slim7117's Full Review: James Rollins - Black Order
One thing I have noticed about thrillers, is that more often than not, they fail to really thrill. I don’t mean that they fail to elicit the occasional gasp due to a twist in the plot, or cause my heart to beat faster every now and then. What I mean is that they rarely have me on the edge of my seat, frantically flipping pages, dying to know what happens next. Maybe I’m just abnormal, or maybe I have read way to many books, but it seems like every thriller I read is just so PREDICTABLE. However, every now and then, a thriller will come along that actually has me reading into the wee hours of the morning, wondering what’s going to take place.
Now, after that introduction I’m sure you’re thinking that BLACK ORDER is one of those rare thrillers that really does thrill. However, in reality, it is not the most exciting book I’ve read, and can actually be quite predictable. So why am I giving it four and a half stars? Well, I’ll explain in a minute, after I’ve given a brief overview of the plot.
BLACK ORDER takes place all around the globe, most notably in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It involves a group of special U.S. forces known as Sigma Force, scientists, doctors, priests, and a whole lot of Nazis. Now I’m no fan of Nazis (I hate them actually), but the Nazis in this book are some of the worst I’ve heard about. They basically believe themselves to be superior to all other humans, and have found a way to control evolution. In other words, they are turning themselves into superhumans (scary). It’s up to Sigma Force and a few other key characters to stop their heinous plot.
Now, back to why I enjoy this book so much. One main reason is because some of the ideas in it are just plain ole UNIQUE. I’m not just talking about the plot, but also about the ideas about evolution and quantum mechanics (although I may not agree with all of them). In this respect, BLACK ORDER covers territory unexplored by most thriller authors. Rich with science and history, it is a bit off the beaten path, and can even educate at times. Another reason I enjoyed it was because I liked the protagonists and hated the antagonists (it really gets annoying when you hate the good guys and want them to die, or like the bad guys and want them to kill the good guys). Lastly, yes, it wasn’t the most exciting book ever, but to be honest it wasn’t that bad, especially for a thriller.
Sure no book is perfect, but BLACK ORDER is the best thriller I have read in recent memory. What it fails to provide in sheer excitement, it more than makes up for with its unique plot and interesting ideas. If you are into historical or scientific fiction, you will probably enjoy BLACK ORDER. Buy the paperback or at least borrow it from the library.
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