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Title: 8.4 by Peter Hernon, Campbell Scott, Karen Frillmann ISBN: 0-671-58074-4 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Pub. Date: May, 1999 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 4 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.18 (39 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Suspend your disbelief first!
Comment: I actually quite enjoyed this book and flew through it. Peter Hernon has a very fluid writing style that made for an easy read. However.... Even though this was touted as a scientific thriller along the same lines as Michael Crichton, I think Hernon could have spent a bit more time researching the subject. Here's an example. A few times in the book we found the geologist and seismologist characters shrugging off the presence of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide is a naturally occuring gas that is often present in the production of natural resources like coal, oil and natural gas. It's distinctive rotten egg smell indicates its presence. But as any geologist or worker in the natural resource industry should know, it is a deadly gas in concentrations as low as 0.01%. One character, who happens to be a former senior level mine worker, even goes so far as to say, "It sure as hell stinks but I don't think its gonna kill you." These characters and Hernon should definitely know better. I am not a seismologist by any stretch but instances like this really destroyed the book's scientific credibility for its entire earthquake premise. Certain things like the books climax of setting of a nuclear bomb in a mine shaft in the hopes of preventing further earthquakes didn't make sense. The characters hoped to relieve seismic stress with the blast of the bomb. Everyone stop and think about this for a second.... Doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it. The characters were well enough cast for the story but they too made some blunders that just didn't make sense. Remember the movie "Armageddon" where they sent a crew of smelly oil rig workers into space to drill a hole in a comet. If that made sense to you, this one will absolutely thrill you. Without continuing with what was wrong with the book I'll reiterate that it was an entertaining read but please be sure to check your scientific mind at the door.
Rating: 3
Summary: 8.4 has moments, but for this reviewer it's more like a 3.5
Comment: I'd never heard of author Peter Hernon, but when I saw the subject matter of "8.4", and that it was on the clearance shelf for practically pennies, I gave the book a try. And, while I can't say that this is one of the top 500 books that I've read, it passes the mark. As one would guess from the title, this is a story about earthquakes. It particular, the "Mother of All Earthquakes" that being the one that seismologists have been predicting for years, the quake along the New Madrid Fault.
I've been somewhat interested in this topic for some time now since I live in an area that might be affected by such a quake. And as people in this area know, the New Madrid Quake may be even more devastating that the San Francisco and Alaskan quakes that created such widespread damage in the last 100 years. And, if you too live along this faultline, you may not want to read this book because if Hernon is right about "the big one" you might choose to find a new address.
Hernon has done a good job for the most part with his research and in some cases, the book reads like something out of Michael Crichton. Seriously limited though, is Hernon's character development and any "connection" that the reader might have with these characters. They're just not very interesting. I don't know if that flaw is by design or not, because the real star of the story, of course, is the quake or quakes.
The book has suspenseful moments and even includes a little sabotage and deceit along the way. It's a very quick read and good for passing the time. In reality, though, this book will probably have only limited appeal to those readers who don't live in this area.
For better books about the New Madrid faultline and the coming quake, I'd suggest "The Rift" by Walter Williams and "The New Madrid Run" by Michael Reisig (a superior, yet too short book, from an outstanding storyteller).
Rating: 5
Summary: Very Good Book
Comment: I just read 8.4, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I like earth science- earthquakes in particular - , and have always enjoyed learning more. I learned a great deal with this book - mainly, the scary picture of what would happen to the entire United States the NMSZ goes off as it did almost two hundred years ago. I currently live in a moderate damage area, but I have close family in the direct hit area. It is disturbing to contemplate. I recommend this book, as well as The Rift, by Walter J. Williams.
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Title: The Rift by Walter J. Williams ISBN: 0061057940 Publisher: Eos Pub. Date: 04 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The New Madrid Run by Michael Reisig ISBN: 0965124010 Publisher: Clear Creek Press Pub. Date: October, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Ice Hunt by James Rollins ISBN: 0060521562 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown ISBN: 0671027360 Publisher: Pocket Star Pub. Date: 26 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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