A new Sigma Force novel recently
arrived at my doorstep, and it has found a home on my bookshelf. The
name of this book is called The Bone Labyrinth.
What is Sigma Force? This is a
series of techno thriller novels written by best-selling author James
Rollins, who blends science fiction and history/archeology together
to create stories that will suck you in. If a Sigma Force
novel is like a banquet, then this banquet serves the best of Isaac
Asimov and Dan Brown for the main course, with Mission
Impossible and Indiana Jones as appetizers and deserts.
If you have never read a Sigma Force
novel but my descriptions interest you, then I recommend start
reading the series from its beginning, a book titled Sandstorm.
Meanwhile, today on Daniels' Corner Unlimitied, I wish to share my
opinions about The Bone Labyrinth, which is the 11th
installment in this series.
Synopsis:
The remote mountain of Croatia hides a
key to unlock the secret buried in our DNA. This key surfaced into
the daylight, when a team of archeologists uncovered a subterranean
Catholic chapel. Sealed for centuries, this chapel provided a resting
place for the bones of a neanderthal woman. Along her mortal remains
sits elaborate cave paintings, depicting neanderthal tribes waging an
epic battle against a group of unknown, monstrous creatures.
At the hour of the chapel's discovery,
while the archeologists beheld the mysterious sight in the chapel,
they were suddenly attacked by a group of shadowy assailants. At the
same time, a primate research centre in Atlanta was also attacked.
Could these attacks be mere coincidence?
Sigma Force was charged with the
mission to investigate these attacks. This time, Sigma Force's search
for the truth will unveil a forgotten history 50000 years in the
making, tracing the evolution of human intelligence to its immemorial
origin. In turn, Sigma Force finds themselves plunging heads first,
into a violent, global struggle for humankind's future.
My thoughts about this book:
I like Sigma Force novels. I
like these books very much. The day when I opened my first Sigma
Force novel, it broadened and expanded the horizon of my reading
world forever. It suffices to say, Sigma Force is the culprit
for making me a fan of the thriller genre. This is why I always
anticipate, eagerly, to read the latest installment in this series.
One year ago, I heard about the news of the upcoming The Bone
Labyrinth. When this book finally arrived at my home last week, I
devoured the book in the short space of one weekend. The result?
The Bone Labyrinth tells a story that reminds me why I like
reading thrillers so much.
James Rollins writes compelling,
fast-paced stories. His fascinating stories are fictional,
constructed on hypothetical extensions from historical and scientific
observations. The charm of Sigma Force novels, however, do not
end here. These books often go beyond the territory of “entertaining
thrillers”, and reaching into questions about ethics and morality.
Indeed, Sigma Force novels has a quality not found in most
thriller novels, where its stories are often thought-provoking and
therefore moving tales.
The Bone Labyrinth is a classic
Sigma Force novel, the kind of novel that fans of the series
will appreciate. I would describe The Bone Labyrinth as Planet
of the Apes meets The Da Vinci Code. This book tells a
fast-paced story packed with actions, suspense and mystery. When I
was reading this book, the story kept me at the edge of my seat. I
had great difficulties at putting the book down because it was a page
turner.
This book entertained me, but that was
not all of it. The Bone Labyrinth also explores ethical and
moral questions surrounding topics such as trans-humanism, eugenics,
and animal experiments. As our technology and knowledge in genetic,
and biomedical engineering continue to advance at a fast rate, these
topics are gradually gaining relevance in our world, inviting
discussions in the public square.
Should we, as a society, collectively
decide to fundamentally alter and enhance who we are with our
technology, invoking the next step of human evolution to create
smarter, stronger, and faster descendants? What are the ethical and
moral implications involved? Should such a day arrive, how will it
impact humanity?
The Bone Labyrinth does not
answer these question, but it invites its readers to think about
these questions by journeying alongside the characters in this book.
Speaking of characters, the characterization in this novel is
superbly done. Our favorite characters from previous Sigma Force
novels; commander Gray Pierce, Seichan, Monk, and Kowalski returned
to play vital roles in the story. The story has two plot lines. The
first plot follows the adventure of Gray Pierce and Seichan as they
uncover the hidden evolutionary history behind human intelligence. I
do not wish to say too much about the second plot. Let's just say it
mostly follows the adventures of Kowalski as he struggled to protect
his new friends from dire predicaments. Both plots are equally
compelling, but I was especially fond of Kowalski's storyline,
because it explored his character in details. In this book, Kowalski
is no longer just the “tank” in Sigma Force team. This time, the
story explored his inner thoughts and emotions, in turn flashing out
his character.
The true star in this book, however, is
a baby gorilla called Baako. Once again, I do not want to spoil the
story so let me just say, Baako is the best, and the most memorable
character in this book. He (if I may call Baako a he instead of it),
is a very likable character who really grew on me. Baako's character
compounded to the story's emotional impact, making The Bone
Labyrinth a moving tale.
James Rollins gave The Bone
Labyrinth a fitting conclusion. But it was a conclusion that
hints of things to come. I cannot wait for the next Sigma Force
novel to finally hit the bookstores so I can discover what the future
holds for these characters. I felt a great sense of satisfaction when
I returned this novel to the bookshelf. The Bone Labyrinth has
everything I came to love about the thriller genre. It is an exciting
and compelling story starring likable characters. The story is
entertaining but also thought-provoking. I highly recommend The
Bone Labyrinth to veterans of Sigma Force series. As for
the newcomers to Sigma Force series, I recommend starting this
series from its beginning, and I envy you because you are about to
step into a world of exhilarating adventure for the first time.
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