Helpful Score: 2
Fasten your seatbelt before you read the first page because the ride just gets faster and rougher page after page. An excellant book for the lover of adventures.
Helpful Score: 2
Back of book: It is America's most secret basse, hidden deep in the Utah desert, an Air Force installation known only as Area 7. And today, it has a visitor - the President of the United States. He has come to inspect Area 7, to examine its secets for himself. But he's going to get more than be bargained for on this trip. Because hostile forces are waiting inside. Among the President's helicopter crew, however, is a young Marine. He is quiet, enigmetic, and he hides his eyes behind a pair of silver sunglassses. He name is Schofield. Call-sign: Scarecrow. Rumor has it, he's a good man in a storm. Judging by what the President has just walked into, he'd better be ...
This book is very suspenseful and moves quickly. Scarecrow wears sunglasses because of past injuries to his face -- he is a real hero. This is an action book, which shows what a human can do in extreme conditions.
This author also wrote "Ice Station" and "Temple."
This book is very suspenseful and moves quickly. Scarecrow wears sunglasses because of past injuries to his face -- he is a real hero. This is an action book, which shows what a human can do in extreme conditions.
This author also wrote "Ice Station" and "Temple."
Helpful Score: 2
No deeper meaning here. Things either go Bang, Boom or KA-POW!
This is the second book in Reilly's "Scarecrow" series following the amazing, and at times, a bit unbelievable adventures of Marine Shane M. Schofield; call sign: "Scarecrow".
My first blush impression of this effort was it read like a military themed video game or action movie. The characters are quite capable of amazing feats and are able to survive some of the most devastating situations. The good guys seem to be all experts in a grand array of equipment and tactics, while the bad guys have a hard time hitting the proverbial broadside of a barn.
This is a quick and entertaining read, but don't look for much depth in originality of character or back-story. Anyone who reads a lot in the military/techno-thriller genre will see very, very familiar stuff here.
This was my first exposure to Matthew Reilly. Would I read him again?....probably if I was looking for pure escape with no real effort on my part. However, another visit with "Scarecrow" and company would be superseded by many other authors and their pulp heroes.
My first blush impression of this effort was it read like a military themed video game or action movie. The characters are quite capable of amazing feats and are able to survive some of the most devastating situations. The good guys seem to be all experts in a grand array of equipment and tactics, while the bad guys have a hard time hitting the proverbial broadside of a barn.
This is a quick and entertaining read, but don't look for much depth in originality of character or back-story. Anyone who reads a lot in the military/techno-thriller genre will see very, very familiar stuff here.
This was my first exposure to Matthew Reilly. Would I read him again?....probably if I was looking for pure escape with no real effort on my part. However, another visit with "Scarecrow" and company would be superseded by many other authors and their pulp heroes.
Helpful Score: 1
I really like the action/adventure genre, but was unable to connect with the main character, Scarecrow. Perhaps if I had read the first novel in the series, I might have felt differently. On the plus side, the storyline moves at a brisk pace and it did keep my interest.
Helpful Score: 1
I was stunned when I read the first 'Scarecrow' book but it made me a follower, fast paced, action packed, impossible feats but every page offers something that makes you want to keep reading and even though the books are kind of long the story just flows along with an ease that you don't realize it's time to sleep, eat or put it down for just a minute!
Helpful Score: 1
Well as another review described it was certainly BANG, BOOM, and KAPOW! What was amazing is that it was so non stop from start to end. Mr. Reilly seems to have an overactive mind and I don't know how he turns it off to sleep. How did these characters not simply reach a point where they sat down and say "enough, I'm pooped"? Well it was a fun read in the style of a high tech serial cliff hanger.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent action book with human interest tossed in. You will enjoy reading this book.
Non-stop action adventure thriller. Its like Michael Chrichton has met Indiana Jones. Unputdownable....This is a seriously good book.
Read just once.
Read just once.
good reading-moves along well
Great read for the beach.
Reilly is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. His over-the-top action sequences are fast paced and exciting, if a little unbelievable some times. Additionally, there a lot of "happy coincedince" but that just makes the reading more fun.
This book has a great premise, with the heart transmitter,the timers and planted explosives. The characters are mostly old friends from earlier books which continue develope.
I already have the next book which I plan to read very soon
This book has a great premise, with the heart transmitter,the timers and planted explosives. The characters are mostly old friends from earlier books which continue develope.
I already have the next book which I plan to read very soon
Excellant. Fast moving!
This is a somewhat inferior sequel to Reilly's "Ice Station" and features USMC Shane Schofield, Mother, and Libby Gant (now Shane's girlfriend) from that book. The setting is predominantly the American Southwest and the plot hinges on keeping the President of the United States alive in order to foil a terrorist attack that will literally set the U.S. back a couple hundred years.
Reilly's character development is almost nil and this is problematic because we can't root for the heroes if we don't know their real motivations behind their actions. Also, there's a crucial plot twist in the next novel in the Schofield series, "Scarecrow", that isn't quite justified simply because we don't know much about the characters. I think the plot twist helped the novel, but at the same time, I wondered if I should care about someone I knew so little about.
Reilly, however, is a master of action and his scenes don't disappoint. Gunfights in airline hangars as well as a flooded pit filled with Komodo dragons (yes, really) factor into the novel as well, and they're the prime reason I love his books: the off-the-wall action. It's like Indiana Jones/James Bond/Jason Bourne on meth.
Reilly does raise a few points on treason and traitors in this novel. What does it mean to betray your country? What if you feel that your country has betrayed you? I thought it was well handled, especially given the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 as well as the many state militias who openly declare their mistrust or outright hatred of the United States government. Reilly's novels make it clear that you don't always know who you can (or should) trust.
This obviously isn't Great Literature (TM) and certainly won't be compared to Chekhov or Shakespeare, but he does give Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy a run for their money.
Reilly's character development is almost nil and this is problematic because we can't root for the heroes if we don't know their real motivations behind their actions. Also, there's a crucial plot twist in the next novel in the Schofield series, "Scarecrow", that isn't quite justified simply because we don't know much about the characters. I think the plot twist helped the novel, but at the same time, I wondered if I should care about someone I knew so little about.
Reilly, however, is a master of action and his scenes don't disappoint. Gunfights in airline hangars as well as a flooded pit filled with Komodo dragons (yes, really) factor into the novel as well, and they're the prime reason I love his books: the off-the-wall action. It's like Indiana Jones/James Bond/Jason Bourne on meth.
Reilly does raise a few points on treason and traitors in this novel. What does it mean to betray your country? What if you feel that your country has betrayed you? I thought it was well handled, especially given the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 as well as the many state militias who openly declare their mistrust or outright hatred of the United States government. Reilly's novels make it clear that you don't always know who you can (or should) trust.
This obviously isn't Great Literature (TM) and certainly won't be compared to Chekhov or Shakespeare, but he does give Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy a run for their money.
Another in the saga of Scarecrow books.
If you are in the Air Force, you may not like this tale as it includes a bad element withing the Air Force plotting against the President
If you are in the Air Force, you may not like this tale as it includes a bad element withing the Air Force plotting against the President
excellent,action typical m.reilly
a secret base hidden in Utah known only as area 7....And a visitor is coming .......the President to see the secrets of this place for himself....but hostile forces wait inside and the only man he has to protect him is Shane Scholfield Call sign : Scarecrow this is a tip top rated action thriller A BLOCKBUSTER suited both for men and woman
Great series.
Great story about the President of the United States being taken hostage, A Race specific biological weapon and a rogue group of Air Force officials. Then throw in a fanatical group from South Africa and you have the makings of a wild ride.
I'm a huge Reilly fan, and I think Area 7 is his best book. Super fast paced and enjoyable.
Book 2 is a worth follow up to the start of a promising series. (Yes, I am a little behind the times, as I only finished book 2). This is a perfect beach or plane read for those who love action and are willing to suspend disbelief. Scarecrow is like Reacher on steroids.
This book just has some truly unbelievable action scenarios. It was ok - not a lot of character build up... and you are not allowed to doubt that everything would come out perfectly in the end - some books keep you guessing, this one doesn't, even when he kills off some of the good guy characters.
It is America's most secret base, hidden deep in the Utah desert, and Air Force installation known only as Area 7. And Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield returns with his most harrowing and explosive adventure yet.
This was an interesting book.
It is America's most secret base, hidden deep in the Utah desert, an Air Force base known only as area 7. And today, it has a visitor, the president of the United States. He has come to inspect area 7, to examine its secrets for himself. But he's going to get more than he bargained for on this trip. Because hostile forces are waiting inside.
Among the president's helicopter crew, however, is a young marine. He is quiet, enigmatic, and he hides his eyes behind a pair of silver sunglasses. His name is Schofield. Call-sign: Scarecrow. Rumor has it, he's a good man in a storm. Judging by what the President has just walked into, he'd better be. . ."
Among the president's helicopter crew, however, is a young marine. He is quiet, enigmatic, and he hides his eyes behind a pair of silver sunglasses. His name is Schofield. Call-sign: Scarecrow. Rumor has it, he's a good man in a storm. Judging by what the President has just walked into, he'd better be. . ."
