Ancestor by Scott Sigler
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Scott Sigler's writing style reminds me of a cross between Stephen King's and Michael Crichton's. Sigler has a grasp on modern science and technology, and uses it to invest the reader emotionally in the well-being of his stories' characters, creating gripping tales that leave you wanting to read "just one more page" all the way until the end of the book.
Ancestor, one of Sigler's earlier works, definitely feels a little less polished than some of his later books (e.g. Infected). For a book whose main premise is supposed to be about primordial, ravenous monsters, the "ancestors" don't really show up until about 2/3 of the way through the story. However, Sigler spends this time weaving a web of plot, characters, and settings that play out beautifully once the savage killing-spree begins.
Overall, this is a really engaging story with just enough science to make things seem plausible without going overboard and making most non-biochemistry students' eyes glaze over. It showcases the potential perils of genetic engineering WITHOUT preaching them, and ties it into a plot with decent characterization, engaging the reader and keeping him/her on edge right up until the last page.
Note: This review refers to the eBook version released by Scott Sigler and Dragon Moon Press in March 2007.
