4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting and clever tale that both young and older will enjoy, October 18, 2011
This is the second volume in Douglas Richards' excellent three-part series about the exploits of the very smart kids Ryan and Regan, brother and sister. Richards again introduces us to many interesting scientific facts, a science fiction plot at its best, adventures, fascinating gadgets such as a pen that stop pain and heal wounds and infections, and the clever and logical reasoning by Ryan and his younger charming sister. It is now six months since the startling events described in "Trapped." Without revealing this exciting episode, suffice it to say that Ryan and Regan's minds have been somewhat improved and they receive a message that the underground city has been breached (how, why, and by what or whom, and the consequences, readers will discover by reading the tale). Richards adds some humor from time to time with the occasional light-hearted, warm, respectful sibling rivalry between the two youngsters. This is the fourth Richards' book that I read, three aimed at younger people, one for adults, and while this book is one of the three, I think that adults will enjoy it just like they will enjoy the other two.
Although this is the second volume in the three part series, one doesn't need to have read book one to follow the story in this volume because Richards summarizes book one at the beginning. However, it seems to me that readers will enjoy book two better if they had read book one.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting science fiction for kids, January 24, 2009
This review is from: The Prometheus Project: Captured (Paperback)
This book is an excellent quality thriller. It is the story of two young kids who seek adventure and mystery, so eventually they find themselves involved in an extraordinary situation. Their parents are at risk so the kids try to help them by entering a forbidden area and they discover an alien site. What will happen to them? Are they going to survive? Are their parents going to help them?
It is a story with a tight plot, a lot of action and a lot of science. The author involves nano-technology, the internet and a lot of maths throughout his story so the readers will be educated as well as highly entertained. It is a valuable book, quite original and easy to read. The gripping storyline will make young readers read this story in one sitting and want a sequel. The author has written another book, The Prometheus Project-Captured, as a sequel to the first one.
I strongly recommend this book to all young ones up to 13, and to older kids as well. It is a story full of clues that feed the mind and educate. It is full of action, fast paced and exciting to the very end, and it is like watching a movie. I will certainly recommend this book to my younger students who learn English-it can be used as a reader in ELT too.
Get the book from www.dnapress.com
Liana Metal, author of Storytime.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A page-turner for kids of all ages!, July 17, 2008
This review is from: The Prometheus Project: Captured (Paperback)
Book Two of
The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), is a science-fiction fantasy whose main characters, Ryan and Regan, are the youngest members of a top-secret team sent by the government to investigate the greatest discovery ever made: a vast city buried deep underground ... beneath Pennsylvania.
I admire the way author Douglas E. Richards sums up the first in the series,
The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), in the prologue to this second book.
The children's parents are noted scientists and important members of the team of scientists and elite security guards selected by the U.S. President to explore the fantastic, abandoned city. In fact, their father is responsible for solving the code that removes the energy barrier that allows them access and egress. In book one the entire team disappears, except the children. They form a friendship with the central computer who seems so human to them they dub it "The Teacher." The Teacher gives them the special gift of "telepathy" which, along with their natural brilliance and scientific knowledge, aids them in their quest to discover what happened to the team and to save them.
Now, in book two,
The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), an evil alien journeys through one of the "Zoo" portals from another planet to invade the city. The children are alerted by an aborted telepathic message that something is wrong, but by the time they reach the team, they--except one guard--have been taken hostage by ruthless mercenaries led by the monstrous alien.
What is the "Zoo," and how does it figure in the children's plan to save the team and thwart the mysterious alien's far-reaching plan. How does the President figure into his evil plot? What supernatural power does the alien use to control humans? And why doesn't that power work on the children? When does the missing guard show up and is he able to help the children? Since the brilliant alien meticulously planned this invasion long before the team started their exploration, why does he destroy the entrance to the city, then pretend to be trapped inside too? Why does he threaten to kill the children's mother if their father doesn't come up with a new "entrance code" within six hours?
Once again, the fate of the team--and this time, the entire world--lies in the hands of these extraordinary children. Will they be in time to save their mother ... and the world?
To find the answers to those questions and more, read this book; I gave four stars for Richards's well-developed characters, inventiveness of plot and for the smooth way he presents unbelievable situations in such realistic, intelligent manners as to make them genuinely believable. You will think you're there with the characters, enjoying adventure after adventure as these clever children outwit world-renowned scientists to help save the world from the evil alien. I started to deduct one star because there were too many grammatical errors, but because Richards writes so well and it's such an original plot, I decided not to. FYI, none of the errors were blatant enough to halt the smooth flow, but they certainly "jarred" at times.
Since the author, Douglas E. Richards, has a career in biotechnology, his technical jargon rings true. I recommend this book, especially to young adults for whom this exciting page-turner is written. I look forward to reading the first book and future editions in the series, hoping the author secures a top-notch editor next time around.
Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
Author of: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley
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