Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) - , reviewed on 5/27/2013 + 569 more book reviews

I've already read the first 3 books in Steve Alten's Meg series. The first one established the fact that there are some large prehistoric sharks still surviving in this world; sharks where the infants are born at the size of a modern day Great White. The second one built upon it, exploring the possibility that there could be other surviving monster carnivores in the depths of the Pacific. The next two books in the series delve deeper into the world in which those creatures live and explores how they can be exploited.

Meg: Hell's Aquarium explores the concept that someone in this case, an oil-rich Dubai prince would consider opening a tourist attraction featuring those fantastic creatures. Obtaining a Meg is no longer a challenge, as our protagonist Jonas Taylor has a surplus in his artificial lagoon outside of Monterey, California and the pups have outgrown the space he has available for them. But the OTHER creatures ones that not even Taylor's Tanaka Institute has on display those present a real challenge to collect. The prince purchases several of Taylor's submersibles along with the sharks, and hires Taylor's son to train a crew to pilot them. BUT will those subs and their crew be able to handle the monsters of the Pacific depths?

I have enjoyed all 4 books currently available in the Meg series. I appreciate the interaction that the main characters have, and their obvious love and concern for each other. The science this, I'm not as comfortable with. Ironically, it is because of just how close Alten's world is to our own. It doesn't take a big leap to imagine that unknown creatures unknown MONSTERS inhabit some unexplored area of the Pacific Ocean. Or that they might be lured out of that area of the ocean at some point. I personally find it much harder to take a baby step into a new world than a full-fledged leap, and it is precisely this kind of small gap between our current world and the one Alten describes that we must bridge. However, I don't have a strong enough issue to not enjoy each one of the 4 books Alten has currently released. (The 5th is at some point of development and will be released at some point or another the author states that he is hoping to tie it into a movie release!)

I'll be among the first in line to read #5, tentatively titled MEG: Night Stalkers when it comes out.

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