VOSTOK by Steve Alten – Review

Vostok (The Loch #2) by Steve Alten
Genre: Adult science fiction
Publisher: Rebel Press
Release date:  Available now
Source: Finished book from publisher
Pages: 386

The nitty-gritty: A thrill ride of a story from start to finish, but it might be just too much for one book.

I decided to join the blog tour for Vostok rather reluctantly, since I don’t read indie books any more. But I’m so glad that I got to experience this story, because it’s certainly given me a lot to think about! If you enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir, then you will most likely enjoy this book too, although the stories are completely different. Like The Martian, Steve Alten dumps his characters in a very dangerous and secluded location and forces them to use their wits to escape. But while the premise of Weir’s book can be summed up in one sentence, Vostok is a rather more complex plot that went in directions I would not have guessed in a million years! Bottom line? Alten is a very solid and seasoned writer with loads of imagination and has gone to great lengths to do research for this very science-heavy plot. BUT if I were an editor at a traditional publishing house, I would have separated this story into two different books. (And that could be one reason Alten chose the self-publishing route: he didn’t want to compromise his story.)

It’s hard to even summarize Vostok for you, but I’m going to give it a shot. Zachary Wallace is a Scottish marine biologist who famously “discovered” exactly what kind of creature the Loch Ness Monster was. He lives with his wife and son in a small town near the Loch, where the tourist trade isn’t doing so well, now that Nessie’s mystery has been solved. One day, he’s approached by some visiting scientists who are doing research in Antarctica, trying to determine if life exists in the chilly waters of Lake Vostok, a huge body of water that is covered by a thick layer of ice. Zach reluctantly agrees to join the expedition, mostly due to the temptingly large sum of money he’s offered, but also because his marriage to his fiery wife Brandy is shaky at the moment, and time away from each other might be just what the doctor ordered.

Upon arriving in the frigid and dangerous conditions of Antarctica, Zach and fellow scientists Dr. Ming Liao and Captain Ben Hintzmann prepare to be submerged into Lake Vostok via a torpedo-shaped submersible. Their harrowing journey through miles of ice and into the waters of the lake is only the beginning of this crazy adventure, where Zach will come into contact with some deep-sea creatures that shouldn’t even be alive. But then Zach discovers that Ming and Ben have another agenda, and he realizes that not only is his own life in danger, but so are the lives of everyone he knows.

The first half of the book was fantastic. We’re introduced to Zach and his family, a bunch of very colorful Scots. Alten gives a little background into the events that came before Vostok, when Zach became famous for debunking the Loch Ness Monster. (And you can read all about that story in The Loch, which is technically the first book in this series, but you do not need to read it first in order to enjoy Vostok.) Money is tight for the Wallace family when Dr. Liao comes calling with her lucrative offer for Zach to join the exploration of Lake Vostok in Antarctica. When they arrive, Alten immediately dumps the three explorers into the lake, and right away the reader is swept up in the amazing life forms they find below. There’s plenty of action and danger, too, as the three are threatened by one gargantuan creature after another. I literally was on the edge of my seat as Zach and his friends begin to realize that not only are they in danger from the jaws and teeth of the giant crocodiles and whales that want to eat them, but because they are so far under the ice, getting out of the lake alive is a nearly impossible feat.

But about halfway through the story, a different plot emerges, and suddenly the focus shifts from prehistoric life forms to a glowing light under the lake, and before you know it, Zach is suddenly involved in a conspiracy theory that involves alien technology, time travel and the metaphysical possibilities of parallel lives. On its own, this section of the story would have been a fascinating read—and don’t get me wrong, I was highly entertained by this part, and it gave me a lot to think about. It also made my head spin at times, because the scientific concepts were so dense at times. I won’t go into details about this section, because I don’t want to spoil the story, but I did feel as if I’d been jarringly ripped out of the original story and now had to run to catch up with the new one.

I mostly went along with the plot, although at times I questioned some of the most basic ideas. For example, the weather conditions in Antarctica and especially under the lake are extremely harsh and unlivable. It’s almost as if they are going into outer space to explore another planet. And yet, none of the characters go through any kind of evaluation to see if they’re physically and mentally fit for the experience! Zach has no training in plunging through miles of ice and exploring the depths of a lake where man has never been before, and yet he’s thrown into a submersible and basically told “good luck!” Not only that, but he and his crew members learn how to drive and maneuver the submersible in no time at all!

The one element that does tie everything together is Lake Vostok, and you’ll see what I mean when you read it. Alten has crafted quite the tale, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read this book. If you love biology and learning about little-known life forms, and you enjoy an exciting story that will make you think about your place in the world, then Vostok is a must-read.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.