The Descent

Definitely a page-turner

Having just finished this book (after accidentally reading his second novel, Deeper, first), and reading some of the negative reviews, I felt the need to come to Long's defense.

I am definitely a fan of Long's work. He calls to mind a combination of the religious aspects of Dan Brown's Langdon series and Michael Crichton, with his thriller/science lesson type reads. While none of the three authors are commended for works of high literature, they all write gripping fictional accounts that just COULD be real. While there were certainly some unanswered questions in this first novel, I had the advantage of seeing where the story progressed later and realised that Long was purposely leaving certain parts of the plot unaddressed as a setup for the next part of the story.

Long brought some excellent geological and anthropological research to The Descent. While some have alluded to "offensive" language, it is important to remember that some of the references made in the story (Negroid, Oriental, etc) are, in fact, valid anthropological and ethnic references when discussing the history and evolution of mankind.

All in all, Long presents some fascinating material, wrapped in a dramatic package that drives you through the book at a whirlwind pace. After you tear through it, you will definitely want to look into some of the topics presented to learn more. I know I did!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Epic Adventure

I read alot of books and am picky. This is the best book I ever have read. I encourage everyone to read it. Jeff Long is a wonderful author. Advice to those who want to narrow down good books to read, I've found that when books have good reviews from the The Rocky Mountain News on the jacket, the book is a great read.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

If you read one book this year make it this one

This book while it is a long read it is completly worth the time it takes to read it. In all the books I have read in the past this one writes about human nature better than most books I have read. If the events that took place in this book were to happen tomorrow. I feel this book would become a work of Non-Fiction in many ways. The book is a real page turner with alot of suspence. Long; does a great job of tieing all the characters together as the book progresses.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A Long Fan

I have never read Jeff Long, but thoroughly enjoyed this book. He writes in the style that I love to read and pass on to my brother.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Jeff Long writes compelling novels

It's been awhile since I read The Decent. There is no connection between Long's book and the recent cheesy movie that came out. When the book first debuted, there was talk of a screenplay.
Basically, the book explores mankind's devolvement as a "mountain-climber" finds strange beings deep within our earth. Long keeps his books very interesting. Definitely a page-turner.

Bill McNeace

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Poorly written and full of offensive adjectives

There are so many problems with this book. Gaping plot holes render the story completely illogical and impossible to follow. On top of that, the author uses ridiculously offensive and colonial language, surprising and upsetting for a novel written in 1999. A couple of examples: referring to the subterranean creatures as having "negroid" noses and foreheads, as well as "a peculiar Oriental" way of communicating. No, I am not making this up. Do not read this book, it is a waste of time and money.

2 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Page Turner... with all-around goodness :)

I really enjoyed reading this book and have already passed it along for another person to read. It was a very good all-around book: Suspense, Adventure, Mystery, Religion, and a dash of Romance. What more can you ask for? I'd highly recommend it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

you get caught up in the action

Very intricate plot....lots of characters that you get attached to. Long tells a great story and makes this adventure story sound a lot more believable than you would ever think possible. Definitely makes you think

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Much Better than Year Zero

Jeff Long has made a great novel. At first I was a bit reserved about reading this book since I first read Year Zero and was sort of disapointed. However, this book pulled me in and I could not put it down. After the book was over I was yearning for more. I would highly recommed this book for anyone looking for a good Thriller/Action novel! I can't wait for more!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Whiteknuckle Ride Of A Book!!!

I began reading this book while on a vacation, and simply could not put it down! I consider myself a person who is hard to suprise, but the plot twists and turns left me breathless at times. This book explores the possibilities of another race of beings that live deep in the bowels of the earth. A mix of H.G. Wells,'Journey to the Center of the Earth', with a generous dollop of chills, surpise, suspense, and imagination. I'm looking forward to more work by Jeff Long. WOW!!!!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Horribly bad

I completely agree with the review prior to mine about how bad this book is

1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

yeah, it's a good one.

You don't have to think too hard to enjoy this one. Creepy, but not super scary. The characters are prepared so the reader is as well. Think - flipping through channels on the TV, coming across a movie in progress that looks interesting, getting sucked in and when it's over - going 'yeah, I enjoyed that.'

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Treachery

Jeff Long writes one hell-of a book...With many story lines, and vibrant characters. The story never gets dull, only more complicated. But you won't be disapointed at the end.Just when you think you have " Satan " in your grasp! The never ending circle continues...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Outstanding Idea but lacked a middle

After starting the book you are grabbed by both ears and shoved head first into a dark and disturbing idea. What if Hell was based on a real place. The book is a Insomniacs dream for the first several chapters but then if jumps 3 years with no explanation of what happened. As you can read in some other reviews Jeff Long is a great writer who in the middle got writers block. I feel that there is enough missing in the middle that I am looking for his sequel / prequel. About what happened to Ike for 11 years and why all of a sudden Branch started showing the deformities instantly when others took prolonged exposure to the underworld. And what happened in the 3 years of the war against hadie. I did enjoy the book as his writing is fluid but for some reason he seems to change the storyline after the 1st few chapters. And I for one feel the ending was rushed. Although the book scared the hell out of my sister.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

One helluva good book.

For most of the summer I was searching for a great read, but was constantly disappointed with predictable adventure novels and dull ideas. The Descent pulled me out of my reading hole with its thrilling, original plot. You simply cannot pass this one up. Are you going to miss the chance to explore Hell and come face to face with its horrifying denizens? I can't think of any adventure reader who would. Please ignore the carping reviewers of this book. These pages fly!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Are you willing to expand your thinking to 'pushing the envelope'?

If you can, you will find this a mesmerizing read. The author has a definite way with words and knows how to use them to challenge you. For the person that transforms words into visual images like I do, it's better than any movie I've seen since 'Silence of the Lambs'. It's a rather involved story line that gets long in the tooth in some parts and I would have liked a more thrilling ending....but after all you've read before, I don't know if I could come up with one suitable either. I couldn't put it down! Of all life's scenarios and real life fiction and horror, nothing would surprise me. This book is today's version of Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds'.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book to get!

This book is definitely worth buying! I found it hard to put the book down...lots of action and suspense....great book to have!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a real sense of place

Even though the book is internally inconsistent and defies logic at times, the way in which Long immerses the reader in the fictional environment makes it a worthwhile reading experience. I lived in hell with the characters for three days--even felt a little claustrophobic while I wasn't reading.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An exciting adventure from the first page to the last

This was an exciting read from beginning to end, in both a 'physical' and mental sense, that I did not want to put down. A classic adventure with all the right pieces, great characters and tremedous plotting. The most amazing thing about this book is some disappointing reader reviews - so there were some minor inconsistencies with the chronology, so M-16s shoot a different kind of round, etc, etc. Big deal! It's sad that people let something little ruin what is otherwise a great read, particularly when other aspects were obvously painstakenly researched. All in all, I highly recommend this book to others, and eagerly await Mr. Long's next book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Descent

It is insulting to the memory of Jules Verne.