A. G. Riddle (1)
Author of The Atlantis Gene
For other authors named A. G. Riddle, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
A. G. Riddle released his first novel, The Atlantis Gene, in March of 2013. It became the first book in The Origin Mystery Trilogy. His also released his fourth novel, Departure, which follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world. Riddle was show more born and raised in a small town in North Carolina and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill. No matter where he is, he tries to set aside time every day to write and answer e-mails. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by A. G. Riddle
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Gender
- male
- Country (for map)
- USA
- Places of residence
- North Carolina, USA
Parkland, Florida, USA - Short biography
- A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting and running internet companies before retiring to focus on his true passion: writing fiction. He grew up in a small town in North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he founded his first company with one of his childhood friends. He currently lives in Parkland, Florida and would love to hear from you.His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene, was released in March of 2013 and quickly became a global bestseller. Since then, he has released a total of nine novels, which have sold a combined FOUR MILLION copies worldwide and been translated in two dozen languages. Several of his books are in development for film/tv.
Riddle grew up in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill. During his sophomore year in college, he started his first company with a childhood friend. He currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
No matter where he is, or what's going on, he tries his best to set aside time every day to answer emails and messages from readers. You can reach him at: ag@agriddle.com
Members
Reviews
Lost in Time by A.G. Riddle
What a delicious mindf**k of a book, in the best way possible.
Quote: Day 5: 900 million infected, 180,000 dead - Day 7: 2 billion infected 800,000 dead - Day 9: 3.8 billion infected 1,600,000 dead
The numbers and chronological progress tells it all, this is NOT a novel where the threat of pandemic is narrowly avoided at the last moment. A. G. Riddle goes no holds barred to justify an ominous title such as Pandemic. The first in the series of the “Extinction Files” , Pandemic has a mysterious illuminati-type organisation sworn to save a world perceived to need saving, no matter how high the cost and no matter the how evil the means. For hundreds of years satisfied to pull the strings from the background, their Machiavellian puppet mastery takes to the stage as they unleash the eponymous pandemic upon the world. The only man that can stop them was once a member of said organisation and thus must serve as our protagonist. In the usual manner, I shall examine this character in detail.
Desmond Hughes, at least initially, reminded me of a James Bond, which anybody who knows me will attest to is not a portent for a positive review. However, progressing into the novel I found Desmond to be infinitely more intriguing and likable than the rather bland, flat character of a 007 with his clinically implanted behavior and lackluster catchphrases.
What the author did especially well is his description of Desmond’s childhood that makes it clear that his smarts and physical strength were hard-earned, that he is no Superman and his childhood did break something inside which needed fixing.
Orphaned Desmond spends his formative years with his uncle Orwell who himself traumatized by a non-described event, unwillingly stunts the boys emotional growth. In the end Orville, at least partly, redeems himself by means of a last letter where he reveals some positive emotions towards Desmond. In a general sense, their relationship is akin to one described in a Johnny Cash song "A boy named Sue" which is all about preparation for the perceived hard life with induced and quite artificial hardships becoming a self-fulfilling and rather sad promise.
As part of the flashbacks that Desmond has of his earlier life we are introduced to the world of Silicon Valley’s internet startup culture; here A. G. Riddle’s utilization of his own real life experiences as a one time internet startup are to the benefit of the reader.
All in all Desmond is the author’s best character, and it is just as well as this character drives the story. There are many more quasi main characters including an Aussie antagonist whose spoken voice may be convincingly “Down Under” accented and appearance scary, if a bit cliched (massively scarred) but makes otherwise for a rather uninspiring adversary of our protagonist, mind you scourge of the civilized world. Some characters are merely underperforming - their appearance annoying; a few even superfluous - competing for verbal space that they needn’t even inhabit. In sum, none of them is nearly as well-rounded and believable as Desmond.
Nothing as bad as a dealbreaker, though. A.G. Riddle is a solid writer, he clearly knows his craft. His prose serves the type of fiction he writes well and he knows how to build up a puzzling mystery as the story progresses along that keeps you guessing to (almost) the very end.… (more)
The numbers and chronological progress tells it all, this is NOT a novel where the threat of pandemic is narrowly avoided at the last moment. A. G. Riddle goes no holds barred to justify an ominous title such as Pandemic. The first in the series of the “Extinction Files” , Pandemic has a mysterious illuminati-type organisation sworn to save a world perceived to need saving, no matter how high the cost and no matter the how evil the means. For hundreds of years satisfied to pull the strings from the background, their Machiavellian puppet mastery takes to the stage as they unleash the eponymous pandemic upon the world. The only man that can stop them was once a member of said organisation and thus must serve as our protagonist. In the usual manner, I shall examine this character in detail.
Desmond Hughes, at least initially, reminded me of a James Bond, which anybody who knows me will attest to is not a portent for a positive review. However, progressing into the novel I found Desmond to be infinitely more intriguing and likable than the rather bland, flat character of a 007 with his clinically implanted behavior and lackluster catchphrases.
What the author did especially well is his description of Desmond’s childhood that makes it clear that his smarts and physical strength were hard-earned, that he is no Superman and his childhood did break something inside which needed fixing.
Orphaned Desmond spends his formative years with his uncle Orwell who himself traumatized by a non-described event, unwillingly stunts the boys emotional growth. In the end Orville, at least partly, redeems himself by means of a last letter where he reveals some positive emotions towards Desmond. In a general sense, their relationship is akin to one described in a Johnny Cash song "A boy named Sue" which is all about preparation for the perceived hard life with induced and quite artificial hardships becoming a self-fulfilling and rather sad promise.
As part of the flashbacks that Desmond has of his earlier life we are introduced to the world of Silicon Valley’s internet startup culture; here A. G. Riddle’s utilization of his own real life experiences as a one time internet startup are to the benefit of the reader.
All in all Desmond is the author’s best character, and it is just as well as this character drives the story. There are many more quasi main characters including an Aussie antagonist whose spoken voice may be convincingly “Down Under” accented and appearance scary, if a bit cliched (massively scarred) but makes otherwise for a rather uninspiring adversary of our protagonist, mind you scourge of the civilized world. Some characters are merely underperforming - their appearance annoying; a few even superfluous - competing for verbal space that they needn’t even inhabit. In sum, none of them is nearly as well-rounded and believable as Desmond.
Nothing as bad as a dealbreaker, though. A.G. Riddle is a solid writer, he clearly knows his craft. His prose serves the type of fiction he writes well and he knows how to build up a puzzling mystery as the story progresses along that keeps you guessing to (almost) the very end.… (more)
Prior to reading this, I was in a reading slump and this book helped me get over it. What it has going for it is that it is a page-turner with an interesting premise. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world with an atmosphere vaguely reminiscent of [b:Wool Omnibus|13453029|Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1)|Hugh Howey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349614200l/13453029._SY75_.jpg|18979356].
Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as masterful. It lacked depth and the writing was subpar. I found this novel to be very formulaic, with generic characters and a twist in the end that was so forced and out of place it made me laugh.
2.5… (more)
Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as masterful. It lacked depth and the writing was subpar. I found this novel to be very formulaic, with generic characters and a twist in the end that was so forced and out of place it made me laugh.
2.5… (more)
A bit slow at times, flashbacks can get a bit annoying as they tend to happen frequently and right in the middle of a plot point. In the end everything ties together in a way that is satisfying and things come together in a nice way. Hopefully book 2 will clear up a few points that are left unanswered.
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Statistics
- Works
- 17
- Members
- 3,991
- Popularity
- #6,326
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 126
- ISBNs
- 174
- Languages
- 9