Fatalis

By Jeff Rovin

Book Overview

They come from prehistory to stalk and kill.... It begins, as terror so often does, with a disappearance-two men lost in the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains, a pair of backpacks the only evidence that they'd been near the mysterious sinkhole. An ancient fissure has been jolted in the hills; the eternal geologic movements of the earth oblivious to the teeming metropolis of Los Angeles sprawled out below them.Something is descending, stalking at night, moving ever closer to civilization. The official response to death is more destruction-Sheriff Malcolm Gearhart wants to destroy the creatures before anyone is even sure what they are, to annihilate any beast that would dare to attack man.But anthropologist Jim Grand and local newspaperwoman Hannah Hughes see another way-a dangerous path, but one that might save the last link to a prehistoric time.And as the humans battle to steer the right course, the cats are getting closer......Look for the big screen version of FATALIS from Universal Pictures

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312241038
• ISBN13: 9780312241032
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 355 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Hooray!

I first bought the book because the cover intrigued me. This book was a good read and does sound like it could be a movie. This book is better than "Vespers."

Awesome Read!!

First of all, I have to say GET THIS BOOK! With the risk of sounding un-professional, it is so cool!! This book was given to me for a present, and three days later I was just finishing one of the only stories that rivals Jurassic Park and The Lost World. Like both of these novels, this book would be a great movie. But enough about that, just the book alone was fantastic! The reader can easily imagine the scenes that are practically painted on the page. Kudos to Mr Rovin, I hope you do more like this! While it is at first painted for the reader to take sides with the characters out to save the creatures, it can become complicated. However, as an animal lover, I have to say that the animals' actions are very realistic. This is one that I recommend with one caution: don't make any plans for the weekend!! And keep a light on!

A Terrific "What If" Thriller

Rovin manages to take a seemingly implausible premise (prehistoric sabertooth cats in the LA hills) and let it play out in an enjoyable modern day monster thriller that actually is believable. Yes, on the surface you've got the requisite "good" girl and guy against the big bad sheriff. But when you understand where each of the characters is coming from, you can actually find yourself seeing all sides of the situation and more often than not, siding with the "bad guy" sheriff.Some previous reviewers seem to be annoyed that there is anyone in the book that has an interest in saving the cats. Well, forgive me for suggesting that that is extremely realistic. You can't tell me that if creatures such as these actually did make an appearance in 2000 that there would not be a great moral dilemma played out between those dedicated to protecting citizens and those furthering the cause of science. And YES it would be fought out on the front pages of our newspapers.

Picked this up because of the cover --

The book looked like a kind of JURASSIC PARK techno-scare thing so I bought it. I was not disappointed. That's exactly what it is with terrific action scenes that will make a great movie and very good characterization. I kept picturing Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the lead roles because the author goes from that hero-heroine distrust to respect to affection. I know PRETTY WOMAN meets GODZILLA sounds weird but that's how this struck me, fresh and wild.

An exciting, smart, page-turner

Jeff Rovin's Fatalis masterfully reinvigorates and elevates the suspense/horror genre with intelligent, witty writing and believable, human characters and relationships. The "monsters" here are as fascinating (and as sympathetic) as any you're likely to encounter between covers, and you'll learn some history (Rovin has clearly done plenty of research!) and encounter genuinely lyrical nature writing along the way. There's also action galore, and some diabolically delicious (and gory) set pieces. A great summer read that should make an incredibly cool movie. Warning: Fatalis will keep you up reading all night.