Amazonia (2002)

This was a very gripping read. I really liked the information about plants and animals that can be found in the Amazon basin although it convinced me that it's not a place to venture unless you are very familiar with the hazards associated with them.

Fortunately Nathan Rand, a young researcher, is well-versed in the flora and fauna of the rainforest. His father and mother researched the area before him and he grew up in its (somewhat scary) environs. His father disappeared four years before while trying to conduct a census of the Indian tribes and his mother had died before that. Nathan spent years trying to find his father but had never been able to find any trace. When a soldier from the exploration force stumbles out of the forest it is the first clue to what happened to the group. Unfortunately the soldier dies within hours and without being able to disclose any information. However, it is clear something amazing happened to him because he had lost an arm previous to entering the Amazon but when he came out he had both arms. The ability to regenerate limbs piques the interest of the American government and large pharmaceutical companies. A new expedition is put together to follow the soldier's trail and Nathan Rand is part of it.

I thought the violence was a little overdone and the ending was tied up rather too neatly. I also have one small quibble but since it is a big spoiler I would advise not reading the following until after the book has been read.

The soldier who stumbles out of the forest is riddled with tumours and also carries a deadly prion that infects anyone in the vicinity of his body who is young or immune-compromised. It is revealed that the sap from the Yagga tree which is responsible for the healing properties is also the source of the prion. The nuts of the tree contain an antiprion that defeats the disease and at the end of the book it is revealed that a month's treatment with the antiprion totally eradicated the prion. But, if all it took was a month's treatment and the soldier had been in the jungle for over 4 years, why did he succumb to the prion? He must have had well over a month's worth of the antiprion during his stay in the jungle. He should have then been free of the prion. This is never explained as far as I could see.

But, aside from that plot defect, this was a well-crafted novel and I'll look for other James Rollins books. ( )

I really love James Rollin's books. I love how he takes a historical tidbit of information and connects it to a slice of science, mixes it all together with a lot of adventure and a dash of romance and voilà!; I'm ready for an enjoyable read~

I also love how he points out the facts and the fiction at the end of his stories; more than once I have gotten lost on the internet satisfying my curiosity regarding the history/science he calls to attention there.

I think he does a great job with his protagonists, I find most to be really interesting and fleshed out. Sigma Force is a recurring theme in many of his stories and it adds another layer of interest for me, taking the adventure to the next level.

Rollin's novels are every bit as enjoyable to me as a big screen summer blockbuster; think I'll go get some popcorn~ ( )

When the mood strikes for a good adventure thriller, a James Rollins book always does the trick. Amazonia was able to carry me away to the jungles of South America, and involve me in an expedition searching for a lost party of scientists. Of course nothing is as it seems and the story includes a rival team, an unknown illness, medical research, native Indians and … something else that’s out there in the jungle.

Of course the story is far-fetched and quite unbelievable, but that is exactly why I read these types of books, for pure escapism, if I actually learn a fact or two about South American jungles, well that is an unexpected bonus.

This is adventure with a capital A. A non-stop thriller that takes off like a roller coaster and gives you quite the ride. If you are in the mood for danger, intrigue and thrills, without leaving the comfort of your armchair, I definitely recommend Amazonia. ( )

A class thriller.

Rollins' science fictional thriller style here draws you in effortlessly, and is a pleasure to read.

A young man searches for his father in the Amazon with a team of army rangers as part of a desperate search for a cure for a strange mutating regenerating disease.

Giant crocodiles, mutant jaguars (and a pet jaguar), naked headshrinkers, pirahna frogs and more. Plus evil French people.

Plus the violent lengths people will go to as part of the search for medical applications of rare botany.

Really good.

http://freesf.strandedinoz.com/wordpress/2010/10/amazonia-james-rollins/ ( )

So far im about a quarter way through and this book is one of the greatest books ive ever read it has action adventure science and a lovable jaguar named tor tor. ( )