Customer Reviews

Origin

5 star:		(143)
4 star:		(79)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I read the description of this book and it sounded kind of interesting. The united States has a demon locked up in a big glass cage and we are trying to figure out what he really is and wants. To honest I just wanted something lightweight and fun. I didn't expect much but I really ended up really loving this book. It had in interesting premise and was written well. There are moments of fun romantic comedy to moments of horror. There are discussions of religion and faith and science versus faith. I just can't say enough. I don't want to ruin everything so I won't go too much into the plot. But I loved Bub the demon and all the people involved with him. All I could think the whole time was it would make a great movie. Really, a fast paced beach read. I was even a little sad when I reached the end. I wasn't ready to let it all go.

I bought this as a cheap download and loved it!! A monster that looks like the devil is found in 1906 and awakens now. The scientists in a bunker try to communicate with it, and quickly find that it out-thinks them as it tries to escape. I'm no fan of horror, but I thought that was only a small part here. Really, a fun techno-thriller. I've ordered some others of his, which I am anxious to try. Good fun.

It's a fun novella, but not well written. However, I appreciated the story. I think the author would benefit from a bit more research (graduates of West Point, for example, do not go into the field as Sgt. Majors). Also, the plotting was predictable and a bit redundant. Okay for an afternoon read when there is nothing else more pressing.

Loved it! The concept of this book is very interesting and original. I really, really enjoyed the premise, the characters (especially Bub), and the gore. :) It's not as gory as Jack Kilborn's Afraid (JA Konrath's pen name) but it's definitely a bit horrific at times. It's fast paced and thought provoking and I read it in a day. It's also a little bit of a genre crosser with elements of horror, sci-fi, romance, comedy, mystery, and psych thriller all rolled into one. Overall, a great read at a great price!

(Contains some mild spoilers)

Konrath has an interesting premise: America government keeps a captive demon-like creature in a secret research facility. His prose is fluid and unstrained, and imagery quite vivid. However, some plot elements are very naive, and facility's motley crew is far too predictable: everyone has a skeleton or two in their closets, which both serves as a leverage to keep them in the project and motivates them to betray it.

In the notes accompanying the novel author reveals that he removed many humorous elements in the latest revision of the novel, the one this review pertains to. I find it pity: the novel would work much better if made more light-hearted.

If you are looking for a light, relatively fun "semi-horror" read, this is for you. But if you are after a more serious exploration of a group of people facing unknown in a close, claustrophobic environment, classics like His Master's Voice or The Andromeda Strain (unfortunately, not available for Kindle) will serve much better.

This book starts out pretty solid; reasonably scary, reasonably thought-provoking. And then it just sort of peters out in a morass of weak romantic plot and character development. Once these have played themselves out, the story literally ends in two words, "uh-oh". In short, not the worst book I've ever read, but don't pay full price for it!

I have never left a review but this book was so bad it demanded it.

Origin: This book was not poorly written. The characters were not under developed. It was not too long. Not even totally preposterous. It was in a genre I like and read all the time. So what was so wrong with it? Lots! But the worst part was the ending. There literally wasn't one. I was looking for the next page and POOOOFFF! it just wasn't there. Unforgivable. I wanted to throw away my Kindle. This book was so highly recommended, I expected too much. Sorry to gripe. Such a promising writer but needs a serious editor.

This is one of those books that reminds you that for every 10 novels you begin and put away, there are still some awesome ones out there that will keep you up reading late into the night. Thank you. Hope the author does more of this supernatural/horror genre

Let me just state right up front that Origin is no Brothers Karamazov. But then it doesn't presume to be. It's pure summer-beach-reading or pick-up-something-at-the-airport-to-read-during-the-flight reading.

The plot revolves around a very familiar looking creature that's dug up during the construction of the Panama Canal. Shipped to an underground government facility, the creature remains in a coma for a century ... then he wakes up. Is he Lucifer as he claims? Or something else entirely? That's what a small group of scientists, theologians and military - all with flaws and secrets of their own - have to find out.

If you think you won't be surprised by the twists and turns in the plot, you're probably right. I found I was pretty accurate at guessing who'd still be standing by the last page. But the fun was in getting there. If you're looking for a fast read, this may be the book for you. You probably won't be struck by any brilliant epiphanies on the meaning of life after reading this book, but if you're in the mood for a roller coaster ride instead of navel gazing, enjoy!

From the wonderfully twisted imagination of J.A. Konrath comes the question, what if the devil had been found by the US government and hidden in a secret laboratory under the New Mexico desert?

Andy Dennison is a gifted translator, specializing in ancient languages, but he's never had a job this interesting (or this lucrative) before. The president of the United States has personally asked him to render his services at a secret military installation, in return for an exorbitant fee and the forgiveness of a little indiscretion on Andy's tax return. The catch? He'll be translating for the devil, or at least a creature who looks an awful lot like a devil.

Found in 1906 during the construction of the Panama Canal, "Bub" has been examined and studied for over a hundred years, but he has just now woken up. Andy is asked to join the small team living and working in the underground military installation in order to translate Bub's archaic murmurings. General Regis "Race" Murdoch tells Andy that everyone on the team is fascinated with Bub and lucky to be able to study him, but we gradually find out that, like Andy, they all have their own secrets and reasons for being there.

Origin will keep you up at night trying to decide whether Bub is just a creature to be understood, the devil, or just "a" devil. Or it might just keep you up at night reading to the end!

This book contains graphic violence and disturbing concepts; I strongly recommend reader discretion.