Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror with Meg: Origins

By: Steve Alten

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

On a top-secret dive into the Pacific Ocean's deepest canyon, Jonas Taylor found himself face-to-face with the largest and most ferocious predator in the history of the animal kingdom. The sole survivor of the mission, Taylor is haunted by what he's sure he saw but still can't prove exists-Carcharodon megalodon, the massive mother of the great white shark. The average prehistoric Meg weighs in at twenty tons and could tear apart a Tyrannosaurus rex in seconds.

Written off as a crackpot suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Taylor refuses to forget the depths that nearly cost him his life.

With a PhD in paleontology under his belt, Taylor spends years theorizing, lecturing, and writing about the possibility that Meg still feeds at the deepest levels of the sea. But it takes an old friend in need to get him to return to the water, and a hotshot female submarine pilot to dare him back into a high-tech miniature sub.

Diving deeper than he ever has before, Taylor will face terror like he's never imagined, and what he finds could turn the tides bloody red until the end of time.

©1997, 2011 Steve Alten (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The action is nonstop." ( Booklist)

Daa-dat, Daa-dat, Daa-dat, dadadadadadadadaddadada

JAWS, to the Extreme
IT'S HEAD ALONE WAS PROBABLY AS LARGE AS A DODGE RAM PICKUP. IT'S JAWS COULD HAVE ENGULFED AND SWALLOWED A DOZEN GROWN MEN WHOLE. TEETH: RAZOR SHARP, SEVEN TO EIGHT INCHES LONG EACH POSSESSING THE SERRATED EDGES OF A STAINLESS-STEEL KNIFE. THE SPECIES DOMINATED THE OCEANS FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS. OUR TWO SPECIES NO DOUBT SHARED THE PLANET AT THE SAME TIME. Plus more. This book is full of science facts, that make you believe that this Megalodon could still live today in the deepest parts of the ocean. Imagining the size of the this killing machine is scary enough. Besides the science, there is plenty of action, involving the swallowing of men, women, ships and helicopters.

THAT, THE GUY, WHOSE BANGING YOUR WIFE
Yes, there is also a story. Maybe not the strongest aspect of the book, but it kept my attention.

Extra
I will check back at later dates and every review I find that mentions the exact amount of times Jonas loses consciousness will get a helpful vote from me.

I expected more...

I don't know why but I expected something more along the lines of Jurassic Park and this just fell short by so much. It's okay but a bit draggy and it keeps going back and forth and back and forth between the meg is a monster that should be killed or a rare animal that should be looked after. Also... can I just say... it seems like the author has an asian fetish or something, seriously, the descriptions get really weird, like how often do we need to think about a characters "almond eyes", "asian tan", and "silky black hair"... It's just odd how the author is like "Do you remember that this character is Japanese??? Do ya?!?!?! Well here is another reminder incase you forgot from the last sentence!!!" Plus the main male character is so basic male action hero... He has a scared past that makes him moody, he's brave despite his scared past, his love life is a mess until that much younger Japanese beauty that is a strong independent women who needs no man (but him apparently) enters his life, and he is seemingly a specialist in everything... Idk... it wasn't scary, it wasn't exactly enjoyable, and it felt a bit cringy... especially the romance parts that are just sort of thrown in there with not a care in the world about proper set up...

The Best Ocean Thriller Since Jaws!!

What did you love best about Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror with Meg: Origins?

I 'm wish I had found this series earlier. I LOVE ocean thrillers... anything shark related and this hits the mark on all 5 -star cylinders!

I love the fact that it is based on a very realistic, plausible premise with plenty of scientific realism to support the story. This makes it all the more thrilling.

The characters are well developed and also realistic. The images of MEG just pop out at you . My husband and I are both enthralled and I've ordered the rest of the series. Just wish Primal Waters was on audio!!

Exciting story!

I'd read this book years ago and enjoyed it very much! Now with the new MEG movie finally in production I wanted to read it again. Then I found this audio version and thought it might be a fun way to enjoy the story a second time. The book was still great! Full of adventure and near misses! The narrator was alright, but not my favorite. Most of the characters sound the same so sometimes it's difficult to tell who is actually speaking in a conversation. He does have a pleasant voice so I stuck with it to the end. I'd definitely recommend this book (and the entire MEG series) to anyone looking for a fun adventure mixed with a lot of real science.

Great read!

I'm a huge fan of the Jurassic Park\Lost World books and was looking for something in that vein and this was recommended. Holy CRAP did it deliver! Great Story!

Move over Jaws, there's a new monster in the bay

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've read the Meg series and loved it. Now I'm listening, starting with the prequel, which I'm happy Steve wrote. These books have such vivid action scenes, I'm sure they were destine for the big screen. I hope it happens and I hope it happens well. Please don't let the Sharknado people get their fins on this one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror with Meg: Origins?

Jonah being trapped inside the Meg and cutting his way out.

Which character – as performed by Sean Runnette – was your favorite?

Jonah and Terri

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved when Jonah's wife saw him on TV and realized he was right about the Meg all along.

What was I thinking!!

Oh Man... What was I thinking when I decided to get this book? The reader was ok, not great, but this book sucks. The science is pretty good but the story was so rediculous. The whole time I was listening I was waiting for the Sharknado to join the story. Thankfully I can return it.

Never heard of the author accidentally finding.

totally new to Steve alten but not new to sean. I can say without a doubt I will be reading the rest of this series and other works Steve will do. thanks for hours if incredible storytelling guys.

Honestly I was bored

Normally I like these kinds of books but this one just didn’t do it for me. It does start out ok but before I was even half through I was getting bored. I didn’t feel the tension in scenes I should have. Not sure if it’s the writing or the narrator or some combination of both but in the end I didn’t care who got eaten by a shark! Save your credit.

Why are all the female characters such pieces of work?

This would be a great book if just one of the female characters wasn’t a self-centered, shallow bitch. Makes me wonder what the author has against women?