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R. Paul Drake

Auteur de New Year Island

6 oeuvres 66 utilisateurs 7 critiques

Œuvres de R. Paul Drake

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Part Hunger Games and part Lord of the Flies
 
Signalé
gds9394 | 5 autres critiques | Jul 21, 2016 |
My original Pyramid Lake audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Trevor Lennox, a very brilliant computer engineer working at the Top Secret research laboratory of DARPA, creates a very powerful computer, able to read micro expressions and discern whether people are telling the truth or not. Trevor is an antisocial and violent person, but his goal in life is to fight for the greater good, to create a world without lies, so that her seven year old daughter will be able to have a normal life despite her issues. Trevor names his computer Frankenstein, and it slowly becomes more and more powerful and smart. Things start to get complicated when several people appear dead in the most gruesome ways at the Top Research facility.

This book is full of geeky and highly technological details, delighting those who enjoy programming on their computer, but maybe boring those who are not interested in this. But do not be deceived, this book is also much more. It is a mix of science fiction, thriller and horror, with some elements of Indian lore. The story is quickly paced, and it has several unexpected twists that will leave you open-mouthed. Trevor is one of the less likable people in the world, reckless, rude, violent, and with a very high IQ, but as we start to know him more, we see that he has good reasons, while maybe not the right means to pursue his goals.

This is quite a long book, but it will not bore you, and I wished I did not have to sleep or work so that I could continue listening to it. Frankenstein’s name is not just a coincidence, this story has many parallelisms with Mary Shelley’s but it is also a different one.

Some secondary characters are one-dimensional but the main ones have strong personalities and they are alive. Gabriel Vaughan becomes each one of them making the story easily to follow. The emotions are palpable and the narration is fluid. Gabriel Vaughan does a good job at holding your attention without letting go. I noticed slight changes in a couple of audio inserts but nothing too distracting.

If you are into geek stuff, heard about terms such as Touring test or SSH, and enjoy an action packed book with science fiction and horror elements, this book is for you. If violent and gore scenes is not your thing, you may want to pass on this one.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
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Signalé
audiobibliophile | Mar 25, 2016 |
This book is a page turner but leave reality at the door as it contains some very unlikely storylines and themes. It has a beginning , middle and particularly mind blowing ending with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
 
Signalé
Tina1402 | 5 autres critiques | Jan 6, 2015 |
This doorstopper of a novel is not for the faint hearted!

Paul Draker gives the reader a tautly written psychological thriller. New Year's Island is a novel of survival and more importantly, what makes a survivor. Sticking with the theme of 10 little indians, we find 10 hand picked individuals who have been selected to participate in a new reality show; to survive 2 weeks on an isolated island for the grand prize of $5 million dollars (then bumped up to $10 million). What sets this 'show' apart from other 'survivor' type shows is the fact that the contestants, and the show, are being filmed in real time 24/7. There are no retakes.

Mr. Draker provides us with ten characters having survived some horrific event. When the intended premise of a team winning the contest is eradicated, it then becomes every man/woman for themselves. These survivors then allow their basest desires to rule their lives and choices. The question then becomes not so much what does it take to survive but what would you do to survive.

There are many characters involved in this novel with the protagonist being Camilla Becker. All characters are richly developed. Coupled with Draker's capabilities to spin a tale full of cliff hangers, strong imagery, plot twists, and the overall concept of man's inhumanity to man, you wind up with a fast paced, can't put the book down, novel.

There is also plenty of gore. But as this is a story of survival, these contestants are doing what they have to do to survive. Yes some of it is over the top and intense but I found those qualities were necessary to set the tone of the novel.

Only 4 stars because I thought the ending was just a little to out there. I also am confused over something that occurred but won't mention anything because it would be a major spoiler alert.

Don't let 700+ pages deter you. This is a good read.
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Signalé
NancyNo5 | 5 autres critiques | Aug 24, 2014 |

Statistiques

Œuvres
6
Membres
66
Popularité
#259,059
Évaluation
½ 3.7
Critiques
7
ISBN
11

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