Sandstorm

A Sigma Force Novel, Book 1

By: James Rollins

Narrated by: John Meagher

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum, and the race begins to determine how it happened, why it happened, and what it means.

Lady Kara Kensington's family paid a high price in money and blood to found the gallery that now lies in ruins. Her search for answers leads Kara and her friend, Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's curator, into a world they never dreamed existed. Evidence exposed by the tragedy suggests that Ubar, a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert, is more than mere legend...and that something astonishing is waiting there.

The two extraordinary women and their guide, Omaha Dunn, are not the only ones being drawn to the desert. Former U.S. Navy SEAL Painter Crowe, a covert government operative and head of an elite counter-espionage team, is hunting down a dangerous turncoat and the trail is pointing him toward Ubar.

What is hidden below the sand is more than a valuable relic of ancient history. It is an ageless power that lives and breathes. Many lives have already been destroyed by ruthless agencies dedicated to guarding its mysteries and harnessing its might. The end may be at hand for Kara, Safia, Crowe, and all of the interlopers who wish to expose its mysteries, as it prepares to unleash the most terrible storm of all.

©2004 Jim Czajkowski (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Too many eye-rolls for me.

If you have any sort of technical background, the scientific explanations get laughable. The author seems to have the need to write about mystical occurrences and then completely explain them. It doesn't work for me.

If you haven't experienced Rollins' yet start here

I've read the one shots of James rollins. and all 3 of his sanguine books as well. The pacing for those were spectacular, and almost felt like summer blockbusters.
This book didnt feel that way.
Granted this was my first audiobook listening, but I feel like all the high energy moments were rather lackluster, and stilted. Maybe it was the person reading, or maybe it just wasnt for me. Not a knock on the performer directly, but I think that kind of took me out of the moment sometimes.
I've seen other reviews that say this series isnt on the same level of his one shots, but I am hoping it gets better down the way.

great book

love it was amazing to listen to would recommend highly that you buy this book.

wonderfully waived story

I found myself reacting hand covering my mouth in shock at various plot twist, not a common practice of mine to be sure. Its a fanciful, entertaining, and well developed story. The romantic threads remind me a bit of Casablanca. And being a complete history and science nerd, I truly appreciate the use of real scientific theorems and historically accurate places and events mixed in. I will definitely be adding more of this authors work to my library.

Intriguing

James always can keep you on the edge of your seat. it's a must read!

Great Writing & Story. Narration lacking.

Would you listen to Sandstorm again? Why?

No. Don't care for the Narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

Great suspense & historically involved.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He did not detract from the book. He's just not my style of narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Jack Ryan meets Indiana Jones

Any additional comments?

This narrator is books 1-3. hope the next one is better.

Good story, reader has pronunciation issues

The reader mispronounced several words. it wasn't a matter of American vs. British or Canadian.

Loved it!

Loved it! I will be working my way threw the series in order now! Each book is fantastic by itself but the background stories of the characters is better enjoyed in order.

Outstanding! Fast paced.

Excellent from start to finish!!! Will definitely get the rest of the Sigma Force series.

Many shortcuts (warning: spoilers)

Another lost city that decides to disappear just when it’s found, despite waiting for millennia. Ok there is sort of a time bomb with some uranium decaying in London, but it doesn’t explain why the perfect storm happened just when they found the archeological site in the desert. But then otherwise they couldn’t save the world (or the Arabian Peninsula-they’re not sure themselves as they just McGyver it).

A couple of redundant characters (notably the main character’s competitor’s brother’s friend). It also makes the end a little Scooby-Doey.

Kudos to whoever was smart enough to bring jet skis in the desert. And to the telepathic elderly Amazons who live a nomadic life in the desert for millennia, but diligently explain they also trade in oil futures. And that they will keep ruthlessly their secret except in one case: Pillow talk (good thing they reproduce mostly asexually!).

Bad guy polite enough to warn “I still have the detonator” after falling, but no one knows if it’s still a threat or a “don’t worry” thing.

Several topics could be explored more, esp. scientifically (the self-propelled boat, the animal taming, the human parthogenesis are barely explained-but then it’s the same convenient phenomenon that allows all of those-and, unfortunately- that also fades off eventually).