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Summary: Next generation Clancy/Crichton?
Review: For those who could never (or can no longer) appreciate novels in the "techno-thriller" genre, I predict that a younger, smarter, and hipper audience will connect with this book.
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Summary: Why swimming pools are becoming so popular...
Review: Peter Benchley frightened us from the water with stories of humongous sharks. Steve Alten took it up a notch with his action-packed thrillers featuring thought-to-be-extinct megalodons. James Powlik brings the newest aquatic threat to frighten us down to microscopic proportions with no less terror or thrills. With a writing style reminiscent of Michael Crichton (but thankfully less droning with the scientific details), Mr. Powlik deserves his spot amidst the big-boys of fictional techno-thrillers. Sea Change has enough science to make it believeable, enough emotion to make it real, and enough non-stop action to make the story big-screen worthy. More intriguing than preachy, this fiction makes a great read that's hard to put down. I'd tell ya it's a great beach read, except you wouldn't want to linger near any coastlines with this title in hand! I only give it four out of five stars merely because it's Powlik's first jump out of the gate and I strongly suspect his works will only get better while Amazon will still only offer a maximum five stars. A thoughtful, exciting read. Well worth it!
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Summary: Book that kickstarted my reading binge!!
Review: This book is great! Its not dumbed down, but not a boring hard to read book. All around great! I think it would make a good movie. Characters are great, and its all explained with actual fact. A Must Read.
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Summary: Complete garbage
Review: I'm not going to waste much time ripping this book - just wanted to warn people away from it. The science in it is either stolen directly out of another book (The Hot Zone), or absolutely laughable. (Sarin is not a biological agent, Mr. Powlik) The characters are paper thin, the dialogue is awkward and pathetic... bah!
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Summary: Great book! Hard to put down.
Review: This was my first reading of Powlik and I must say that I was impressed. I was drawn into this book by the plot and wonderful characters that Powlik creates. The idea of a biological weapon getting into the wrong hands, or slipping from a research facility takes on more interest in the wake of Sept 11. This book is both thrilling and frightening, because it might be able to happen. Well, maybe not, but it is a fun read that will keep you turning the pages wanting to see what will happen next. All in all I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the next Powlik work, Meltdown!
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Summary: DON'T GO IN THE WATER!
Review: "Sea Change", the debut novel from oceanographer James Powlik, has a lot going for it. The plot is eerily realistic and frightening, with a "monster" that is so simplistic in its concept that it's devastation is overwhelming. There are plenty of actions scenes, with plenty of bodies piling up. There is a stalwart Dirk Pitt-type hero, Brock Garner; a stalwart female doctor, Ellie Bridges; a nasty opportunist who seizes the devastation as wonderful PR; and your stock of supporting characters, both heroes and villains. The villains get their just desserts, and even some of the heroes don't make out too well. Kids are even wasted.
Powlik does get very technical at times, and he fails to resolve the character of Charles Harmon to satisfaction. There are many, many cliches, and even the way the monster is dealt with is hauntingly familiar. Yet, you can't help root for the heroes and hiss the villains, especially when you consider Seattle(of all places) is the monster's ultimate destination.
Campy, but fun; serious but witty.
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Summary: Explained a little too much
Review: As a high school advanced Marine Biology student, I was assigned to read a book that involved something about the ocean. Although I did enjoy Dr. Powlik's book, the in-depth explanation of the obvious made it difficult to continue turning the pages. With less than a year's worth of education about the ocean, I felt as if it was assumed that I did not even know that a Jellyfish (Phylum Cnidaria) had stinging cells. I am sure that such information could be helpful to those who know nothing about the ocean, but it spoiled the experience of this book for me. I must say I did gain some information about the ocean, but no more than I could have learned on a field trip to MBARI. I hope that you are not as disappointed as I was.
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