The Amulet of Power (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Mike Resnick (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Here at last–the first exciting book in a bold new series of Lara Croft novels tying directly into the popular video games. The Amulet of Power reveals the never-before shown events that took place between “The Last Revelation” and “Angel of Darkness.” Trapped beneath the ruins of an Egyptian tomb, Lara faces certain death . . . until fate intervenes and sets her on the trail of an ancient talisman of power.

Archaeologist and explorer Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics, forgotten crypts, and lost cities. Highly trained for combat and possessing an insatiable appetite for adventure, she answers to no one and goes wherever the quest takes her–heedless of the danger.

When Lara turns up in the Middle East, despite the rumors of her death, religious fanatics believe she has located the coveted Amulet of Mareish. Lost since the siege of Khartoum, the amulet is rumored to grant the wearer untold power. Some long to possess it, others want to see it destroyed, and both sides pursue Lara relentlessly. While she fights trained warriors and ruthless mercenaries, and desperately searches for the jewel they all seek, one thing becomes clear: the fate of the world rests in the hands of . . .

LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER.


From the Inside Flap
Here at last?the first exciting book in a bold new series of Lara Croft novels tying directly into the popular video games. The Amulet of Power reveals the never-before shown events that took place between ?The Last Revelation? and ?Angel of Darkness.? Trapped beneath the ruins of an Egyptian tomb, Lara faces certain death . . . until fate intervenes and sets her on the trail of an ancient talisman of power.

Archaeologist and explorer Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics, forgotten crypts, and lost cities. Highly trained for combat and possessing an insatiable appetite for adventure, she answers to no one and goes wherever the quest takes her?heedless of the danger.

When Lara turns up in the Middle East, despite the rumors of her death, religious fanatics believe she has located the coveted Amulet of Mareish. Lost since the siege of Khartoum, the amulet is rumored to grant the wearer untold power. Some long to possess it, others want to see it destroyed, and both sides pursue Lara relentlessly. While she fights trained warriors and ruthless mercenaries, and desperately searches for the jewel they all seek, one thing becomes clear: the fate of the world rests in the hands of . . .

LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER.


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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345461711
• ISBN-13: 978-0345461711
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #724,062 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A least it's only 279 pages., June 22, 2004

By A Customer

I've never read a Resnik novel before and if this is what he's capable of putting on paper, please someone stop him and save a tree or two.

SPOILER ALERT (kinda). Ok, you've been warned.

Amulet of Power was horrible. All Lara does is:

A: Ask a question between large vapid expository paragraphs from whomever she's with at the time.
B: Eat.
C: Ride Camels
D: Act like her IQ is equal to her bust size.

It's clear that Resnik wrote it in about a week while looking at Google maps of Nairobi. Could the chapters be any smaller?

Here's my fav paragraph from the book. Page 191.

"She finished her story at about the same time she finished her meal. Oliver signed the check, got up, and walked her to the safari car. A few moments later they were driving through the center of the huge city, past the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the New Stanley Hotel, the High Court, all the familiar landmarks."

Geepers, if that's not pulizter winning writing I dunno what is. I love "the safari car".

Then soon after, Lara smells what she's unsure may be gasoline. Turns out it's not. I mean...WTF? Doesn't she know what she's smelling? I'll refrain from a spoiler here.

Lets turn to page 203 (that's the first page of Ch 27). Here's JUST Lara's dialog for a while:

"Mount Kenya?"
"You mean the Mount Kenya Safari Club?"
"Where are we going then?"
"So we'll spend the night out in the park?"
"So what are we doing there?"
"I'm pretty good at guarding myself."
"Where are we?"
"You look like you're pulling in there."
"What have you got?"
"I still am. It smells delicious."
"I thought all you ex-hunters like the Northern Frontier District best."
"Not that many animals, though."
"Did you ever do any hunting here?"
"What then?"
"It's terrible terrain for a war."
"I'm amazed that there's so little residual bitterness. Everyone in Kenya seems to get along well these days."

"You couldn't have chosen a lovelier place for a picnic."
"What *do* we do if a lion approaches? I don't imagine my pistols would have much effect from more than a few feet away."
"So what *do* we do?"
"And that's it?"
"Even man-eaters?"

The rest would start spoiling things but you see what I mean? That's nearly the end of the chapter too. Lara is a complete idiot in the book and what little "adventure" there is isn't very original or exciting. Someone tries to kill her by putting a snake (naturally one of the deadlist snakes in Africa too) in her hotel room? Wow, never saw or read that one before...yawn.

The whole thing feels like a first draft, much like TRAOD come to think of it.

The first two parts of the book, 185 pages, is there just to get Lara from point A to Point B and tell you what the main story is about. 185 pages for a road trip in a book that's only 279 pages long.

Page 281 is Maxim's legendary review for five out of five stars for TRAOD, btw.

That's just my opinion though. You may like it less than I did.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lara Croft, May 19, 2005

By	rebel soldier - See all my reviews

Lara Croft is a famous archaeologist who travels the world looking for lost artifacts. She turns up in Egypt even though she is believed to be dead. People believe she has found the lost amulet of Mareish. The amulet is supposed to give the one who has it great power. Some people long to posses it and others want it to stay lost forever. Will Lara Croft make it out of this adventure alive or die trying?
The genre of this book action/adventure. The main characters of this book were Lara Croft, Omar, Gafaar, Hassam, and Kevin. I liked this book and didn't want to stop reading it because it is an exciting book and seems like it will never end. When I finished the book I was kind of upset because I didn't want it to end.
I recommend Lara Croft: Tomb Raider the Amulet of Power to everyone who likes action/adventure books. People will like this book because of all the sudden turn of events.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a pretty good book, January 25, 2005

By	tammy (chicago, il United States) - See all my reviews

while digging through a tomb, lara is buried under it when the tomb collaspes. while she is recuperating, she is targeted by assassins and almost killed. they are assuming that she found a amulet that has been missing for 100 years. the book is about the race to find the amulet and all the parties that want to make sure that it is either never found or found. the book is action pack and a pretty interesting. i would reccommend it.