THE DATE: 1/9/09
THE LOCALE: JJ FOLEY'S, MEDIEVAL MANOR, JJ FOLEY'S
SCORP APPROVED? YES
MEG.
I selected MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror as one of the early selections of the Scorpions when I was dominating physical challenges and picking books left and right. The first time I saw the book it was when I saw an attractive, sophisticated woman sitting at a bar at that seafood restaurant in the Seattle airport. I was intrigued; a hot, smart-looking woman drinking a glass of wine and reading a book with a giant shark and a tyrannosaurus rex on the cover. It was like a hot chick driving a sweet truck.
Once I won the challenge, I knew MEG was the choice. Some members lambasted the choice as not being up to the literary standards of a book club, and others thought I was joking. A year later, MEG still flows in the vein of the Scorpions, as a book, and as a way of life.
Bottom line, MEG is a story of a 70 foot prehistoric great white shark that a scientist discovers (and unleashes), from a deep ocean abyss that has preserved the species for hundreds of years. If this was just a shark attack book that would be one thing, but the science fiction aspect of the story gives it an additional layer of complexity that only adds to the story. The mystery. The legend. Throw in some kick ass dialogue, a few hot chicks, and a slew of shark attacks and you have a book that delivered on all fronts.
Basically, a scientist believes these sharks exist, no one believes him, he goes back down into the abyss and lures one out, and all hell breaks loose. The description of how the shark has existed is fairly far-fetched, but explained in enough detail and complexity that it makes you wonder - at least as much as with the Yeti, Loch Ness, Jackalope or dirty sanchez. Even if the book may not be up to the literary standards of the snobbier Scorps (who I will systematically root out and destroy), it is an entertaining, interesting book - about a giant freaking prehistoric killer shark. What more could you ask for?
Throw in the fact that I reached out to the author, Steve Alten, and he not only responded but also later sent me a MEG: Hell's Aquarium (the 4th book in the series, and equally as awesome - but with hotter chicks) signed poster that is now framed and in my living room. Cool book, cool author.
I just checked Alten's website and he is now selling sleeveless MEG t-shirts? Is that a joke? That is awesome.
MEG continues to impress the Scorpions on and off the pages. MEG is officially Scorpion Approved.