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The Atlantis Gene by A. G. Riddle

The Atlantis Gene by A G Riddle

The Atlantis Gene by A G Riddle, Book #1 of The Origin Mystery.

The Atlantis Gene: A Thriller (The Origin Mystery, Book 1) by [Riddle, A.G.]

Introduction

The Atlantis Gene by A G Riddle is the first book of The Origin Mystery trilogy. I enjoyed this book for the big idea main topic and the narrative forward movement. It read almost like a movie because of the short chapters, with the negative being that there was no time to develop the characters.

Summary

I see three main influences in this novel. It is a techno-thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton, it has some of the puzzle breaking and conspiracy theory as found in Dan Brown‘s books, and it uses the alien influence that Graham Hancock writes about. Our heroes are an ex-CIA agent and a doctor that works with autistic children. Their plot plays too much like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and not more like Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Recommendation

I thought the best part of the novel was the journal of Patrick Pierce. It felt like a version of The English Patient. The next book in the trilogy is The Atlantis Plague and I put it on my too read shelf. I want to find out what happens next.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Atlantis Gene by A G Riddle.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25843420-the-atlantis-gene

My review of Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, book #1 of The Expanse Leviathan Wakes is a book like The Atlantis Gene using near-future science fiction. Leviathan Wakes is a space opera set in the near future when the solar system is settled. Jim Holden becomes the captain of the Rocinante, and Detective Miller is on a missing person case. Their paths cross and the fate of the solar system lies in their hands. This is a link to my review.

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Welcome to my Website

Welcome to my Website

Welcome to my Website post

Introduction

This is my first post on my blog for my new website. You might ask why you should read this blog or visit my new website. Well, I’ll tell you. I have something to say as a reader and as a writer.

Summary

I have been a reader for as long as I can remember. It started as I read the World Book Encyclopedia as a child. There was no internet back then in the dark ages and the library was far away for a young kid, so I read the encyclopedia and I learned.  

When I was ten, I read The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs and that changed how I thought about reading. The world opened up and I read as much fiction as I could. I will create another post about my influences, but the short version is that I was inspired by Science Fiction and Fantasy. Shortly afterward I started to write about the stories that were swirling in my mind.

Link to Goodreads page of The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13552142-the-land-that-time-forgot

That’s what this blog and website is about. I need to get those stories out of my mind and onto the page. I hope that you will follow me on my journey because reading and writing is what I was meant to do. Here’s the thing. I am a great procrastinator. I have found that I need to make a plan, write it down, and hold myself accountable. This is my statement to myself. I will do it. It has taken me many years to get to the point where writing is at a high enough priority that I can start to complete that tasks I have set down for myself.

New Year’s Resolution

It started with this year’s, 2016’s, new year’s resolution to progress in my writing career and set out a series of tasks at that time. It took until April to come up with a plan that worked. Since then, I have achieved what I have set out to do.

My next task is this one. Start a website and a blog. You are reading that accomplishment. It has taken me a while to realize that I cannot compare my accomplishments to anyone else. My journey is unique to me and it will progress at the pace that I choose and can maintain. I will do it and here is my plan for the rest of the year.

Posts

My posts will consist of book reviews, aspects of my writing journey, and thoughts on conferences that I have attended. I plan to make a least one post per week. I will re-post three book reviews from my Goodreads page. Since I read about two books a month, I will add at least eight more posts by the end of the year.

On the other hand, I will start with giving my observations of attending the conventions of Ohio Expos 2016 and Confluence 2016. My regular next eight posts for 2016 are proposed to be:

  1. Read, Write, Listen, and Watch
  2. The Land That Time Forgot and Other Influences
  3. How Goodreads changed my reading life
  4. What websites do I visit every day?
  5. The Background for the Gahrn Series
  6. The Background to the Future Space Series
  7. Observations of the Western Reserve Writers Conference 2016
  8. Observations of Capclave 2016

Conclusion

Thank you for being with me at the start of my journey.

Sincerely,

Gary David Gillen

September 7, 2016

Links

Welcome to my Website

My first writing progress report is linked below.

My writing progress report for October 2016. Worked on a short story. Plan to attend Capclave from 10-7 to 10-9 in Washington, D.C. Plan to take Website live.

October 2016 Writing Progress Report