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This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
Note: cover graphics used with author's permission
When humans first discovered the megalodons living in the Mariana Trench, they drew a pregnant female from the depths to ravage the surface. That Meg died...but her daughter lived in captivity at the Tanaka Institute. Then, in a series of bizarre events, she broke free, and began a journey around the Pacific Rim, killing and devouring wherever she went. Meanwhile, a ruthless businessman scours the bottom of the ocean in search of a new energy source, only to uncover yet another predator from the depths, one that--owing to the evolution of teamwork--can sometimes hold its own against even the Meg. And if they can survive the Megs, then humans are certainly easy targets...and in a battle to the death where surviving is the only quest, which is the lesser of two evils, the gigantic prehistoric shark or the organized unknown creatures with appetites as voracious as the Meg's?
Steve Alten does it again with this new novel about the megalodons. Come on, you didn't really think that there was only the one Meg left, did you? After all, the only way for the megalodons to survive is if they had a healthy breeding population. So it's hardly surprising when you get to see Angel--the incandescently white Meg captured in the Tanaka Institute's lagoon--responding to her need to breed and heading instinctively back to the depths. What I hadn't expected--though I probably should have--was the existence of yet another prehistoric sea-going predator. I don't know if Mr. Alten can logically get away with its continuing existence, but hey, I like it, I like it!
The part that especially drew me in--and I'll tell you, I bought the book Saturday afternoon, started reading it late that night, and finished it at almost 3 the next morning--were the compelling relationships between the characters, the fluctuations caused in those relationships by the Megs, and the ends to which various characters went to triumph over adversity. Having not one but several huge, hungry monsters prowling the depths of the ocean is surely adversity if ever I saw it, and you can hardly blame Jonas or Terry from doing whatever it took to survive, right?
Here's to The Trench, a terrific sequel to MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror that is a terror in and of itself. MEG may have made you leery of swimming in the ocean, but after reading The Trench I wouldn't be surprised if you refused to ever step into the water again!
Don't forget to visit Corridors of Communication to take a look at my interview with Steve Alten! Visit his website to learn more about him and everything he's done.
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