Customer Reviews

Area 51: Legend

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

14,000 years ago on another planet far away, the human population revolted against their Airlia overlords and managed to free their planet. Unfortunately, it was a Pyrrhic victory, the war left few alive, and the planet's ecosystem dying. Now a small number of the survivors launch themselves into space to find other Airlia ruled enclaves and save the inhabitants, who are being groomed for a titanic battle between super-races.

Two of these travelers, Donnchadh and Gwalcmei come to our own planet, where the Airlia have established the city of Atlantic, and the human inhabitants are still too primitive to mount any resistance. Their plan is to continually disrupt Airlia plans until the time was right for the final revolt. It would take the full 14,000 years, and this book is the story of most of them.

In one sense this is a typical 'aliens founded the earth' book. Doherty manages to attribute most of the Middle East's history to the machinations of Donnchadh and Gwalcmei and their opponents. Atlantis, Pharaohs, Moses, Druids and King Arthur, all become part of a vast, slightly paranoid puzzle. This book ties together the many threads that led up to the original Area 51 story - sometimes by stretching the historical truth, sometimes by fabricating things wholesale.

Doherty's style manages to keep this from becoming tedious, although I'm not sure I want to ever read any more about Donnchadh and Gwalcmei and their adventures. The book covers such a long period of time and so many events that the narrative sometimes gets thin, but, overall, interest gets maintained - I've certainly read worse in this genre. Since this is a prequel, it's not absolutely necessary to have read the other books in the series, but not knowing the future erodes the rational behind some of the actions in this volume.

In any case, it's quite readable, as it the entire series. I still find myself irritated occasionally by a plot that requires humans to be perpetually lagging intellectually. But if you are going to have alien super-races you are going to have to accept the existence of guileless humans. As long as we zap them in the end, I guess it's all right.

I was very disappointed with this installment of the Area 51 saga. 80% of the book is nothing more than rehashed accounts already given in previous books. Many are word-for-word retellings. Frankly, the only substantially new information I found was (a) the Exodus, (b) the fall of Jerusalem and (c) greater detail concerning Arthur & Merlin.

I was further disappointed when the author failed to expand on storylines that could have used it. The attempt to build a deep space array at the Twin Sisters was pretty much glossed over and the interaction between Aspasia's and Artad's shadows/minions didn't even start until about page 200. Also, if it didn't happen at Atlantis, the Middle East or England, this book doesn't talk about it.

I could have easily skipped this book. It's the first I've read in the series that I wish I'd waited for it to appear in my local library. Doherty usually has a vivid imagination and his ability to associate the legends and legendary history of our planet with the Airlia storyline has been exceptional. But this book offered nothing new---no new insights into history, no new artifacts, no new insights into the Airlia, no new insights into the Guides, Ones Who Wait, Shadows or Watchers. I was very disappointed.

Some people are writing reviews about this book who don't realize this is a prequel to the other Area 51 books. He is attempting to explain how everything came about. I thought it was a very good book. The first book in the prequel is Nosferatu.

On the fourth planet from the star in the Centauris Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, a war has almost decimated the world. Humans revolted against the alien overlords, the Airlia but the price was very high. The humans use Airlia technology and transportation to travel to other worlds where other humans like them were planted by the aliens to be used as soldiers in their war against the Swarm. Donnchadh and Gwalcmai are sent to earth to work undercover against the Airlia and to prepare humanity for the final war against the Airila who pose as gods to the masses.

For all effective purposes, the two saviors of mankind are immortal because their memories are stored in a Ka which is then inserted into their clones. . Donnahdh and Guatemai instigate a civil war between two factions of the Airlia leading to the destruction of the Airlia major stronghold of Atlantis and the aliens are out of touch with their home world. Throughout the millennia, the two humans from another world work behind the scenes to manipulate Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt with the Ark (an Airlia weapon) and making sure Excalibur (also an Airlia weapon) is hidden in a safe place when Camelot's King Arthur is killed.

Mixing the science of another civilization and the myths of earth, readers learn what the Ark, Excalibur and the Holy Grail actually are. Robert Doherty explains how vampires are created (the offspring of a human and Airlia mating) and why certain historical events happened. AREA 51: THE LEGEND is an exciting science fiction tale that grabs and maintains reader interest. The Airlia-human war will continue in further installments of this fascinating series.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this book and want to read the whole series. I have read quite a few peoples reviews on this book and the rest of the series. If you are looking for something more go read a book filled with facts. I for one love the fact that Doherty had enough gumption to write about this subject and tie in a bunch of past occurances. This is so interesting to have a different perspective on World events that occurred. The only world event that he really didn't have much to say about was the resurrection of Jesus and this is probably why. You can't pick fun at anything anymore without people getting upset.

If you want a good reader with no thought going into it, read this book. The story leads itself and you sit and enjoy the ride. The characters are just that: Characters and they are as good as some of the other books that I have read. You get a vivid background about a series that by the sounds of it is pretty good.

This is the ninth Area 51 book (and the second in the historical prequels) by Robert Doherty (a.k.a. Bob Mayer, a.k.a. Greg Donegan). This on tells of Donnchadh and Gwalcmai and haw they started their revolt against the Airlia on their own home planet before carrying their fight to Earth.

Like its predecessor (Area 51: Nosferatu), this book jumps through the centuries and millennia showing just how these two characters have helped to shape human destiny for more than 14,000 years. The book give science fiction answers to myths and legends all the way up to the resolution of the legend of King Arthur.

My one problem was with part of the recounting of Exodus. The author makes many changes to the story but backs them up nicely in the framework of the story. All except one. The author claims that Egypt conquered the lands of the Hebrews and dragged them off in chains to make slaves of them. Legend and the Bible say the Hebrews entered Egypt by choice. Why does the author not give a reason to this change? I don't know. There is always a chance that it might get covered by another book, but I suspect it is just a mistake.

Other than the one unsupported change, the rect of the book was really quite fun to read. If you enjoyed Area 51: Nosferatu then I am sure you will enjoy this one.

This version of the of e-book has several editing/proofreading flaws that take away from the readability. The story itself is entertaining but not gripping like I like my stories.

At the end of the day if you like a good , but not great ,story then this book will do.

I LOVE this series, or I wouldn't have bought them all. Mr. Doherty has a knack for pulling you into the story and making you care about the outcome.

If you enjoy military and sci-fi then you need to read the Area 51 series. You can tell the author wasn't kidding when he says he is ex Special Forces by the correct military details and descriptions he provides throughout the book. All of the Area 51 books are nonstop page turners and are a great in-depth story line with a perfect ending. I highly recommend starting with his first book, Area51 and then move through the series so you understand the characters and the overall objective they are trying to reach. The books can be read out of order and still make complete sense but for the max enjoyment start at the beginning.

I found this to be an excellent series of books. However, one must be able to get all books in order to enjoy the story. The books do not stand on their own.