- Paperback: 535 pages
- Publisher: Pan; New edition edition (4 Aug 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330426575
- ISBN-13: 978-0330426572
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.4 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 99,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The bestselling author of Scarecrow and Area 7 takes us on a thrilling, non-stop treasure hunt across the world
Book Description
It is the biggest treasure hunt in history with contesting nations involved in a headlong race to locate the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 4500 years ago, a magnificent golden capstone sat at the peak of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was a source of immense power, reputedly capable of bestowing upon its holder absolute global power. But then it was divided into seven pieces and hidden, each piece separately, within the seven greatest structures of the age. Now it's 2006 and the coming of a rare solar event means it's time to locate the seven pieces and rebuild the capstone. Everyone wants it – from the most powerful countries on Earth to gangs of terrorists . . . and one daring coalition of eight small nations. Led by the mysterious Captain Jack West Jr, this determined group enters a global battlefield filled with booby-trapped mines, crocodile-infested swamps, evil forces and an adventure beyond imagining. 'More action, hair-raising stunts and lethal hardware than you'd find in four Bond movies. Reilly is the hottest action writer around' Evening Telegraph
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This rather breathless adventure romp might appear to be a cartoon style thriller, with little in the way of characterisation or descriptions of locations or, in fact, any plausibility.
A more accurate comparison, though, would be to a shoot 'em up computer game. Even the chapter headings (e.g."Second Mission : The Lighthouse") remind the reader of progressing through the different levels of a typical game.
The book is fast paced and breezy enough to be immune to criticism. The opening scene "The nine figures raced through the crocodile-infested swamp..." gives a fair summation of its weaknesses and strengths.
Despite playing fast and loose with historical facts, and some episodes seeming to ignore basic physics too (the helicopters in the Hanging Gardens seem to herald some pretty impossible heroics) the author must be congratulated for having the chutzpah to criticise Dan Brown's truly turgid "Da Vinci Code."
In a flood of extremely unlikely situations and descriptions of psuedo-historical settings, the one inaccuracy that really irritated me was the constant assertion that our hero's unbelievably intelligent Peregrine Falcon is "small and brown." Peregrines are certainly not small, they are powerful and large and grey.
A more accurate comparison, though, would be to a shoot 'em up computer game. Even the chapter headings (e.g."Second Mission : The Lighthouse") remind the reader of progressing through the different levels of a typical game.
The book is fast paced and breezy enough to be immune to criticism. The opening scene "The nine figures raced through the crocodile-infested swamp..." gives a fair summation of its weaknesses and strengths.
Despite playing fast and loose with historical facts, and some episodes seeming to ignore basic physics too (the helicopters in the Hanging Gardens seem to herald some pretty impossible heroics) the author must be congratulated for having the chutzpah to criticise Dan Brown's truly turgid "Da Vinci Code."
In a flood of extremely unlikely situations and descriptions of psuedo-historical settings, the one inaccuracy that really irritated me was the constant assertion that our hero's unbelievably intelligent Peregrine Falcon is "small and brown." Peregrines are certainly not small, they are powerful and large and grey.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When my son was about seven, his school essays would invariably follow the set theme for a paragraph or so then jazz things up with "then suddenly a giant shark appeared...". This book really took me back to that style. The author heaps improbable feat upon improbable feat, and underlines how amazing everything is with liberal use of italics, exclamation marks and sentences split over two lines connected with.....
.... dots!!!! This really made me cringe after a few pages. I have the impression this was written in a single, breathless burst, with little or no revision or editing. The author admits that he did little research and that much of the historical material is 'pretty flimsy'. This is a shame, because with some toning down of the plot absurdities and layout, he could have kept the pace and made a better fist of the Indiana Jones style adventure that he says he was aiming at. One for early teens perhaps.
.... dots!!!! This really made me cringe after a few pages. I have the impression this was written in a single, breathless burst, with little or no revision or editing. The author admits that he did little research and that much of the historical material is 'pretty flimsy'. This is a shame, because with some toning down of the plot absurdities and layout, he could have kept the pace and made a better fist of the Indiana Jones style adventure that he says he was aiming at. One for early teens perhaps.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
He actually writes things like that. BOOM! He finishes chapters with a character about to die... and then starts the next one with: "... oh no he doesn't!"
Basically, it reads like a screenplay for a terrible, trashy, action film. It's probably the worst-written book I've ever managed to finish, and I only finished it simply because I was away travelling and didn't have anything else. That said, it's so bad, it crosses the line into funny.
Basically, it reads like a screenplay for a terrible, trashy, action film. It's probably the worst-written book I've ever managed to finish, and I only finished it simply because I was away travelling and didn't have anything else. That said, it's so bad, it crosses the line into funny.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2 stars just
The essence of a good story is in there, which is the only thing that stopped it being a 1 star review. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. K. Duffield
Seven Ancient Wonders
Bought this for the Wife as she had read Six Sacred Stones first on holiday.A bit of to and frowing, but an excellent read.
Published 7 months ago by Colin C. Beecham
Enjoyed it while on holiday
I had to read this as I had picked up a second hand copy of one of Matthew's other books only to find that this and "The six sacred stones" were the beginning of the story. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Guppy
Good for some. Not for me.
I bought this following recommendations that Rielly wrote good, fast action books. Having read the book, yes it was fast and full of action. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Rock Ape
Written for a screenplay
A good romp to be sure and plenty of action but this book has clearly been written in the hopes of getting a film made out of it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Seanus
Great book
Great book if you like action and history. OK not everything is totally plausable, but it could happen... A book that keeps you thinking what the next turn or twist will be.
Published 12 months ago by Twinkle
An archeological adventure but dumbed down
The plot of Seven Ancient Wonders is simple - many years ago the Great Pyramid of Giza bore a capstone made of gold that was the focal point of an extravagant ancient ritual timed... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Andrew
worst book I have ever read
An open letter to Matthew Reilly (I've just noticed you can't use italics here, which is a shame as I used a lot)
I can honestly say, that without a shadow of doubt,... Read more
I can honestly say, that without a shadow of doubt,... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Vic Whaleskin
Looking forward to the films
I loved Ice-Station as a teenager and while it's difficult to compare the continual adrenaline rush of this new series with the fond memories of the first Reilly book I think he's... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sara Boltman
Was this written for children?
My friend lent me this book as we both read an obscene amount of books a year. He did however warn me that he classed it as "throwaway trash". Read more
Published 18 months ago by That welsh one
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