Customer Reviews

Primitive

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

"Primitive," by Mark Nykanen, is a fast-paced, action-packed political thriller. Themes are global warming, terrorism, military `contractors', and government cover-ups. Sonya Adams, a forty something model, is abducted while going to a photo shoot. The group responsible has a secret CIA document about how the frozen methane now warming up would destroy modern civilization and multi-nationals companies who are behind this. The group is using pod-casts showing Sonya and promoting their points from Aboland, somewhere in the frozen north.

Nykanen writes a good story and weaves Al Gore, fringe groups, modern technology and primitive lifestyle all together is his story. The Aboland group has a compelling narrative since it is experiencing effects of global warming, and knowingly sacrifices itself to make their message known. Some of radical groups are well-known; others are just small and secret. It is also a modern with the military troops just back from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the "tech" toys used.

"Primitive" has a political and environmental message. However, this message in so interwoven in the other themes, it fits really well. I read this all in one sitting it was that fast paced and easy-to-read. Both sides of the political divide can find something to agree with or argue about in this story, however they call all agree, it's one exciting thriller.

If you're looking for something that compares to Tom Clancy, keep looking. This was a lightweight read that was interesting as long as it was free, but suffered from predictability, a weak plot, a completely unbelievable premise, and too much deux ex machina. I mean, for a book to be believable, you have to be able to buy in to the protagonist and their motivations, the general plot, and the capabilities of the antagonists. Only a fringe left environmental anarchist could find this plot believable. It was almost funny. If they ever make a movie out of this, it will end up a cult classic alongside 'Soilent Green' and 'The Omega Man.'

But, what the hey? It was just about worth what I paid for it (nothing). If it's still free and you're waiting for them to close the airplane cabin door before you have to shut down your Kindle, then consider it.

I read this because it was free and because I had the idea from the reviews that it would be a thought-provoking thriller with themes of the environment and government. It was indeed free, but it was not in the least thought provoking. Yawn. It was, as some have mentioned, one-sided and flat propaganda. If you believe that the US government, law enforcement, and military are brutal forces aligned with the oil companies, with Canada as an enlightened foil, and that it is simply a given that civilization is about to be destroyed by catastrophic climate change, then you'll probably appreciate the perspective. If you are not yet sure about all these viewpoints, then there is nothing in the book to enlighten you. Two stars since the story line did keep me reading to the end. Save your time. Move on, nothing here to see, keep moving ...

This book was less thriller, and more a brochure for a variety of causes (global warming, animal rights, the list goes on). It read like a cross between a primer on global warming and a Michael Moore rough draft for a slanted film. The plot was lost in the preaching, and the characters could not be developed for the corny nature of the story. The only thrilling scene involved a tight tunnel escape. I'm not sure what book the other reviewers read, if they read it at all. Quality of writing, storyline, and most of all the overt preaching were highly amateur.

So I just finished this, and I feel compelled to point out all of the shortcomings that wrecked this book for me. The flaws in character development are the biggest problem here. Starting with the bounty hunter and anyone else who has no problem torturing US citizens, but has qualms with crossing the invisible US-Canada line and lying about it. Of course the author tries to pass this off with these guys being concerned about a war with Canada, but it just doesn't seem to make sense for me. Then the protagonists daughter, who is a hippie through and through, but also carries a gun with the intent of killing her rapist from ten years ago? LOL WHUT? She's basically a vagrant anyway, and if that was the real reason for her having a gun, she would have wandered down and killed him anyway. She has a gun because the author wanted her to have one, even though her whole characters lifestyle and thought process doesn't mesh with this at all. Then there is the protagonist, who is apparently a fashion model who is part Survivorman, part Dr. Quinn, part professional swimmer, part whatever you would call someone who can sharpen ice skates with a grindstone, and also completely unbelievable.

There were other ridiculous elements, but the whole time reading this I just kept rolling my eyes. If this were a series, it would end with a Utopian society where all the characters rode around on unicorns that shot rainbows from their horns.

I don't usually bother reviewing a book unless it's really great...or really terrible. This book is definitely one of the latter. Now, before someone accuses me of being some right-wing "denialist" when it comes to climate change, let me say that I'm neither. In fact, I'm a scientist who believes very firmly in some of the very dire predictions being made by the scientific establishment with regards to our impact on our environment. However, books such as "Primitive" only hurt the cause. What started off as a mildly entertaining read with an interesting opening hook--super model kidnapped by environmental terrorists--quickly devolved into an amazingly unbelievable pile of US-hating, eco-terrorist garbage. My only consolation is that I downloaded the Kindle version during a free trial... and not a single tree was killed (or a dollar wasted) for me to read this trash.

<spoilers below>

For one thing, the idea that the *CIA* would have possession of some "top secret" environmental bombshell paper is absurd. The CIA is not in the business of doing scientific research, nor would they have the means to provide either the necessary data for such work or the ability to keep the results "top secret". And no halfway reputable scientist would be silent if they did discover such dire results as are mentioned in this novel. Science is collaborative in nature. Any planetary changes on the scale envisioned by this ridiculous plot would have been percolating in the peer-reviewed scientific journals for months, if not years...not squirreled away in a top secret CIA paper...unless, of course, the entire scientific community is in on the conspiracy.

Second, the author's portrayal of all military and federal personnel in this book borders on the absurd--jack-booted, one-sided villains that could only be written by someone who has had no exposure to any of the men and women who do those jobs every day. Oh, and by the way, "CENTCOM"--short for Central Command refers to a geographical combatant command in the Middle East; it has nothing to do with events taking placing within North America...not counting that whole "posse comitatus act" that severely restricts the use of the US military on US soil. Even in the event that the military was called in to conduct an operation in Canada, NORTHCOM (or Northern Command) would take the lead. Plus, any such operation that might conceivably be undertaken would be so heavily constrained by Rules of Engagement and civilian governmental oversight that the final "showdown" in the book would never have happened.

Don't waste your time on this book.

I downloaded this book because it was free and had good ratings. Was this book offered for free to get good ratings? The book was just plain boring and unbelievable.

Shallow, predictable and full of thinly veiled bias and immature, gratuitous violence (including the torture of a dog and serious maiming of a cow - really?). A complete waste of time.

Poorly written to be made into a movie/tv show. Not a good read. Free cost too much

I guess I expected more out of this book because of the write-ups. It wasn't a horrible book, it wasn't a great book. It was a so-so book. It certainly didn't keep me captivated, but neither did it make me just delete it without finishing.

The entire premise, the kidnapping of a popular model to "teach" the world about global warming and methane gas was completely unbelievable to me. Nut cases do stuff like that, and yet we are supposed to believe that "this group" is not comprised of nut cases, but of thinking, intelligent human beings.


I can't recommend it. But I won't tell you that YOU won't enjoy the book. Maybe you will.