Customer Reviews

The Samson Effect

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Hang on to your seat! The excitement begins in chapter one and it's a non-stop ride through danger, political intrigue, romance and jubilation. Just when you think you can catch your breath, the next hill takes you deeper into the valley of the shadow of death. The author brings you up close and personal with biblical facts and intertwines them with a fictional story that leaves you wondering if this could really happen.

Archaeologist, Dr. Thomas Hamilton and his colleague, Michael Sieff, an Israeli linguist, are both in search of ancient manuscripts that describe a sacred plant that the Hebrew priests used in conjunction with God's blessing whenever a "deliverer" was needed for Israel. Upon finding these documents they discover that the plant is not only real but also its location is described. Palestinian militants are in pursuit of the same in order to fulfill the promise of a global Jihad. There is also an ancient sect of Hebrew priests who are the protectors. All must be overcome in order to obtain The Sampson Effect, a plant extract capable of endowing super human strength upon its consumer. World domination is at stake. The reader learns about the history of the nation of Israel and its many deliverers as the author superimposes these ancient facts, along with the fictional legend of The Sampson Effect, upon the backdrop of the present day political climate in the harsh and unforgiving environs of the Middle East.

This is the author's first novel. I found myself wanting a little more in the way of character development. I really liked the characters, but I felt they needed to be brought out more. I wanted to know what really motivates them besides the obvious. More insight into their psyche would be helpful. The author's development of the landscape setting was also rather basic. As the reader I want to feel as though I have to wipe the sweat off my brow, in the heat of the pounding rays of the sun. Though I felt these attributes of the novel were adequate, I know that it would be a much better piece of literature if these areas were improved.

The story is thrilling and adventurous. In many ways I guess I just wanted it to go on longer. By the time I got to the end, I couldn't believe it was over. Without neglecting his story line, the author leaves you open for what could be a series of stories. If that is his intention, I can't wait for the next story. This could easily be adapted for the screen and, in my opinion would make a blockbuster motion picture!

This book is a "must read."

The first thing that caught my attention with this book was that Clive Cussler highly recommended it and anything that Clive likes I'll give a go.

This is an amazing first book from start to finish. Tony does an exceptional job of drawing you into all the characters so you have to pay attention to them because you don't know who is important or not and you don't wait to miss anything. The action is full on and never takes away from the story line only enhances it and all characters involved to the point that you want more.

What really impressed me also was the amount of knowledge Tony has on the landscape in the book, the wisdom to make this book completely readable to those that don't know the Old Testament (for those who do, you will smile at the biblical characters he references to) and fold that into a tight well written book that screams to be on the big screen. Beautiful job Tony and I can't wait to see what you have next for us!

What a piece of art! I wouldn't even call it a book because that doesn't do it justice! It is fantastic from cover to cover! I loved it and have read it twice now. The best time spent reading in a long time. Tony is his genres Stephen King!

Well done and worth the read...twice!

Professor John Zajaros

Tony Eldridge's premise in THE SAMSON EFFECT: the "Lord's Strength" of the Old Testament heroes was derived from an ancient, thought-to-be-extinct plant. Fast forward to today: two biblical researchers' quest to find the plant's one remaining seed trigger deadly reactions from both the protectors of the secret and a Palestinian terrorist.

The book is pretty much non-stop action: right from the start people get shot and buildings get bombed. In the midst of all the action, friendship, love, and betrayal, Eldgridge presents an interesting take on what would happen if a superman susbtance was out there for the taking.

"The Samson Effect" by Tony Eldridge is a good attempt at breaking into the action-adventure thriller genre, and has many things going for it. The characters are in near constant danger, and any shadow that they see could be an enemy. Beyond the suspense, the plot is well-developed and has an interesting concept attached. These are not insignificant positives.

Now the reason it gets three stars: it is very cliche. Right about the time the hot long-legged woman walked in to meet the attractive main character, I felt I could not go on with the book. It felt extremely disingenuous, as did most of the characters. The problems they had were either inconsequential or really odd, and the allegiances they made to whom they made them to seemed to have been drawn out of a hat, in order to get the plot moving. And an awful lot of people seem to know about the 3000 year old "secret", and it seems very improbable considering how many people know about it that it would still be a secret. So I wasn't buying it there.

If you enjoy an interesting plot that makes you think, "huh, that's something I haven't heard before," and enjoy nonstop races through biblical lands that have modern day problems, then you should read this book. If you're looking for something more, you should still probably read this book, just so you realize that you do want something more. All in all, an average addition to the genre

This is by far one of the most inventive inspiring books I have ever laid my eyes on. Buy it, pass it to a friend or loved one...it has so much awesome energy within it...you will walk away a more enlightened person after reading it.

It has been a while since I have read a book from cover to cover in one sitting. I was thoroughly captivated my the story that Tony drew me into. Even my hunger pains did not keep me away long. I grabbed the first edible thing I could to get back to the book. I loved it so much I highly recommend it on my site and to all y friends and family.

I don't believe you could not give this book less than 5 stars! I will do things backwards here and state my recommendation first in this review instead of adding it last as I have in my previous Shelfari (www.shelfari.com) reviews: Highly Recommended!

What a ride, Eldridge takes you on in this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down. It held me every day I read it on the train to and from work without me nodding off to sleep that I am prone to do!!

There are some good twists in the plot; one especially I did not see coming! I won't spoil it for anyone here.

I liked how something hinted at in the first few chapters of the book set the scene for future plot development especially at the end of the book. I regard that as good plot development.

For a first novel, Eldridge has done a fine job. I look forward to successive novels.

I have one question for this very promising and talented author:

Tony, you end the book with a hint of what a possible sequel could be? Am I correct?

Eldridge's knowledge and in-depth studies of Old Testament history pays off in this novel. He has developed the history of the Samson Effect well and is very believable. At first reading of the blurb, I did consider that growing a plant after thousands of years would be the Achilles Heel of his plot, but having since been to his website, (http://www.samsoneffect.com/factvsfiction.html), I read that what he proposed in his story has recently come true:

"In June of 2008, Dr. Sarah Sallon of The Louis L .Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem, Israel announced that she had successfully grown an extinct tree from 2000 year old dormant seeds found in Masada, Israel. The high quality Date Palm of the first century, important to the region and prominent in biblical history, became extinct over the next two millennia."

This fact adds so much credibility to his story even though he wrote this without knowledge of the above discovery!!

I liked the character development Eldridge has created. They are not presumptous, over the top or too good to be true. Just ordinary people like you and I.

I can see why author Clive Cussler has endorsed this book and agree with that endorsement. I can also see why Hollywood has also bought the rights to it as well! It would make a great movie!

Well Done, Tony!

If you like a book with no character development (where the characters fall for each other left and right for no apparent reason), no descriptive scene setting (unless you count church parking lot as descriptive), and no suspense ("ok rabbi-in-training, you've carried out my dirty work for me, now let me show this 3,000 year old secret I just keep here in the house"), then this is the read for you!

The intrigue is non-existent and the plot development is both predictable and convenient. In addition, the main characters' love interests are wholly unbelievable. How do you go from saying hello to a woman in an airplane to falling madly in love with her, and vice versa, about 20 minutes later?

Plus, I couldn't tell who the protagonist of this book was supposed to be: Hamilton or Sieff? They both at various times act like d-bags, continuously pout, and order people around. And they have some sort of bizarre competition thing going (which we're supposed to know about somehow due to their extensive character development), like trying to beat each other while climbing a mountain.

This quote from the book pretty much sums up the laziness with which the plot unfolds: "What are the odds that we'd randomly choose the exact moment needed to see the serpent?"

Yes, what are the odds indeed? Oy vey.

I really enjoyed this book. Actually it was Awesome! Having been stationed in Iraq for the past year I've read too many books to count, and none really stuck with with. But once i came home my reading slowed down, until a friend told me about this book and peaked my interest. Once i started it i couldn't put it down! It was exciting, and kept you guessing on what would happen next. I am telling all my friends and family about it. I can't wait for it's sequel!