Publication Date: May 12, 2009 | Series: Domain Trilogy
Archaeologist Julius Gabriel has devoted his life to studying the Mayan calendar, a 2,500-year-old enigma that ends abruptly on December 21, 2012. Many believe this foretells the end of the world. Julius is convinced it’s one of many pieces to a puzzle that could lead to the salvation of our species. He has passed on his knowledge to the only person who ever believed his theories—his son Mick.
It is now the fall of 2012 and Mick is still haunted by his father’s predictions. He’s been committed to a Miami asylum for paranoid schizophrenia, and the dawn of his most feared prophecies is upon him. When inquisitive psychologist Dominique Vazquez joins the team at the South Florida Treatment Center, Mick finds a new listener for his warnings of the coming Apocalypse. What Dominique doesn’t realize is that she is his last hope of saving humanity.
For the fall equinox is looming, and with it will come a rare galactic alignment with the potential to change life as we know it.
For those who never leave home without a copy of the prophecies of Nostradamus tucked in their hip pocket, Steve Alten's new thriller is just the ticket. Domain focuses its doomsday scenario on an ancient Mayan myth and sets up an intriguing pair of saviors in Dominique Vasquez, a psych grad student who's an intern at a Florida psychiatric facility, and Mick Gabriel, her first patient. Mick, the son of two famous archaeologists, has languished in the Miami asylum for over a decade after attacking the man who publicly humiliated his father and who now happens to be the American secretary of state. The elder Gabriel believed he had unearthed the riddle surrounding the origins of Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the desert glyphs of the Nazca desert, the temples of Angkor Wat, and the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan peninsula--and that the answer pointed inexorably to the doom of humanity.
As the winter solstice of 2012 approaches (the day of reckoning prophesied by the myths of the Kukulcan Pyramid at Chichen Itza), Mick enlists Dominique in his effort to save mankind from the apocalypse. Engineering his escape from the hospital, she accompanies him on a desperate search to find his way into the pyramid before the radio message from space, which has already activated a deadly alien weapon buried deep in the Gulf of Mexico, can open a galactic gateway to a world where evil will reign for all eternity. Alten's talent for pacing far outstrips his other writerly gifts. The political subplot is ludicrous, the special effects way over the top, and the villain-in-chief, who happens to be named Borgia, is merely a cartoon. But the story is original enough to pass muster and the past success of similar apocalyptic thrillers bodes well for this one. --Jane Adams--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
The author of Meg taps Mayan mythology and Old Testament lore in his sci-fi/fantasy take on the age-old battle of good and evil. Archeologist Julius Gabriel is ridiculed when his research shows that ancient wonders like the pyramids, Stonehenge and Angkor Wat were built with extraterrestrial help to play a role in an Earth-based Alien Armageddon on Dec. 21, 2012, the winter equinox. When Julius dies of a heart attack, his son, Mick, attacks Gabriel's main tormentor and former partner, Pierre Borgia, now the U.S. secretary of state, and Borgia has him thrown illegally into a Florida insane asylum. Dominique Vazquez, a part-Mayan psychiatric intern, is assigned Mick's case, but the plan to control him backfires when she reads Julius's journal and joins forces with Mick. She helps him escape, and they rush to the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula, where evidence supports Mick's claims. As evil alien interference in human affairs triggers disaster, Mick learns he was born to lead the opposing alien forces for good in an apocalyptic battle. Alten's imaginative roles for the pyramids and Peru's Nazca peoples are the perfect springboard for what is set up to be a continuing series grappling with sweeping, Star Wars-like themes. Characters are worthy of the best role-playing games; sorcery aces technology every time; and Alten draws clever parallels with Mayan myths in this ripping space-age yarn equipped with a credible love story and strong Earth-bound side plots. (Feb.)Forecast: Meg had its fans--the novel was a minor bestseller--but not enough to keep sales of Alten's second novel, The Trench, from dipping precipitously (it's notable that Forge makes no mention of that novel in its publicity for Domain). This title is bound to do less well in hardcover than in its eventual mass market edition, which can excerpt any positive reviews.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Steve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager's job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve's second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin's Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve's fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores -- a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve's eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve's health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Steve's ninth novel, MEG: Hell's Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante's Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan. The release date was 10-10-10. His eleventh novel. PHOBOS: Mayan Fear is the third in the Domain series and will debut in the Fall of 2011 (Tor/Forge).
Steve's novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD, was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival and his reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading ...until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it's free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
For more information, contact the author at Meg82159@aol.com or go to www.SteveAlten.com
There are three science fiction authors whose works I enjoy that can be entertaining while weaving a bit of science and historical fact into a story. They are: Steve Alten, Michael Crichton, and Neal Stephenson.
DOMAIN is the third book I've read by Steve Alten. After reading the thrilling deep sea shark stories MEG and the sequel THE TRENCH, I was eager to read another Steve Alten book. DOMAIN did not disappoint me.
There are several key plots in DOMAIN that make it a difficult book to put down. A crooked politician, the world on the verge of nuclear war, a hero wrongly imprisoned in a mental institution, a female psych grad student intern (of Mayan heritage), and ancient prophecies of impending doom all tightly woven into a remarkable story.
Thanks for the exciting ride, Steve. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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My association with Steve Alten's books started a few years ago when I grabbed a copy of 'Meg'. His sequel ('The Trench')was even BETTER...but these were novels of underwater terror involving a prehistoric megolodon (just imagine a fierce shark the size of the largest whale and you get the idea...)--b-u-u-t the BIGGEST and BEST surprise was that 'Domain' was a complete and amazing departure from his first two novels. I can't remember if I have EVER read a book that contained nearly as much detailed research as I found within the pages of 'Domain'. The amount of work Mr. Alten put into this story was absolutely staggering.
The story starts off with the speed of a runaway meteorite (literally) and just picks up from there. What exactly hit the earth 65 million years ago and decimated the dinosaurs...if it WASN'T a meteor as the scientists claim, what WAS IT??? Steve Alten attempts to answer this in a most creative way. To me 'Domain' is very much like a modern-day Indiana Jones meets the X-Files. Have you ever heard about the ancient Mayan prophecy of doom that predicts the end of humanity on December 21st in the year 2012? This part of the story is actually based on fact. Yes, the Mayan's DID predict this...will it actually happen? That is another story--but what if it were TRUE? That is the adventure you will find here. From Stonehenge to the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Temple of Kulkukan in the Yucatan to the Nazca Plains in South America, 'Domain' heads in a dozen directions at once--but don't worry, Mr. Alten is in COMPLETE control of what is happening, and at no point do you feel he has lost direction--even IF you have absolutely NO idea where he plans to take you. Inter-mixing Mayan facts with the Myth's of half-a-dozen cultures--with a plot that is as creative as it is entertaining, 'Domain' succeeds on ALL levels. It really IS facinating to be entertained as well as educated at the same time. Just exactly how DID the Egyptians build such incredible structures even though engineers readily admit that the Great Pyramid of Giza would be impossible to construct using the modern mechanics available to us TODAY...how did the Maya build their amazing pyramids without even mastering the wheel? These are all questions that even the most educated historian cannot answer with any certainty--however if you have a good imagination, you can come up with an explanation worthy of a bestseller. I cannot recommend 'Domain' highly enough.
On a side note, I interviewed Steve Alten recently about 'Domain' and not only is he talented, he's a really nice guy who very much appreciates feedback, and rewards his readers in unique ways. Easilyone of the most down-right entertaining novels I have read in a long time. 'Domain' deserves to be a HUGE success for Mr. Alten. Pick this one up and read it before someone makes it into a movie (it'd make a GREAT one, too).
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I have been a fan of Steve Alten's since I read his first book "Meg" back in 1997. I am a huge lover of sharks, and that is what first attracted me to this book. I was very impressed after reading it, so when "The Trench" was released of course I was anxious to buy it and start reading, needless to say I was equally impressed. I recently finished reading Steve Alten's latest book "Domain", and I just had to write and tell you what an excellent novel this is. Like Steve's first two books "Meg" and "The Trench", "Domain" puts the reader right in the story. It reads just like a movie, and Steve's incredible research and attention to detail make this a book you just can't put down. If you are a fan of Steve Alten I highly recommend you pick up "Domain" if you don't already have it. If you are not familiar with Steve's work, and are looking for a real page turner, then this is definately the book for you. I have read a sneak preview of "Resurrection" which is the sequal to "Domain" and I am anxiously awaiting it's release sometime next year. It promises to be just as exciting. If Steve keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them. They just keep getting better and better. Congratulations Steve, and good luck with your next book. Diane Tanner.
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