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Eden
“If this is Paradise, how bad could Hell be?”
A sandstorm uncovers a long buried secret in the Iraqi desert, an ancient Sumerian temple dating back at least 6,000 years to the beginning of civilization. An American army patrol sent to investigate the ruins is trapped inside the temple’s eroded walls, first by an insurgent ambush then by another, even more powerful sandstorm. When an enemy mortar shell blasts an opening into a hidden burial chamber, Captain Adam Cadman and his soldiers take refuge deep in the ruins. What they find hidden inside threatens to destroy every belief about the beginnings of mankind—as well as modern civilization as we know it.
"An Out-of-The Box Blend of SciFi, Thriller, and Military Encounters!"
- Mid-West Book Review
A sandstorm uncovers a long buried secret in the Iraqi desert, an ancient Sumerian temple dating back at least 6,000 years to the beginning of civilization. An American army patrol sent to investigate the ruins is trapped inside the temple’s eroded walls, first by an insurgent ambush then by another, even more powerful sandstorm. When an enemy mortar shell blasts an opening into a hidden burial chamber, Captain Adam Cadman and his soldiers take refuge deep in the ruins. What they find hidden inside threatens to destroy every belief about the beginnings of mankind—as well as modern civilization as we know it.
"An Out-of-The Box Blend of SciFi, Thriller, and Military Encounters!"
- Mid-West Book Review
- GenresScience FictionMystery
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2014
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Martin Roy Hill
30 books86 followersMartin Roy Hill has led an eclectic life. Soldier, sailor, journalist . . . well, not a spy, but he has written about them.
Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.
In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, Martin converted to the military police, retiring in 2016 as a major and executive officer of an MP unit.
Martin also served as a wilderness medic and operations sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Wilderness Search and Rescue Detail, where he was cross trained as a tactical (SWAT) medic. Martin also spent several years as a medic and security specialist with a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
Martin received a bachelor's degree in journalism from CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. His investigative reporting earned him numerous journalism honors, including two William Allen White Awards. His stories were included in three of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' annual compilations of the best investigative reporting. He also worked as a freelance correspondent for LIFE and Newsweek.
After serving on active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin switched careers, becoming a U.S. Navy analyst in combat casualty care. He left that position after 16 years and became a full-time writer and freelance editor.
Between his military, public safety, and journalism careers, Martin experienced many adventures. In the Coast Guard, he participated in dozens of rescues, chased Russian spy ships and smugglers, protected dignitaries, and once was nearly lost at sea in a storm. In the Navy, he was assigned to liaison with a USCG patrol boat during war games, and ended up participating in what at the time was the largest drug bust in U.S. history.
He's been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and once followed a migrant trail from the U.S. into Mexico (at that country's request) to locate the remains of a woman who died along the trail so the smuggler leading her group could be prosecuted for her death. As a journalist, he covered disasters, air crashes, wild fires, as well as national and international leaders.
Martin's freelance credits include Reader's Digest, LIFE, Newsweek, Omni, American History, Writer’s Digest, Coast Guard Magazine, Retired Officer Magazine, The Compass, Aviation History, Mother Jones, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion, and Travel sections, and many more. He was a lead contributor to the 1995 WWII anthology, "From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki: America at War," published by the Retired Officer Association, and a contributor to the 2013 American Civil War anthology "Gettysburg: Three Days that Saved the United States," published by I-5 Publishing.
Martin's background plays a significant role in his writing, which many reviewers have noted has a sense of realism not often found in fiction. His first book, DUTY, a collection of short stories centered around national service, was named the 2012 Best Short Story Anthology/Collection by the San Diego Book Awards Association. His Linus Schag, NCIS, thriller, The Butcher's Bill, received the 2017 Best Mystery/Suspense Award from the Best Independent Book Awards, the 2017 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller, the 2018 Silver Medal for Thrillers from the Readers Favorite Book Awards, and the 2018 Adult Fiction Award from the California Author Project.
Besides
Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.
In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, Martin converted to the military police, retiring in 2016 as a major and executive officer of an MP unit.
Martin also served as a wilderness medic and operations sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Wilderness Search and Rescue Detail, where he was cross trained as a tactical (SWAT) medic. Martin also spent several years as a medic and security specialist with a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.
Martin received a bachelor's degree in journalism from CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. His investigative reporting earned him numerous journalism honors, including two William Allen White Awards. His stories were included in three of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' annual compilations of the best investigative reporting. He also worked as a freelance correspondent for LIFE and Newsweek.
After serving on active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin switched careers, becoming a U.S. Navy analyst in combat casualty care. He left that position after 16 years and became a full-time writer and freelance editor.
Between his military, public safety, and journalism careers, Martin experienced many adventures. In the Coast Guard, he participated in dozens of rescues, chased Russian spy ships and smugglers, protected dignitaries, and once was nearly lost at sea in a storm. In the Navy, he was assigned to liaison with a USCG patrol boat during war games, and ended up participating in what at the time was the largest drug bust in U.S. history.
He's been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and once followed a migrant trail from the U.S. into Mexico (at that country's request) to locate the remains of a woman who died along the trail so the smuggler leading her group could be prosecuted for her death. As a journalist, he covered disasters, air crashes, wild fires, as well as national and international leaders.
Martin's freelance credits include Reader's Digest, LIFE, Newsweek, Omni, American History, Writer’s Digest, Coast Guard Magazine, Retired Officer Magazine, The Compass, Aviation History, Mother Jones, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion, and Travel sections, and many more. He was a lead contributor to the 1995 WWII anthology, "From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki: America at War," published by the Retired Officer Association, and a contributor to the 2013 American Civil War anthology "Gettysburg: Three Days that Saved the United States," published by I-5 Publishing.
Martin's background plays a significant role in his writing, which many reviewers have noted has a sense of realism not often found in fiction. His first book, DUTY, a collection of short stories centered around national service, was named the 2012 Best Short Story Anthology/Collection by the San Diego Book Awards Association. His Linus Schag, NCIS, thriller, The Butcher's Bill, received the 2017 Best Mystery/Suspense Award from the Best Independent Book Awards, the 2017 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller, the 2018 Silver Medal for Thrillers from the Readers Favorite Book Awards, and the 2018 Adult Fiction Award from the California Author Project.
Besides
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 23, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"This is Eden."
Captain Adam Cadman, archaeologist and currently US army historian in Iraq, was being escorted to an area where buildings, possibly a village, had been uncovered by a sand storm, when their convoy was suddenly under attack. He and the three survivors take shelter in what they now knew to be ancient Sumerian ruins, their communications not working and the looming sand storm making rescue impossible. An enemy missile pierces an hole into the wall of an otherwise in tact chamber and the four scramble in, only to meet a tall and beautiful woman with a fabulous tale to tell...
Based on the Von Daniken theories of an alien race which, several thousand years ago, visited our planet and assisted in the early development of human life, the story is an engaging, and informative, read, bringing together action, war, fear, religion, earth locational oddities, space travel, emotional reaction and even a touch of humour into this three hour novella. Read by Tom Danko with expertise and good timing which makes this an easy listen, this is an enjoyable, possibly thought provoking, story.
My thanks to the rights holder of Eden, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. It is well worth a read, and for those of the 'We are not alone' persuasion, and have not yet done so, a look back at the Von Daniken ideas of the mid 1900s is also interesting.
"This is Eden."
Captain Adam Cadman, archaeologist and currently US army historian in Iraq, was being escorted to an area where buildings, possibly a village, had been uncovered by a sand storm, when their convoy was suddenly under attack. He and the three survivors take shelter in what they now knew to be ancient Sumerian ruins, their communications not working and the looming sand storm making rescue impossible. An enemy missile pierces an hole into the wall of an otherwise in tact chamber and the four scramble in, only to meet a tall and beautiful woman with a fabulous tale to tell...
Based on the Von Daniken theories of an alien race which, several thousand years ago, visited our planet and assisted in the early development of human life, the story is an engaging, and informative, read, bringing together action, war, fear, religion, earth locational oddities, space travel, emotional reaction and even a touch of humour into this three hour novella. Read by Tom Danko with expertise and good timing which makes this an easy listen, this is an enjoyable, possibly thought provoking, story.
My thanks to the rights holder of Eden, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. It is well worth a read, and for those of the 'We are not alone' persuasion, and have not yet done so, a look back at the Von Daniken ideas of the mid 1900s is also interesting.
November 29, 2014
One doesn't usually associate 'Army' with 'extraterrestrial investigations' (outside of Roswell, that is), but Eden makes this connection and provides a snappy set of circumstances that revolve around an Iraqi sandstorm, a desert secret, and an ancient temple investigated by an unwitting army patrol just beginning to understand that a hidden burial chamber poses more danger than the war itself.
Eden is a novella that takes the usual trappings of a thriller - military confrontations, a centuries-old secret, and cultural clashes - and adds a healthy dose of von Däniken into the mix, with a difference. If ancient aliens really had a hand in human evolution, what's to say that something wasn't left behind to spark further changes?
This is what Captain Adam Cadman and his group of soldiers is about to discover in a secret that not only challenges them but which brings an alien perspective into the sequence of events.
Eden can't be said to be a spiritual read in the usual sense of the word, but it incorporates some of these elements. It's not a standard 'thriller' in that the pace is not relentless, but pragmatic and thoughtful. It's not an 'alien story' in that a far bigger picture evolves, and it's not even a military novel - despite the gun-aiming soldier on its striking cover. So readers anticipating a standard 'genre' read and who seek to place Eden in any of the above boxes will find this novelette defies easy categorization.
Ultimately, it's about how the 'truths' of modern day evolve from a combination of myth, daring decisions, and hope. So, if it's a thought-provoking story with an alternative twist that is desired - and if readers aren't so grounded in Christian belief that they can't be entertained and enthralled by quite a different interpretation of events - then Eden will prove the item of choice, standing well apart from any ordinary genre read.
Eden is a novella that takes the usual trappings of a thriller - military confrontations, a centuries-old secret, and cultural clashes - and adds a healthy dose of von Däniken into the mix, with a difference. If ancient aliens really had a hand in human evolution, what's to say that something wasn't left behind to spark further changes?
This is what Captain Adam Cadman and his group of soldiers is about to discover in a secret that not only challenges them but which brings an alien perspective into the sequence of events.
Eden can't be said to be a spiritual read in the usual sense of the word, but it incorporates some of these elements. It's not a standard 'thriller' in that the pace is not relentless, but pragmatic and thoughtful. It's not an 'alien story' in that a far bigger picture evolves, and it's not even a military novel - despite the gun-aiming soldier on its striking cover. So readers anticipating a standard 'genre' read and who seek to place Eden in any of the above boxes will find this novelette defies easy categorization.
Ultimately, it's about how the 'truths' of modern day evolve from a combination of myth, daring decisions, and hope. So, if it's a thought-provoking story with an alternative twist that is desired - and if readers aren't so grounded in Christian belief that they can't be entertained and enthralled by quite a different interpretation of events - then Eden will prove the item of choice, standing well apart from any ordinary genre read.
January 20, 2015
This book has everything - war, mystery, character conflict, inner conflict, and lots of surprises. Eden is the story of a group of soldiers in the Iraq war who find something in the desert that changes their lives forever. Masterfully weaves together scenes of the soldiers’ battle against the enemy and a killer sandstorm with their discovery and its impact, and poignantly depicts their personal battles to make sense of and accept what they have found. Loved it!
June 26, 2021
Omg! This was so damn good! I absolutely loved it! It was brilliant. The history and knowledge of things of the past made it even better. Thought it was great how Martin did not say there isn’t a God as so many would be offended and turned off by that. I’m an atheist so none of this bothered me. I’ve always thought there has to be life on other planets as there are an infinite # of them out there. This would make an excellent movie. It could also have a pretty amazing prequel if one gets written.
Tim Danko did an amazing job narrating.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Tim Danko did an amazing job narrating.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 5, 2017
This is a quick read and the only reason it took me so long was because of my schedule at the time. I think many would read this novella in a day. I purchased this particular book from the author because of the premise. I find the Sumerian mythologies fascinating and have read other writings about this topic in the past. This book took the topic into an interesting direction as a work of fiction. It did not disappoint.
Read
April 25, 2021Eden, my first read/listen from author Martin Roy Hill, entertaining & enjoyable. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Tim Danko's narration made the book flow smoothly & quickly. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
May 3, 2021
I loved this story about an American recon team that stumbles upon ancient ruins while on patrol in the area of Iran believed to have been the location of the biblical Eden. What they find will change their live and could change the world forever, but do they dare to tell the tale?
Interesting characters and a very well told story that will challenge you to think about what you believe.
Interesting characters and a very well told story that will challenge you to think about what you believe.
May 5, 2022
I found this story to be entertaining and thought provoking. I liked that the story didn't unfold the way that I thought it would, and I enjoyed it very much. Tim Danko's narration was great, and he kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
July 19, 2021
Good, but not great. Maybe because it was a novels and hard to really care about any of the characters? I liked the theories proposed, and the basic reason for the visitors bring here. The wrap up was a bit too simple?
May 16, 2019
Neat short novella
This was really good, I’d have liked it to have been a full size novel, or else continued in some future to learn what becomes of Things.l
This was really good, I’d have liked it to have been a full size novel, or else continued in some future to learn what becomes of Things.l
April 23, 2015
Eden plays in a sandbox whose basic foundation is similar to the one that the Stargate movie and TV spinoff shows played in. Both were inspired by Von Däniken's controversial theory that Earth was visited in the distant past by aliens who helped shaped our early history. Whether or not you believe that, I find that in the right human hands it can make for entertaining stories. In the wrong hands, you get the slop put out by the History Channel (but that's a discussion to be had elsewhere). Fortunately, Hill belongs to the former group.
The army patrol is headed by an archeologist, Cadman. His is the level-headed response to the discovery in the ruins. Most of his team, while alarmed by what they've found, respect the chain of command and trust Cadman to do the right thing. One member, Thomas, does not. He's a literalist when it comes to interpreting the Bible. Cadman isn't necessarily an atheist, but when the evidence before him challenges his beliefs, he takes a rational approach.
From the outset of Eden, Cadman and Thomas clash. But Cadman knows the Bible better than Thomas and uses it, along with the chain of command, to keep Thomas in line. But the discovery in the ruins slams the walls of Thomas's belief system, and he's ill-equipped to deal with it. I know guys like Cadman, and I know guys like Thomas. I found them to be solid characters.
A good deal of the story is told through flashbacks. We're taken back to the ancient civilization that built the temple. Hill switches back and forth from showing and telling what happened. I think it would've worked better if he'd spent the whole time showing. Eden is listed as a novella (109 pages), so there was plenty of space to devote to further development of the flashback part of the story: flesh out the setting a bit more, maybe develop some characters from that time period, see things from their perspective.
Eden is a solid sci-fi story that entertains yet carries a message. While there are soldiers and there is action, this is more of a philosophical engagement than a militaristic one. The cultural differences between Cadman and Thomas struck me as being just as great as those between human and alien. Until we can overcome those differences without resorting to bashing in each other's skulls, we won't be ready for the treasures awaiting us in the cosmos.
This review originally appeared at the New Podler Review of Books.
The army patrol is headed by an archeologist, Cadman. His is the level-headed response to the discovery in the ruins. Most of his team, while alarmed by what they've found, respect the chain of command and trust Cadman to do the right thing. One member, Thomas, does not. He's a literalist when it comes to interpreting the Bible. Cadman isn't necessarily an atheist, but when the evidence before him challenges his beliefs, he takes a rational approach.
From the outset of Eden, Cadman and Thomas clash. But Cadman knows the Bible better than Thomas and uses it, along with the chain of command, to keep Thomas in line. But the discovery in the ruins slams the walls of Thomas's belief system, and he's ill-equipped to deal with it. I know guys like Cadman, and I know guys like Thomas. I found them to be solid characters.
A good deal of the story is told through flashbacks. We're taken back to the ancient civilization that built the temple. Hill switches back and forth from showing and telling what happened. I think it would've worked better if he'd spent the whole time showing. Eden is listed as a novella (109 pages), so there was plenty of space to devote to further development of the flashback part of the story: flesh out the setting a bit more, maybe develop some characters from that time period, see things from their perspective.
Eden is a solid sci-fi story that entertains yet carries a message. While there are soldiers and there is action, this is more of a philosophical engagement than a militaristic one. The cultural differences between Cadman and Thomas struck me as being just as great as those between human and alien. Until we can overcome those differences without resorting to bashing in each other's skulls, we won't be ready for the treasures awaiting us in the cosmos.
This review originally appeared at the New Podler Review of Books.
January 20, 2015
“If this is paradise, how bad could hell be? To this day, Staff Sergeant Estrada’s words still haunt me. Years later, everything about that night in Iraq still haunts me.”
Adam Cadman, Captain, U.S. Army, is riding in a convoy located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers when they attacked by enemy fire, trapping them in an ancient ruin chamber. In the chamber, Cadman and what is left of his crew, Estrada, Oberg, and Thomas discover carvings from the ancient Sumerian civilization depicting the beginning of mankind. In addition, they locate a sarcophagus made of an unusual substance non-existent in present civilization. After tampering with the sarcophagus, it opens revealing a woman being named Ninmah from a world unknown to man relaying information regarding the birth of man.
Thomas, who is a strong believer in God and the Bible, rejects her story while the others compare the story with Bible verses, scientific discoveries, and multiple religious beliefs. If Ninmah’s story were true, the world as they know it would collapse into total chaos with their belief system being destroyed.
Eden is a book I could not put down until I finished reading the last page. It is well written and the characters are believable in their reactions to the character Ninmah. I loved the way Thomas carried his pocket size Bible with him and defended his belief and faith in God. Mr. Hill interweaved scientific and several religious beliefs into the novel so cleverly that it made me retrieve my own Bible to verify his storytelling of a book I knew to be fictional. I recommend to all who love the debate of mankind’s birth and military drama mixed into one sitting.
I received this book free from the author, Martin Roy Hill, through the Masquerade Book Tour review program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.
Adam Cadman, Captain, U.S. Army, is riding in a convoy located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers when they attacked by enemy fire, trapping them in an ancient ruin chamber. In the chamber, Cadman and what is left of his crew, Estrada, Oberg, and Thomas discover carvings from the ancient Sumerian civilization depicting the beginning of mankind. In addition, they locate a sarcophagus made of an unusual substance non-existent in present civilization. After tampering with the sarcophagus, it opens revealing a woman being named Ninmah from a world unknown to man relaying information regarding the birth of man.
Thomas, who is a strong believer in God and the Bible, rejects her story while the others compare the story with Bible verses, scientific discoveries, and multiple religious beliefs. If Ninmah’s story were true, the world as they know it would collapse into total chaos with their belief system being destroyed.
Eden is a book I could not put down until I finished reading the last page. It is well written and the characters are believable in their reactions to the character Ninmah. I loved the way Thomas carried his pocket size Bible with him and defended his belief and faith in God. Mr. Hill interweaved scientific and several religious beliefs into the novel so cleverly that it made me retrieve my own Bible to verify his storytelling of a book I knew to be fictional. I recommend to all who love the debate of mankind’s birth and military drama mixed into one sitting.
I received this book free from the author, Martin Roy Hill, through the Masquerade Book Tour review program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.
November 15, 2014
An action packed quick read. Kept me glued to my seat.
Captain Adam Cadman leads his military unit into a remote location uncovered by a sand storm. Going in seemed pretty quiet. Easy banter between comrades until the first Humvee in their unit is blown to bits. They’re attacked literally in the middle of no where. Just yards from their location. With a sand storm brewing and taking heavy fire from insurgents. They’re forced to take cover in the very city they were sent to investigate. When a mortar blasts a hole in the center of the ancient city forcing the Captain and his remaining crew to rush and hide for cover in the underground chamber. While the storm lands over the top of them holding their enemy at bay. The discovery the Captain makes has his inner Archaeologist stunned. An ancient burial chamber containing relics that are known to Professors as nothing but myths. When the crew accidentally opens a sarcophagus, what they find inside changes their lives forever.
This is one of those books that made me take a moment just to see the whole picture that the Author has created. The vivid descriptions of relics and the conspiracy inspired in this story made me smile. I love stories that tease my brain and test my knowledge. I know I’ve said it before, but when I have to stop and look up something you’ve pretty much hooked me. There were quite a few examples in this short story. From new words to Bible verses. I learned and I like that a lot. The ending had me chuckling along with the characters. Which is also a big LIKE.
Captain Adam Cadman leads his military unit into a remote location uncovered by a sand storm. Going in seemed pretty quiet. Easy banter between comrades until the first Humvee in their unit is blown to bits. They’re attacked literally in the middle of no where. Just yards from their location. With a sand storm brewing and taking heavy fire from insurgents. They’re forced to take cover in the very city they were sent to investigate. When a mortar blasts a hole in the center of the ancient city forcing the Captain and his remaining crew to rush and hide for cover in the underground chamber. While the storm lands over the top of them holding their enemy at bay. The discovery the Captain makes has his inner Archaeologist stunned. An ancient burial chamber containing relics that are known to Professors as nothing but myths. When the crew accidentally opens a sarcophagus, what they find inside changes their lives forever.
This is one of those books that made me take a moment just to see the whole picture that the Author has created. The vivid descriptions of relics and the conspiracy inspired in this story made me smile. I love stories that tease my brain and test my knowledge. I know I’ve said it before, but when I have to stop and look up something you’ve pretty much hooked me. There were quite a few examples in this short story. From new words to Bible verses. I learned and I like that a lot. The ending had me chuckling along with the characters. Which is also a big LIKE.
November 15, 2014
From the beginning this story is captivating. I love stories that hold my interested rom the very first page, and Hill’s novel does just that.
Capitan Adam Cadman is a solider who served in Desert Storm. When he came home he became a archeological professor specializing in Middle Eastern culture, providing him with a unique combination of skills leading him back to Iraq as an Army historian. He is now on site of what is believed to be the Garden of Eden. While leading his unit to ancient ruins, they come under fire, forcing the survivors to take refuge in the city, where they discover the burial chamber of Ninmah, who reveals to them alien origins of life and blows Captain Cadman’s whole concept of history apart.
I found this book to be truly engaging. I really enjoyed the action and being able to learn new theories and vocabulary. I love stories that make me think about the world in a different way. Although it’s a fiction story, it is clearly obvious that the author has done his research before he started writing. Hill crafts very believable main characters, who have a camaraderie that is very believable and realistic for soldiers in the middle of battle.
Fans of John Ringo or movies like The Mummy will enjoy this sci-fi novel and I am glad I gave this author a shot. I wasn’t disappointed.
Capitan Adam Cadman is a solider who served in Desert Storm. When he came home he became a archeological professor specializing in Middle Eastern culture, providing him with a unique combination of skills leading him back to Iraq as an Army historian. He is now on site of what is believed to be the Garden of Eden. While leading his unit to ancient ruins, they come under fire, forcing the survivors to take refuge in the city, where they discover the burial chamber of Ninmah, who reveals to them alien origins of life and blows Captain Cadman’s whole concept of history apart.
I found this book to be truly engaging. I really enjoyed the action and being able to learn new theories and vocabulary. I love stories that make me think about the world in a different way. Although it’s a fiction story, it is clearly obvious that the author has done his research before he started writing. Hill crafts very believable main characters, who have a camaraderie that is very believable and realistic for soldiers in the middle of battle.
Fans of John Ringo or movies like The Mummy will enjoy this sci-fi novel and I am glad I gave this author a shot. I wasn’t disappointed.
April 22, 2021
While this short story doesn't break new ground, it does accomplish good storytelling with only a few tropes. In the same vein as Stargate, Bob Mayer's Area 51 series, and other "ancient alien gods" stories; the story combines a military backdrop to the deeper story. The military story is there to trap our characters but seems to come and go to break up the expositional part of the book. As far as the exposition, it was a good change of pace not to have a villain's speech or the main character translating everything perfectly from Sumerian text (although that does take place a little). As for the tropes, there's the historian that seems to be able to read ancient languages and, of course, the religious guy that has to go nuts. The story does falter in one area and that's the "humans are bad because they fight" even though the story is about "one god imprisons another one because they were fighting but now they're mad we're fighting". The stories' impact takes the "get in and get out" ending and it would have been interesting to see the main character become a semi-cult leader or fringe historian.
Overall, an enjoyable short story the moves the story along with the "ancient aliens" storyline. Final Grade - B
Overall, an enjoyable short story the moves the story along with the "ancient aliens" storyline. Final Grade - B
January 23, 2016
What if? That's the question the author brings to light in this novella. The story revolves around Army historian Adam Cadman. He's out on patrol in the Iraqi desert to investigate some ruins. When his team is ambushed by the enemy, they are forced to take refuge in ruins, but what they find there may be worse than facing the enemy and a powerful sandstorm bearing down on their location.
This is a smart well-researched story that stretches the teachings of most modern-day religions by introducing an alien element to the beginnings of mankind. This is not in any way derogatory to long-held beliefs, but merely an example of "what if." The story moved along at a fast pace keeping my interest throughout. I loved how the story was not preachy in any way, but left it up to the reader to decide what to believe. Fans of sci-fi and the military will definitely enjoy this story. Recommended.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a smart well-researched story that stretches the teachings of most modern-day religions by introducing an alien element to the beginnings of mankind. This is not in any way derogatory to long-held beliefs, but merely an example of "what if." The story moved along at a fast pace keeping my interest throughout. I loved how the story was not preachy in any way, but left it up to the reader to decide what to believe. Fans of sci-fi and the military will definitely enjoy this story. Recommended.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 30, 2015
It's a bit of a shock to find someone who can tell his story in 100 pages flat. Usually it's a trilogy at least. But Hill pulls it off. Sequels are possible, but I liked it well enough to hope he doesn't. I think of Against the Fall of Night / The City and the Stars (and sequel), 2001: A Space Odyssey (and sequels), and "With Folded Hands" (expanded into a novel, The Humanoids, with sequel), and hope he doesn't.
Eden is an Ancient Aliens and the Origins of Humanity story, which is not a spoiler, because Hill tells us this in a note at the beginning. More points to him for not trying to use this used theme as a Big Reveal and Punch Line.
Eden is set in southern Iraq, "northeast of Basra", a "sun-scorched landscape" that is not many people's idea of Eden. Conditions have deteriorated since Adam and Eve.
Read the rest at SFReader.com: Eden, by Martin Roy Hill
Eden is an Ancient Aliens and the Origins of Humanity story, which is not a spoiler, because Hill tells us this in a note at the beginning. More points to him for not trying to use this used theme as a Big Reveal and Punch Line.
Eden is set in southern Iraq, "northeast of Basra", a "sun-scorched landscape" that is not many people's idea of Eden. Conditions have deteriorated since Adam and Eve.
Read the rest at SFReader.com: Eden, by Martin Roy Hill
December 6, 2014
Adam is an archaeologist serving as a captain in the American army in Iraq. A dust storm has cleared some previously unknown ruins in the desert and he and a few colleagues are sent to investigate it. The information he finds changes his view of the origins of the human species.
This story takes a path perhaps familiar to some readers of this genre. Did we evolve as other creatures did or were we 'helped' in any way? I loved the way that various creation myths were invoked, some of which I was familiar with already. Towards the end the story took a turn which I hadn't expected. This isn't a long read but it's fluent and persuasive. I enjoyed it very much.
This story takes a path perhaps familiar to some readers of this genre. Did we evolve as other creatures did or were we 'helped' in any way? I loved the way that various creation myths were invoked, some of which I was familiar with already. Towards the end the story took a turn which I hadn't expected. This isn't a long read but it's fluent and persuasive. I enjoyed it very much.
September 14, 2016
“If this is Paradise, how bad could Hell be?”
Summary: An American army patrol is sent to investigate ancient ruins in Iraq. When an enemy mortar shell blasts an opening into a hidden burial chamber, Captain Adam Cadman and his soldiers take refuge deep in the ruins. What they find hidden inside threatens to destroy every belief about the beginnings of mankind — as well as modern civilization as we know it.
I enjoyed this and recommend it highly. Well written, imaginative, it gives one pause for thought — and it puts a fresh spin on so-called “intelligent design.”
Summary: An American army patrol is sent to investigate ancient ruins in Iraq. When an enemy mortar shell blasts an opening into a hidden burial chamber, Captain Adam Cadman and his soldiers take refuge deep in the ruins. What they find hidden inside threatens to destroy every belief about the beginnings of mankind — as well as modern civilization as we know it.
I enjoyed this and recommend it highly. Well written, imaginative, it gives one pause for thought — and it puts a fresh spin on so-called “intelligent design.”
October 28, 2014
3.75 Stars
A Sci-Fi origins story: one part military, one part historical novella, and one part mystery. The writing flows well and the characters are realistic. Think Stargate, but shorter and mixed with the Mummy (Brendan Fraser-style). This story definitely reminds me of the Sci-Fi serials in pulp magazines.
A Sci-Fi origins story: one part military, one part historical novella, and one part mystery. The writing flows well and the characters are realistic. Think Stargate, but shorter and mixed with the Mummy (Brendan Fraser-style). This story definitely reminds me of the Sci-Fi serials in pulp magazines.
October 6, 2015
A group of solders on patrol in Iraq encounter ruins and enter for protection. They encounter a person who gives them a history that is different than what is generally accepted. Bible verses and swearing.
November 15, 2014
Great book. I loved the realism of the characters and how the author presented his theories of historical events in a fiction story.
August 4, 2021
This was a very good book.I enjoyed it a lot.Tim Danko was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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