Welcome to the land of wonders, where time travel is possible, space travel a reality, and "what ifs" come to life. Join me as I explore new worlds--and old ones--filled with scientific wonders, new civilizations, and strange new mysteries to consider.
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!
In the waning days of World War II as Nazi Germany suffered its final defeat, a scientist fled on a U-boat towards South America, taking with him an experiment whose military worth was nearly incalculable. Ernst Kruger had created Der Weisse Hai--the "White Shark"--and wasn't about to abandon it to the invading Allies. For days on end he lived within the submarine, tending carefully to his creation, until chance and circumstance doomed him and the rest of the U-boat crew to an explosive end. His creation, however, lived on, dwelling at the bottom of the sea where life was a daily battle and only the strong survived.
Years later a photojournalist and his submersible support team discovered the remains of the U-boat and the dwelling place of the creature. They bore the bronze box to the surface...and released a monster that should never have been created upon the unsuspecting populace of Waterboro. For the inhabitants of Osprey Island and the Institute, it is a source of extreme terror and violence and death. Simon Chase, founder of the Institute, knows more about sharks and shark attacks than anyone else in the area, but the strange deaths confuse him. Scarred dolphins, scared and angry sharks, dead seabirds...nothing adds up with the steel teeth they find now and again. Chase would as soon have his son, his son's friend, and a fellow scientist--one Amanda Macy--safely on the mainland, but circumstances dictate otherwise.
The basic premise is scary enough, but no one knows how far Nazi scientists actually went in their experiments, making Ernst Kruger's creation at least a possible result. The in-depth information about sharks, diving, sea lions, and other things is not overwhelming, because it all has a frightful relevancy to the novel. If Jaws terrified you, be ready for the scare of your life, because this time the danger doesn't end at the water's edge.
Peter Benchley does it again. However, where Jaws made the great white shark a monster to be killed at every opportunity, White Shark makes it into a victim as Der Weisse Hai becomes the alpha predator. Moreover, Benchley demonstrates considerable environmental awareness as he places the shark in a better light than his earlier novel did.
Someone made White Shark into a movie. Check out my review of Peter Benchley's Creature if you're feeling brave.
Buy this book as "White Shark" in hardcover or paperback, as "Creature" in paperback, or visit the Cosmic Tomes Bazaar for other titles.
Looking for something that's no longer there? Check in the Archive to search for it.
Comments? Suggestions? Just click here to send me e-mail. Also, if this review prompted you to read the book, then let me know. I appreciate knowing I made a difference in somebody's life.
Back Home To Creature Review Back to Starfire Reviews
Get your own Free Home Page