Mysterious aliens set up a space elevator in Darwin, Australia. Then an equally mysterious alien plague kills 90% of the people on Earth. The survivors struggle in dystopia conditions as the few scientists left get ready for the next alien surprise. These are the premises of Jason Hough’s “Dire Earth” trilogy. But the Big Question is: do you want to read 1500 pages to find out what happens? The pluses are action-packed pages and quirky plotting. The minuses are cardboard characters (both Good Guys and Bad Guys) and very clumsy romances. Hough leaves the door open for another trilogy, but I’m not sure I’ll read it. GRADE: C+ (for all three books)
I think that may be the lowest grade I have seen you give.
Sounds like a great premise but a crappy execution. Were the books 300 pages I might have given them a shot.
Also, as I’m sure Bill Crider would point out, The Darwin Elevator would be a good name for a rock band.
Patti, I try to read Good Stuff so my grades are usually high. I attempt to avoid the mediocre, but sometimes it sneaks up on me…like the Dire Earth trilogy.
Jeff, the three volumes in the Dire Earth trilogy average around 500 pages. A good editor could have cut them in half.
Jeff, the Dire Earth would be a good name for a rock band, too.
No, thanks. If I’m not mistaken it been done before, more or less. Plus a review with both “quirky” and “clumsy” in consecutive sentences pushes me off.
Rick, you’re making the right assessment of the Dire Earth trilogy. It was mildly entertaining, but the 1500 pages tested my patience.