Amazonia

This was my first James Rollins book and it was a page turning thriller. The conceptual framework that kept the action moving was most creative. On the negative side readers have to suspend reality with regard to much of the story line. However as a positive, the action is almost continuous so one doesn't really have the time - or the inclination - to reflect on the absurdities.The author spent a lot of time developing a few subplots. Following the exciting climatic scene these subplots were brought to a perfunctory close in the book's final pages. This was somewhat of a negative although I see the author's need.There was quite a bit of science and scientific explanations enmeshed in the story. How much of it was real science, projected science, or pretend science I don't know - nor was a interested enough to find out. In conclusion I suggest - let loose - go with the flow - and enjoy the read!

This is one of my all time favorite James Rollins books! I've read it several times over the years and decided to pick it back up again this past weekend. I stayed up half the night reading it from start to finish. The setting in the Amazon is amazing with fast paced action throughout the book. The descriptions of what they encounter in the jungle are so real you feel as if you are trekking along with them. I loved all the information on the medicinal properties of jungle plants and the unique tribes that live deep in the Amazon. After finishing the book, I did some research on the tribes and medicinal plants in the book. To my surprise, much of what Rollins wrote about is actually factual information. The Yamomama and Shuar headhunter tribe are actual indigenous people groups living in Ecuador and Peru. I found three true stories which relate and have now purchased these books as well. Check out: The Way Around by David Good, Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot, and End of the Spear by Steve Saint.

Nate Rand, Kelly O'Brien, along with the Ban-Ali Tribesmen, US Rangers, and Carl Rand ploughed through the Amazonian pitfalls, and Loius Fauvre to survive the mystery of the Yagga Tree. The Tree of Life analogies flowed through this novel, along with genetic codes, and prions, but in the end man's avarice and fear of the unknown future led to the Ban-Ali's village destruction. This ignorance and arrogance towards the Yagga Tree was the near cause of letting the doomsday virus loose on the global stage.Great characters and plot, with the prion' s regenerative ability to fix Kelly's reproductive woes, and save her brother's Frank's life, a fitting conclusion. Every paged turned is a cautionary tale of what we are losing daily in the Amazon Forest due to deforestation. A Must Read!!06/01/19.

I was hooked on this book as soon as I read the first chapter. The protagonist was very compelling and I am a fan of the outlandish plot line. It almost reminded me of what the typical rambo/action movie would look like in book form.I cannot attest to how realistic other parts of this book is, but I do not think the author was aiming for incredible realism. I was a fan of the escape this book offered and I will definitely read other works from Mr. Rollins.

Whew! What an incredible adventure! And, as with all james Rollins books, it becomes hard to believe that what you're reading isn't true. It's a roller coaster ride of a twisting and snarling plot which has every single character in horrendous danger, mixed in with a continual fow of facts about the flora andfauna of the Amazon. These details help bring another level of realism and interest to the story adding to the realism. The characters are wonderfully drawn, even the evil ones! All I can say is if you crave an adventure that will have you up reading all night - this is it!

After reading Subterranean, Excavation and Deep Fathom, I was really looking forward to Amazonia. I really enjoyed the book over all. The plot is continually moving forward and full of surprises. Just when you think that here is a situation with no way out, the protagonists come up with a plan, solution or scheme that works and is actually plausible. Although sometimes it seems that the science borders on science fiction, there is enough science fact to make the explanations believable. Great effort is made to validate the story line. My only problem with the book is that, in my opinion, there is too much environmental preaching. Especially in the beginning. Otherwise, I probably would have given it 5 stars.

Although this is not the worst book that I have ever read,It is going to be torn up and thrown in the fire. What a total waste of time reading this juvenile piece of trash. The author should be ashamed of himself.Please,if you want to read a book that has anything to do with the Amazon,don't buy this book. It is a worthless piece of trash and has no literary merit whatsoever .

The preview of the book caught my eye and I admit, it hooked me. I really wanted to know what happened to Gerald Clark, the soldier who wandered out of the Amazon after being missing for four years. Not only did he emerge with a strange tattoo, which the natives feared but he also came out with two arms after having gone into the jungle with just one (War injury). Gerald dies the same night he emerged from the jungle and missionary who found him did not heed the warning of the natives to the burn the body. When the missionary discovered that Gerald was American ex special forces, the body is claimed by the US. The problems start when every area that the body is transported through, sickness follows. It's up to Nathan Rand and his colleagues to find out what happened to the other scientists that were on the scientific expedition four years before and find the miraculous cure that caused Gerald's arm to grow back. They are also racing to find a cure for the disease that was quickly spreading.The book was of course, unbelievable but then again, it's fiction. It was enjoyable to read but I guess I was expecting a more practical explanation. The book was captivating and hard to put down. I just kept wondering what to expect next.

It was gripping, thrilling, horrifying and terrifying. I was horrified but couldn't wait to turn to the next page. The horror increased as got further through the book and even at the end. When disaster seemed to have been averted and mankind as we know them saved. A seed is sewn to cause havoc to future generations. Could mankind ever be rid of this scourge or would they once moe be enslaved and subtly changed again in the future. I love James Rollins books and just wish they were available on kindle unlimited.

James Rollins is an author who until recently was little known in the UK, his early novels having not been published on this side of the Atlantic and being only available as imports. With the success of the Da Vinci Code however, publishers have been rolling out any book on their lists that bore even the merest similarity to that juggernaut & Rollins recent novel, 'Map of Bones' was therefore thrust onto British book buyers. As a result of its subsequent success, despite the fact that it bore little similarity in tone or plot to Dan Brown's novel, the decision has obviously been made to release Rollin's back catalogue, including Amazonia.Originally published in 2002 Amazonia is, as the title suggests, a tale set within the unexplored reaches of the Amazon jungles. Like Rollins other work it is a mixture of action, adventure, science, and science-fiction.The plot centers around the discovery of a sole survivor of a lost expedition into the Amazonian interior, whose physical state when he is founf found, dyingm suggests he and his companions may have stumbled across a medical miracle somehwere deep with the jungle. A party of soldiers and civilians is thrown together and dispatched to try and trace the missing expedition and the source of their discovery. Along the way they find themselves confronted on all sides by dangers both natural, un-natural and very human.For those who have read other Rollins novels this short plot description will sound reasonably familiar. What unfolds certainly bears a close resemblance to his other early works such as Excavation. In fact in many ways Amazonia is something of a retread of the plot of Excavation, with its reliance on natural dangers, lost tribes and hidden conspiracies. Even the final 'discovery' in Amazonia is very similar to Excavation. All the Rollins has really done is change the setting (jungle for caves) and rejigged the characters.Despite that however, Amazonia is still a very exciting, well written thriller. The pace of the story is pretty much unrelenting, with set piece following set piece in rapid succession, and the plot is kept nice and tight. Characters, whilst never really growing much beyond cliche, are well enough conceived to serve the purposes of the plot. There aren't too many 'only in the movies' moments to kill the suspension of disbelief. The bad guys are suitably evil and the good ones suitably heroic. There are plenty of gory deaths and a body count that leaves no-one, heroes or villains, feeling safe. Even the 'maguffin' at the centre of the plot, the medical discovery everyone is pursuing, has at least a ring of truth to it and provides no deus ex machina resolution to the whole plot. In fact by the end Amazonia becomes close to unputdownable.If there are quibbles, beyond the somewhat repetitive plotting from other Rollins novels, its that some of the imagery in the book feels a little tired. Anyone who has read Matthew Reilly's Temple or Michael Crichton's Congo might find themselves thinking that thy've encountered some of the plot twists in other places, sometimes to better effect. The characters could also do with greater depth. The cast of Amazonia is quite large, yet many of the supporting members are barely sketched, so that their plights and ultimate fates don't necessarily hit quite as hard as the author might have liked. Even the lead roles aren't fully rounded, and whilst there's enough about them to serve the plot, they remain pretty one dimensional. It doesn't help that Rollins can't withstand the temptation to include the obligatory yet wholly superfluous and poorly handled romantic subplot that feels like it was included merely because its traditional rather than because the story demanded it.So, overall not a bad early effort from Rollins. For those familiar with his books Amazonia will be familiar territory. Moreso those who have read other jungle based thrillers. For those who have only encountered Rollins via Sandstorm or Map of Bones, both of which are better novels, Amazonia is a slightly different beast but still very enjoyable. Its also a whole lot more exciting than the Da Vinci Code...

A yet again excellent story from one of the best authors I've ever read. James Rollins never fails to entertain and keep you hooked right till the Very end. He educates while introducing us to the diversity of our history, biology, geography, sience and of our nature; whether if it's human or artifical, economic or scientific, driven by the heart, the honour or the head - these are all ours and what we are. I always feel lucky to have gained such a knowledge and have had the best time throughout beeing part of the adventure, one I enjoyed and learned so much of. Perfect mixture of factual and fictional as aways. Thanks James. :D

When a man stumbles out of the Amazon jungle into a missionary village, something is seriously wrong.Before long the CIA are asking Nathan Rand, a man who has made his home in the jungle, to join a team of experts and soldiers on a mission to discover what has happened. Nathan, has been searching already, his father was on the same expedition as the man, and so he joins them, but the jungle has many secrets.As the team travel deeper in the jungle they search for a secret tribe feared by even the natives, they combat incredible odds and face unimaginable dangers on their now desperate search.With it's vivid descriptions and great storyline this book is a gripping read.

A good well written story that grabs you from the start, the characters are developed enough for you to care, but not so much that you feel weighted down with details. Enjoy this second book I've read from James Rollins so much i brought another.Enjoy.