Awful sci-fi effort. Author has no style, the book reads like a bad comic book. Good idea for a story done by a hack.

Comic book of a science fiction story. ( )

I loved this book and the fact that he was a West Virginia author made me very proud. I discovered him as a librarian and still remember the books I read by him. Recommended.

FROM AMAZON: When Rip Cantrell, a seismic survey worker in the Sahara, spots a glint of reflected light in the distance, he investigates-and finds a piece of metal apparently entombed in the sandstone. Before long, Rip and his colleagues uncover a flying saucer that has been resting there for 140,000 years.
Their discovery doesn't remain a secret for long. The U.S. Air Force sends a UFO investigation team, which arrives just minutes before a team sent by an Australian billionaire to steal the saucer's secrets. Before either side can outwit the other, the Libyan military arrives.
Meanwhile, Rip has been checking out the saucer. With the help of a beautiful ex-Air Force test pilot Charley Pine, Rip flies the saucer away, embarking on a fantastic journey into space and around the world, keeping just ahead of those who want the saucer for themselves.

I loved this book. ( )

The spaceship was the most realistic thing about this book. The characters were over the top and the science was full of holes. ( )

Don't read this as serious sci-fi with scientific explanation and deeply developed characters...it's not that. Light satire makes it a book that's just plain fun. Yes, the characters are a bit flat and credulity gets stretched here and there. The reaction of government to the finding of a flyable flying saucer was spot on--stupid and clumsy--just like always. Couple that with a greedy global zillionaire and a budding romance...you just can't stop listening. Coonts wrote more of Rip Cantrell--I may just have to check them out! ( )