The Himalayan Codex
June 2017 · HarperCollins
3.8star
10 reviewsreport
eBook
405
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About this eBook
“An action-packed adventure thriller . . . If you like Michael Chrichton’s thrillers and Indiana Jones movies, then you will enjoy The Himalayan Codex.” —San Francisco Book Review
It is 1946, and the world is beginning to rebuild from the ashes of the devastating war. Marked by the perilous discoveries he encountered in the wilds of Brazil, Captain R. J. MacCready has a new assignment on the other side of the globe—a mission that may help him put the jungle’s horrors behind him. He is headed for the Himalayas, to examine some recently discovered mammoth bones.
Arriving in Asia, Mac learns the bones are only a cover story. He’s really there to investigate an ancient codex allegedly written by Pliny the Elder. The Roman naturalist claimed to have discovered a new race of humans, a divergent species that inspired the myth of the Yeti and is rumored to have the ability to accelerate the process of evolution.
Charged with uncovering more about this miracle species, Mac sets off into the remote mountain valleys of Tibet, using the codex as his guide. But the freezing climate and treacherous terrain are only the beginning of the dangers facing him. He must also contend with the brutal Chinese army and a species of native creature even the Yeti seem to fear. The deeper he plunges into the unknown, the more certain it appears that Mac and the associates who join his odyssey may not make it out alive.
“Schutt and Finch provide a textbook example of how to make the fantastic easy to buy into with their superior second Crichton-esque thriller.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
It is 1946, and the world is beginning to rebuild from the ashes of the devastating war. Marked by the perilous discoveries he encountered in the wilds of Brazil, Captain R. J. MacCready has a new assignment on the other side of the globe—a mission that may help him put the jungle’s horrors behind him. He is headed for the Himalayas, to examine some recently discovered mammoth bones.
Arriving in Asia, Mac learns the bones are only a cover story. He’s really there to investigate an ancient codex allegedly written by Pliny the Elder. The Roman naturalist claimed to have discovered a new race of humans, a divergent species that inspired the myth of the Yeti and is rumored to have the ability to accelerate the process of evolution.
Charged with uncovering more about this miracle species, Mac sets off into the remote mountain valleys of Tibet, using the codex as his guide. But the freezing climate and treacherous terrain are only the beginning of the dangers facing him. He must also contend with the brutal Chinese army and a species of native creature even the Yeti seem to fear. The deeper he plunges into the unknown, the more certain it appears that Mac and the associates who join his odyssey may not make it out alive.
“Schutt and Finch provide a textbook example of how to make the fantastic easy to buy into with their superior second Crichton-esque thriller.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Ratings and reviews
3.8
10 reviews
A Google user
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14 July 2018
Another intensely fascinating story by authors Schutt and Finch, following their incredible 'Hell's Gate'! The fictionalized (???) world created is at once fascinating as it is in many ways terrifying. In addition, the 'jump' in tales between 67 A.D. and the years just after WWII only add to the immense tension and suspense! Whereas I remain less than enamored with the hero of our story 'Mac' (I have trouble reconciling his reserved nature with his adventures), the characters sprinkled throughout this book are richly formed and believable (including a nod to the inner thoughts of Nikita Khrushchev!). And trust me: you'll never look at elephants the same way again! Even though I found this story to be somewhat less - what's the right word - thrilling than the first book (I never thought I'd say this but it could have used a few Nazis!), it's believable place in 20th century history cannot be ignored. And do yourself a favour - YOU MUST READ the epilogue, the factual summation of events during the 2000 years covered as well as what has been stretched from PROBABLE fiction to parts of this book makes for fantastic reading! Enjoy!
2 people found this review helpful
Tracy L. Crawford
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30 March 2019
i loved this book, and read far to much of it in one sitting. Right up to the point where one major character had his head removed from his neck, but continued to function normally in the next pages. Someone, probably many, f*"d up.
David Berg
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24 September 2024
Not very good. The plot/story is simply too unbelieveable to keep the readers attention. could have been written by a high school age person.
About the author
Bill Schutt is a vertebrate zoologist and author. He is a research associate in residence at the American Museum of Natural History and a professor of biology at LIU Post. Bill’s first book, Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures, was critically acclaimed by E. O. Wilson and the New York Times. His next nonfiction work will explore the natural history of cannibalism. Bill lives with his wife and son on the East End of Long Island, and he is currently working on a sequel to Hell’s Gate with J. R. Finch.
J. R. Finch is a painter, history buff, and cave explorer. He lives in New York City with three cats.
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