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mrsjenniferwheeler's review
3.0
What, exactly, is creepier than a zombie comprised of 2 human bodies fused together by metal filaments? Not much, that’s for sure. Lupe was an imminently likeable character, and I wish the next book followed her on the rest of her journey (even though she is most likely going to die of radiation poisoning). And I’d love to know exactly what information was contained in Ekks’ notebook once it was decoded. I’m always joking with my family that I’m not a good person...and this statement is probably proved by the fact that I was cackling with glee as the Galloway/Cloke monster zombie descended from the ceiling vent onto the Chief and his crew towards the end. Anyway, I’ve read reviews on the next book that say it’s quite loaded with military jargon, which was a complaint I made of Juggernaut. So I think I’ll take a break from the series to read something else before continuing on to the last book.
the_prickly_reader's review
3.0
3.5 stars. The best in the series so far. Less pace but more tension.
tykewriter's review
4.0
On the whole, this proved to be a gripping jaunt into the bowels of New York's ruined subway system, keeping company with the crew of criminals, firefighters and military types, searching for a lost scientist who may have found a cure to an alien plague that has pushed humanity to the brink of extinction.
To add to the tension, New York -- along with many other major US cities -- has been hit with a nuclear device in a desperate attempt to stem the spread of the infection, which has turned much of humanity into cadaverous revenants riddled with metallic growths. A high-yield device, even the tunnels are no protection from radioactive contamination, so it's a race against time to find the man who may be able to save mankind.
Terminus is a follow up to Baker's novels Outpost and Juggernaut; both action-packed yarns that are filled with tension, gripping characters, and a suitably doom-laden air. This third installment maintains all those elements, but I have to say there is a sense that it has lost some of the momentum found in those earlier novels.
Perhaps it's the metallic plague losing some of its lustre (an infection, incidentally, that all-but reminds me of the melding plague in the Revelation Space series), perhaps it was the constraints of its setting in the tunnels beneath Manhattan island, but the story and the atmosphere felt a little stale by comparison with those earlier works.
So why the four stars? Despite what I've just said, I think it deserves them. Terminus remains an edge of the seat thriller, packed with action, suitably chilling, populated with characters whose fate you'll care to share, but the theme appears to be showing signs of wear and tear.
To add to the tension, New York -- along with many other major US cities -- has been hit with a nuclear device in a desperate attempt to stem the spread of the infection, which has turned much of humanity into cadaverous revenants riddled with metallic growths. A high-yield device, even the tunnels are no protection from radioactive contamination, so it's a race against time to find the man who may be able to save mankind.
Terminus is a follow up to Baker's novels Outpost and Juggernaut; both action-packed yarns that are filled with tension, gripping characters, and a suitably doom-laden air. This third installment maintains all those elements, but I have to say there is a sense that it has lost some of the momentum found in those earlier novels.
Perhaps it's the metallic plague losing some of its lustre (an infection, incidentally, that all-but reminds me of the melding plague in the Revelation Space series), perhaps it was the constraints of its setting in the tunnels beneath Manhattan island, but the story and the atmosphere felt a little stale by comparison with those earlier works.
So why the four stars? Despite what I've just said, I think it deserves them. Terminus remains an edge of the seat thriller, packed with action, suitably chilling, populated with characters whose fate you'll care to share, but the theme appears to be showing signs of wear and tear.
nigellicus's review
5.0
When the night closes in and the jungle sounds start with their screeches and shrieks and ice-cream jingles, we gather round the fire and huddle together for warmth and clutch our rusty knives and clubs and garotting wires and the kids ask for a story and I say how about some post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror military action from the incomparable pen of Adam Baker? And they groan and cry and sob and beg for Winnie the Pooh or the goddamnd Gruffalo or whatever and I start shouting and swearing 'cause we only got the post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror military action from the incomparable pen of Adam Baker, you understand? That's all that's left! The rest is gone! Just us and this book is what's left of humanity! And they say quiet, quiet they'll hear you and come looking and I say fine, fine, you wanna hear this or not and they say yay! Post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror military action from the incomparable pen of Adam Baker! Our favourite! Fine, I say, then I'll begin.
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