Customer Reviews

The Pharos Objective (Morpheus Initiative)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Caleb Crowe used to enjoy the life of his mother and father being archaeologists. Caleb and his sister would get to travel to exotic locations and help look for lost artifacts. Things changed when Caleb's father disappeared. Caleb quickly left that life and became a Professor.

Years later, Caleb's mother wants him to rejoin the Morpheus Initiative. The Initiative is in search of the Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World, The Pharos Lighthouse. It is told that hidden under the lighthouse is the grand treasure of Alexander the Great. Caleb rejoins but under protest. Will the legend be true or a myth?

The Pharos Objective is book one of the Morpheus Initiative series. The Pharos Objective by David Sakmyster is the first and won't be the last book I read by this author. Can I tell you that I literally lost myself in this book. It was that great. I took this book with me on my vacation and finished it on the way home in just a matter of hours. Because I enjoyed this book so much it helped to pass the time. This book kind of reminded me of the Mummy with Brendan Frasier with Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne thrown in for good measure. This book had everything I was looking for from ....action and adventure, captivating storyline and interesting characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, The Mongol Objective.

I took this book on vacation with me for some light reading. I was hoping it would last the whole week but it was such an intriguing story that I found myself staying up to read it. The action and mystery begins right away, based on a clever intertwining of facts with mythical legends and supernatural powers. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization of historical figures as well as the fictional ones. The story was grounded enough in actual history(Thanks to the author for the notes at the end) to make some of the fictional aspects seem truly plausible. Very entertaining and informative - I was sorry when I was done but glad to hear another book is coming soon!

Recieved the book not knowing what I would read, but since reading the other Sakmyster book "Silver and Gold" I had to have it. His writing is great and the story a page turner. It is a great book to pick up and escape with.
Sakmyster has a way of making words sing on the page, gripping the reader into another world where before you know it, you have burned through the story looking for more.
I highly recommend the book as well as Sakmysters other (Silver and Gold) where this is a great summer read, there is no doubt that the other is a great fall read or winter read.

Hidden deep underground below the lighthouse in Alexandria, protected by traps and codes not even Indiana Jones ever encountered, lie the secrets that can change the world to a better place. An ancient group of people, the Keepers of this knowledge, knowing that the time is right, are trying to find a way to uncover the scrolls that tell all. They need the help of one person, the son of a deceased Keeper to help. But of course there is the "evil" one who wants to get there first and destroy the treasure. And so a race against time, a game of life and death ensues, each group trying to get there fist, trying to outwit the other. And as the death toll rises so does the tension - what is down there and is it really wise to bring it into the light of day?
The story is fascinating, intriguing and unfolds fast-paced, well written and researched, believable, mixing fiction with history, real fun to read. It is a short story though, 120 pages, but it leaves the wish for more.

This was a very good read, the story got hold of you and you just wanted more. This is going to sound silly but the one thing that bothered me was the font that it was printed in, was different than the font used in most books, it was distracting, but the story was so good that I keep reading and was rewarded with a great story. looking forward to the next book.

For 2000 years, treasure hunters have been trying to locate a legendary chamber hidden under the Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria. In this chamber, they believe, lies the lost treasure of Alexander the Great. Within the first few pages of The Pharos Objective, David Sakmyster throws the reader into the hunt as we go back to 861 A.D. and watch treasure hunters trigger the deadly traps contained within the Pharos. As we hear over and over throughout the book: "The Pharos protects itself."

Today, the lighthouse is no longer standing, but treasure hunters still seek the way into the chamber they believe is hidden underground. George Waxman leads the The Mopheus Initiative, a group of psychics who use "remote viewing" to locate lost artifacts and see into the past. He's determined to find the treasure to prove that remote viewing really works. Columbia University professor Caleb Crowe's sister and mother are part of the group. Caleb left it years ago after an incident that left his sister in a wheelchair. But when Caleb starts having visions of the Pharos, he soon finds himself in the middle of the treasure hunt too.

Sakmyster sets up the story and relationships very quickly in this novel, and soon we're off on an adventure with the Morpheus Initiative on a quest to find that treasure. There is mystery and intrigue throughout. It's hard to know who's good and who's bad. There are many twists and turns. Who can Caleb trust as he tries to uncover the key to finding the treasure? We piece together the different parts of the story along with Caleb, and we learn more and more through his visions of the past.

This is one of the most entertaining books I've read this year. I really enjoyed it. I loved the combination of the modern-day story with the history of the Pharos Lighthouse. I found myself anxious to know what would happen next. It reminded me of an adventure movie like Indiana Jones or National Treasure, with a psychic angle added in. Overall it was a great book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure stories and treasure hunts. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, The Mongol Objective, which will be released later this year.

I liked it. It was really fast paced for the first half. I did have a bit of trouble with the main characte'rs quick change of attitude towards his mother three quarters of the way through the book. It also seemed like there was a big unaccounted for chunk of time near the end. The main character was reconciling with his wife who he thought was dead, then suddenly he is looking at years of baby pictures he missed out on. The story didn't cover years at this point and the baby couldn't have been that old, a few months a most. so, I found the gap really disconcerting. The flash forward and flashback at the end, seemed contrived to set up a sequel. Not necessary if you ask me, especially if the sequel proves to be a good read.

Good start for a series of books. I like the idea of psychics looking for treasure. Sakmyster even made it look like it wasn't cheating.
As for the font, I'm old enough to remember the type produced by non-electric typewriters, so it didn't bother me.
If you want a fun read, buy this book. If you want serious reading, struggle through Ethan Fromme. At least "Prothos" won't put you to sleep.

If you're looking for globetrotting adventure-ism and a great premise that is fresh with characters so real that you can actually hear their voices in your head, then you have to read The Pharos Objective by David Sakmyster. This isn't just a summertime read, but a `must' read. The story centers on a team of remote-viewing archeologists led by Caleb Crowe who are searching for the treasure of Alexander the Great rumored to be hidden within the trap-laden Pharos Lighthouse, aka the Seventh Wonder of the World. With a covert and ancient society and antagonists you love to hate, David Sakmyster weaves a wonderful tale that is `different' from the adventure novels of today. Kevin J. Anderson has equated this novel as "Indiana Jones meets the X-Files," which is true. However, it also reminded me of the adventure novels written by Matthew Reilly. But (and this is my own subjective opinion) I found Sakmyster's writing more intriguing and crisper, the characters more fleshed out than Reilly's.

I really did like this book, which is why I'm giving it a five-star rating.

I'm also hearing of a sequel called The Mongolian Objective, which I can't wait for its publication.

"The Pharos protects itself." The Keepers seek a way into the place where the secrets are hidden as does another. But the their objectives are vastly different, one to secure and one to destroy. Both need the aid of one person to get inside past the traps left by the builders so many centuries ago - and that one person is Caleb Crowe. Caleb must now embark on a journey that may help him find the treasures of the Pharos and the truth behind his father's death - or he must face death himself.

A fast read, a page turner, and intrigue-ing story that keeps you wanting more.