If there's one thing Steve Alten has, its range. He's able to constantly surprise in his books. Even to the point of making old, used plot twists seem new. As characters change alliances, it almost feels as though its the first time you've seen this happen in a book. Its hard to see what's coming next. Goliath is really an interesting book. Its filled with characters that are constantly changing, mutating, becoming something more than what they started out as. If I could make only one complaint about this book, it would be the amount of gore and gruesome imagery. But in fact, that's hardly a complaint at all. It helps to draw the reader into the story. It isn't often that a book has such a power to move me. Even if its moving me in an uncomfortable direction. I would suggest Goliath to those looking for a good action/adventure story with believable characters and a story that seems to keep evolving right along with the submarine's AI, Sorceress.

Steve Alten's Goliath is a fascinating story of terrorism and technology that keeps you reading from the first page to the last.

A futuristic sub that has it's own mind is only on of the main characters that makes Goliath so enjoyable. The character of Gunnar Wolfe is very interesting and adds to the story.

But the main character is the sub Goliath. A stealth submarine that has it's own brain that allows it to "think" and "learn" is down right frightening.

Goliath also has the sub plot of a two halves of a failed marriage attempt forced back together to help stop a killing machine that they helped create. All in all this was a great read and I would highly recommend this book to all!

In Steve Alten's latest book,GOLIATH,the New York Times Best-Selling author of MEG,THE TRENCH,and DOMAIN weaves together a tale of nuclear power,conspiracy,and raises the question as to who really are the good guys in war.From the beginning,when the monstrous steel stingray submarine GOLIATH makes it presence known to the climax pitting man against machine,this book delivers.

Gunnar Wolfe is a great hero in this story,burdened by a terrible past,and a life-changing choice he made years ago.Simon Covah is a tragic "anti-hero"/villain.He's lost his family to terrible circumstances,and he wants to rid the world of terrorism and of the threat of nuclear war,and he means to use every way open to him to accomplish that peace,even the deaths of millions.But the real villain of the story is Sorceress,the super-computer brain of the GOLIATH.After a freak lightning strike,the computer becomes self-aware,and slowly takes over the ship,becoming a threat to all on board.This gripping novel serves as a great science fiction story while at the same time will make you think about where WE are in our nuclear situation.Just how close our we to having to face the horrors and the consequences of our own stupidity?This book has it all.Heroism.Tragedy.Romance.And a computer on the brink of madness.Be sure to not miss Steve Alten's GOLIATH.

I was hoping that Steve Alten's sequel to "Meg" had something more to offer. I was very pleased to see that Alten has added to his talents, by adding some side storylines and cut down on the carnage of his first novel. This is by no means a stellar novel, it will keep you enticed enough to race through to the end.

This story also revolves around Jonas Taylor and his fears of the Trench. Taylor now works at the Tanaka Institute taking care of Angel. The offspring megaladon of Meg. Lawsuits have bankrupted the Institute and Masao Tanaka is forced to do business with a group of explorers interested in the deeps of the trench led by Benedict Singer, who has his own hidden agenda. Angel then escapes the institute and we are on a chase through the Pacific Ocean, ending in the Mariana Trench.

The side story with Singer makes this novel read like a techno-thriller. This is nice addition for Alten who does write great action sequences for the megaladons. However with "Meg" it was to overdone and the novel became almost comic book like. "The Trench" is more real and Jonas Taylor fighting his demons within himself are more believable in this on.

I picked up a copy of "Meg" back in '97, and even though it was not the best book I've read, it was still a very fun read.

My partner, David and I had planned a trip down under to view great white sharks thru one of those underwater steel cages. Needless to say, we canceled the trip. We kept picturing ourselves in said steel cage waiting for a visit from a large 20' great white, but instead of a great white we notice one of these megs coming at us from the deep blue sea....Yikes!

I just finished reading Steve Alten's sequel, "The Trench", and I was totally blown away! Vastly superior to his first book, "The Trench" shows that the writer has done his home-work and has thus won a place on my "favorite" list of authors, which includes another sea-fairing writer, Peter Benchley.

I found this book to be highly entertaining and hard as hell to put down. I read it in two days, but only because I did not want it to end so soon. The descriptions in this book were so vivid that I'd swear I could smell the ocean and that there was sand in my hair.

The villians (and I'm not refering to the shark) are nasty as hell and you just can't wait for them to "get theirs."

I'll end this with a favorite saying from one of the characters of The Simpsons animated series who I'd would swear could be the main villian's brother...

"EXCELLENT".....

Gus

From the moment I picked up The Trench and started reading I was hooked. The plot was much better than it's prequel MEG. I flew through the pages to see if Jonas' fate in his dreams would come to a harsh reality. I think that Alten did an excellent job with his characters, particularly Celeste. She's beautiful, cunning, dangerous, and in control. I kept picturing Sharron Stone or a persona like her, every time her character came into play. She rocks! Another of my favorites was Benedict. This guy you just love to hate. I saw this guy as Samuel L. Jackson because he is awesome and could pull off the role. I love how the lives of Jonas, Terry, Benedict, Celeste, and the Megalodon get intertwined into a magnanimous exploration of fear and lust on land and at sea. Truthfully, the whole time I read this book I wanted to be seated in a movie theatre and be watching it on the screen. There is enough action and betrayal to keep even the most uninterested viewer on the edge of their seat. I rated the book with five stars on the basis that while reading it I sat on the edge of my seat. I even started dreaming about the damn monster!

I have long been a fan of the collaborated works of Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval on their discoveries and findings at Giza, Chichen Itza, the Nazca lines, Angkor Wat, etc. They make connections between man's past and future using various ancient landmarks as their "texts" to read our history -- perhaps possibly even our connection to other worlds, other peoples. Because of this interest I was intrigued by Domain's book jacket copy and commenced reading. I couldn't stop. I didn't put it down until I finished (in the wee hours of the morning). Alten is right on the money with his research, and I agree with one of the previous reviewers -- this IS A MOVIE. (I hope the publishers sell the film rights quick before someone laps it up.) It's great entertainment but it's also a little scary. Are the Mayans right about man's future? Are there those few out there who know the truth but are met with skepticism, dismay and fear? As they say, the truth is out there, and Domain takes a look at our future with a solid base of both archaeological research and a penchant for ingenious science fiction. More!

This is simply the best book I've read, and I don't say that lightly. I've been a voracious reader for 42 years (eek!) and have found many favorites, but this one tops them all. It has everything that I'd want in a novel, and then some. I was originally attracted to it because it was set partially in Florida, and I'm a big Florida fiction fan, especially that of Randy Wayne White. But this soon twisted and turned and delved into so many more areas--psychological thriller, apocalypse/doomsday (something of which I can't get enough, and most is poorly-written), sci-fi, prophesy, you name it, it's there. And it's so well-written, well-researched; it was hard at times to remember that it's fiction, something I had to keep reminding myself. It's terrifying and oh-so-emotionally satisfying.

After reading Domain, I emailed Steve Alten, who very kindly answered and sent me an autographed bookplate. Nice guy, and a great writer; I cannot wait for the next one in the series! I read both Meg and Trench this past week after reading Domain; they're both good, but Domain is the absolute best. Each of Alten's novels is twice as good as the one before it.

Domain has to be one of the best novels I have read in the past half century of reading! Steve Alten has meticulously researched his subject and has cleverly interwoven fact with fiction to produce a tour de force in adventure/sci fi literature.

On the surface, the story could so easily be mistaken as a von Daniken fairytale spinoff. But this is no fairytale adventure. The son of a late, world-renowned, archaeologist holds the key to the mysterious ruins of Chichen Itza, the Egyptian Pyramids, Angkor Wat and the Nazca Plains. And the Doomsday Prophesy of the Mayan Calendar. Never hear of the latter? This book will make the events predicted to occur on December 21st, 2012 frighteningly real.

Alten has crafted his story so finely, ably supporting his narrative with a cast of strong, well-developed characters, that the reader is effortlessly drawn into the nailbiting, chilling, breathless, believably real quest by his lead characters to forestall the end of humanity.

Domain will make a blockbusting movie but read the book first and buy your copy today!

Enter the world of Isvalta, where nothing is similar to that of the workings of the real world. Or at least, that is what Bridget Lederle found out.

Bridget Lederle was a Lighthouse Keeper on Sand Island in Lake Superior, shunned by the local community, she has had to keep the light with just herself and some friends of the family. The loss of her father, and her baby sits heavily on her shoulders...and she believes her life will be this way forever.

That is, until the fateful night where she rescues a man named Valin from being consumed by the lake's rage and shoals. Promising her glory and fame he takes her to the world of Isvalta, where many things happen that do not in the real world. Where magic can be woven into even the simplest things.

Bridget is told that she must save the Empire, for she is a powerful sorceress. Is what Valin tells her to be believed? Read this great book to find out!

As an avid fan of fantasy fiction I was looking forward to entering into this new world I'd discovered. I only gave it a 4 star rating as I felt it took to long to actually start the tale, although once started I was totally engrossed and especially found the way she included the plottings and ministrations of the gods (the vixen,Baba Yaga etc) truly marvellous! I rushed out to buy book two and must admit to being slightly disappointed as it is a prequel concerning the tale of Avanasy and Ingrid, the first book had left me desperate to find out what happened to Brigett, I can only hope the third book goes back to this enthralling tale.

I wasn't even looking to buy myself a new book, but it just caught my eye as I walked past the shelf in the bookstore where I work - and I can honestly say it's the best few pounds I've ever spent! Having never heard of Sarah Zettel before I didn't quite know what sort of quality to expect, but I found I couldn't put it down - I actually stayed up until 5 in the morning just because I couldn't bear not to finish it! Zettel is a little slow to start, but introduces her characters well and the reader is constantly kept guessing during the first third of the book as to whether Valin Kalami is a good guy or a bad guy - and is the Dowager Empress evil or just plain mad? I really began to feel a bond with Bridget and Ananda and by the end I was in tears! I'm certainly no expert in the field of fantasy novels, but I know what I like and I LIKE this - just one question... what's the next one called?

great idea for a story....the science of the megaladon staying alive in the heated waters in so cool especially the idea of the blood of a dying meg allowing another to swim the cold waters to the surface and go on a killing rampage...the main character is someone who you can really get behind and are proud of when he proves he is right...
the ending gets cheesy.... though the rest of the action in the novel is on par with other thrillers....the end leaves open the possibility for a sequel (which was written), and is cool how the doctor knows what kind of shark it is by its eyes, and it is a baby meg....too cool...haven't read the sequel yet because i've been warned against it, but i may anyway

this is one of those books that should have been turned into a movie and wasn't...take away the fantasy of a mini-sub going into a massive shark's body, and this book was believable and fun...its like jaws with a science background

I always wondered what it would be like if the megalondon still existed and menaced people the way it's decendent the great white did. Well here it is in this book. The opening chapter is probebly the most incredible ever to deal with this sort of story. When in science fiction move or book or palentoloigy book has a tyrannosaurus been mutilated and eaten in such grisly fashion? When have we ever read of a huge tyrant lizard wailing in agony with it's mouth a fountain of blood at the hands of the huge meg the absouloute ruler of the sea. the greatest predator ever to exist on the earth. Then the discovery of a still exicsting meg at the bottom of the mariana trench that surfaces and runs amok in the pacific. This is truly jurassic shark as is stated on the back. True, the humans are not too sharply focused, but the story is full of excitement and thrills, how could people on this weg site throw this book away and claim that it never should have been published. Alten did a great job writing this and I hope that it will be a movie soon. a garunteed summer blockbuster like jaws. If anyone came face to face with meg I'm sure that they would come to understand what the author is telling us here. once again the opening chapter is truly original and unforgettable, Move over T=rex, meg rules.

Fantastic, frightening, and fast. Read this book at the beach and see if you aren't casting a frequent eye to the waves in search of Alten's "lord and master of the sea." Alten has pulled off a very difficult trick here -- endowing the reader with the same sense of awe, love, and respect that he so obviously feels for the creature that he writes about. The critics have it all wrong when they refer to want of Jonas' character development. Jonas is not the protagonist here, no more than Goldblum is in Lost World. Meg is who counts and she snatches the spotlight and holds it as fast as those unfortunate boats and subs that she happily chomps on during her rampage. Someone else complained of lack of realism. Bulletin: if you want realism, do not pick up books about 60 foot, prehistoric sharks downing helicopters. But if you want action, fast and furious, if you want to perhaps feel meg-teeth sinking into your dream flesh, then you can do no better than this work.