This book is like a mixed salad! Spies, aliens, archeology, adventure, chases, narrow escapes, religions both good and evil, history, suspense, fiction, odd relationships... I think I have missed something on that. Anyway, over all this is very drama, very SF, and major film worthy.

Science fiction gets a boost with Quantum. Aliens, archeology, adventure and spies. Fast moving and an interesting read.

I tried. I really, really tried.

Quantum: The Trilogy Begins sounded so much like it would be the perfect book for science-loving nerdy old me, but when it came down to it, I couldn't finish it. After four attempts over a year and a half, I am throwing in the towel.

To those of you did finish and enjoyed it, I am jealous. I couldn't there to find the "good stuff" that I'm certain was lurking just behind the next chapter. I'll keep it on my Kindle for a while, so if you want to talk me into yet another attempt, I am open to entertaining your arguments FOR ENJOYING Quantum: The Trilogy Begins.

Two doctors working in a refugee camp in the Sudan discover a mysterious metal cylinder buried in the desert. Their initial tests show the object was made long before any civilization on earth would have had the materials or technology to do so. In fact, it may predate the existence of mankind itself. When intelligence agencies around the world show an interest in the object, the scientists studying it disappear. What follows is a fast-paced race around the world between governments wanting to control the cylinder and the scientists trying to discover its secrets. Secrets that could change everything we thought we knew about how our world and our species began.

I found myself unable to finish this book. I tried it several times but I feel nothing as executed in the way I was expecting based on the description. This novel was just not for me unfortunately, as much as I hoped it would be.

"Quantum" eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Dean De Servienti (http://www.deandeservienti.com). Mr. De Servienti has published three novels.

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in the contemporary world.

Doctors working for an NGO in Africa stumble across a mysterious object. It looks high-tech, but was found buried in ancient rock. They gather a few experts to study it further and head to London. They quickly realize that they have found something that will disrupt world religions as well as possibly governments.

They decide to disappear until they can find out more about the object. They head to the US for further secret testing. They soon discover that they are being ruthlessly pursued by various intelligence agencies. They quickly find that survival and not pursuit of knowledge is their biggest challenge.

This was an interesting 9 hour read of a 301 page science fiction novel. While I liked the overall plot, I thought the execution was a bit weak. Nor was I really drawn to any of the characters. I had a hard time with all of the intelligence agents being nothing but obnoxious and ruthless killers. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 3.4 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.

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Very interesting book, a mixture of different genders.

I don't know if every book of this category are the same, but this one is reaaally enjoyable, I really liked that they added depth to this book based on REAL things, also the situations and the adrenaline of the characters feel immersive.

I'd recommend this book to a friend.

Two scientists, working for a NGO, discover an artifact in the deserts of Darfur that seems to have alien origins. They contact four other scientific experts and meet to see what they can discover about the object. In short order, they are alarmed by what it reveals, and consider it a worldwide threat. They go off-grid to study it further, and in fear for their lives. They tell their families not to look for them. But word has leaked of their find, and every government who knows about it wants to have it for their own.

The story follows the six scientists as they race against time to unravel the secrets of the object. But what do they know about evading trained assassins and covert operatives who are trying to kill them? They receive help from unexpected sources, but is it enough to keep them ahead of the killers? And is the world ready to hear what secrets are hidden within the alien artifact? . . .Once the assassins pick up their scent, the story picks up speed as they try to outrun their pursuers, and it was a wild ride till the end. The interaction between the spy agencies was fun, and injected a bit of humor with the interplay of government bureaucracies. There is an incestual relationship that is a bit unsavory, but a few twists and an entertaining read.

3 or maybe 3.5 stars. First off, since I think the author wrote this book in Italian, I want to compliment the translator--very good job. The book is a blend of genres: mostly thriller (with spies and lots of action) and science fiction (more science than sci-fi). An artifact is discovered that appears to be quite ancient, but of a substance that does not exist on earth, and was apparently left by aliens. There are no aliens and no space travel, so don't worry if sci-fi is not your thing. This is more of an action-packed thriller with an exploration of the implications for the origins of humanity. However, I thought the scientific fantasy aspects were more plausibly developed than the supposedly realistic actions of the various religious leaders and government agencies and some of the individuals involved. Also, there was a relationship that was just plain creepy and I didn't see how it contributed to the book. Anyway, with a little work, I could easily see this being made into a movie!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book.

This book is like a mixed salad! Spies, aliens, archeology, adventure, chases, narrow escapes, religions both good and evil, history, suspense, fiction, odd relationships... I think I have missed something on that. Anyway, over all this is very drama, Sci-Fi, major film worthy.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

Quantum is a book combining quantum mechanics, paleoanthropology, ninjas, and spies. It read like a science fiction-action movie. If you're one of those readers who is sensitive to the whole science versus religion debate when it comes to our origins as humans, I recommend not reading this book. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I found the concept behind finding advanced technology from another world and unlocking its mysteries that provide insights into our own origins very intriguing. On top of that, the author throws in the action sequences that come with having international parties looking to chase down and steal this technology to meet their own needs and misdeeds. The writing was just okay because I felt the author would go off on rather descriptive sections of the book that would distract from the overall story and slow the story down. Regardless, I definitely would be interested in reading future installments in the trilogy.

While the premise of this book seemed engaging, the narrative itself was lacking. Perhaps the fact it was translated from another language may have something to do with the choppiness at times. Also, the story seemed dated a bit for a contemporary release.

ARC ebbok/Science Fiction: I saw the cover and read the description and thought this was the book for me. Too many characters with too many locations was the first hint this was going to be a stinker. The icky relationship between the "siblings" was another. The people with unendless money in bank accounts to skip around the world makes me mad too.
The scientist are a plenty and they are so dull. All these governments chasing after them was tedious. I expected a cross between Dan Brown and Michael Crichton with facts and history and faux science that makes sense. I'm a slow reader and bad books take even longer. I only finished it because NetGalley let me read the book in lieu of an honest review and I want my time back.

I was so intrigued by the concept of this one - I liked the alien artifact idea, the scientists trying to save the world, and the implications of it all for world history/religion. BUT I did not particularly love the writing... It was alright in the beginning, but slowed WAY down rather quickly and I found myself plodding through each page. Still, I was curious enough to see what would happen with the artifact and how the world would handle the inevitable release of information about it - until Chapter 9. That's when the book lost me completely... There were a few points before then when I found myself creeped out (there's a, let's say, *unusual* familial relationship presented early on), or bored (honestly, it seemed to me rather beyond credibility that every major government was so free and easy in their dramatic responses to the hunt for the scientists), or eye-rollingly irritated (how can smart people be SO oblivious??). But at the end of Chapter 9 - which is almost half-way through the book - there was a Big Reveal. I enjoyed it and didn't see it coming (although perhaps in hindsight I should have), but the way it played out seemed utterly unbelievable and totally turned me off... The Shadow is a HUGE part of the early book, and then, suddenly, Big Reveal and everything changes, like flipping a switch. It was the proverbial straw that broke the back of this one for me and I closed it for good...

This is the first book that I have read from Dean and I'm looking forward to reading the next two in the series.
A book similar to National Treasure or the Da Vinci Code, this pits several national security agencies against each other and 6 scientists and their special discovery. The plot was not too contrived or too involved so the book did make an easy, good beach read this summer.
Two of the characters have a very icky relationship which seemed out of place through the book which just does not fit in with the rest of the story.
There were several plot twists in the book that were unexpected (as they should be) and did not seem to be too out of place for the story.
This book is part 1 of a trilogy so I am looking forward to the next two books.

This book was translated from Italian and the translators did a very good job - although there were several spelling mistakes (and the ones I spotted were provided to the publisher), the flow and structure of paragraphs did not make it obvious that the book had been translated

This book began vaguely interesting. Sadly, it did not end that way.

The prologue should have been my first clue. It is a mini lecture on Darfur and the genocide that has/is taking place there, along with descriptions of the agencies trying to provide aid. We are introduced to Dan, a doctor with Doctors Without Border and Jodie, a doctor with an American NGO. Don't know what NGO stands for? Me neither. Still don't. The doctors are attractive and in their mid-thirties.

A young boy in the camp has brought Jodie something she wants Dan to see.

Then we are whisked away to Rome, where we are introduced to Yoshi and his sister Midori. They are gorgeous and in their mid-thirties and have a slightly icky attraction to each other. They are well off, and have clients. What kind of clients? No idea, yet.

Then we are off to Tel Aviv where we meet Nahum Oz, Zvi Shalit (director of Collections Dept) and Efraim Harel (director of Political Action and Liaison). What is Oz title? No clue yet. Oh, and the two directors, what agency are they directors of? Haven't the foggiest. Yet.

They discuss the object that has recently been discovered in Darfur. The know about the two doctors, and that they fled Darfur for London. There the doctors hook up with: Jean, a French researcher at CERN, mid-thirties; Pavlov, a Russian physicist, 68; George, and American, head of the Computer Science research department at MIT, 47; Francesca, Italian, mid-thirties, biochemist studying DNA and a consultant for the ESA. Is your head spinning yet? Mine was, because the author goes into MUCH more detail about these people and I was already lost trying to keep track of who was who.

Oz and friends think this group has discovered some kind of nuclear weapon of mass destruction at first, and they will kill them all to get their hands on it. They enlist the financial help of the Catholics and the Arabs in order to hire the Shadow, a hitman who never misses, to take out the group of scientists and receive the artifact .

We soon find out the artifact is a probe sent to our planet billions of years ago by an unknown alien intelligence. It often speaks to the scientific group but the author includes so much computerese that it is virtually impossible to figure out what its saying. I started skipping the paragraphs when it 'talks' and just read what the peoples reactions were afterward. They usually repeated everything so I could continue to follow along.

Speaking of repeating everything: thats what happens. The story constantly jumps back and forth from describing what the scientists are doing (by now they are being lead by Yoshi and Midori because, although scientists and doctors, they are too stupid to figure things out for themselves) to how the CIA (yes, they are in the hunt now too) and the Catholics and the Mossad have just learned what the scientists are doing and we have to listen in as they rehash it all over again.

Yoshi is in charge of the scientists because his client is Richard Hooper, a wealthy Englishman in his mid-thirties who has been dating the lovely Francesca. He is paying Yoshi whatever he wants to make he brings Francesca back safely.

Jump ahead to the end (I didn't but I desperately wanted to): Several people die (ho hum, didn't care), the true identity of the Shadow is revealed (yeah, yeah, figured that out 1/3 of the way into the book), and good eventually triumphs over evil. Whatever.

There is a teensy little cliffhanger at the end to set up for a sequel. Honestly, by then I could not have cared less about the probe, the scientists, or the out of left field romance between two of the characters.

I found this book too detailed with facts in the first part of the book. So much so that it was a chore to read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a thrilling adventure, with input from all of the spy agencies----CIA, Mossad, Scotland Yard, and some badass independent ninjas. Oh yeah, and don't forget the religious entities---the Vatican and the Jewish and Islamic leaders. It was in the genre of a Dan Brown, Steve Berry, or James Rollins. If you like any of those readers, you will really enjoy this book.

This is the first book in a Trilogy and I will be buying the next two books!