Leviathan

RIFT is a sci-fi action thriller to its core, and one that's been missing from the bookshelves of fans of the genre for a long time. A true page-turner, Thomas Asher hits a home run with this story. The book is, in some ways, a spiritual successor to Crichton's Jurassic Park. In reality, it is so much more; it explores topics that are perhaps more relevant than ever, and marries documentary quality depictions of prehistory with science and horror that sometimes feel all-too-real.

As a dinosaur lover and palaeontolgy enthusiast I was giddy with excitement while reading this book; I turned page after page in a furious ecstasy, as I ultimately devoured the ~700 page book in just three days. The book is meticulously researched, in a way that almost made me weep tears of joy when I realized how diligent the author was in depicting not just the prehistoric fauna, but also applications of technologies we may well see in the near future. The way Asher combined all his different ideas into one cohesive package is truly impressive.

But who is it for? Obviously it's geared primarily towards the science fiction crowd, but whatever you might want from a story like this, RIFT has it all: quasi-military future dystopia, horror (both cosmic and conventional), genetics, physics and more. The glossary and bestiary sections at the end will help even unfamiliar readers get familiar with the science. Realistic characters with complex backstories combined with careful world-building create the impression of a world that isn't just the product of an imaginative, futurist mind, but one that really is coming; and in some ways is already here. All wrapped in a tight, hard-hitting narrative that gets your blood pumping and your skin crawling as your hands keep turning the page.

I digress, though. I could about this book for hours, but spoiling even an inkling of this story would be doing it a disservice. To conclude, Asher has managed to pen one of the most impressive books I've read in recent years. His exploration of humanity, ethics, trauma and science all come together in the form of RIFT: The Sixth Extinction. A great book, in every sense of the word; I would (and will) recommend it to anyone.

Thank you, Thomas. I'm really hoping for a sequel.

Preachy and stupid. GMOs are not as black and white as the comic implies and there is no “super-science” mumbo jumbo that can make plants mature in a few minutes. The scenario presented in the comic is mind-numblingly stupid.

And speaking of GMOs; the choice is simple: either we somehow reduce or global population, or we use GMO crops to feed people. This is of course not a catch-all solution, something that the writer of this comic probably fails to realize.

The Tyrannosaur Chronicles is indeed a decent read, worthy of a five star review. The fact that becomes painfully obvious after reading other reviews on this site is that many of the people who reviewed it have indeed little to no knowledge of dinosaurs, save for the usual depictions in popular culture. Reviews like these sadly have lowered the score of this book unjustly, as it's definitely not just a 3.9 🌟 book (rating at the time of writing).

THE TRENCH was a good read. I enjoyed the whole book, especially the parts that take place in the abyss. I was a bit annoyed that Alten added another creature - Kronosaurus - to “his list of surviving prehistoric monsters”. Wasn't the Megalodon enough? Anyways,when the Kronosaurs made their first appearance, I was like “HUH?”. How could possibly an giant, air-breathing prehistoric marine reptile survive in the depths of the ocean? By evolving gills of course! At least that's how Alten imagined it...
THE TRENCH was a very nice novel overall, although I did not like Alten's “speculative evolution” of the Kronosaurus.

MEG is a novel about giant man-eating sharks - Megalodons - that were supposed to be extinct for at least a million years. But, when Megalodons are discovered in the abyss - and they are very much alive - the man who made the disovery, paleobiologist Jonas Taylor, must stop one of them from re-establishing its dominance on the oceans its species once ruled, millions of years ago. Because Megalodon is a predator has no fear of man, and is hungry for flesh...
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MEG was a really exciting read. The plot was good and the explanation provided for the survival of Megalodon was surprisingly logical. If you like giant sharks and lots of action, then this is the perfect novel for you.