I was very happy to see this one arrive. It has been a while since I have read a good ‘Indiana Jones’ adventure and I was needing a change from the fantasy/crime rut that I seem to have fallen into.
The opening of this book sees Jack and Costa diving into a live volcano, yes, swimming over hot lava. They have returned to the site of Atlantis as discovered in one of Gibbins earlier books, only to discover that the fault line under the site is about to blow sky high, destroying any remaining archaeology. But a quick look around and judicious use of a helmet cam, and Jack thinks he has evidence for a possible explanation about what happened to the survivors. As normal for a Gibbins adventure, very soon the archaeology gets caught up in chasing bad guys and the survival of humanity. And returning to the theme from the last book, the bad guys are old enemies and collecting Nazi biological weapons.
Some would call the Gibbins novels slow. Certainly they are not as action packed as Andy McDermott or some of the other authors in this genre. But Gibbins is an intelligent author who will make the reader think, and even learn something in spite of themselves. Here he is teaching us all about Neolithic shamanism and the origins of ancient religions. Having recently finished the Auel series, this was a very interesting idea.
I do suggest that you read Mask of Troy before you read this one. You need to understand the Nazi bunker and a few other details before you start this. It will make the understanding much easier. It may also help to read Gibbins first book, Atlantis if you can find it. I hadn’t read it, and a couple of times I wished I had.
But still, it was well worth the time spent reading.
