Customer Reviews

Revelation

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Superbly written and intelligently plotted thriller that is so well done that it may rank with some of the best ever published. While the thrills certainly are there, it is the depth of characterization and stark realism achieved by the author that truly astounds. Napier is an undiscovered treasure and an author I will seek out in the future. If any of his other novels come close to this triumphal work, they will be worth any effort to find. Napier has breathed new life into the genre as well as elevating it to the level of fine literature.

A scientist named Findhorn inexplicably is contracted to go find "something" buried in a floating iceberg, finds it, bad people want it and he bumbles along thru various close-shaves to a luke-warm conclusion... along the way you get a historical perspective of what it was like to be a displaced east-european scientist shortly after WWII.

The historical sections were the most entertaining parts of the book, made me want to read more about that era. The modern characters needed much more filling out, very two dimensional, little background... they are just plopped in and you're expected to embrace them. Lastly the Findhorn character really needs to be renamed "Findballs" as he's an embarassment to men (particularly Scotsmen) everywhere.

I didn't go into this book blind. I'd read The Lure and knew Mr. Napier's writing style was atrocious. I also said I'd be glad to read another of his books. Despite the lack of writing discipline, he can still weave a good story, and this one was no exception.

I heard similar theories about igniting the atmosphere back in the 60's, and this falls right in line with that paranoid possibility. Our hero, Findhorn faces the dilemma of endless energy versus the risk of wiping out life on earth.

There was just enough details and logic to make the unbelievable believable as Findhorn plods around the world, trying to figure out the clues. It was a stretch to see how easily this mild mannered scientist just slipped through the grip of huge international killers, not to mention a group of religious fanatics. Mr. Napier also draws the supporting characters as untrustworthy, though that may or may not be how they end up. I never knew who was really on his side until the end. In particular is his sidekick, Romella. Half the time I thought she was a CIA plant, or working for the bad guys.

As for the writing, well, where do I start? He mixes points of view with abandon, uses plenty of was's, tells and doesn't show, and what really got me was near the end, he inexplicably changes to present tense! I'll never understand how such bad writing got through an editor, but then again, as a struggling writer, I may never understand the true nature of the publishing world.

Overall, the average reader will likely not even be aware of the faults I've pointed out in the writing style. Looking at it as a great story, and despite a few flaws in logic, Revelation is well worth the time to sit down and read it. I have no trouble recommending this to those looking for a good thriller.

This was so hard to finish. The author needs to go back to school to learn how to write! The plot was interesting at first, but got boring because he does not know how to write properly! I guess I'm used to reading Thor, Rollins, and Flynn who write much better!

I don't know how this got in print! I didn't think it was possible, but this guy is a poorer writer than Thomas Greanias. If you can finish this, you're far more forgiving than I.

The story line of this book is OK, however, the writing is so bad it makes you wonder how a professional editor let it get published in its current form. The author frequently switches from past tense (what is usually seen in novels) to present tense and back again, all during the same plot sequence. Misspellings are rampant and several new characters come into the story and start talking without the author bothering to introduce them. Most irritating is the tendency of the author to leave out details key to the story, then later refer to them as if the reader knew about them (The main character walks into a room to find what he was looking for already stolen. On the way out he steps over a dead body and picks up his injured associate that had not previously been mentioned)

This the first of Napier's book's I've read and will definitely be the last.

If you're looking for a thriller, I suggest you keep looking.