন্ট জ্যাক বুঝে উঠতে পারছে না। তাই তলব পড়ে প্রাণীদের এই বৈচিত্র্য নিয়ে কাজ করা বিজ্ঞানী লোরনা পোল্কের। যার সাথে জ্যাকের পুরোনো এক সম্পর্ক আছে। যার স্মৃতি মাঝেমাঝেই জড়িয়ে নেয় তাদেরকে। তিক্ত সেই স্মৃতি যে ভুলে থাকা যায় না।

অতীত যেমনই হোক, কর্মক্ষেত্রে দুইজনই পেশাদার। তাই কাজের সময় সব ভুলে নিজেদের লক্ষ্যে মনোনিবেশ করতে সময় লাগে না। কার্গো জাহাজের অভ্যন্তরে প্রাণীদের দেখে বিস্ময়ে হতবাক হয় লোরনা। সেই সাথে নতুন কিছু আবিষ্কারের উন্মাদনা ঘিরে ধরে। কিন্তু তারা ঘুণাক্ষরেও জানতে পারে না, তাদের প্রতিপক্ষ কতটা শক্তিশালী! কতটা নির্মম! মৃত্যুর খুব কাছ থেকে ফিরে এসে হয়তো উপলব্ধি কোয়া সম্ভব হয়। কিন্তু খেলা যে এখনো বাকি।

সেই ঝড়ের মধ্যে কার্গো থেকে পালিয়ে যায় বিড়াল প্রজাতির এক ভয়ংকর প্রাণী। যার বিলুপ্তি ঘটেছিল অনেক আগেই। তেমন এক প্রাণী ভেসে বেড়াচ্ছে, ছুটে চলে। এত দ্রুত গতিতে চলতে পারে, তাকে ধরার সাধ্য কার? আশেপাশের অঞ্চলে আতঙ্ক সৃষ্টি করে চলেছে সেই প্রাণী। মানুষের জীবন এখানে মূল্যহীন। তাকে দ্রুত ধরতে হবে, নাহলে কত মানুষ যে তার শিকার হবে কে জানে! জ্যাক আর লোরনা অতীত ভুলে তাই একসাথে এই ধ্বংসযজ্ঞ থামানোর চেষ্টা আছে। পারবে তো?

দৃশ্যপটে আবির্ভাব হয় এমন এক প্রতিষ্ঠানের, যারা নিজেদের ক্ষমতা জাহির করতে বড্ড পরিকর। পৃথিবীর সমস্ত ক্ষমতা তাদের চাই। হয়ে উঠতে চায় সর্বেসর্বা। তাদের সহায়তায় এক টুকরো ইডেন গড়ে উঠেছে একটি দ্বীপ জুড়ে। যেখানে কেবল প্রাণীদের নয়, মানুষ নিয়েও গবেষণা চলে। নতুন এক পৃথিবী তৈরি হচ্ছে এখানে। প্রাচীন আদম-হাওয়া তৈরি করে সৃষ্টিকর্তা বনে যাওয়ার চেষ্টা চলছে। কিন্তু মানুষ তো আর সৃষ্টিকর্তা হতে পারে না। তাই সবকিছুর শেষটা সুখকর হয় না। এমন এক ইডেনে লোরনাকে বন্দী করে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয়েছে। তাই জ্যাকও ছুটছে উদ্ধারে। সেখানেই ঘটবে সব সমাপ্তির। মিলবে উত্তর। খেলার যবনিকা পতনে কার জয় হবে?

▪️পাঠ প্রতিক্রিয়া :

জেমস রোলিন্সের গল্প পড়লে এক দণ্ডও স্থির থাকা যায় না। মাথার মধ্যে নিউরন কোষের যে সমন্বয়, টা মধ্যে খেলা চলে। অ্যাড্রেনালিনের প্রবাহ বেড়ে যায়। লেখকের সিগমা ফোর্স সিরিজের অনেক বড় ভক্ত আমি। লেখক তার বইয়ের গল্পে পাঠকের মস্তিষ্ক নিয়ে খেলেন। ইতিহাস, বিজ্ঞান ও অ্যাকশনের এমন এক সমন্বয় ঘটান, যেখানে পাঠক ডুবে যায় বইয়ের ভেতর। নিজেকে হয়তো বইয়ের কোনো এক চরিত্র কল্পনা করে বসেন।

“অল্টার অফ ইডেন” এমন এক গল্প, যেখানে এক বিকল্প পৃথিবী তৈরির চেষ্টা করা হয়েছে। আর যা করতে চেয়েছে মানুষ। পৃথিবী বদলে দেওয়া, পৃথিবীকে নিয়ন্ত্রণে রাখতে চাওয়ার মানুষের অভাব পৃথিবীতে নেই। আর পৃথিবীকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করতে চাওয়ার সবচেয়ে সহজ এর মানুষদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা। যাদের হাতের মুঠোয় রাখলে ক্ষমতা দেখানো সম্ভব। তাই হয়তো বিভিন্নভাবে বিভিন্ন ক্ষেত্রে মানুষকে নিয়ন্ত্রণে রাখার প্রয়াস চলে। কিন্তু চাইলেই তো সবকিছু নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা যায় না। বিশেষ করে পৃথিবীকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা সৃষ্টিকর্তা বনে যাওয়া খুব কি সহজ? যিনি এই বিশ্বব্রহ্মাণ্ড নিয়ন্ত্রণ করেন, তার কাজ কী নিখুঁত! কোনরকম অরাজকতা নেই। অথচ, ভুলভ্রান্তি নিয়েই মানুষ। যার কাজ কখনও নিখুঁত হতে পারে। তাই পৃথিবী নিয়ন্ত্রণের তাগিদে নতুন স্বর্গ গঠন করলেও দিনশেষে সফলতা আসে না।

আগেই বলেছি, লেখক ইতিহাস ও বিজ্ঞানের এক অপূর্ব মিশেলে গল্প লিখতে পছন্দ করেন। এখানেও তার ব্যতিক্রম নেই। বাগদাদ পতনের কাহিনির সাথে সামঞ্জস্য রেখে বিজ্ঞানকে এগিয়ে নিয়ে গিয়েছেন। বিশেষ করে জীববিজ্ঞানের অগ্রযাত্রা এখানে প্রাধান্য পেয়েছে। জিন প্রকৌশলী, মাইক্রোবায়োলজির মতো খটমটে বিষয়কে সহজবোধ্য করে উপস্থাপনের বিষয়টা ভালো লেগেছে। বিজ্ঞান বিভাগে পড়েছে, তাদের জন্য সহজ হলেও অন্য বিষয়ের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের জন্য এইসব বিষয় একটু কঠিন। তবে লেখক যেভাবে বর্ণনা করছেন, তাতে বুঝতে অসুবিধা হওয়ার কথা না। খটমটে কিছু বিষয় হয়তো অসুবিধার সৃষ্টি করে পারে। এক্ষেত্রে দুইবার পড়লে বুঝতে সহজ হবে আশা করি। তবে লেখক এখানে বিজ্ঞানের গুরুত্ব দিলেও ইতিহাসের বিষয় ছিল সংক্ষিপ্ত পরিসরে।

লেখকের লেখায় বড় অংশ জুড়ে থাকে অ্যাকশনের দৃশ্যগুলো। যা ক্ষণে ক্ষণে শিহরিত করে। এই যেমন এখানেও তেমনটি ঘটছে। এক ভয়ংকর, হিংস্র প্রাণীর সাথে মানুষের মুখোমুখি যে দৃশ্যের লেখক অবতারণা করেছেন, তাকে থামানোর জন্য যে ঘটনাপ্রবাহ এগিয়ে চলেছে— মনে হচ্ছিল হলিউডের কোনো সিনেমার দৃশ্যপট। একই সাথে শত্রুপক্ষের মুখোমুখি হওয়া ঘটনাও বারবার আলোড়িত করেছে।

তবে আমার কাছে সমাপ্তি বেশ তাড়াহুড়ো লেগেছে। তাছাড়া লেখকের লেখায় একাধিক সাবপ্লট থাকে, যা বইয়ের শোভা বর্ধন করে। এখানে তার সংখ্যাও কম ছিল। এই শেষদিকে ঘটনা যেভাবে দ্রুতগতিতে শেষ হয়েছে, একটু সময়ক্ষেপন করা প্রয়োজন ছিল। প্রতিপক্ষকে যেভাবে ভয়ংকরভাবে দেখানো হয়েছে, এত দ্রুত তাদের পতন যেন বইয়ের সবচেয়ে বড় দুর্বলতা। তাছাড়া। পরিকল্পনামাফিক যেসব ঘটনার উপস্থিতি জেমস রোলিন্সের লেখা থাকে, সেগুলো অনুপস্থিত ছিল। ফলে শেষের দিকে সেই তৃপ্তি যেন পাইনি।

▪️চরিত্রায়ন :

জেমস রোলিন্সের চরিত্র গঠন সবসময় এক ভিন্নমাত্রা যোগ করে। যেভাবে আনুষঙ্গিক অনেক বিষয় চলে আসে। একজন মানুষের জীবনযাত্রা, তার বর্তমান পরিস্থিতি উঠে আসে লেখকের লেখায়।

যেমন বইটির দুই প্রধান চরিত্র, লোরনা আর জ্যাক। তাদের যেভাবে লেখক তুলে ধরেছেন, তা অসাধারণ। দুইজনের মধ্যে সংযোগ, অতীতের বিশেষ ঘটনা, সেই ঘটনার প্রভাব বা পরবর্তীতে সেই ঘটনাকে ব্যাখ্যা করা আমার বিশেষ ভালো লেগেছে। এভাবে একটি চরিত্রকে বোঝা সহজ হয়।

লেখক সবগুলো চরিত্র নিয়েই এভাবে কাজ করেন। কখনও বর্ণনার মাধ্যমে, কখনও গল্পের মাধ্যমে। ফলে চরিত্রগুলোকে জীবন্ত মনে হয়। মূল চরিত্রগুলোকে যেমন আপন মনে হয়, তেমনি খল চরিত্রকে ভীষণ অপছন্দ হয়। আমি চরিত্র নিয়ে লেখকের এরূপ কাজের বিশাল ভক্ত।

▪️অনুবাদ, বানান ও সম্পাদনা :

অনুবাদ নিয়ে আমার মিশ্র প্রতিক্রিয়া আছে। কিছু জায়গায় অনুবাদ এত দুর্দান্ত, সাবলীল! আবার কিছু জায়গার অনুবাদ এতই দূর্বল, যে পড়তে বিরক্ত লাগছিল। কিছু অংশ দুইবার পড়ার পর বুঝতে হচ্ছিল, আসলে কী বলা হচ্ছে! আমি যেহেতু অনুবাদের সাথে মূল ইংরেজি বই মিলিয়ে পড়ি না, সে সুযোগ নেই; তারপরও কিছু যুগে মনে হয়েছে অনুবাদের অর্থ বদলে গিয়েছে। জানি না এটা অনুবাদকের ঘাটতি, না সম্পাদনার অভাব।

তবে পুরো বই জুড়ে সম্পাদনার অভাব স্পষ্ট প্রতীয়মান। বানান ভুল তো ছিলই। ছাপার এত এত ভুল পড়তে বেশ কষ্ট দিয়েছে। সেই ভুলের কারণেই অনেক জায়গার অর্থ বদলে গিয়েছে। পড়া/পরা, কী/কি সহ যেসব কাছাকাছি বানান ভিন্ন অর্থ প্রদর্শন করে, সেসব ভুলের সংখ্যা ছিল অনেক। ফলে পড়ার গতি বাধাপ্রাপ্ত হয়েছে বারবার। এগুলোর দিকে প্রকাশনীর নজর দেওয়া উচিত ছিল।

▪️পরিশেষে, এই বিশ্বব্রহ্মাণ্ডে সন্তানের জন্য পিতামাতা সবকিছু করতে পারি। আদিম যুগ থেকে এমনটি চলে এসেছে। যুগে যুগে চলমান এই ধারা জন্তু- জানোয়ারের মধ্যেও ছড়িয়ে আছে। লেখকের গল্পটা যে সেই দিকেও ইঙ্গিত করে। তবে সবচেয়ে বেশি যে দিকে ইঙ্গিত করে — মানুষের উচিত নিজের সীমাবদ্ধতা অনুধাবন করা। কখনও সৃষ্টিকর্তা হয়ে সব নিয়ন্ত্রন করার চেষ্টা করা উচিত নয়। এতে হিতে বিপরীত হতে পারে।

▪️বই : অল্টার অফ ইডেন
▪️লেখক : জেমস রোলিন্স
▪️অনুবাদ : নাজিরুল বাশার
▪️প্রকাশনী : আদী প্রকাশন
▪️ব্যক্তিগত রেটিং : ৪/৫

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through first-reads, and although it is not the typical type of book I would usually read, I really enjoyed it.

It has non-stop action, science, a bit of romance, and very real characters, both human and animals. Also, the main character is very likable, even with her flaws, (she had an abortion when she was a teenager).

Veterinarian Lorna Polk receives some strange news regarding animals involved in a ship wreck near New Orleans. When she goes to investigate, she finds a featherless parrot, conjoined monkeys, and other animals with not-so-apparent oddities. It is then discovered that a saber-tooth cat is on the loose with one of her cubs. The action then quickly shifts to the hunt for the cat, while the other animals are tested in a lab which confirms some sort of genetic engineering or alterations.

The next part of the book involves the men behind the creation of these animals capturing Dr. Polk and destroying the research facility in an attempt to cover their tracks. Dr. Polk is then taken to a set of islands in the Caribbean, the headquarters of her abductors. There, she learns that the research is geared toward bioweapons and that the research has not been limited to only animals.

Jack (the love interest) and his men are not far behind the abductors in an attempt at a rescue mission. They are able to rescue Dr. Polk, and even a few of the inhabitants... Of course, the book does have a happy ending for Jack and Lorna.

[obsessedwithbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mentioned many times that novels with themes of technology and science rock my world and James Rollins is one of my absolute favorite action/adventure authors who incorporates these themes. Normally I'm enraptured by the scientific theories Rollins includes in his novels, but in Altar of Eden I felt I was at times being lectured to about the science rather the than the story evolving from the science (this was even more apparent after comparing Altar of Eden to Awakening by S. J. Bolton, which incorporates scientific knowledge as well, but with a more natural feel than in this novel). Maybe it was because Altar of Eden was a departure from Rollins' Sigma series that I felt this way. Other than this aspect of the novel though, I appreciated the story even though it was a bit more far out than usual for Rollins. The main characters were multi-faceted, interesting, resourceful and pulled at my emotions. Read if you are a Rollins fan but if you have never read Rollins before, I would not start with this novel.

http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

[Gloria Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is playing God, creating throwbacks of super intelligence. To what purpose? To fight wars?

The Polks and the Menards don't get along because of something that happened between them several years earlier. Nevertheless Lorna Polk, state veterinarian, must join Border Patrol Agent Jack Menard to stop the invasion of deadly mutants and to discover the source of their origin.

The rift between the Polks and Menards mends, which is no surprise. What surprises us is the outcome of the investigation, with its unexpected twists along the way. Here is a thriller with plenty of mayhem as our heroes struggle to survive overwhelming odds. A touch of character development gives us some understanding of the heroes and the villains. It adds depth and more thrill to the story. I particularly liked some minor characters, such as the Thibodeaux brothers and the mutant gray parrot.

[very little book nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kolejna książka Rollinsa i kolejny zachwyt! Mam postanowienie, by zebrać i przeczytać wszystkie książki tego autora, bo jeszcze na żadnej się nie zawiodłam. Wychodzi na to, że chyba mogę zaliczyć go do grona moich ulubionych autorów.

Jak zwykle Rollins dał mi to, co w jego książkach uwielbiam najbardziej. Jest w nich tyle akcji, co w filmie sensacyjnym z najwyższej półki. Do tego te wszystkie strzały, wybuchy, ucieczki... Bez przerwy coś się dzieje, a na bohaterów czeka mnóstwo niebezpieczeństw. Bohaterów, którzy są naprawdę dobrze przedstawieni, charakterni i którzy mają ciekawą – i rzutującą na teraźniejszość – przeszłość.

Warto też zwrócić uwagę na to, że Rollins zawsze staje na wysokości zadania jeśli chodzi o research. Wprowadza on do swoich książek nutki fantastyki naukowej, ale wszystko uzasadnia w tak fachowy i dokładny sposób, że często poważnie się zastanawiam, czy coś takiego jest możliwe albo czy już gdzieś istnieje. W książce „Ołtarz Edenu” ważny jest wątek genetyki oraz zmutowanych zwierząt, który od razu skojarzył mi się z „Wyspą doktora Morreau”. Podobnie jak dzieło Wellsa, książka Rollinsa skłania do przemyśleń nad moralnością i etyką eksperymentów genetycznych.

Uwielbiam pióro Rollinsa także za to, że w braku skrupułów dorównuje George’owi R.R. Martinowi. Oboje nie mają żadnych oporów przed uśmiercaniem bohaterów, których czytelnik zdążył już polubić. Może w tej jego książce nie było to aż tak widoczne, ale w kilku innych, które miałam okazję czytać, już tak. Rollins nie bawi się też w żadne delikatne półśrodki. Jak bohaterowi coś urwie głowę albo wypatroszy go całego, autor z pewnością to opisze, nie szczędząc drastycznych szczegółów. Nie ma, że boli.

Książki Rollinsa polecam z całego serca tym, którzy uwielbiają thrillery, książki sensacyjne, a także te zawierające wątki sci-fi i którym nie straszne są naukowe opisy. W końcu autor wymyśla takie rzeczy, że potem musi się nieźle natrudzić, żeby sensownie wytłumaczyć je z naukowego punktu widzenia. Ale spokojnie, są one przystępne i absolutnie nie dominują fabuły. Mimo to takie książki trzeba po prostu lubić, żeby podczas lektury nie czuć się przytłoczonym. Ja uwielbiam!

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Dr. Lorna Polk is dierenarts en onderzoeker aan een high-tech instituut dat bedreigde diersoorten beschermt. Als er een vastgelopen vissersboot met een curieuze lading wordt gesignaleerd, roept de grenspolitie haar hulp in. De bemanning wordt vermist, maar aan boord zitten talloze exotische dieren in kooien.

Zo is er een papegaai zonder veren, een jaguarjong met het gebit van een sabeltandtijger en bovenmaatse vampiervleermuizen. Al deze dieren hebben iets gemeen: een verontrustend hoge mate van intelligentie.

Lorna ontdekt een afschuwelijk geheim dat zijn oorsprong vindt in het prilste begin van de beschaving. Iets wat het voortbestaan van de mens bedreigt...

James Rollins is auteur van diverse New York Times bestsellers. Hij heeft diergeneeskunde gestudeerd en woont in het Sierra Nevada-gebergte in Californië. Hij is een fanatieke speleoloog en duiker. Van zijn boeken zijn in Nederland en Vlaanderen al ruim 120.000 exemplaren verkocht. Een van zijn bestverkochte boeken is Zandstorm, wat ik zijn beste boek vond. Dit hangt er helaas onder maar in het genre zeker een goede middenmoot!

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun thriller about an advanced species of animals. Rollins writes great summer reads!

[Patrick Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our favorite veterinarian follow-up writer (he followed-up numerous Cussler novels with ‘Subterranean’ and ‘Sahara;’ and followed-up Dan Brown with ‘Map of Bones’) has now chosen to ride the coattails of Crichton (it’s okay this time, since ‘Next’ wasn’t very good). At least his take on genetic engineering doesn’t include dinosaurs. Although—there is one nasty saber-tooth pussycat keeping the first act moving along. Yes, our theater-challenged author has titled his sections ‘Acts.’ In deference to Tennessee Williams I suppose. The third act takes place on a jungle island populated with genetic mutants so guess this is a follow-up to H. G. Wells.

It’s all good. Mix these ideas together and you come up with an adequate techno/SciFi/thriller starring an obligatory macho hero with a past, falling for the weak-yet-dedicated heroine doctor who shares the same past with the hero, only not realizing it until the two are locked into a perilous situation. Hey, it happens to all of us at one time or another. The villain, out of Jurassic Park, is cloning bio-weapons instead of prehistoric critters. He has deep pockets so every state-of-the-art gizmo magically appears at his finger tips and . . . here’s the best part … a secret mysterious fortified island. Oh yah. The testosterone infused hero gets the shit beat out of him numerous times, infected with a killer virus, blown up, dropped from a helicopter, attacked by alligators, burned alive in an exploding truck, and goes without sleep for at least three days. That last part is a killer … what, no sleep? You have got to be kidding. Yet he continually rebounds with no consideration to his wounds (hey, come on, he’s at least got to be a little sore) and saves the day. Over, and over again. And he has every powerful weapon known to man available at his fingertips. It’s a ‘fingertip’ situation all the way around.

I liked it. What can I say? The author writes some pretty laugh-out-loud-when-you’re-not-supposed-too dialogue and has this very annoying habit of pulling out of the story by making author comments. I would like to say to him ‘who the fuck is your editor? Get a new one – like maybe someone who will actually read your book and take the dorky shit out.’

There are a couple great scenes. Putting a group of boy scouts on a sleepover at an alligator farm with some rangy mutants in the middle of a Louisiana Bayou was an excellent set up for some gory moments. Thanks for that one. In this book, the author is at his best when explaining some complicated science or math. When he went off on Fractals it became instantly interesting. But this is a thriller, not a science class. Action of the most absurd kind must ensue. It does. And it’s fun. Kind of like an entire meal of Baskin Robbins—including a little brain freeze.

[Matt Schiariti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. It amazes me how much work James Rollins turns out in such a short period of time and each effort it just fantastic. I didn't even realize this one was coming out so short after The Doomsday Key was released and it's scary how he can write such high quality novels in such short order.

The plot of the book has been summarized by many reviewers before me so I'll spare reiterating what's already been said. What I WILL say though is that this is about as good as thriller/mystery as you're likely to read.

Filled wonderful characters you'll be pulling for against all odds and villains who are creepy yet brilliant and ruthless, it's definitely more than just a mindless action book. No, Rollins is better than that. What sets him apart from others in the genre is that despite the action and the ties between real science and creative input, he really knows how to write a character you grow to care for be it villain or hero.

This was also a nice departure from the Sigma Force series. I also love those novels as well, but Rollins' one offs are always very good as well (Amazonia and Deep Fathom being two of my favorite of his novels). I was refreshed to find a book full of new and interesting characters.

While taking creative license, James Rollins always builds upon a solid foundation of real life science, locations and actual institutions. For example, the ACRES facility that Laura works for is NOT made up. It's a real scientific institution doing the actual work that Rollins describes in the book.

Rollins is just scary good. It sure seems that he's got a bottomless well of ideas to draw from and he sure knows how to put those ideas on a page. Fast, tightly plotted and at times, VERY creepy. If you like books by Authors by Preston& Child, Crichton and Steve Alten, don't miss out on Altar of Eden. And if this is your first foray into the world of James Rollins I think you'll be fast seeking out his previous works from the very beginning.