Sandstorm audiobook

Sandstorm is the first Sigma Force novel written by James Rollins. I've seen his name around many times in the past, and years ago, I devoured a bunch of these types of novels... for some reason, I hadn't picked up his. Now that I'm back in the mood for archaeological thrillers with elements of natural disaster, history, religion, and science as influences... I selected five first-in-series this month. Sigma Force revolves around an American agency that protects the world; and Painter Crowe, so far, is the leading agent / investigator. With over a dozen books, I'm not sure he's always the main guy, but I enjoyed this one a lot.Ubar, a secret Arab city, fell a long time ago. Rumors and facts surround the location, as it's mentioned in many religions and tales about the past exploits and wonders of the world. Queen Sheba is at the center of this one, and a secret sect of modern-day protectors are hoping to keep the place hidden. Safia had a troubled life, and her friend Kara took care of her. Kara's father died, and the girls felt lost. They come from wealth and are searching for answers about how he died in a mysterious sandstorm in the dessert. Safia's ex and his brother are running from the Chinese after stealing something from their lands. Painter Crowe is trying to nail a Chinese criminal for potentially causing harm to the world. It's all connected, and Painter's partners might not be on the good side.The book has all the elements of a successful thriller. A minor love story, a child searching for a parent, a man angry about his lot in life. The beginning has a lot of backstory, which is intriguing yet a little slow to me for this type of novel. I wanted a much bigger bang to kick it off, but once it settles into the main storyline by 1/3 thru, it's a page-turner. The writing style is very easy to access, despite a lot of history and scientific terms to keep track of. I'm learning some history I either never knew or have forgotten. So far, it's not a huge standout among all I've read in the past... but then again, it's been a few years since I've focused on cozy mysteries and family drama fiction. I might find myself immediately drawn back into finishing all of the series I start this month.If you have a fascination for desserts, Arab / Christian religious history, Queen Sheba, and intense scientific anomalies (lightning, water, electricity, anti-matter: all a bit over my head), it will be a solid read. If you want a book where you understand every single technical implication, this isn't the right one (unless you come from a scientific or engineering background). Still, the writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the plot has tons of twists and turns to maintain your focus. I will read the second one next month.

This is the first of James Rollins's "Sigma Force" novels. This is different than most of the books that are in my book list, quite different in some cases. It's basically an action movie in book form, but it's a good one, like Indiana Jones style. And Rollins seems to know that it's that kind of adventure. One of the characters is referred to as "Indiana Jones" occasionally. It's the kind of humor I like in books, the wink to the audience that everything is kind tounge in cheek.But even with it being not in the same class of book as Hitchhiker's Guide or Lost In A Good Book, it's a lot of fun. I usually read one of these after I've read something by George R.R. Martin, because I know that it's going to be fast paced and fun with action, explosions, humor and completely ridiculous science. And that's one of the things I like about the Sigma Force novels, there's always a scientific reason behind everything, and it looks like James Rollins actually does a lot of research into these subjects. It may not always be totally believeable, but I enjoyed Jurasic Park and I doubt I'd actually enjoy being chased by dinosaurs across a tropical island. Er, that means that it's good enough for me.

Simply put, I love this guy's work. Less "bromantic" than Clive Cussler and more accessible than Micheal Crichton, both of whom I do enjoy, his tales are just fun, adventurous, and often educational. I wanted to read the Sigma Force books in order, so it took me a while until I could track down the first in the series - and I wasn't disappointed.With any literature of this type, you have to be able to muster up a certain suspension of belief. Sigma Force, in itself, is a wild concept - scientist soldiers running around acquiring deadly tech for DARPA. We're not even going to get into the near meta-physics that pop up in every book. The thing is... none of that matters. You don't read these books looking for an accurate portrayal of our impact in socio-economic politics - you read these books for sexy spies, crazy weapons, secret societies, and stuff blowing up! And oh, oh does Rollins give it to us.So yes, I'm hooked. Painter Crowe and the whole crew are awesome. I think I'm on the 4th book now. And seriously... Gray Pierce would beat "The DaVinci Code's" Robert Langdon into a stain with one fist.

I LOVED 'Sandstorm' by James Rollins! It is pure old-fashioned adventure much like the Doc Savage series by Lester Dent. Reader, if you love thriller novels which combine adventure, fantasy, and black-ops excitement, I beg you to read once in your lifetime the Doc Savage series beginning with Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze! If you can. Amazon shows these novels are out of print, alas! They are also not politically correct. I don't care! But I digress..I have copied the book blurb about 'Sandstorm', which IS a politically correct novel:"An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum, setting off alarms in clandestine organizations around the world. And now the search for answers is leading Lady Kara Kensington; her friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's brilliant and beautiful curator; and their guide, the international adventurer Omaha Dunn, into a world they never dreamed existed: a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert. But others are being drawn there as well, some with dark and sinister purposes. And the many perils of a death-defying trek deep into the savage heart of the Arabian Peninsula pale before the nightmare waiting to be unearthed at journey's end: an ageless and awesome power that could create a utopia... or destroy everything humankind has built over countless millennia."Almost every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, much like the serials of the 1930's. Omg, gentle reader, I'm in fricking heaven! I'm so glad I have discovered these books! Omg, I hope the rest of the series are like 'Sandstorm! I will be absolutely devastated if they aren't. This novel, anyway, is a throwback to matinee serials like the one starring Buster Crabbe, star of Flash Gordon and the fictionalized novels of other comic books. What others you ask? Ok, nobody is asking me, but I'm going to show you anyway.https://www.imdb.com/list/ls056553395/Needless to say, they ALL are politically incorrect, but when I was able to get my hands on one of these pulp comics or novelizations I went out of my mind with joy! This! This! This! *ahem*Sorry. But these dime novels were the start of my adult love affair, so to speak, with reading, once I found them with torn covers, missing pages, and stained with coffee cup rings in the damaged paperbacks bins at my local Salvation Army store. Originally, it was novels like The Complete Sherlock Holmes series and The Black Stallion series that were my elementary school loves, but it was the silly 1930's pulps which cemented my adoration of reading, discovered when I was in junior high (or middle school to non-baby-boomer generations).'Sandstorm' was printed in 2004, and it involves an up-to-date team of competing scientists and military teams, but it also includes what are to me the absolutely delightful touches present in the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark'https://youtu.be/0xQSIdSRlAkI hope my library has the next one in the Sigma Force series, Map of Bones! I haven't felt this happy since I read Relic!I love early pulps! And the radio shows, too! Like "The Shadow" , "Adventures by Morse", "The Creaking door", Arch Obeler plays, "CBS Radio Mystery Theater", "I Love A Mystery" - to name my favorites! No, I wasn't born when these shows were on the radio except for CBS Radio Mystery Theater, but there was, and is sort of a cycle of bringing them back every fifteen years or so. A lot of these are available as podcasts today. However, warning they often are not politically correct.Don't judge me. My life is small.P.s. Many of these early pulps are terrible, awful. I laugh and laugh!

Read this years ago it's a great start to the Sigma series.

Michael Crichton meets Clive Cussler and Dan Brown in this fun and detailed action packed adventure! Sandstorm was like a mix of Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, Uncharted, National Treasure and The Mummy (all the big treasure adventure movies) all in one book!After a devastating explosion of extraordinary power hits the antiquities exhibit at the London museum, Lady Kara Kensington and the curator of the demolished museum gallery, Safia al-Maaz start looking for answers, which all lead to the lost city of Ubar, buried deep beneath the Arabian desert. Former Navy Seal, now SIGMA operative Painter Crowe is assigned by the U.S to embark on a quest with the 2 women, and famous archaeologist Omaha Dunn to trek through the Arabian desert to find Ubar. I'm glad to have finally read my first James Rollins book. The beginning of the book started out a bit slow but after the first few hundred pages I was hooked! Can't wait to read the next book in the SIGMA series! But SIGMA isn't the only one searching for the lost city. They must also evade a team of mercenaries led by a rogue operative of SIGMA, and a deadly sandstorm that is fast approaching.

Sandstorm was like an Indiana Jones adventure set in the Arabian desert, with the added edge of secret service agents. Likeable characters, great action, a semi-supernatural mystery (with well-researched elements) and fast-moving plot made it a really enjoyable and fun read. This is my favourite kind of thriller so I'll definitely be reading more of James Rollins' books.

Going to keep this review short and to the point with hopefully NO SPOILERS. What a FUN read! It is like a cross of Jack Reacher/Indiana Jones/Dirk Pitt all rolled into one. I LOVED how the story just "WHAM", starts out fast, grabs a hold of you, and drags you right into the midst of all the action. Yes, it's the typical thriller story: "something weird has happened so let's get our Special Secret Government agent to investigate it", but as corny and cliche' as it might seem, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. There was enough mystery to keep me turning pages, enough action to pull me into the story, and the characters all seemed real enough. Yes, it sometimes pushed the boundaries of reality at times, but HEY, isn't that what action-packed thrillers as SUPPOSED TO DO? The story takes you from a London museum to the Arabian Peninsula to the country of Oman. With a cast of characters like Sigma Force agent Painter Crowe, museum curator Safia al-Maaz, and archeologist Omaha Dunn (yes, a little 'wink-wink-nod' at the Indiana Jones character), the story spins an exciting tale of mystery, intrigue and adventure from page one thru the last page. I am so glad I discovered James Rollins' "Sigma Force" series, if for no other reason than some good ol' fashioned escapism in these chaotic times. I HIGHLY recommend the series to all and look forward to reading more. :)

I have no idea where this author gets his ideas but he certainly can take the reader on a wild ride. This is the first book in the Sigma Force series and the third in the series that I have read. I still like The Doomsday Key: A Sigma Force Novel best (probably because I read it first and the plot had a little bit more plausibility). I'm not familiar with antimatter, buckyballs, and a lot of the other stuff in this novel, but loved the setting.