Subterranean [Mass Market Paperback]

James Rollins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 27, 2010

Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders—and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here—and those they follow did not return. There are mysteries here older than time, and revelations that could change the world. But there are also things that should not be disturbed—and a devastating truth that could doom Ashley and the expedition: they are not alone.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A gripping deep Earth adventure." -- New York Times bestselling author Charles Pellegrino

"Kept me turning the pages well into the night!" - John Saul

About the Author

JAMES ROLLINS is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages. His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the "top crowd pleasers" (New York Times) and one of the "hottest summer reads" (People Magazine). In each novel, acclaimed for its originality, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets--and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Harper; Reprint edition (April 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061965804
• ISBN-13: 978-0061965807
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (303 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Put Your Brain on Hold Reading, An Action Packed Book! November 11, 2000

By Ryan Costantino

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I bought this book having never heard anything about it. Purely an impulse purchase I was somewhat intrigued by the synopsis on the back and figured "what the heck?" and so I dropped my 7 bucks thinking I'd be putting this on my bookshelf afterward, only to let it fall into the haze of forgotten, impulse reads. Little did I know that I would be recommending this book to friends and family alike. Sure it's a little bit on the unbelievable side (ok, it's almost entirely unbelievable) but the characterization, the action, and the sub-plotting were enough to make me read this book straight through in one white knuckled sitting!

A world untouched, deep beneath the Antarctic continent, filled with riches beyond your wildest dreams. And an unseen danger, hidden for eons that may be the very doom of humanity! Secret military installations, extreme gadgetry, an awesome monster(s), and twist after twist make Subterranean perfect reading for adventure fans. Full of action and with nary a slow moment in its 410 page frame this book is perfect for those who like their stories Adrenaline filled! So if you're looking for a conglomeration of about every action movie ever made (with just about every possible element for the genre) pick this book up and allow yourself a guilty, non-thinking pleasure!

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A good yarn September 11, 2007

By John B. Goode TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm re-reading this book and it's almost as good as the first time I read it. I know the ending already, so I can't fault the book for not being as good as the first time I read it.

I've read some of the readers' reviews and I have a few comments to make.

First, you HAVE to suspend belief. I mean, this is a book about explorers finding a civilization under the Earth's crust. If you refuse to accept that, you shouldn't be reading this type of novel. Go read a newspaper or Newsweek or something. Secondly, if you say this book is ridiculous because of that, then you might as well say the same thing about Jules Vernes' books, or Issac Asimov or Arthur Conan Doyle.

Thirdly, I didn't find the characters all that bad. and not cardboardy at all. In fact, I find Rollin's earlier books much better than his later Sigma books, a huge difference. The difference is that in these stand alone books Rollins isn't constrained to bring essential characters back again, again...... and again. He can kill them off without penalty (except for the penalty of making up and fleshing out new characters for each new book). And if you don't like the characters, you don't have to see them again. And so what if the characters are not deep thinkers up for Nobel Prize or Academy Awards? They don't need to be. OK, they may be stereotypes, but I just need them real enough to move the story along, I'm not going to date them or be blood brothers with them.

What I liked: I liked the story line. I'm here to read an out of the world adventure story and that's what I got. Rollins put together a good setting. There was a lot of suspense, and he populated the book with interesting enough creatures. There are only so many settings on earth you can put your characters in and Jules Verne, Doyle and Burroughs pretty much nailed them all, so it's pretty tough to come up with new settings, but I think Rollins did a good job.

He did a good job of bringing us readers along an exploration where you didn't know what was going to happen next and it was an exploration that was fraught with dangers and dangerous creatures, and they were dangers which he was able to transmit/transfer to us readers sitting on a chair at home. The first time I read it, it kept me wanting to turn the page, and the next one and the next one. That my friends are why we call these books page turners and why I'm giving it a 5. And like I said, if you find all this ridiculous, don't read this genre again. Adios!

55 of 60 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A big disappointment July 17, 2004

By "radlawyer"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I was so excited when I bought this book. I couldn't wait to jump into my Laz-E-Boy and read. I love science fiction and I am a caver; Journey To The Center Of The Earth greatly influenced me as a child. However, Rollins's book is huge loser.

The characters are cliches. The plot is derivative. There is no character development at all. I hate to say it, but I could not finish the book - it was that bad. Worst of all, the characters seem to lack imagination or interest in their own circumstances. An eleven year old boy narrowly escapes tyranosaurus-type creatures five miles below the Antarctic, speeds through subterranean shutes and tunnels in his rubber raft, barely makes it to shore, and then pulls out his GameBoy because he is bored. His mother, meanwhile, in another part of the cave, cannot control her pent-up animal passion for one of her teammates while running from the attacking creatures. Yes, Ashley is so aware of Ben's hot flesh against hers while running from the faux dinosaur things, that they have to take a quick break from fleeing and kiss. Right.

I could possibly soldier through cardboard characters if the plot makes sense. But it does not. Unfortunately, I bought the book new and paid full price. Fortunately, it was the paperback version.