Book Blurb:
From M. B. Zucker, award-winning author of "The Eisenhower Chronicles"
Liopleurodon ferox was the deadliest sea predator of all time, the king of the Jurassic ocean. This whale-sized reptile's return to the early twentieth century triggers a geopolitical crisis in this new historical science fiction thriller. Former President Theodore Roosevelt foresees the threat the Liopleurodon would pose if it falls into the wrong hands. The race is on as Roosevelt leads the American effort to destroy it before the Kaiser's Germany can turn it into a weapon.
Fans of Jurassic Park and Steve Alten's Meg series will not want to miss this adventure filled with action, political intrigue, and characters that readers will remember long after finishing this novel.
Advance Praise for Liopleurodon: The Master of the Deep - "The storyline itself was superb ---- A Jaws/Jurassic Park thriller and a bit of a spy novel all in one - and compelling." - The Historical Fiction Company
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/liopleurodon
Author Bio:
M. B. Zucker lives with his wife in Northern Virginia.
He began writing when he was in middle school. He wrote his first novel, "Lio: King of the Carnivores," when he was fourteen, and his second novel, "A Great Soldier in the Last Great War," when he was sixteen. Both became Amazon bestsellers.
His first adult novel is "The Eisenhower Chronicles," a three volume biographical novel about Dwight Eisenhower. The novel is told through a series of stories that are both designed to stand alone but, together, bring Ike back to life and present his place in history as the most important individual in defending the world from fascism, communism, and nuclear weapons.
Editorial Review:
“The hardest thing in life is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.” - Bertrand Russell
Author M.B. Zucker has managed to brilliantly put his readers into the mind of a deadly carnivore reptile while weaving two of the greatest historic leaders in American and the U.K.’s history – Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, in a fast-paced riveting story of danger, action, love, and deceit thriller.
The story centers around Luke Jones a young pre-historic scientist whose main goal in life is to avenge his father’s good name in the Jurassic scientific world in 1911 America. He learns about life, maturity, love, and sacrifice along the way.
The plot centers around his father’s nemesis Dr. Ross’ feud have now become young Luke’s feud, The trio of determined to put an end to the sea monster with the help of Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill and restore his father’s good name. Along the way they are in constant conflict with the German Navy who is intent on using the Jurassic reptile and unleashing it on the world as a weapon of mass destruction with pre-World War One inclinations.
This book is a testament to which bridge to burn and which to salvage. Luke Jones is a young aspiring Jurassic Liopluerodon scientist intent on avenging his father’s legacy at all costs, even his own career. His father’s legacy, challenged by Dr. Ross, a fellow Jurassic scientist who debunked young Luke’s father’s work on the Jurassic period, not just in America, but globally. Luke’s father’s career was destroyed in the process as a young Luke watched his father slip into depression and alcoholism. For readers who cannot grasp what a Liopluerodon is, without too much scientific jargon, it is a carnivorous oceanic reptile larger than a humpback whale that eats sharks for a snack. The story takes place on and under the Atlantic Ocean in 1911 after a Liopleurodon was discovered by an artic expedition in the depths of an ice shelf fully frozen and intact. It is handed over to the U.S. military who has no idea what to do with it.
Enter Dr. Harris, a professor on the Jurassic era and Luke’s mentor, Dr. Ryan, and Dr. Ross, Luke’s father’s nemesis, and Luke Jones, Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, Neville Chamberlin, and Winston Churchill the main characters to this story. Young Luke Jones the main character despises Dr. Ross and his one goal in life is to destroy Dr. Ross at all costs and restore his father’s legacy. Lest we forget the main character bang – the Liopluerodon.
“What do we know about Will’s protégé?” “All I know is that he wants to be a marine reptile specialist,” Ross said. “A bit young for such a significant career decision, but that’s kids these days, I suppose. Perhaps he’s interested in my new article in Science. Other than that, I only know that Professor Harris claims that he’ll be the star of his generation and is desperate to meet us.” “I suppose that’s one word for it.” They exchanged an awkward laugh and broke eye contact. Kelsey flashed a brief smile.
Luke Jones is naïve when it comes to professionalism, relationships in general, especially matters of the heart. Miss Kelsey is Dr. Ross’ fiancé. Dr. Ross has no clue that his nemesis’ son is the protégé they just happen to be discussing. During a party Luke attacks Dr. Ross’ character at the get go and it is obvious to all involved these two are destined for a collision course.
“You killed him.” Luke answered to Dr. Ross’s question of who Luke’s father was. Ryan and Kelsey exchanged a glance and then turned to Harris all of them mortified. All three turned to Ross. Ross took a breath and asserted control over his emotions before reestablishing eye contact with Luke.
“That’s quite a claim, young man.”
“I’m so sorry, Ben,” Harris said. “I don’t know what—mind expanding on that, Luke?” “Gladly,” Luke said, eyes locked on Ross. “Your career was launched by destroying my father’s.”
“I haven’t a clue what—” Ross froze, blinking several times. “What was your name again?”
“Luke.” “Luke—what?”
“Luke Jones.”
“Jones?” Ross asked, his voice louder than at any time since arriving at Delmonico's. He connected the dots. “Andrew Jones was your father?”
“Correct.”
“You’re the son of and—”
Dr. Ross, as well as Luke’s mentor Professor Harris were shocked by Luke’s accusation of Dr. Ross. Kelsey admires Luke’s gutsiness Luke notices Miss Kelsey’s admiration and takes note of it. When he returns to his room, he can’t seem to get Miss Kelsey out of his mind even though she has promised herself to another.
Mr. Zucker brilliantly displays his love for certain literary works into the manuscript and those of his historical characters. Some of the historical characters that appeared within the realm of the storyline are a far stretch, however Theodore Roosevelt and President Taft were perfectly aligned as they discussed the politics of the day and whether it was Roosevelt’s best political interest in risking his life to destroy a prehistoric monster.
“You want to go on the expedition?” Taft asked. Roosevelt turned to him, hoping he did not speak too soon. “Will Edith accept another period of separation? You only returned from your African safari in June.” “I would leave Edith on her hypothetical deathbed to go,” Roosevelt answered. “I’ll act as your personal representative. Make sure it goes smoothly. You can focus on passing your agenda and winning reelection. We’ll keep the Democrats out of the White House for another four years. Forever, if possible. The party of slavery, secession, segregation, and socialism. They disgust me.” “I don’t think it’s wise to let the colonel go.” Stimson said.
The storyline itself was superb---- A Jaws/Jurassic Park thriller and a bit of a spy novel all in one – and compelling although the action paragraphs sometimes were long without frequent breaks for the reader; but even with that, the story is quite engaging and a pleasure to read.
The North Atlantic was his territory and no one else’s. Everything within his territory had to be at his mercy —to be a potential meal through minimal effort. Nothing should fight back. Anything that could had to be eliminated. Then he would sit atop the pile of corpses and soon-to-be-corpses, an empire of death where he was the emperor to do as he liked, when he liked.
*****
“Liopleurodon – the Master of the Deep” receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company