Seven contestants, seven guides, one karanadon. All locked inside the New York public library.
Held every thousand years, The Presidian, an epic, seven sided, fight to the death.
Stephen Swain, a doctor, father, and widow, finds himself, and his daughter, transported inside the New York public library. He meets his guide, Selexin, and learns why he's there. The Presidian.
The rules are simple. Kill or be killed. Oh...and you can't leave the library without blowing up.
Swain, daughter and guide in tow, thoroughly explores a setting that encourages you to feel you are a part of it. The Stacks, those lonely, silent alleys, filled with books...what better place to hide?
From it's underground parking to the bathroom, we see it all.
Contest is an unapologetic rollercoaster of a story. Quirky characters, a clever hero, and an extra large reptilian gorilla. Would you like fries with that?
How about cool alien tech? Check!
A setting any book lover would drool over? Check! (Just beware...there is innocent book death)
Or maybe you want a ticking clock? Triple check!
If you want a book that accomplishes what it's trying to do...this is it.
Now for the problems...
Swain's daughter is supposed to be eight years old. You couldn't prove it by her character most of the time. She vacillates, always seeming older or younger than she should, and I found it annoying. Thankfully, as the story moves forward, her character settles into a somewhat steady rhythm.
Also, the beginning, which doesn't even feel like it belongs to the book, has some continuity issues. And a few character inconsistencies. That's about it.
I truly enjoyed this book and these characters.
Selexin was one of the most entertaining. Throwing out lines that had me laughing for how deadpan they were. And to quote one of his gems...
If you decide to read this book
Selexin wrote: All gambling has been cancelled
