Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Review: Books: Map of Bones (James Rollins)
Technorati Tags: Books Book Review James Rollins Map of Bones
Some good websites for the book: author's home page and interview with the author about the book. Amazon.com (where this review is also posted). HarperCollins.com (includes author interview; chapter excerpt; author tour). Collection of customer reviews.
This book is about a secret organization's search for hidden and or forgotten knowledge. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and this organization is much more interested in the power today in the 21st century. The secret organization, a offshoot/cell/chapter of the Dragon Court, traces its history back to the middle ages and the member's blood is "pure." They are descendants of kings and queens, and other aristocrats. While the Dragon Court exists in real life, according to Rollins, this is a fictional subset of that group. Joining the Dragon Court's quest is a woman from a mercenary group. Directly fighting the actions of the Dragon Court are one member of the Vatican's intelligence service, one member of Italy's police division that handles antiquities (Lieutenant Rachel Verona), and the USA SIGMA organization (specifically, three team members: team leader: Grayson Pierce). SIGMA is an undercover US agency that employees military trained agents that also have advanced degrees in various science fields. Why is the Vatican involved? The first attack by the Dragon Court is on a church in Cologne Germany (and the book is deeply involved with the activities and history of the early church).
The story/plot has been well-constructed and follows a logical path. The characters are, mostly, almost fully formed, though the large group of characters do sometimes slide back into being just names on the page. The book is set in Germany, Italy, Egypt, and France (though some of the action occurs in other countries as the characters pass through them). The historical connections made are interesting and plausible (though it would probably require extensive research to examine the issue).
Rollins is one of the few authors that I have actually been able to read from the very beginning, and I have read every book he has published (and I've liked all of them). This particular book, according to Rollins, was ten years in the making and contains mystery, action-adventure, and touches on romance. For the most part the books was very gripping, tense, and exciting. In the end, I would give this book 4.40 stars.
Some good websites for the book: author's home page and interview with the author about the book. Amazon.com (where this review is also posted). HarperCollins.com (includes author interview; chapter excerpt; author tour). Collection of customer reviews.
This book is about a secret organization's search for hidden and or forgotten knowledge. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and this organization is much more interested in the power today in the 21st century. The secret organization, a offshoot/cell/chapter of the Dragon Court, traces its history back to the middle ages and the member's blood is "pure." They are descendants of kings and queens, and other aristocrats. While the Dragon Court exists in real life, according to Rollins, this is a fictional subset of that group. Joining the Dragon Court's quest is a woman from a mercenary group. Directly fighting the actions of the Dragon Court are one member of the Vatican's intelligence service, one member of Italy's police division that handles antiquities (Lieutenant Rachel Verona), and the USA SIGMA organization (specifically, three team members: team leader: Grayson Pierce). SIGMA is an undercover US agency that employees military trained agents that also have advanced degrees in various science fields. Why is the Vatican involved? The first attack by the Dragon Court is on a church in Cologne Germany (and the book is deeply involved with the activities and history of the early church).
The story/plot has been well-constructed and follows a logical path. The characters are, mostly, almost fully formed, though the large group of characters do sometimes slide back into being just names on the page. The book is set in Germany, Italy, Egypt, and France (though some of the action occurs in other countries as the characters pass through them). The historical connections made are interesting and plausible (though it would probably require extensive research to examine the issue).
Rollins is one of the few authors that I have actually been able to read from the very beginning, and I have read every book he has published (and I've liked all of them). This particular book, according to Rollins, was ten years in the making and contains mystery, action-adventure, and touches on romance. For the most part the books was very gripping, tense, and exciting. In the end, I would give this book 4.40 stars.
