Download PDF Pandemic The Extinction Files Book 1 edition by AG Riddle Literature Fiction eBooks

Product details File Size 3230 KB Print Length 696 pages Simultaneous Device Usage Unlimited Publisher Canyon Road (April 5, 2017) Publication Date April 5, 2017 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B06Y382BHS

Pandemic The Extinction Files Book 1 edition by AG Riddle Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

• I actually started reading this book when I was about half way through the audio book version of Dan Brown's "Inferno"; so these two books will forever be linked to me. Both involve a main character waking up in a strange place with amnesia and a worldwide pandemic looming. They also involve a secret society with the goal of fixing the human race. The big difference, though, is that Mr. Brown knew exactly what kind of novel he was writing from page one... a thriller. I enjoyed "Inferno" much better for its focus.
  
  "Pandemic" starts out being a procedural on investigating epidemics. We get a little bit of mystery with Desmund's arc, but it largely sticks with the scientists. Then the story starts delving deeply into Desmund's backstory. It all but abandons the scientists and beers into the thriller aspects. Neither is terribly written, it just feels like we wasted our time getting invested in the medical staff. If this book would have shaved off 200 pages and focused one one or the other, it would have been a lot better.
  
  As far as the ending goes, I have to say that I also preferred "Inferno" over this book. The "solution" in that book was much more elegant. It handles one major aspect of humanity permanently. "Pandemic" was very convoluted and required too many moving parts.
• I really enjoyed Pandemic. As with all his books, the plot has been carefully researched. I love how the book thoughtfully combines a work of fiction with real-world threats, and shows how people and governments could potentially react. Riddle has you caring about the characters as well as the world.
• Do you like excellent writing?
  Do you enjoy the feeling of being unable to put a book down?
  This is the book for you!
  
  A.G. Riddle is a phenomenal writer. His Atlantis series blew me out of the water. Now, he is back and better than ever.
  
  Imagine a virus spreading like Wildfire with no end in sight. What would you do? Where would you go? How would you fight?
  
  Riddle takes a fictional scenario, deeply roots it in science and real-world research, and molds the two to create a thriller unlike any other. What makes the story truly gripping is how real it feels; the research that has gone into this book shows what would happen during an outbreak. It's got a great story and has compelling characters; no cliches or boring, flat dimensional characters here.
  
  Prepare yourself for a wild ride from start to finish, and if you're anything like me, you'll be gasping for more as you turn the last page.
• If you haven't read any of his books, this is a good starting point. He takes well researched facts and blends them into a riveting read that you can't put down. This book is based around a mysterious disease outbreak in Kenya and then worldwide, developing into a very believable conspiracy. A great insight into the work of the CDC in the USA. Get it. Read it, u won't be disappointed.
• The first third of this book was great, but by the second half of the book, the author lost me. The story starts out with a pandemic that threatens the world. But by the second half, we're into a world wide conspiracy with secret islands, submarines, and a mysterious machine (or whatever it is) that will save humanity. If you could accept all the weirdness in the TV show, Lost, then you'll probably love this book. But I am done. I gave up reading it 70% through.
• While I read more than I used to, I'm not a regular consumer of fiction / series. So when I saw how long this book is, I feared maybe I had gotten in over my head — in the sense it might take me a month or more to finish it (which never has the same effect). I finished this book in about four days! That is testament to the interesting nature of the suspense the author creates, and to some of the character development as well. I don't know how long the second book will be but I am already looking forward to it.
  
  WHAT I LIKED MOST
  • The development of the main character, Desmond — seeing both sides of him from a young age and having to guess at what role he played in the whole thing. The memory aspect was pretty ingenious.
  
  • The overall plot and scenario — I don't know how many thrillers / suspense novels about epidemics or pandemics there are out there but this was my first forray into the topic and I feel it is both relevant in the times we live and interesting generally. You could tell in places the author did his homework; the details didn't feel fudged.
  
  • The storyline for the African doctor, Kibet. I'm glad the story didn't leave him behind as the activities in Africa became secondary. He is interesting.
  
  • The fact that the author obviously did some homework on how the CDC operates and on some real-world diseases and their impact. Made it a lot more authentic.
  
  MINOR DISTRACTIONS
  • In the first maybe 100 pages of the book, characters' hair color / qualities were described a lot and in Peyton's case, the color changed back and forth 4 or 5 times. First brown, then black, then dark brown, then black again, then brown again. lol I attribute this more to the editor of the book than the author — they should've caught it, synced a couple and and removed a couple of the references to avoid the distraction.
  
  MINOR CHARACTER / PLOT FLAWS
  *** SPOILER ALERT ***
  
  • The components of the Looking Glass (which I understand has to remain mysterious in its own right), were mentioned often in the second half of the book, with virtually no hint as to what role those components played / why they were important. Rook, Rendition, etc. While it's OK to leave readers in the dark initially to build suspense, towards the end of the book when clues and characters are coming together to paint a picture, I think more detail about what those inidividual pieces meant, would've been helpful.
  
  • Too many characters back from the dead and/or doing the whole "not who you think they are" bit Peyton's Dad, Peyton's Brother, Peyton's Mom. I find it hard to believe on some level, that for all those years she never suspected any of it nor was dropped any hint about it by anyone involved. It felt a little forced and a bit like a TV drama or something where they have to keep hitting you over the head with "mind blowing moments" to cover up the fact that half the actors can't act and the script writers can't write. Obviously that's not WHY it was done here (there are no actors and the author is quite talented at weaving a story and painting a picture), but I do feel like it was over the top. I also find it almost impossible to believe that her brother, once the island was captured and overrun by US military, would simply be allowed to leave unquestioned and go start a life in Australia.
  
  • Unlike the Aftrican doctor, I felt like the continuation of Elliot's story in Atlanta left something to be desired. Maybe it lacked a thematic focus or — not sure. I actually would've preferred that part of the story be told from the perspective of someone totally unconnected to the CDC or the people involved in all things Looking Glass. Like John and Jane Q Public and their kid and their dog... some type of terrors or tribulations they had to go through, somewhere not so lucky where there's no Georgia Dome or CDC, more chaos maybe. People panicking and turning on their neighbors, etc (which I believe would happen in real life in many places).
• The story tends to plod along. Elliott, who worked for the CDC, became infected by his wife, yet has his children travel to stay with them, has neighbors come over for lengthy discussions, goes to Costco for a shopping spree, spends time at a dealership buying motor homes, etc. Really?
  The author is, for the most part, well-written, apart from the overuse of the word, that, and close to 500 metaphorical phrases, which are about 500 metaphorical phrases too many, accounting for much of his word and page count. I won't purchase more books from this author.