Domain (The Domain Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "I stand before the vast canvas, sharing the feeling of loneliness its creator must have surely felt thousands of years ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Gulf of Mexico, Michael Gabriel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For those who never leave home without a copy of the prophecies of Nostradamus tucked in their hip pocket, Steve Alten's new thriller is just the ticket. Domain focuses its doomsday scenario on an ancient Mayan myth and sets up an intriguing pair of saviors in Dominique Vasquez, a psych grad student who's an intern at a Florida psychiatric facility, and Mick Gabriel, her first patient. Mick, the son of two famous archaeologists, has languished in the Miami asylum for over a decade after attacking the man who publicly humiliated his father and who now happens to be the American secretary of state. The elder Gabriel believed he had unearthed the riddle surrounding the origins of Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the desert glyphs of the Nazca desert, the temples of Angkor Wat, and the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan peninsula--and that the answer pointed inexorably to the doom of humanity.

As the winter solstice of 2012 approaches (the day of reckoning prophesied by the myths of the Kukulcan Pyramid at Chichen Itza), Mick enlists Dominique in his effort to save mankind from the apocalypse. Engineering his escape from the hospital, she accompanies him on a desperate search to find his way into the pyramid before the radio message from space, which has already activated a deadly alien weapon buried deep in the Gulf of Mexico, can open a galactic gateway to a world where evil will reign for all eternity. Alten's talent for pacing far outstrips his other writerly gifts. The political subplot is ludicrous, the special effects way over the top, and the villain-in-chief, who happens to be named Borgia, is merely a cartoon. But the story is original enough to pass muster and the past success of similar apocalyptic thrillers bodes well for this one. --Jane Adams --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

The author of Meg taps Mayan mythology and Old Testament lore in his sci-fi/fantasy take on the age-old battle of good and evil. Archeologist Julius Gabriel is ridiculed when his research shows that ancient wonders like the pyramids, Stonehenge and Angkor Wat were built with extraterrestrial help to play a role in an Earth-based Alien Armageddon on Dec. 21, 2012, the winter equinox. When Julius dies of a heart attack, his son, Mick, attacks Gabriel's main tormentor and former partner, Pierre Borgia, now the U.S. secretary of state, and Borgia has him thrown illegally into a Florida insane asylum. Dominique Vazquez, a part-Mayan psychiatric intern, is assigned Mick's case, but the plan to control him backfires when she reads Julius's journal and joins forces with Mick. She helps him escape, and they rush to the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula, where evidence supports Mick's claims. As evil alien interference in human affairs triggers disaster, Mick learns he was born to lead the opposing alien forces for good in an apocalyptic battle. Alten's imaginative roles for the pyramids and Peru's Nazca peoples are the perfect springboard for what is set up to be a continuing series grappling with sweeping, Star Wars-like themes. Characters are worthy of the best role-playing games; sorcery aces technology every time; and Alten draws clever parallels with Mayan myths in this ripping space-age yarn equipped with a credible love story and strong Earth-bound side plots. (Feb.)Forecast: Meg had its fans--the novel was a minor bestseller--but not enough to keep sales of Alten's second novel, The Trench, from dipping precipitously (it's notable that Forge makes no mention of that novel in its publicity for Domain). This title is bound to do less well in hardcover than in its eventual mass market edition, which can excerpt any positive reviews.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (June 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812579569
• ISBN-13: 978-0812579567
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #363,750 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read., December 25, 2002

By	Curtis Dunlap (Mayodan, NC USA) - See all my reviews

There are three science fiction authors whose works I enjoy that can be entertaining while weaving a bit of science and historical fact into a story. They are: Steve Alten, Michael Crichton, and Neal Stephenson.

DOMAIN is the third book I've read by Steve Alten. After reading the thrilling deep sea shark stories MEG and the sequel THE TRENCH, I was eager to read another Steve Alten book. DOMAIN did not disappoint me.

There are several key plots in DOMAIN that make it a difficult book to put down. A crooked politician, the world on the verge of nuclear war, a hero wrongly imprisoned in a mental institution, a female psych grad student intern (of Mayan heritage), and ancient prophecies of impending doom all tightly woven into a remarkable story.

Thanks for the exciting ride, Steve. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the MOST researched novel I have ever read..., January 23, 2001

By	Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Domain (Hardcover)

My association with Steve Alten's books started a few years ago when I grabbed a copy of 'Meg'. His sequel ('The Trench')was even BETTER...but these were novels of underwater terror involving a prehistoric megolodon (just imagine a fierce shark the size of the largest whale and you get the idea...)--b-u-u-t the BIGGEST and BEST surprise was that 'Domain' was a complete and amazing departure from his first two novels. I can't remember if I have EVER read a book that contained nearly as much detailed research as I found within the pages of 'Domain'. The amount of work Mr. Alten put into this story was absolutely staggering.

The story starts off with the speed of a runaway meteorite (literally) and just picks up from there. What exactly hit the earth 65 million years ago and decimated the dinosaurs...if it WASN'T a meteor as the scientists claim, what WAS IT??? Steve Alten attempts to answer this in a most creative way. To me 'Domain' is very much like a modern-day Indiana Jones meets the X-Files. Have you ever heard about the ancient Mayan prophecy of doom that predicts the end of humanity on December 21st in the year 2012? This part of the story is actually based on fact. Yes, the Mayan's DID predict this...will it actually happen? That is another story--but what if it were TRUE? That is the adventure you will find here. From Stonehenge to the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Temple of Kulkukan in the Yucatan to the Nazca Plains in South America, 'Domain' heads in a dozen directions at once--but don't worry, Mr. Alten is in COMPLETE control of what is happening, and at no point do you feel he has lost direction--even IF you have absolutely NO idea where he plans to take you. Inter-mixing Mayan facts with the Myth's of half-a-dozen cultures--with a plot that is as creative as it is entertaining, 'Domain' succeeds on ALL levels. It really IS facinating to be entertained as well as educated at the same time. Just exactly how DID the Egyptians build such incredible structures even though engineers readily admit that the Great Pyramid of Giza would be impossible to construct using the modern mechanics available to us TODAY...how did the Maya build their amazing pyramids without even mastering the wheel? These are all questions that even the most educated historian cannot answer with any certainty--however if you have a good imagination, you can come up with an explanation worthy of a bestseller. I cannot recommend 'Domain' highly enough.

On a side note, I interviewed Steve Alten recently about 'Domain' and not only is he talented, he's a really nice guy who very much appreciates feedback, and rewards his readers in unique ways. Easilyone of the most down-right entertaining novels I have read in a long time. 'Domain' deserves to be a HUGE success for Mr. Alten. Pick this one up and read it before someone makes it into a movie (it'd make a GREAT one, too).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Domain - Another Winner For Steve Alten, April 17, 2001

By	Diane Tanner (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Domain (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of Steve Alten's since I read his first book "Meg" back in 1997. I am a huge lover of sharks, and that is what first attracted me to this book. I was very impressed after reading it, so when "The Trench" was released of course I was anxious to buy it and start reading, needless to say I was equally impressed. I recently finished reading Steve Alten's latest book "Domain", and I just had to write and tell you what an excellent novel this is. Like Steve's first two books "Meg" and "The Trench", "Domain" puts the reader right in the story. It reads just like a movie, and Steve's incredible research and attention to detail make this a book you just can't put down. If you are a fan of Steve Alten I highly recommend you pick up "Domain" if you don't already have it. If you are not familiar with Steve's work, and are looking for a real page turner, then this is definately the book for you. I have read a sneak preview of "Resurrection" which is the sequal to "Domain" and I am anxiously awaiting it's release sometime next year. It promises to be just as exciting. If Steve keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them. They just keep getting better and better. Congratulations Steve, and good luck with your next book. Diane Tanner.