The Boy who Cried Phytoplankton: A Review of "Sea Change"
Judging a book by its cover I do judge a book by its cover, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have a solid idea of what I will or won't like when it comes to fiction, and at first glance, I often make judgments. But every now and again, a book surprises me. Even rarer, a book surprises me pleasantly. "Sea Change" is just such a needle in a haystack. I picked up "Sea Change" in a supermarket, which, normally, is the last place I'll shop for books. I find that supermarkets tend to carry three distinct types of books (and off I go, stereotyping again). First, there are the name-brand authors -- Stephen King, Danielle Steel, John Grisham. Look no further for their latest bestseller; your local Shop-Rite will have it. Secondly, there are the Harlequin and Silhouettes, those formulaic, change the names and change the locations, icons of romance smut. Finally, there is what I call Grade C Fiction. So What Exactly is Grade C Fiction, and what does this have to do with "Sea Change"? Grade C Fiction is purely my own concoction, and though I read it sometimes, it's not a complementary classification. I see fiction in levels, or grades, and these grades will definitely differ for different people based on interest. Grade A fiction could range from a John Steinbeck classic, to the latest Arthur C. Clarke masterpiece. Grade B fiction comes from authors that I know and like, but who I don't consider masters of their genres. For me, Grade B fiction might consist of Dean Koontz or the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I know I'll enjoy it, but it's not going to leave me breathless or enraptured. Grade C fiction falls at the bottom. Usually by an author I don't know, Grade C fiction often has a far-out premise and a leaves-something-to-be-desired writing style. Though I immediately labeled "Sea Change" Grade C fiction based on its premise, its unknown author, and its cover and typeface, I purchased it. The bottom line was that I was away for the weekend, desperately craving something to read, and "Sea Change" based on its plot summary, seemed at least palatable, potential Grade C fiction, or not. "Sea Change" was a wonderful surprise. Though he can't claim a Shakespearean mastery of the English language, James Powlik has an easy writing style to stay with. One mark of a good storyteller is that they don't sound like they're trying too hard. A good writer works very hard to make his novel sound like it came easy, and in this, Powlik succeeds. What I mean by this is that often -- especially in first novels -- writers try so hard to write beautiful prose that the prose, during reading, becomes a stumbling block. The prose itself, especially in an action-based novel, should be all but invisible. The story is what should capture you. Dean Koontz was notorious in his early work, for terrible prose. His stories were wonderful -- if you could get past his writing style. He'd hit upon a description he liked, such as sodium vapor street lights, and subsequently throw it into the story two dozen times, until it jarred you out of the world he'd created every time you read the phrase. Unlike Koontz in his early years, I never tripped or got hung up over Powlik's use of language. He concentrated on telling his story, and he told it well. At times, I found myself so caught up in the tale, that I'd be surprised to find myself sitting in my Rav4 on my lunch hour, book in hand. Surely, I'd been on the open ocean fighting an unknown assailant. So what is "Sea Change" about? "Sea Change" typifies what may well be a whole new genre of fiction: the ecothriller. People are dying, and something biological is causing it -- something heretofore unknown. Or maybe known to only a few... "Sea Change" follows Brock Garner, a brilliant marine biologist with a black mark on his career. You see, Brock Garner once prepared the west coast for a deadly phytoplankton bloom. Costing coastal cities millions of dollars, Brock is -- quite literally -- the boy who cried wolf (or, in this case, the boy who cried phytoplankton. Now, years later, people are dying, and it's up to Brock Garner to find the answers Dr. Ellie Bridges is also along for this boat trip. Having had the misfortune of being on duty when several victims of this biological nightmare are brought to the emergency room, Dr. Bridges is investigated for her role in their untimely deaths. Subsequently, she decides that she needs to find out some answers of her own. Far From Perfect... "Sea Change" turned out to be a pretty good read, even a real page-turner at times, and with the serious problems modern ecosystems face, it wasn't hard to suspend disbelief. This is something that could happen. Hey, we've all heard of red tide, haven't we? Characterization could have been better in "Sea Change". Though Powlik managed to add some measure of depth and background Garner, Bridges, and an assortment of other characters, they were still too stereotypical to be real. Garner is typical in his brilliance, and in his fallibility. Ellie Bridges, the young female doctor, is also, easily seen as the thinly disguised heroine in distress. Hey -- it's the year 2000. Distress doesn't necessarily mean she needs rescuing. The dialogue was also a bit stilted at times. Powlik needs to develop more of an ear for conversation. People don't tend to talk in neatly organized paragraphs. It's main failing... Unfortunately, the main obstacle "Sea Change" faces in its path to being a really good book is something that isn't easily remedied. You see, "Sea Change" in cover art and cover copy promotes itself as a novel of terror: There's a new terror under the sea with a mind and hunger of its own. The problem is simple. The villain in "Sea Change" just isn't scary enough. Let's face it. I'm not going to be quaking in my boots anytime soon over the idea of killer plankton. Is it worth a read? By all means, "Sea Change" is worth a read. As a representative of a growing genre of eco-thrillers, it's worth reading for that concept alone. As we're threatened with more and more biological trouble, both natural and of our own doing, this genre of fiction is going to be exploding. It's also worth it for the story. It's no "Jaws," so don't expect to be terrified, and don't expect to have thoughtful, intellectual book-group conversations over this one. This one is for pure entertainment, and Powlik will be an author to watch. ** If you like the idea of eco-thrillers, another great read is "Dust" by James Pellegrino.
Other Articles
Angels Fall by Nora Roberts Reece Gilmore is running for her life. A promising Boston chef, she is celebrating a new job with friends in a restaurant, when it is suddenly invaded by masked gunmen. Reece is shot and as she lapses into unconsciousness, she sees her best friend brutally murdered. The sole survivor of the restaurant massacre, Reece is subsequently haunted ...Quality Book Cases Here I am again dealing with the book cases issue once again. Should I slight build some, buy some, or just leave all the books and their boxes? The problem is that it is moving time again. It seems as if every time I move my host of regenerated that the new residence will offer some normalcy, some sanity, some degree of permanency.But ...Interview of Brian R. Hill, Author of "The Shintae" With us today is Brian Hill, from Yorkshire, England. We are pleased that he is able to chat with us about his recent novel, “The Shintae.” Welcome to Reader Views Brian.Irene: Tell us the gist of your fantasy novel, “The Shintae.”Brian: The novel is a tale of two nations, good versus evil. It tells the story of Kaér and ...Who Is Jesus Christ For Us Today? Book Summary In his book, Who Is Jesus Christ For Us Today, James Cone Ph.D., answers this question taking into consideration the dynamic interplay between social context, Scripture, and tradition from a Black perspective.By the “social context,” Cone refers to the encounter of Jesus Christ in our ordinary everyday existence. It is the experien ...Bobby Bright's Greatest Christmas Ever by John R. Brooks: Book Review Bobby Bright’s Greatest Christmas Ever by John R. Brooks Old Farm Press (2006) ISBN 9780978822705 Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (11/06)This adorable story starts out in a Christmas light bulb factory where a strand of lights is shocked with an electrical charge and one of the light bulbs, named Bo ...Lionel Davidson--Master of the Thriller Novel Nicholas Whistler is a very unlucky young man, debt-ridden, and an easy target for someone who wants to recruit him for something illegal and dangerous in the Cold War 60s. But Nicholas has little choice in the matter and agrees to travel to Prague to fetch important state or technological secrets. The Night of Wencelas is non-stop adventure as ..."The Miserable Mill" by Lemony Snicket “The Miserable Mill” by Lemony Snicket is one of the series of events that happen in the lives of three Baudelaire orphans after the death of their parents during a fire. The lives of Violet, Klaus and baby Sunny converts into a constant fight for living and changing homes. As they possess a fortune they got from their parents they represent an ...A Monster Named Criney who Makes Kids Whiney - Review Excellent! The best children book of this genre that I have had the pleasure to review!A Monster Named Criney Who Makes Kids Whiney by Heather Zuckerman can be classified as a juvenile fiction geared for children aged between three and seven. Mood-setting bright color full pages greet the reader upon opening the durable cover. Superb ...Small Business Marketing Review - Guerilla Marketing We never want to recommend you limit yourself as a small business owner or marketer to reading just one book on small business marketing. Why straightjacket your mind? No single author, no matter how great, can cover everything. There are just too many good ideas out roaming the planet.But, if you are ever forced to grab one small busines ...Matthew Kelly, My Favorite Author Before we go any further let me explain that I am not making a dime in profit from this article. Yes, most of the articles I write I make money from, but this one is specifically because I am in awe by this author, Matthew Kelly.Matthew Kelly is an author and a speaker. He has written books that can completely change your life, trust me ...Book Review: Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way I loved this book. The book is written by Robin Gerber. What makes this book a bit different than other books on leadership is that the book is written by a woman about a woman. Most of the other books I’ve read in the category of leadership have been written by men and are almost always about men.Men and women communicate differently, t ...Review of Book Combat Zone The first few pages of ‘Combat Zone’ are bloody and violent, depicting some of the worst human violence. I had just begun to wonder about what I had gotten myself into when the story began to level out and a plot formed.A young woman falls under the hypnotic and deceptive allure of a psychopathic, charismatic crime boss in Boston. Soon he ...Service Industry Provides Professional World-Class Customer Satisfaction Steve Cosica, is, “Mr. Nice Guy”. This man has spent twenty years in customer service management, as both a Speaker and Published Writer. He has been a speaker at ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors Association) functions, published in Counterline, a newsletter in the industry, and has held regional customer service workshops for HVAC professiona ..."Symptoms of Terminal Passion" author Chester Aaron: Book Review Sadness, anger, joy, happiness, love, lust … “Symptoms of Terminal Passion” has it all. Chester Aaron’s compilation of short stories takes the reader to the depth of the soul of each character – a part of each character that everyone one of us can relate to.Aaron, a World War II veteran himself, references several of the stories during t ...Politic$, Inc.: Principle, Not Profit With the 2008 presidential primaries well over a year away, the virtually unknown John Cox of Illinois is quietly moving through the political circles of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina in an effort to generate possible support in his long shot campaign for the White House. Accompanying his efforts is his book, Politic$, Inc.: Principle, ...Product Review: Affiliate Mistakes Special Report In his ebook "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck McCullough teaches you how to spot and avoid or correct ten simple, yet costly errors that can seriously damage your efforts to promote affiliate programs successfully. Instead of writing about the broad based generalities of affiliate marketing, Chuck takes you by the hand and teaches you ...Book Review – Warriors, Workers, Whiners, and Weasels We all know a Weasel. You know, that person that threatens to take down your organization by using every sleazy tactic in the book to advance their careers regardless of how it effects others. Warriors, Workers, Whiners, and Weasels: The 4 Personality Types in Business and How to Manage Them to Your Advantage by entrepreneur Tim O'Lear ...The Deviant - Book Review The following quote taken from the back cover, "The Deviant is a story that will make you afraid of yourself", could not be more truthfully stated.Here we have a story about a writer who realizes his life is going places he doesn’t want, his talent as a writer is sadly slipping and he is losing his readers rapidly. Already, he thinks ...Selling Goodness-Introduction To The Book Unfortunately, I have seen too many of even the most noble and vitally needed charitable nonprofits fade into obscurity, never having accomplished the laudable goals they set out to achieve. In most cases, the reason for their demise is that they did not promote themselves with vigor and assertiveness. They either failed to learn to use publ ...
|