Status
Available
Series
Collection
Publication
HarperAudio (2005), Edition: Abridged
Description
Fiction. Thriller. HTML: An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum and the race begins to determine how it happened, why it happened, and what it means. Lady Kara Kensington's family paid a high price in money and blood to found the gallery that now lies in ruins. Her search for answers leads Kara and her friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's curator, into a world they never dreamed existed. Evidence exposed by the tragedy suggests that Ubar, a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert, is more than mere legend...and that something astonishing is waiting there. The two extraordinary women and their guide, Omaha Dunn, are not the only ones being drawn to the desert. Former U.S. Navy SEAL Painter Crowe, a covert government operative and head of an elite counter-espionage team, is hunting down a dangerous turncoat and the trail is pointing him toward Ubar. What is hidden below the sand is more than a valuable relic of ancient history. It is an ageless power that lives and breathes. Many lives have already been destroyed by ruthless agencies dedicated to guarding its mysteries and harnessing its might. The end may be at hand for Kara, Safia, Crowe, and all of the interlopers who wish to expose its mysteries, as it prepares to unleash the most terrible storm of all... Performed by John Meagher.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member MSWallack
Ordinarily, I never read series books out of order. In this case, however, I read the second book in the series (Map of Bones) first, only because I didn't realize that it was a sequel to Sandstorm. In this (rare) instance, I'm actually glad that I read the second book first because had I read
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Sandstorm first I might or might not have read Map of Bones but I certainly would not have raced to read it immediately and that would have been a shame (see my review for Map of Bones). Sandstorm was fun, but simply too improbable. Unfortunately, that improbability (not that I mind speculative fiction) took away from the enjoyment of the adventure story. Also, I found that several of the characters never amounted to much more than cardboard cutouts. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kirconnell
James Rollins has something in common with Alexandre Dumas, he tells a good story. Sandstorm is one of his best. It is the first of the Sigma Force novels and is classic Rollins. It contains nonstop action, complex characters mixed with an exotic locale and as my friend, Mildred, says "a touch of
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the weird". He does base most of his "weird" on scientific facts though. I loved it. Show Less
LibraryThing member herlibrary
I don't know why I keep reading James Rollins books. Well, yes I do - I like the story lines, the mysteries - but I do not necessarily like his style of writing. I find myself saying "ya da ya da" to skip over some of his prose, but I keep reading to find out what is the great mystery. Some are a
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big let down some are not. You decide for yourself. Show Less
LibraryThing member skylersage
His best book to date - and that is saying something as I have enjoyed ALL of his books emensely. He has improved quite a bit with regards to the action scenes, the characterization and the timing. I read it in one sitting. I loved the new characters that were very detailed and varied. The plot and
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the big discovery were compelling and believable. Show Less
LibraryThing member drneutron
Decent thriller kind of book. Pretty much non-stop action without being over the top. I'll read the rest of the series.
LibraryThing member jedimarri
I'm not really sure why I ordered this book from the library. I think a friend recommended the author to me, but the last few months have been so hectic that I don't really remember! Ah well, that's life. "Sandstorm" is an adventure thriller in the tradition of Indiana Jones or anything by Clive
"Sandstorm" is the first book in Rollin's "Sigma Force" series of books. The Sigma Force is a small group of elite operatives designated by the US government to deal with certain problems. In this case, they are investigating a strange museum break in and the weird "lighting" that was associated with it.
The search will take us to the Arabian desert, and deep into the lives of two women. Lady Kara Kensington and Safia al-Maaz appear to be very different. Lady Kara is a wealthy heiress with a drive and determination that has taken her inheritance and multiplied it. Safia loves nothing more than spending time studying and preserving ancient artifacts. The two have a lot in common though. Safia grew up as Lady Kara's companion, and both of them have their roots in Arabia, and in this mystery.
If your looking for a "can't put it down" action-adventure than this book is perfect for you!
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Cussler. It's not what I read on a daily basis, but it is a genre I enjoy venturing into from time to time! "Sandstorm" is the first book in Rollin's "Sigma Force" series of books. The Sigma Force is a small group of elite operatives designated by the US government to deal with certain problems. In this case, they are investigating a strange museum break in and the weird "lighting" that was associated with it.
The search will take us to the Arabian desert, and deep into the lives of two women. Lady Kara Kensington and Safia al-Maaz appear to be very different. Lady Kara is a wealthy heiress with a drive and determination that has taken her inheritance and multiplied it. Safia loves nothing more than spending time studying and preserving ancient artifacts. The two have a lot in common though. Safia grew up as Lady Kara's companion, and both of them have their roots in Arabia, and in this mystery.
If your looking for a "can't put it down" action-adventure than this book is perfect for you!
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LibraryThing member harpua
My goodness what a fun book to read. I really didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The pace was slow at first and at first I thought that it was going to be just another ho-hum thriller novel, but as the book moved on I was pleased to find that while it was another thriller novel, it was so
Even after just one book, I've got a new favorite author here and will be picking up the rest of his books soon!
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much better than most I've read. Here we have a gov't agency in the Sigma Force against the Guild and mixed in for fun are some scientists, museum types and some ancient protector sects for fun. This book also explains the science behind some of the "super-natural" occurrences, and while true die-hard science fictions fans will think it's light weight, it is explained well enough for the uninitiated to understand and follow why it is important to the novel. The characters are ones that I can't wait to see more of. Some of them I'm sure are not to return in future Sigma Force novels, the ones that do I'm excited to see what new adventures they move on to. Even after just one book, I've got a new favorite author here and will be picking up the rest of his books soon!
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LibraryThing member MarcusH
For anyone who enjoys Indiana Jones, Clive Cussler, or Dan Brown; James Rollins combines archaeology, anthropology, adventure and suspense to create a great rainy day read. As Rollins' cast of characters travels across the world, they face danger and unexplainable phenomenon that creates a great
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sense of action and suspense. Show Less
LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
A novel which combines science and technology with an archaeological mystery and overlays that with a spy thriller which ends up as a pretty decent action-adventure yarn.
When what appears to be an accident at the British Museum destroys most of the Arabian collection owned by Lady Kara Kensington,
This book at times reads like an Indiana Jones film with bits of a Dan Brown plot thrown in for good measure but the end result is not bad. The action is plentiful but not really gripping in a kind of will they/won't they survive type of thing. The main characters are well written and you do care when they are up against it but the secondary characters just seem to be along for the ride or used to provide info-dumps on the science involved. I will at least read the next in the series at some point.
When what appears to be an accident at the British Museum destroys most of the Arabian collection owned by Lady Kara Kensington,
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her childhood friend and curator of the exhibition, Safia al-Maaz, makes a discovery that will send them on an expedition to Oman looking for the ancient city of Ubar. Putting together a team that will unite Safia with her former fiancé, Omaha Dunn, Kara is forced to accept Painter Crowe and his partner as members of the group. Crowe is an agent of Sigma Force, a secret US Government agency that combines special ops training with scientific knowledge to form an elite cadre of personnel that can handle any situation. They set off to discover where the discovered clue will lead them. Unfortunately for them there are also other interested parties that want to reach the same destination and they'll stop at nothing to get there. Mother Nature also wants to make her presence felt as well with the combination of a giant sandstorm and high pressure system to create a megastorm. Who's going to live through to the end and what will they find when they get there?This book at times reads like an Indiana Jones film with bits of a Dan Brown plot thrown in for good measure but the end result is not bad. The action is plentiful but not really gripping in a kind of will they/won't they survive type of thing. The main characters are well written and you do care when they are up against it but the secondary characters just seem to be along for the ride or used to provide info-dumps on the science involved. I will at least read the next in the series at some point.
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LibraryThing member JoClare
I really love James Rollin's books. I love how he takes a historical tidbit of information and connects it to a slice of science, mixes it all together with a lot of adventure and a dash of romance and voilà!; I'm ready for an enjoyable read~
I also love how he points out the facts and the fiction
I think he does a great job with his protagonists, I find most to be really interesting and fleshed out. Sigma Force is a recurring theme in many of his stories and it adds another layer of interest for me, taking the adventure to the next level.
Rollin's novels are every bit as enjoyable to me as a big screen summer blockbuster; think I'll go get some popcorn~
I also love how he points out the facts and the fiction
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at the end of his stories; more than once I have gotten lost on the internet satisfying my curiosity regarding the history/science he calls to attention there.I think he does a great job with his protagonists, I find most to be really interesting and fleshed out. Sigma Force is a recurring theme in many of his stories and it adds another layer of interest for me, taking the adventure to the next level.
Rollin's novels are every bit as enjoyable to me as a big screen summer blockbuster; think I'll go get some popcorn~
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LibraryThing member JoAnnSmithAinsworth
Great action. Great story. I was studying as I read.
LibraryThing member enemyanniemae
What's not to like about James Rollins? His Sigma Force series is the tops, combining thrills, Indiana Jones-like archaeology with just the right mix of history, religion and the supernatural. Throw in top secret operatives, romance, technology and science. You get a fun and exciting read.
LibraryThing member GTTexas
I went back to read this, the first of the Sigma Force series, after having read a number of the later books in the series. Surprising to me, it was every bit a good and exciting as the later volumes.
LibraryThing member SteveKSmy
A superb read. I was genuinely breathless at times! As a veteran reader I'd have to say that I can be a bit blinkered about the genres I read. James Rollins has broken through all barriers though, I'm very happy to say. I've read "Sandstorm" two and a bit times (retreading) and I became a hunter as
One complaint only: the ebook suffers from formatting faults! Punctuation is either missing or wrong and some text (mostly dialogue!) is split inappropriately :(. It's a shame that the translation to ebook form wasn't taken advantage of it - to remove type errors that are in the printed book.
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a consequence: hunting for more Sigma Force books lol. One complaint only: the ebook suffers from formatting faults! Punctuation is either missing or wrong and some text (mostly dialogue!) is split inappropriately :(. It's a shame that the translation to ebook form wasn't taken advantage of it - to remove type errors that are in the printed book.
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LibraryThing member eduscapes
It's always fun to read an old fashioned, adventure novel. Set in London and the Middle East, the book is non-stop action. When I see the name James Rollins, I know it's going to be a quick, exciting read.
LibraryThing member DanieXJ
Sandstorm definitely kept me guessing, a thriller in every sense of the word. It's the first novel in the SIGMA Force series. In this book the SIGMA Force is a super secret part of DARPA. Secret agents who are great at both agent-y stuff as well as science and technology, and who work to prevent
It takes place in Oman where some SIGMA agents, archaeologists, and civilians try to get to the discovery of a lifetime before The Guild and their agents do. Oh, and both groups are after the ancient find also have to race the mega sandstorm that is about to hit the region.
The book was a bit hard to get into, as are a lot of books that combine science/tech and mysticism. Not to mention I'm not a fan of a lot of the names that the author chose (really, Painter, Omaha?) But there were lots of women characters and a couple of them were even written okay. I did notice though that one of the main female main characters at the beginning disappeared about halfway through the book. Still, I would love to see more of the female character of Coral.
A solid three star thriller. Kept me on the edge of my seat with twists there weren't obvious. Not bad.
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the USA tech advances and science findings from falling into the hands of foreign governments and organizations who want power like The Guild.It takes place in Oman where some SIGMA agents, archaeologists, and civilians try to get to the discovery of a lifetime before The Guild and their agents do. Oh, and both groups are after the ancient find also have to race the mega sandstorm that is about to hit the region.
The book was a bit hard to get into, as are a lot of books that combine science/tech and mysticism. Not to mention I'm not a fan of a lot of the names that the author chose (really, Painter, Omaha?) But there were lots of women characters and a couple of them were even written okay. I did notice though that one of the main female main characters at the beginning disappeared about halfway through the book. Still, I would love to see more of the female character of Coral.
A solid three star thriller. Kept me on the edge of my seat with twists there weren't obvious. Not bad.
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LibraryThing member majkia
When a mysterious explosion rips apart a wing of the British Museum, a special force of scientist/soldiers is dispatched to the site. If their fears prove true, this explosion could be only a hint of what might happen if the forces that brought this about are triggered again.
Thriller that keeps you
And the women are just as kick-ass as the men.
Characterization, settings and plot combine to create a great read. I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
Thriller that keeps you
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guessing from start to finish. Lots of archaeology and physics and a storm of action accompany the small group of scientists who race the clock to head off a possible disaster. Their task though, is complicated when it becomes apparent, they have not one, but two mysterious organizations also in pursuit of a scientific breakthrough of enormous potential.And the women are just as kick-ass as the men.
Characterization, settings and plot combine to create a great read. I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
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LibraryThing member NPJacobsen
This book is jam packed with action, starting from the first pages and not letting up until the very end. It would be enough for me to leave it at that, but there is so much more to it. While full of action and adventure, there is also real science, geography, history, treachery, betrayal,
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determination, ingenuity, perseverance, love, and heartbreak. I dare say that there is something to interest everyone in this book. The first book in the SIGMA force series, I am already looking forward to more. Show Less
LibraryThing member deldevries
Engaging story with plenty of historical details thrown in to guide the story.
LibraryThing member DCarlin
My third book by James Rolllins and thi was as good if not better than many other stories I have read. While a bit far fetched it is entertaining and contains enough factual information and geographical sites to have readers of this genre enthralled from the first to last page. Definitely a
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favourite. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Part of me hated parts of this, archaeology with explosives is not good, but it was a light fast-paced thriller that I found a lot of fun to read. However some things should have been left out, particularly the two guys in love with one woman sub-plot, please let that go, it's getting to tired
Our heroes discover that an explosion in the London Gallery was caused by possible Ancient technology and it might be able to cause huge other damage. Cue a sponsored by wealthy patron and government chase to prevent bad guys from getting and abusing the tech.
Nothing earth-shattering in the plot, and some of the characters blurred into almost one at times (cull your cast people) and several seemed to be there to just provide people to be saved, but overall it read like the last Indiana Jones movie meets James Bond.
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cliche at this stage and it added almost nothing to the story. Let your main character deal with his other issues, first.Our heroes discover that an explosion in the London Gallery was caused by possible Ancient technology and it might be able to cause huge other damage. Cue a sponsored by wealthy patron and government chase to prevent bad guys from getting and abusing the tech.
Nothing earth-shattering in the plot, and some of the characters blurred into almost one at times (cull your cast people) and several seemed to be there to just provide people to be saved, but overall it read like the last Indiana Jones movie meets James Bond.
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LibraryThing member JenW1
Fast-paced and fun, similar to Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler (though not as long and involved). I'm looking forward to reading more in the Sigma Force series.
LibraryThing member Carol420
James Rollins is one of my favorite authors and I know the one thing that he truly knows how to do is write a story that that leaves the reader breathless and wanting more. This one did all that but it also had the reader turning page after page, after page after page....699 of them. I loved the
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story...loved the characters...both good ones and even a few of the bad ones. The history and some of the science was even fascinating...but... I didn't think it was ever going to end. Way too much technical stuff that the average person will have no clue what he's talking about. This excellent story could have been well told in half the time and print. Anyone that loves, history, adventure, and is interested in the technical stuff will absolutely love this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member JohnFair
With ancient civilisations hidden under the sands of the deserts of Arabia and an archaeologist in the mould of Indiana Jones, along with a rich heiress and a beautiful Professor of Archaeology this has pretty all the required elements of a successful thriller and I have to say that there is all
While I can't comment on most of the settings or the likelihood of the storage of antimatter as presented in the novel, the way the British Museum was invaded, with overhead power lines being brought down, is a bit extreme (and we use underground power lines in the UK mostly)
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the action you need as the protagonists seek out a source of energy that would make the Arabian oil fields look pretty pointless While I can't comment on most of the settings or the likelihood of the storage of antimatter as presented in the novel, the way the British Museum was invaded, with overhead power lines being brought down, is a bit extreme (and we use underground power lines in the UK mostly)
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LibraryThing member veeshee
It was ... wow. I loved every minute of it. I loved the history, the science, the different characters. There were times when I thought this novel was journeying into the land of fantasy, only to find myself being brought back to the realm of science. Although some parts were a tad bit hard to
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swallow, the story line was interesting and the adventurous journey was thrilling. Every angle was covered and new angles were brought to light constantly. I literally could not put this book down. It got to the point where I neglected doing the required readings for my courses and simply focused on this novel. James Rollins channels Michael Crichton in the way he writes and in the way he makes the surreal come to life and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Michael Crichton! READ THIS BOOK, READ THIS BOOK, READ THIS BOOK! IT IS THE COOLEST AND CRAZIEST NOVEL AND WORTH READING!!!! As you can tell, I really liked this book. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004-07
ISBN
0060874694 / 9780060874698