David Gibbins / Atlantis
Fascinated for centuries by the myth of Atlantis, man has never ceased searching for this fabled island, a place more advanced than any other, whose people lived in harmony and great wealth. The perfect society which suddenly sank beneath the waves at the dawn of history, leaving behind no clue as to its whereabouts or the great secrets held within its walls.
One day marine archaeologist Jack Howard, gets lucky ... very lucky. While diving for a Homeric shipwreck in the Mediterranean, his team uncovers a golden disc that seems to point to the lost city of Atlantis. Armed with only this, and the expertise which has made him one of the most highly regarded specialists in his field, Jack sets out to try and find what others have searched for, over thousands of years.
Jack and his team, including Costas, an expert in submersibles and Kayta, an Atlantis specialist, are on the verge of making an astounding breakthrough when they find themselves caught up in a plot involving Kazakhstan terrorists and a missing Soviet nuclear submarine.
The author has a background in underwater archaeology, but at times allows the story to get bogged down with far too much technical information and jargon, covering everything from history to ships and weapons. The historical aspects made the book an interesting read, but the focus seemed to be more on the terrorist and nuclear submarine elements and not Atlantis.
Red Tide / G.M. Ford (CD book)
In Ford's fourth Frank Corso novel, more than 100 people die when a modified Ebola virus is sprayed into a Seattle bus tunnel. Is it coincidence that it is happening just as experts from fifty nations are gathering for an international symposium on chemical and biological weapons?
Corso is attending a photography exhibition of the work of his best friend Meg Dougherty, when the Police order a mandatory evacuation for unspecified reasons. As Frank and Meg walk towards a fleet of busses waiting to take evacuees away, it becomes clear that something very bad has happened.
Despite official attempts to keep the incident under wraps, journalist and crime writer Corso just has to investigate and manages to get into the tunnel masquerading as a member of the team investigating the catastrophe. This leads to him becoming the prime suspect.
Those really responsible soon issue a note warning that far worse will follow - that they are planning to release another round of the virus in 30 hours, and that it will live for 30 days. Faced with a death count potentially in the billions, the race is on to track down and stop the terrorists. Corso and Meg Dougherty, team up with Seattle cop Charly Hart to stop the terrorists. There seems to be a strange connection between one brutal death and the impending death of millions of innocent lives in Seattle.
Ford produces a tightly written and entertaining story, at the same time commenting on the political situation in America.
Alex Miller / Landscape of Farewell
Landscape of Farewell is the story of Max Otto, an elderly German academic. After the death of his much loved wife and his recognition that he will never write the great study of history that was to be his life's crowning work, Max believes that his life is all but over. He writes his valedictory paper, a look at the role of massacres in human society from the earliest times to the present, and then plans to return home after delivering it and commit suicide.
Everything changes, though, when his lecture is challenged by Professor Vita McLelland, a feisty young Australian Aboriginal academic visiting Germany. Their meeting and growing friendship sets Max on a journey that would have seemed unthinkable just a few weeks earlier.
When, at Vita's invitation, Max travels to Australia, he forms a deep bond with her uncle, elder Dougald Gnapun. Dougald tells Max the story of one of his ancestors and how he was involved with the massacre of settlers, and gets him to write it up for him. In the process of doing this Max realises that he needs to address his father's past. The friendship between Dougald and Max not only gives new meaning and purpose to Max, but which teaches him the profound importance of truth telling in reconciliation with his own and his country's past.
Sophie's Journey / Sally Collins
It could have been anybody's child. Ten days before Christmas. A room of children, napping of mattresses in their childcare centre, waiting for Santa to arrive. It's a peaceful scene. Until a car crashes through the doors at head height, smashing into the midst of the sleeping children and catching alight.
Incredibly no child was killed at the Roundhouse Childcare Centre on 15 December 2003. But two children were seriously injured and Sophie Delezio bears the legacy of that day written on her body. Sophie suffered third-degree burns to 85 per cent of her body in the fire. She lost both feet, some fingers and her right ear.
Her survival was a miracle to many, and led to an out-pouring of support from across the nation. Two years later, the unthinkable happens - Sophie is hit by a car, and once again left with near fatal injuries. Yet again she defines the odds and survives.
Sophie's Journey traces the path of this remarkable young girl. It is told through the words of friends and family, hospital staff, emergency workers and high-profile supporters, and what they remember of the day Sophie's life changed for ever. The voices of Sophie's parents, Ron and Carolyn, run through the story, describing the twists and turns of their journey so far.
This book tells of a child's resilience, of the choice between life and death, and of a strength that prevails through suffering. Sophie Delezio has a message of hope for us all.
