3 out of 4 stars
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The Dreaming Stones is a thrilling action adventure book with science fiction elements. It is written by G.J. Busiko.
Joshua Carver works for the United Nations Investigation Task force (UNIT). His leave of absence is abruptly interrupted when he is called to investigate a mysterious incident. After a massive earthquake, an unconscious, unidentified Aboriginal male was found in the Australian outback. It is a cause for concern because he exhibits signs of being exposed to large amounts of radiation. Josh and his team are instructed to find the source of radiation. While on their mission, they discover a lost civilization. This civilization was preserved in time and isolated from the rest of the world by a mysterious alien device. This device holds the key to unlimited power. It is the kind of power that could be disastrous in the wrong hands. Josh and his team must find a way to keep this ancient secret from the rest of the world. This becomes a daunting task when a powerful organization which operates in the shadows learns of their discovery.
I love that the book is written in simple terms. I could clearly visualize the gadgets and items that are described. I could imagine the narrated scenes with ease. My senses were involved in the experience. I attribute all of this to the writer's clear, simple writing style. It made the book a pleasure to read, enhancing the already engrossing plot!
Nothing kills my interest in a book faster than flimsy villains. They undermine any conflict that an author attempts to develop. Fortunately, The Dreaming Stones has impressive, blood-chilling villains - from brutal multimillionaires to remorseless mercenaries. They present a formidable challenge for UNIT. This stirred up feelings of suspense and thrill, especially during the fast-paced action scenes.
My favourite part was the innovative technologies that Josh and his team are given during their missions. An example of this is the SCARAB, which is short for Stealth Camouflaged and Rapid Assault Boat. This jet boat has a reflective coating which acts like a mirror, making the boat invisible to the naked eye when in open waters. It is technologies like these that give the book its sci-fi edge.
On the negative side of things, the main character lacked a backstory. After completing the book, I still knew close to nothing about Joshua Carver as a person. His past is encapsulated in two paragraphs, and it is just about his professional life, nothing more. I assume that this is because the book is more plot based.
The book has a number of minor grammatical errors, like missing commas. This gave me the impression that it was not professionally edited. However, this was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story. Hence, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
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The Dreaming Stones
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