Temple

Rating:
Summary: One too many miraculous escapes...
Review: William Race, a mild mannered linguistics professor, is called to duty by his country to decipher an ancient manuscript which holds the secret location of an Incan idol which could be the power source for a super weapon capable of actually destroying the earth and all life as we know it. What we have here is a strange concoction with elements of Indiana Jones, Dirk Pitt and healthy scoops of Jurassic Park and Sergeant Rock thrown in for good measure. The end result, while sometimes exhilarating and enjoyable, leaves a strange aftertaste with the reader. "Temple" can be classified as a "guilty pleasure"-- a tale we are a little hesitant to recommend, but one almost satisfying in spite of itself.

Matt Reilly has a real talent for writing action sequences. He has a way to go (give him a few more attempts, he's only twenty-six) before he can be grouped with the likes of Cussler and Du Brul, but the potential is there. And his enthusiasm for the story jumps from the page. I can't recall reading a novel in recent memory where the writer's exuberance reached out and grabbed you with such convincing energy. I am sure Reilly had a great time writing this book. But in the end (actually about half-way through), the miraculous escapes, the totally unbelievable plot-twists, and the inability of the reader to suspend the good ole disbelief, become expected and pedestrian. In this tale the only group on the face of the earth NOT building a Supernova weapon seems to be Boy Scout Troop 23 of Fresno, California. And I'm sure if "Temple" had gone on for a few more chapters those devilish youths would have appeared with evil in mind.

Reilly is a good writer, with a terrific imagination. If meant to be a satire on techno-thrillers, "Temple" would be a raging success. As it is, I do not believe the author's tongue was in cheek as he wrote passages where the professor's derring-do make Dirk Pitt seem like a bookish pantywaist in comparison.

"Temple" is a roller coaster ride of a novel, with action, turns and twists aplenty. But after a few initial thrills, the ride turns out to be kind of boring. Let's hope Matt Reilly applies his talents to developing a better plot, with less reliance on unbelievable, super-human escapades and narrow escapes, in his next effort. He has the potential.

Rating:
Summary: I read this book while dangling from a parachute. . .
Review: I read this book while dangling from a parachute, with one eye open, upside down, and with three. . . No. . . Four! Yes, four angry crocs clamped to the seat of my pressed khakis (oh, by the way. . . one arm was tied behind my back). Seem impossible? That's nothing compared to what it took to get halfway through this novel. Is a one star rating being unfair? No. This is another "the aritifact is a meteorite with strange powers" treasure hunt. If you love Michael Crichton, Clive Cussler, James Rollins, Preston Childs, Jeff Long, Wilbur Smith, and the artifact-thriller genre, don't insult yourself by reading this run-on video-game-storyline. I learned nothing from this book. Let me repeat: It was all icing, no cake. Matt Reilly is young, and his writing espouses it; the tone of his book never goes beyond a superficial/scratch-and-sniff level. I got the impression he was writing for the pimple-faced-Xena-oglers or as a pitch to some UPN executive. I handed this book off to my 14-year old nephew and he loved it. Silver lining: Being a young writer, Reilly's "cliffhanger-a-go-go. . . and go. . . and go. . ." style, shallow character development, and blatant disregard for the laws of physics can only evolve into mature writing. God bless his editor; that person deserves a vacation!

Rating:
Summary: Awful
Review: Don't get sucked in by the cover art - this is a truly terrible book. All good fiction requires some element of suspending disbelief, but you need to suspend *everything* for any of Reilly's books. What gets me is that they are so cliched - there is nothing original in them: all characters, scenes and ideas have been plucked out of other books or films.

You just know that the "mild-mannered" professor is going to be able to pull of feats of athleticism, strength and fitness that would make Carl Lewis wince. You just know that some "good" guys will turn bad just when the plot seems to have run into a dead-end. You just know that ze evil bad speakink nazty villain guyz are going to be neo-Nazis - I mean, sheesh, try something original, man.

Not to mention the fact that all the action described is totally impossible, and requires last-minute escapes to move the book along. Reilly must have a mighty big bottle of "deus ex machina" from which to chug next to him as he writes.

If you want suspense, try Ludlum. If you want originality, try Colin Forbes. If you want weapons, try Clancy or Bond. If you have nothing better to do, give the purchase price of this book to charity and go take a brisk walk. Or bang your head against a wall. It will feel better when you stop, than reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Get Ready For The Ride Of Your Life!
Review: I finished reading this book about 1:00 this afternoon and I've been depressed that it's over ever since. This is one of those books that you can't put down. Matt Reilly has done a superb job in writing this very fast paced action story. This story is relentless in it pulse pounding, hold your breath and bite your nails action. I personally lost three nails reading this book. Mr. Reilly gives you heroes that you can't help but like and cheer on though all the challenges that are laid out before them. The villains are of the very nastiest in nature and Mr. Reilly delivers on them getting their just desserts. I will have to admit that some things that happen in this book are just a little on the preposterous side. But I read a book to entertain myself. I not going to pick it apart on little things. They really don't matter. If an author can write a tight plot and good characters that I can suspend belief while reading their work, they have done a fantastic job. Clive Cussler and Tom Clancey can rest assured that there is a young buck on the rise to fill their shoes. Matt Reilly is just that good. So go get "Ice Station" and "Temple" by him and sit back and enjoy the ride!

Rating:
Summary: Beyond Belief!!
Review: Yes, the book is fast paced and it does have a clever plot and story. It is definitely a "fun" read.

Unfortunately, I found that after about the third time the "hero" was saved at the very last instant, I couldn't suspend my belief any more. There are so many examples of this -for this review I will offer two. One of the earlier reviews mentioned the very dramatic river chase. During this river chase the "Goose" airplane loses one of its pontoons. Doogie struggles mightily to get the plane to lift off the river with only one pontoon. Ok, he succeeds, but then the plane is used throughout the rest of the book landing and taking off without any problem. The other example is from the end. A tank is falling out of a plane at 19,000 feet with the hero inside. He decides that he should be on the outside of the tank (one of the nasty enemies is stuck inside the tank also). He is able to climb out of the tank (no mean feat considering the volocity)and while it is falling at incredible speeds (afterall it has been falling from 19,000 feet), he is able to hang on and be saved at the last minute by a jet pack device -- he lands safely with his baseball cap still on his head.

Mr. Reilly's talent as a story teller is evident but he takes all of the last minute "rescues" (and there are a lot!) way beyond believability. It is unfortunate since with his imagination and skill it could be so much better.

Rating:
Summary: WARNING...don't pick up this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: It's not 'rocket science' but you will be entertained. As with ICE STATION, the story is fast, gutsy and pure escapism. It is very close to 'watching' an all action film through the pages of a book, a fantastic read, it was a shame to get to the end,.... more of the same please Matthew.

However a word of warning!,........don't pick up this book if you have any other jobs that need to be done around the house as this could cause marital strife.

Seriously the story, and way it is told, is such that the book will need to be prised from your hands, that is unless you are rendered unconscious by a 'rolling pin' for not paying enough attention to the wife and family.

Rating:
Summary: A Definite Must Read!!
Review: I picked up an advance copy of Temple at work because I had nothing to read. I was amazed that when I started to read it I could not put it down. Temple had everything from an ancient Incan idol to modern day killing machines,also an unlikely hero. The only thing I would compare it to would be Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Thunderhead and Riptide. It moves just as quickly and grabs the reader, not letting them shake loose till the end. I am now recommending this book to everyone I know. I just passed it on to my mother and she said it was similar to Steve Alten's book, Domain. That's next on my reading list.

Rating:
Summary: Temple
Review: This book was spellbinding. Would make a great moving picture. I wonder if Indiana Jones would like a come back? I had trouble putting it down. It's now going through my workplace.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Novel
Review: One of the best novels Ive ever read. Matt Reilly continues to amaze with the new novel. The characters and the events are really realistic and you actually feel like youre there. The ending is unpredictable and youll never know who is a good guy and who's bad. This is an edge of the seat novel that is good for anyone who loves action/adventure novels. I look forward to the upcoming works by Mr. Reilly

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as Ice Station
Review: This is the second book I read from Matthew Reilly, and it was a real dissapointment, the first book Ice Station was really good and this one somehow doesn't work as well... The race to find the Idol is ok, but after the Idol is found the story just looses it's fun element. I'll probably buy the next book from Matthew Reilly, but that one had better be good :) Better luck next time...