The Trench

by Steve Alten

Book Overview

For the first time, the pre-historic Megalodon shark has tasted human blood and now wants more. A paleo-biologist must enter the perilous cavern that spawned the Megalodon to kill the monster before... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1575664305
• ISBN13: 9781575664309
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Amazing. Good action and story development

This was my first book by Steve Alten and I ordered more after this. I'm glad he's such a well published author. The action pace was better than I thought possible. The book really takes you on a journey of emotion, well timed. It was satisfying to read without being insulting (by too much predictability). The main character didn't beg to be liked, his part wasn't over written or trying to tug at heart strings. The writing about the megladon was amazing. I appreciated thr details and thought put in to it. It free me in to the story

A Tasty Second Course

Rarely do sequels outperform their predecessor, but in the case of Steve Alten's "The Trench," I think that the sequel is much better than the original. Not that "Meg" was a bad novel. In fact, I loved it. But "The Trench" seems to be better in that Alten seems to have grown as a writer. This time around, there isn't just a prehistoric killer on the loose. This time we have international scandal, terrorists(including Osama bin Laden), spies, double-crosses, marital problems, etc. Not to mention that Angel, the original Meg's offspring, has decided to break free of the Tanaka Institute and head back home to the Mariana Trench. The sinister Benedict Singer is the perfect villain in this book. I'm not giving anything away by stating this, because it is obvious right from the start that he is up to no good. Dr. Jonas Taylor returns, so does Mac, Terry, Masao and the AG II. A few new characters, namely the seductive and sexy Celeste, are also thrown into the chaos. This book is much more suspenseful than the original, and the entire focus isn't on just capturing Angel, but all of the aforementioned problems as well. Much like the original, the action is fast-paced and bloody. There is definitely a higher body count in this one, and the introduction of another prehistoric killing machine as well. If you enjoyed the first "Meg" book, you'll definitely fall in love with "The Trench." I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Alten. I also recommend it to anyone who loves creature features, mystery, sci-fi, and adventure tales.

Alten Triumphs for the Second Time in a Row

With his debut novel, Meg, Steve Alten chilled us. As we flip the pages to this exciting can't-put-it-down-until-it-is-over-book, an incredibly frightening thought cascades through each of our heads: what if the Charchorodon Megalodon really existed? Anyone who read the book had at least one nightmare after reading it. Now Alten has released the equally terrifying sequel, The Trench. In The Trench, some of Alten's most loved characters return to fight the battle of the deep, such as fun-loving, not-afraid-of-anything Mac; and the knowledgeable Masao. Of course, the main characters are Jonas Taylor and Terry Tanaka. The two sparked a love interest nearing the end of Meg and were married in between novels. Unfortunately in the four years they have been married, they have fallen upon rough times. Terry loses a baby after eight months of carrying and Jonas has become entirely work obsessed. Jonas Taylor's work is focused on Meg's offspring; a 72-foot female Megalodon comically named `Angel.' The prehistoric monster is being held in captivity at the Tanaka Lagoon. Unfortunately, the lagoon has also fallen on hard times due to many suits from angry family members of Meg's meals in the first novel. As a result, the company has joined with Benedict Singer, an emerald-eyed millionaire. The Trench is absolutely jam-packed with antagonists. Oddly enough, the Megalodon seems to be the least of the reader's worries. Perhaps the most frightening monster in the book would have to be Benedict Singer's protegee, a stunning platinum-blonde beauty queen by the name of Celeste Singer. Celeste's manipulating antics are liable to get someone killed. Also, the newly discovered prehistoric reptile the Pliosaur. This marine-adapted reptile hunts in packs, deadly packs. They have already killed a group of workers aboard the Prometheus, and they are yearning to taste human flesh again.However benign Angel seems throughout the book, she is killing. Jonas and a group of others are tracking the female and attempting to either kill it or trap it to return to the lagoon. Not to mention the fact that while Jonas is chasing the Angel of Death, Terry has been caught in a web of lies and ends up in the Marianna Trench for over a week. Understanding that there are several people who want Terry dead, she begins to show amazing courage and strength while in the Trench. This spine-chilling page-turner makes the reader really evaluate life and what life would be like if some of these mind-boggling predators existed in life today. With only two novels left in his path thus far, Alten has already become a very well known and very well liked author. So cheers to Alten, for releasing an excellent, five-star quality novel for the public to read and enjoy for generations to come.

The Crew of the Calypso Better Watch Out!

Steve Alten's novel "The Trench" has got to be one of the most pleasant surprises to have hit the bookshelves in a long while. I found his newest novel, the sequel to the equally fun MEG, to be an absolute blast!Dr. Jonas Taylor is joined by most of the cast members from MEG (at least those that weren't eaten), along with a new collection of baddies that readers will love to hate. Benedict Singer is a classic over-the-top bad-guy. Angel the Megalodon is full grown, in estrus and wants out of the Tanaka Lagoon in a very bad way! To top it off, we have a new dweller in the Marianas Trench to contend with!"The Trench" came along at the right time for me. Having read quite a bit recently, this novel was just what was needed to break the streak of "middle-of-the-road" rated novels that have crossed my path. There's a little something for everyone in this book.Like a Megalodon heading for a group of swimmers dipped in tempura batter, "The Trench " is an ultra-fast read that will not disappoint! If you're looking for something truly light and something to read just for the sheer fun of it... this is your book. It is without a doubt a great summer novel. I look forward to the next installment.I can't say enough nice things about this one.

I loved this book -- 5 Stars isn't enough!

When I found out there was going to be a sequel to Meg, I couldn't wait to get The Trench. I definitely was not diappointed. Again I was reading a gripping story that kept me "on the edge of my seat." Mr. Alten does a great job in developing his characters and I felt like I knew them all very well.Even though Meg and Trench were fiction, I find Mr. Alten's theories completely plausible -- I have to wonder what may lie deep under the ocean.I can't wait to see more and more from Steve Alten!

The Trench: A promising motion picture

From the moment I picked up The Trench and started reading I was hooked. The plot was much better than it's prequel MEG. I flew through the pages to see if Jonas' fate in his dreams would come to a harsh reality. I think that Alten did an excellent job with his characters, particularly Celeste. She's beautiful, cunning, dangerous, and in control. I kept picturing Sharron Stone or a persona like her, every time her character came into play. She rocks! Another of my favorites was Benedict. This guy you just love to hate. I saw this guy as Samuel L. Jackson because he is awesome and could pull off the role. I love how the lives of Jonas, Terry, Benedict, Celeste, and the Megalodon get intertwined into a magnanimous exploration of fear and lust on land and at sea. Truthfully, the whole time I read this book I wanted to be seated in a movie theatre and be watching it on the screen. There is enough action and betrayal to keep even the most uninterested viewer on the edge of their seat. I rated the book with five stars on the basis that while reading it I sat on the edge of my seat. I even started dreaming about the damn monster!