Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

Tad wrote: "I'm reading The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly. It seems like it could be just a Jurassic Park ripoff, but Reilly's a favorite of mine so I'm hopeful."

I'm looking forward to reading this book too. Matthew Reilly is a fav of mine and I love his Scarecrow series.

Currently reading Reilly's teen fantasy Troll Mountain: The Complete Novel, which reads like a Disney or Dreamworks animated adventure movie, but no Pixer quality I'm afraid. Too much cliched storytelling and not enough Reillyish all out breathlessness and hyper-kinetic action. Still a (some what) fun read I guess.

Just finished which seems to fit in the A/A genre better than any others. The first I've read by this author and I found it compelling in many ways, enough to give it a 4-star rating, keep it to re-read and am looking at others by the same author.

Sharon, I just started Terminal Rage and it has me hooked. Exciting so far. Was that the book you were talking about?

Magiccats wrote: "Sharon, I just started Terminal Rage and it has me hooked. Exciting so far. Was that the book you were talking about?"

Yes ... unless there's another book by the same title with a different author, that's the one. I was impressed. Hard to put down.

Rizwan wrote: "Eileen wrote: "It's GREAT so far - really enjoying!

I'm at the part of the story [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, that character was a waste really, [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I liked Owen too. Didn't see the point of it. (hide spoiler)]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Yeah, I was surprised how much I enjoyed that one."

I think you even gave it a 5 star rating.

Sharon wrote: "Just finished which seems to fit in the A/A genre better than any others. The first I've read by this author and I found it compelling in many ways, enough to giv..."

I added it to my TBR list!

I finished Runner and loved it!! This book definitely had everything you'd want in a action book. Well written, fast paced, characters you cared about and a good mystery.

The second in the "series" is due out this summer. If I'm still around, alive, etc. I'll probably try it.

Finished Tracker a short story where I was introduced to Tucker and Kane, and was lucky enough to pick up The Kill Switch at the library yesterday and have started that. A new Tucker and Kane book is due out in April and am hoping my library will get that one in as well.

Great characters, love the handler/working dog partnership.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "the second in the "series" is due out this summer. If I'm still around, alive, etc. I'll probably try it."

Thanks, added it to my list. I really enjoyed the first one. I was up late finishing the book...very tired today.

Eileen wrote: "I finished Runner and loved it!! This book definitely had everything you'd want in a action book. Well written, fast paced, characters you cared about and a good mystery."

Great to hear it :)

Finished Troll Mountain: The Complete Novel, and it was passable entertaining, nothing great or even very good. Reilly could've done much, much more with the plot, characters and world he had built. But instead just a quick short read without much depth, detailing or any twist-turns... It was just okay fun I guess. Anyway, I always read one book at a time, but last night for the first time started three at once: Pulse, the 1st book in the Chess Team series by Jeremy Robinson (always wanted to read his works), Patient Zero the 1st book in the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry and Matthew Reilly's The Great Zoo of China. Reading them by alternating a chapter or so... Let's see which one wins the race!

Sharon wrote: "Finished Tracker a short story where I was introduced to Tucker and Kane, and was lucky enough to pick up The Kill Switch at the library yesterday and have started t..."

If you haven't yet, I'd recommend reading the Sigma Force novel Bloodline after finishing Tracker. Bloodline is where we first got to see Tucker and Kane worked as a team to their fullest extent alongside the Sigma Force. Not to mention that book was awesome, my most favorite Rollins novel yet.

Rizwan wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I finished Runner and loved it!! This book definitely had everything you'd want in a action book. Well written, fast paced, characters you cared about and a good mys..."

I've read all the books in the Joe Ledger series. A series I think keeps getting better with each new book. Look forward to hearing your opinion.

Finished Time and Again just a good book all around. Then Confessions of a D-List Supervillain an entertaining audiobook. No idea how it would be in print Thunderhead preston child goodness. The Pagan Lord The Empty Throne good old Bernard Cornwell story of Uhtred the Pagan who figjts for Christians. Bunch of Norse Saxon bloodshed and war whats not to like and now Heart-Shaped Boxwhich is shapig to be a ghost story for the ages

Been reading Ray Charles biography for nonfiction, Hungry for your love for monthly anthology, The Master of Blacktower for gothic, Kingdom come for superhero novel, The first serial for Green Mile for horror.

The next classic I'm planning on starting is Bleak House by Dickens, next thriller Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris, next YA Lord Loss (Demonata series by Darren Shan), next horror Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, and The Tenth Planet by Edmund Cooper will be an unusual, sci-fi read for me.

Rizwan wrote: "Sharon wrote: "If you haven't yet, I'd recommend reading the Sigma Force novel Bloodline after finishing Tracker. Bloodline is where we first got to see Tucker and Kane worked as a team to their fullest extent alongside the Sigma Force."

Thanks! Had both Bloodline and Kill Switch, so read Bloodline (and you're right, nonstop action) and then finished Kill Switch. Tucker and Kane are definitely my favorite characters in this series, but there are a lot of others that are interesting as well.

I'm back in school and still working my way through David Weber's "Honorverse."

These are great fun. I have found, or learned a curious thing, that these stories are very much a collaboration. I recomend going through the "Worlds of Honor" series of short stories before reading the rest of these wonderful novels. Every story some written by Timothy Zahn, some by Eric Flint, others by John Ringo and lots by David Weber (some by Janet Linds) are better than the serial novels. Webers and the cast of others.

Right now I'm in The Service of the Sword and I am still as impressed as I was for the first story. There is a story in here by John Ringo "A Ship Named Francis" that, if you have Navy experience especially, but hopefully for anyoneelse, was a hoot. I almost had to pull over (audiobook) I was laughing so hard. "Sweet tester..."

If you read any short story, that one may be less reflective of the Honorverse, but it was damned funny! "Siberia is a concept.'

There is lots of action, battles, a good sci-fi spy story... two talented clowns decide to just, use all of ONI's toys and go visit a planet deep inside enemy territory... Ooops... an admiral wants to defect... damn...


The short stories are great.

I kind of burned out on Honor. Maybe I just overdosed by reading them back to back.

Sharon wrote: "Thanks! Had both Bloodline and Kill Switch, so read Bloodline (and you're right, nonstop action) and then finished Kill Switch. Tucker and Kane are definitely my favorite characters in this series, but there are a lot of others that are interesting as well."

Very happy to hear you loved Bloodline as much as I did. It was the ultimate Sigma Force novel in my opinion. The long awaited finale of the ongoing Sigma vs Guild war, having two great additions in Tucker & Kane with the team, and along with regulars Gray-Kowalski-Seichan, also gave the limelight to Kat & Lisa to really shine in a much needed return to full form of their characters as a refreshing change of pace. Not to mention the whole storyline was full to the bream with breathless action, suspense and nonstop twist-turns!

Just finished You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz. First time for this author, but won't be the last. A solid 3 stars.

After about three thrillers in a row, I'm up for a change of pace. So I'm starting in on The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg. Close encounters gone amok.

I just finished The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly and it was great. All his trademark action and maybe a little bit more. He has yet to disappoint me.

The March group read poll is up. Vote for your choice for our Steampunk or Firefly-Style Science Fiction group read. It closes on February 14th:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I'm starting Sunset Express by Robert Crais. This is the first book of his that I'm reading.

Just finished Sunset Express by Robert Crais. LOVE that Elvis Cole.

I am halfway through Ice Station by Matthew Reilly. Quite a ride!

Just started this one today Not quite sure how I feel about it yet, I'm not a fan of vampires. Fast action, good characters and interesting plot but I don't do vampires well.

Just finished the first Joe Ledger novel Patient Zero, and LOVED it. The novel read very much like a 24 season in full throttle, and hair raising chills of classic zombie horror with loud explosive actions of ulramodern counter-terrorist thriller mixed quite nicely I think. Plus Joe Ledger can very well be the Jack Bauer of litrary world imo. Over all a wild rollercoaster ride, and now I'm very eager to shoot past through all the rest of the series.

Here's my review of Patient Zero:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started a novel by James Becker . Finding it very interesting so far.

Tad wrote: "I just finished The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly and it was great. All his trademark action and maybe a little bit..."

I was wondering about The Great Zoo of China. I'm happy to hear you liked it. I'll have to read it soon.

Mike wrote: "Just finished Sunset Express by Robert Crais. LOVE that Elvis Cole."

Great series! I've read several in the series and Elvis Cole/Joe Pike are just plan cool!

Eileen wrote: I was wondering about The Great Zoo of China. I'm happy to hear you liked it. I'll have to read it soon.

My biggest worry was that it would read too much like a jurassic park ripoff, and while there are certainly similarities, it didn't really feel that way. Either way, it was a lot of fun and really flew by. He just keeps ramping the action up. I hope you like it!

Mike wrote: "I am halfway through Ice Station by Matthew Reilly. Quite a ride!"

My personal favorite!!

Tad wrote: "I just finished The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly and it was great. All his trademark action and maybe a little bit..."

I'm excited to read this one...sounds great!

It's time to select our April group read theme. Cast your nomination here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I also liked the Great Zoo of China. definite Jurassic park vibes but he does make it his own. much better than his last two (Troll Mountain and The Tournament)

I have 40 pages to go in Every Dead Thing by John Connolly. Wow, what a body count!

I just finished the Slave Trilogy from David Weber in the Honor-verse. It's good. Again, read the "Worlds of Honor" short story collections first to get the back ground.

I've moved to book 5 of the Worlds of Honor series In Fire Forged. I think the short stories are better than the novels in this series. That said, the Slave (Torch) series is fun and gets better and better. How all of these fit chronologically... whew... I need to find that complicated website. One anthology of short stories fits several time frames in the overall series.... but hey... it's a fun reliable series. Weber is the Walt Garrison of sci-fi.... as Dandy Don Meridith once said of Walt Garrison (People are Funny critters).

"if you need 4 yards, give it to Walt and he'll get you 4. If you need 20 yards, give it to walt and he'll get you 4." Nothing like consistency...it's the stuff of champions. :)

Just started Instinct by Jeremy Robinson. It's the second book in his Chess Team series.

Vote for your choice for the April 2015 group read theme before March 6th:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

All members are welcome to participate in the group read nomination process.

I finished Pet Sematary. I loved the ending.

Now I'm reading Seven Deadly Wonders. This is the first book I've read from him. I've heard good things.

Just finished rereading mhi #1-4 actually even better the second time through. Half way through Monster Hunter Nemesis

Mike wrote: "I have 40 pages to go in Every Dead Thing by John Connolly. Wow, what a body count!"

What did you think?

Travis of NNY wrote: "Just finished rereading mhi #1-4 actually even better the second time through. Half way through Monster Hunter Nemesis"

I should reread the series. I loved every book!!

Currently in the middle of the 2nd book of the Joe Ledger series The Dragon Factory. Its entertaining quick read, but the plot is all over the place, very scattered, which is making the book difficult to enjoy properly. Without a doubt the most interesting character is Ledger and the most fun I'm having is following his POV storyline, but even when the series itself is named "Joe Ledger", his appearances are too few and far between among all the hundred other parallel POVs of various villains and flashbacks and subplots. Have to say, jumping through countless characters and plotlines in every (short) chapter is a bit too distracting and annoying. the 1st book Patient Zero had this under control and was much enjoyable reading experience imo.

Just started reading "The Kill Switch by James Rollins.

Just started reading "The Kill Switch by James Rollins.

I'm going to start reading Chosen tonight.

Great book...my opinion of course.

:)