The Colossus of Rhodes.
The Lighthouse at Alexandria.
The Mausoleum at Helicarnassus.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. And they all have one thing in common: they each contain a piece of the most sought-after treasure in human history - the Golden Capstone of the Great Pyramid.
The Capstone prevented the destruction of the world once. 4500 years later, it is needed again. Three groups battle to assemble the capstone and place it atop the pyramid.
Because the nation that does will have uncontested rule of the world for 1000 years.
Matthew Reilly has written a fascinating, gripping adventure thriller. While some situations in the book aren't exactly believable, the book is written well enough that suspension of disbelief is easy. And once you start reading, it's a fast-paced trip to the end - you won't be putting this one down very easilly.
A problem with the book is characterization, or the lack thereof. It seems that this is something that action/adventure writers don't put enough emphasis on, which is a shame. I found myself not really caring when one character or another was put into mortal danger. The characters were too stereotypical — the Arab-hating Israeli, the Jew-hating Arabs, etc. — and it seems that Mr. Reilly doesn't have much use for Americans at all: there's not a sympathetic American character to be found in the book. The only people really working for the best interests of the world as a whole are an Australian super soldier, a Canadian genius, a couple of Irish freedom fighters, an Arab, and an Israeli whose motivations are questioned right up to the end.
Another problem is the trip down DaVinci Code Way. Reilly puts a lot of emphasis on his "Catholic Church as Cult of Amon Ra" subplot. He began to remind me of all the old Chick tracts I read as a kid, with its denigration of Catholicism, and I was surprised to find this theme used in a mass-market action book.
While I enjoyed the book to an extent, this subplot really got in my way. The book is exciting and will hold the reader's attention to the end, but don't expect high literature here. This would actually be a great beach book this summer.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments
1 - Hazel Chambers
I am disappointed by Reilly's attack on the Catholic Church and the US. People in both categories can and do read thrillers.
I find his writing style that which I would expect in a comic book.
There is no character development at all.
It is a fun plot but could have been far better without the above attributes I find objectionable.