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34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Non Stop Action, February 23, 2003
As Matthew Reilly has explained, this book was intended to be a no holds barred action adventure. Its very nature is to entertain and no apologies are made for the outrageous escapes or impossibly feats of heroics. I think he has met his goal in no uncertain terms. Dr Stephen Swain has been handed one of the most sought after and prestigious opportunities in the universe. He has been chosen to represent Earth in the Presidian, a game played against the other 6 inhabited worlds. What an honour! What an opportunity! There's only 1 catch, the game is actually a fight to the death. Seven participants enter a labyrinth but only one leaves. Oh yeah, and Earth's participants have all performed remarkably poorly in past events. Swain is afforded an advantage albeit a small one. This Presidian will be fought on his home ground or, more specifically, inside the New York Public Library. But any advantage he may have begins and ends there. Apparently, because previous representatives from Earth who were chosen based on their warrior backgrounds have performed so badly, Swain's selection was based solely on his ability to think his way around problems. So he enters a deadly fight to the death armed with - his wits. So the battle begins after a quick rundown of the rules and the action becomes frenetic. It's a frantic bid for survival against the odds that doesn't fail in it's number one objective - namely to provide edge of the seat thrills.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare yourself for a wild ride, March 18, 2005
Fans of Matthew Reilly will be pleased with "Contest". The novel is actually Reilly's first novel, although it was published after a few of his books (Ice Station and Temple) made it big. Readers of those two books will find "Contest" every bit as exciting and frenetic as those two earlier offerings.
"Contest" is a story about a "battle royale" that takes place every millenium or so between representatives of the 7 major populated social systems in the universe. This time, however, the site of this contest known as "The Presidium", is the New York City Public Library with its miles of tunnels and booklined aisleways. In past Presidiums, the human contestant has always been the first to be eliminated. This time around, Earth is much better represented by a tough-edged, bulldog of a man known as Stephen Swain. Swain's handicap is that as he is being (unwillingly) transported to take part in The Presidium (the reasons why are more than a little unsubstantiated) his young daughter, is transported with him.
Reilly's patterned style of guts, gore and exciting action are all present in this novel as Swain attempts to keep himself and his daughter alive through the contest. Reilly does a good job introducing the reader to the other competitors and creating some memorable characters in the process. Introduced along the way for comic relief, is Swain's guide, Selexin, who helps Swain work his way through the roster of competitors while serving as a great sidekick.
"Contest" is an extremely fast reading book and is hard to put down. In this reviewer's estimation, it's not quite as exciting or polished as the two aforementioned novels, but one needs to remember that this is Reilly's debut novel.
Give it a try, especially if you've read anything else by Reilly. You will find it comical and infantile in his scope at time, but always exciting and fast-moving.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
mindful of a Kirk Star Trek, The Gamesters of Triskelion, March 1, 2003
Radiologist Dr. Stephen Swain and his elementary school aged daughter Holly are in their Long Island home relaxing after a day at the hospital and school respectfully. However, aliens feel the widower will make a good participant in their cross species death contest based on Stephen's efforts that ended a violent problem. The ETs teleport Stephen and Holly to the New York 42nd Street Public Library to play in a deadly game of survivor. The rules are simple: win or die. Seven species will compete until only one is left standing to confront the Karandon, a killing machine who has carved up the library security guard. Escape is impossible as a deadly electrical field encloses the building and immovable wrist bands will incinerate any of the contestants. Let the games begin. The reader needs to move past technologically advanced aliens hosting deadly games sort of like an intergalactic Roman Forum (and several other questionable actions). If the reader can pass that critical go, the story line packs quite a wallop as the taut action leads to the audience rooting for the home team. Somewhat mindful of a Kirk Star Trek show (see "The Gamesters of Triskelion" episode), readers who relish action to the nth degree will join the ultimate survivor CONTEST, but with a galaxy of skepticism along for the ride. Harriet Klausner
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