kjtoo's review against another edition
3.0
Once the prologue is over FRAGMENT gets off to a rocky start; throughout the "SeaLife" sequence, I was tempted to put the book down, but once the true exploration of Henders Island begins, Fehy hits his stride. There are some bits where scientific theory is expounded upon at greater-than-necessary lengths, and plenty of predictable actions and outcomes, but it remains a largely enjoyable read.
loopyjazz's review against another edition
4.0
As the front cover advertises, It's Jurassic Park on... something, something explosive or entertaining or something, I forget. Anyway, it's fun and what you would expect. It isn't as good as Jurassic Park as it lacks that movement or suspense that keeps the pages turning. Also, I didn't like the last quarter of the book, it felt like it went off the rails a bit. But, it does have the techno scientific jargon, danger, and adventure that you want from a book like this.
proggeddy's review against another edition
5.0
Fragment was a fascinating journey down the path of evolution and the possibilities of life having evolved separately and unbeknownst to humans. Given the Earth's history, the comings and goings of super-continents, what things might have come to exist in the remote far reaches of the planet. Fragment explores this possibility with a keen understanding of what evolution entails, and how geological history dictates what has been to imagine what may have become. Their is science to back up much of what is suggested making the reader even more curious as to the fates of people who find themselves discovering creatures older than themselves and for the first time feeling as if humans are the aliens of Earth.
Fahy has quite the imagination for dreaming up, in great detail, creatures unlike anything we've ever seen on Earth. It reminds you of how much there still is for us to learn about this spinning mass we call home.
Fahy has quite the imagination for dreaming up, in great detail, creatures unlike anything we've ever seen on Earth. It reminds you of how much there still is for us to learn about this spinning mass we call home.
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
2.0
Imagine there is a place in the world where evolution has happened differently because it has been secluded for 500 million years, a place that no person or other animal has ever been on. Now imagine that a reality show stumbles upon the island (a higher level of "suspension of disbelief" is necessary for this book obviously). Everything on the island is deadly and alien and wants to kill us. And there's the book.
The writing was the worst part of this book - exposition and info dumps galore. Wooden characters. Implausible science taken to the nth degree.
I really was looking for a beach read, an airplane book, something to just grab me and let me plow through it without having to think too much - this book was not any of those things.
Not the worst thing I've read this year and definitely not bad enough for a one star but not recommended.
The writing was the worst part of this book - exposition and info dumps galore. Wooden characters. Implausible science taken to the nth degree.
I really was looking for a beach read, an airplane book, something to just grab me and let me plow through it without having to think too much - this book was not any of those things.
Not the worst thing I've read this year and definitely not bad enough for a one star but not recommended.
raven_acres's review against another edition
5.0
This book was FUN! Fast, furious, and gory. Like the credits say, it's a Jurassic Park type situation but along the lines of "what if a piece of land broke away and evolved its own way with only arthropods and crustaceans as the species". Thoroughly enjoyed this book, like the twist near the end, though it has the typical human ending.
theb00kgnome's review
Just wasn’t feeling it and apparently it’s a series. I do not read series
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
I've read a number of reviews and comments that compare Fahy's "Fragment" with Michael Crichton and "Jurassic Park". Let's be clear..."Fragment" and "Jurassic Park" have similar themes and bare bones basic concepts. Both stories involve humans battling supernatural, prehistoric monsters and self-centered murderous villians on the remotest of islands. But beyond that, consider the comparisons complete.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed Fahy's debut novel. It's the perfect summertime beach or pool-side read, and it's 500 pages fly by faster than the Hender's Island Spigers rip apart defenseless characters in Fahy's book.
Fahy makes a number of attempts at incorporating scientific theory into his story, including analyses of evolution, animal reproductive patterns, and a very "Jurassic Park"-like chaos/humans-will-destory-everything-they-touch theory. These shades of Crichton were enjoyable and worked relatively seamlessly with the story, but they weren't strongly intertwined with the action and, in the end, felt forced and unnecessary.
The story was interesting and exciting and some of the key characters were reasonably well developed. But character development was inconsistent and, at times, absent.
The concept of "Fragment" is pretty cool. A reality TV show is following scientists on a round-the-world science-based cruise come across this ridiculously remote 2-mile wide island in the middle of the Pacific. The scientists and crew soon discover the island is full of extremely aggressive and creatively evolved creatures. Madness and mayhem soon follow as most of the cast is eaten within minutes of landing on the island.
Once you throw in a couple of strong-willed and morally incorruptible good guys, and your obligatory military tough guys, along with a nasty bad guy, you've got yourself a pretty good action adventure.
If you're looking for Michael Crichton, then you won't really find it in Fahy's first novel. If you're looking for a solid monster story...then this isn't a bad choice.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed Fahy's debut novel. It's the perfect summertime beach or pool-side read, and it's 500 pages fly by faster than the Hender's Island Spigers rip apart defenseless characters in Fahy's book.
Fahy makes a number of attempts at incorporating scientific theory into his story, including analyses of evolution, animal reproductive patterns, and a very "Jurassic Park"-like chaos/humans-will-destory-everything-they-touch theory. These shades of Crichton were enjoyable and worked relatively seamlessly with the story, but they weren't strongly intertwined with the action and, in the end, felt forced and unnecessary.
The story was interesting and exciting and some of the key characters were reasonably well developed. But character development was inconsistent and, at times, absent.
The concept of "Fragment" is pretty cool. A reality TV show is following scientists on a round-the-world science-based cruise come across this ridiculously remote 2-mile wide island in the middle of the Pacific. The scientists and crew soon discover the island is full of extremely aggressive and creatively evolved creatures. Madness and mayhem soon follow as most of the cast is eaten within minutes of landing on the island.
Once you throw in a couple of strong-willed and morally incorruptible good guys, and your obligatory military tough guys, along with a nasty bad guy, you've got yourself a pretty good action adventure.
If you're looking for Michael Crichton, then you won't really find it in Fahy's first novel. If you're looking for a solid monster story...then this isn't a bad choice.