Reviews

Meg by Steve Alten

mnakka9's review against another edition

4.0

Even though sometimes seemed cheesy and silly, I still loved this. A refresher for me from all the things happening outside.

jdunne3's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

amy_da1sy's review against another edition

3.0

It was a fun book, I love creature features and dinosaurs and I really liked this book because of that. I just wanted so much more of the megalodon and the characters weren’t really that great.

the_weirdling's review against another edition

3.0

This is not a book to turn to if you are hoping to experience beautiful prose, well crafted characters developing and evolving, and themes delving into the deeper meanings of existence. This is pure pulp. Two dimensional characters trip over each other to end up in situations that will get as much blood as possible in the water. The bad guys are so bad they don't even know half the time why they are bad. The antagonist is so against the protagonist that there is not even the slightest tinge of consistency. When primary characters get chomped and swallowed, it is hard to feel the slightest sadness or regret for their passing.

That said, you know what? This is a book called "The Meg" and the cover has a picture of a monster shark eating a helicopter. So, honestly, what are you expecting? Like I said, this is pulp. And, weighted as pulp, it does a fine job. It isn't the best of the best pulp to be sure, but it is good silly, sloshy fun that's packed with fun action sequences. The premise is given enough thought by the author to make sure a preposterous scenario seems like it is almost the sort of thing that could happen. I especially appreciate the author's penchant for giving these asides which educate you on different aspects of marine ecology. It redeems a guilty read: you can feel like you’re getting an education while you rot your brain.

readmore's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

tattedglass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

thluke91's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

connorjdaley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

4.0

Gave this a go when I saw that all except for 2 are currently included with audible. Just in time to head into October spooky reads, and I love some scifi shark horror. 

For starters, I was surprised by just how hard science the scifi is presented as. The author’s love for Jaws meshed with his reading about megalodon and the Mariana Trench into this fast paced, full-of-teeth ride. Some of the information is a bit dated now based off some of the newer things we’ve learned about the trench, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this. The entire novel is kind of posed as this conspiracy theorist-esque take on if the megalodon had not actually gone extinct. And honestly, it’s hard to tell where that obsession ends and the novel writing begins. The information within is presented from scientists, and the author spared no expense in making sure it sounded like it. The equipment being used, the shape, size, build of the sharks, even down to tiny details like how big a megalodon’s nostrils would be. 

I will say the author does jump right to the very max that scientists believe the Meg could grow to, only stating that the females were larger than males. As if the significantly younger ones at the sizes of 20, 30, 40, or even 50 feet wouldn’t be absolutely terrifying as well. 

The main character of Jonas is interesting, but it was kind of hard to see where the hothead military guy ended and the paleontologist began. Personally makes total sense they cut out that last part for the movie, because literally no one would believe that of Jason Statham. Absolutely gutted though that “It’s a megalodon” from the movie isn’t directly from the novel.  

Also the Meg was not nearly as closely related to the great white shark as the author repeatedly states (although to be fair, it was previously thought to be). 

Personally a 4/5*, still an intensely bloody story, but it was presented as much more solid than I expected. 

ctiner7's review against another edition

2.0

The first thing I noticed about this book was that the back states -- "Two Words: Jurassic Shark" -Los Angeles Times.

It was far from it.

I won't lie about this one. I was so excited to read it, for surely anything compared to "Jurassic Park" must be well written. I actually found it quite childish (been done a billion times) and there was no excitement. No on-the-edge-of-your-seat-can't-wait-to-know-what-happens-next. It was bland, typical, and boring.

django947's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5