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A review by jdcorley
The Maw by Taylor Zajonc
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
A creditable Cussler-esque adventure story, with a mysterious supercave as the environment. The hallucinatory parts of the experience eventually end up not adding up to much - in the last chapter all that the hero can think to do with his new insight into the universe is make money in a biotech company. After the revelation of what actually is going on at the bottom of the cave, the rejection of the cosmic horror and madness of it makes you feel like the build up was for nothing.
Also the book is oddly cruel to a number of its characters for reasons that don't seem to add up. If it's the main character feeling this way, then shouldn't I think less of him for it? Shouldn't that be called out when his consciousness is expanded? It's odd that in all the realizations he doesn't come to any about his fellow expedition members, people who the audience has hopefully started to care for too.
Anyway, it's interesting but the horror elements are too modest to be of use to horror fans. Only real adventure-heads need to read it.
Also the book is oddly cruel to a number of its characters for reasons that don't seem to add up. If it's the main character feeling this way, then shouldn't I think less of him for it? Shouldn't that be called out when his consciousness is expanded? It's odd that in all the realizations he doesn't come to any about his fellow expedition members, people who the audience has hopefully started to care for too.
Anyway, it's interesting but the horror elements are too modest to be of use to horror fans. Only real adventure-heads need to read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence