Rating: 
Summary: Fun, Put Your Brain on Hold Reading, An Action Packed Book!
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Journey to the Center of the Earth meets The Time Machine
Review: A scientifically well-thought out concept. In the tradition of Verne and Wells with some factual scientific mumbo-jumbo, in the style of Crichton and Kerr, thrown in to show the reader that the writer has a college education. Although "Subterranean" has all those geological and anthropological terms that most normal people would stare at and skip to the next word, it also has a quality that makes you use your imagination. It helps to expand your mind as well as your creativity. Detailed descriptions of the inside of a cavern transports you inside that cavern with the characters. Fast-paced action with snappy dialogue kept this reader up well past his bedtime. And it's sure to cause some long and sleepless night, but the journey is well worth it. I would tell you more about the plot and characters and suplots but that would just leave you wondering why you bought the book in the first place. Just believe me when I say the less you know the more you will enjoy it. Your friendly neighborhood bookworm.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast paced, mindless - predictable read.
Review: Good story for those nights that you don't want to concern yourself with real issues of the day. The story is fast paced and has the obligatory good guy/bad guy theme with a few extras thrown in. For James Rollins' first book - it's not bad. The ending left me curious what happened to some of the main characters - other than Ashly and the Australian. However, other than the fact that the story takes place under Antarctica (which peaked my interests) - it's just another Journey to the Center of the Earth Story that meets cave men and dinosaurs in a diamond mine.
Rating: 
Summary: So many stereotypes... So little time!
Review: If you're looking for a book that will just let you put you're mind on hold and kill some time, this would do it. It had a lot of potentially good ideas threading in and out of it. Some of the characters showed real promise, but sadly, it was unrealized. It starts like a good, basic adventure, but lots of nasty, weird prehistoric type animals start eating this expedition into an Antarctic cavern system that has Anasazi-like cliff dwellings in it and carved symbols like the Australian aborigines. And, of course, we have the usual contingent of pig-headed military, a mid-eastern style terrorist complete with plastic explosives whose already rigged up the elevator that is the only way out, the claustrophobic female scientist, the over-competent female expedition leader, etc., etc., etc. So far, no surprises and I really could have done with out the people-snacking critters. Finding a lost civilization would have been interesting enough as far as I was concerned without shades of Jurassic Park showing up. Mr. Rollins teases the reader showing ideas that have more meat than just the usual hack adventure writer produces. I'm hoping his subsequent books will show more of that promise.
Rating:
Summary: a superb book
Review: James Rollins did an excellent job writing this, considering this is his first novel. This book has just about everyting a book should have-action,twists,and is a definite page turner from begining to the awesome end. I highly recommend this book for every reader!
Rating: 
Summary: Learn from this one, Mr. Rollins
Review: Characters make a story - hopefully Mr. Rollins will learn from his mistakes in this novel and put character before plot. Characters must evolve and grow throughout the course of a novel. These do not. Also, more accurate research Mr. Rollins, please! - or don't write about things you do not know.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: As with any story, sure there are flaws....things I look at and say "Well, if it was me, I'd have done this differently", and a lot of good points have already been raised, but for me, the central issue is this: Is this a book that can suspend disbelief, and while doing so, keep you entertained and not wanting to break out of the world created by the author to do "real-world" stuff (answering the phone, cooking dinner, etc.). For me, it did just that....read it in a single setting, and the pages seemed to go by far too quickly....I'm heading out in just a few minutes to go buy his second effort, and am TRULY looking forward to it! A good, fun, exciting read, and that's what it's all about, isn't it? :-) -=Vel=-
Rating:
Summary: Randy Dunn
Review: Sure we can pick apart Mr. Rollins' first book on minor technical issues and it seems as though a lot of reviewers tend to try to do that. Basically, I loved the book, enjoyed the journey and appreciated his work. Let's remember that this is a new author and I think he has done an excellent job putting together such a story the first time. Many of the so called "greats" don't get their writing down to their art until five or six books. Mr. Rollins started out extremely well and will continue to grow as an author. As an "aspiring" author (that's a person that actually writes--and writes long and hard, but is yet published), I have a feel for what he has gone through to produce this piece of art. Sure, I could pick apart details. Personally, I thought he missed a tie-in when he let the little animal go near the end instead of allowing the boy to keep him as a personal pet to keep him entertained in this underground world, but goodness, we could all write different things and dream a different story line. I hated to see the ancient man die, but Mr. Rollins is telling the story to me, not me shaping the story. Again, Mr. Rollins, you have an excellent book and I will buy your new ones because it is going to be difficult for you to produce such quality again. I thought the timing was a bit off with the pace continuing too rapidly without breathers or breaks, but all in all that is my only real complaint and considering the storyline, the plot, the thought put into tying this wonderful underground world that I will never forget together. I think you did a wonderful job. I know you have written a new book about another world and I plan to read it, but I also hope that you return to the wonderful world of your first book for a look into the future of the changes made to the ancient culture once it tied together with the "topside". Maybe the army could threaten this new world and want to take it over; who knows, I want to hear the story from you, it is, after all; your world.
Rating:
Summary: The second book is just as good as the first
Review: After reading Excavation I anxiously awaited Mr. Rollins second book to see if it would be just as good. I was not disappointed. It took me 2 days to read the book while staying in hotels and traveling in the airport. If you like a good old-fashioned action yarn with history and caving activities thrown in then this is the book to read. It's a book you can curl up with and let the action and events take you over. I'll be anxiously looking forward to the next book too.
Rating:
Summary: A Shimmering Gem!
Review: James Rollins' first book is absolutely brilliant! My aunt handed it to me seconds after finishing it and said I would love it...and she was right! This is the story of a teams of people who go into a mysterious and secret complex cave system found in Antarctica. What they find is stunning and shocking, both for them and for us, and that is what makes this a masterpiece! This is a wild, thrilling, fast-paced roller coster ride that you will absolutely love! So as I say, 'delve' into this brilliant book and get into it! Space out and have a GREAT TIME! You'll love it, I know it! Enjoy!
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