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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
MIND-BOGGLINGLY INTERESTING… AND TERRIFYING.
I never thought an Afterword could unlock a deeper appreciation for a novel, but in this case, it did.
Let me start by saying that Extinction was a bit of a change reading-wise for me. I wanted a taste of something a different from my normal genres of choice, and boy did I get that here. Sure, this had a hint of Science Fiction to it… but that’s what’s so scary about it. The Fiction part may not stay that way forever.
Humanity has always had a propensity for stepping as close to the proverbial “line” as possible. Whether by some grand, species-wide moral framework or maybe just sheer luck, we’ve mostly managed to self govern ourselves away from the line time and time again.
But science has a funny way of moving that line closer to us. Extinction looks at a vein of science actively being pursued, and follows it to what seems to be a fairly possible and even expected conclusion, played to its darkest possible outcome for the sake of a thrilling novel. According to the Afterword, we may be less than a decade away from the de-extinction of the wooly mammoth.
That’s mind boggling. And terrifying. And just the tip of the iceberg for what that kind of technology could do to the world.
If nothing else, this book has me thinking in ways I don’t believe I’ve ever thought after finishing a book. Ultimately, it plays to the inevitable wonder of looking upon a living, breathing creature brought back from the dust by humankind… and the horror that could be unleashed by humanity playing at godhood.
I never thought an Afterword could unlock a deeper appreciation for a novel, but in this case, it did.
Let me start by saying that Extinction was a bit of a change reading-wise for me. I wanted a taste of something a different from my normal genres of choice, and boy did I get that here. Sure, this had a hint of Science Fiction to it… but that’s what’s so scary about it. The Fiction part may not stay that way forever.
Humanity has always had a propensity for stepping as close to the proverbial “line” as possible. Whether by some grand, species-wide moral framework or maybe just sheer luck, we’ve mostly managed to self govern ourselves away from the line time and time again.
But science has a funny way of moving that line closer to us. Extinction looks at a vein of science actively being pursued, and follows it to what seems to be a fairly possible and even expected conclusion, played to its darkest possible outcome for the sake of a thrilling novel. According to the Afterword, we may be less than a decade away from the de-extinction of the wooly mammoth.
That’s mind boggling. And terrifying. And just the tip of the iceberg for what that kind of technology could do to the world.
If nothing else, this book has me thinking in ways I don’t believe I’ve ever thought after finishing a book. Ultimately, it plays to the inevitable wonder of looking upon a living, breathing creature brought back from the dust by humankind… and the horror that could be unleashed by humanity playing at godhood.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll read anything by Douglas Preston (or his oft-time collaborator Lee Childs), and have never regretted the time spent. This book was no exception. The story begins with the disappearance, and probable death, of a power couple on their honeymoon in an elite resort dedicated to the "de-extinction" of various mammals, including the woolly mammoth and giant ground sloth.
The plot revolves around the investigation by the local sheriff and an FBI agent, first of the disappearance and a cultish malevolent group, and then of Erebus, the company behind the resort and the "de-extinction". While the reader my twig too soon to some of the mysteries, the ultimate resolution will still surprise.
The plot revolves around the investigation by the local sheriff and an FBI agent, first of the disappearance and a cultish malevolent group, and then of Erebus, the company behind the resort and the "de-extinction". While the reader my twig too soon to some of the mysteries, the ultimate resolution will still surprise.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The audiobook narrator was excellent.
The start of the book hooked me even though suspense murder detective etc is not my go to genre content.
I sped up play back until the climactic ending and wrap up.
I was intrigued by the mad scientist aspect and wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.
It was an engaging idea although I didn’t really have any character that anchored me in the story.
It deep keep my attention even though lots of murders…
Clearly a sequel is warranted.
I’d recommend to readers who like plot driven sci-fi murder mystery about the unforeseen consequences of cloning.
The start of the book hooked me even though suspense murder detective etc is not my go to genre content.
I sped up play back until the climactic ending and wrap up.
I was intrigued by the mad scientist aspect and wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on.
It was an engaging idea although I didn’t really have any character that anchored me in the story.
It deep keep my attention even though lots of murders…
Clearly a sequel is warranted.
I’d recommend to readers who like plot driven sci-fi murder mystery about the unforeseen consequences of cloning.
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot