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Contest Audio CD – Unabridged, 1 October 2007

by Matthew Reilly (Author), Sean Mangan (Reader), Anna Burley (Producer)

364 ratings

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The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not. The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave. With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

Print length

1 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bolinda audio
Publication date

1 October 2007
Dimensions

13.2 x 1.4 x 12.2 cm
ISBN-10

1742011241
ISBN-13

978-1742011240
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Product description

Review

"Offers constant, nail-biting action." -- Publishers Weekly

Book Description

The action-packed extravaganza that launched an international bestselling career.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bolinda audio; Unabridged edition (1 October 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Audio CD ‏ : ‎ 1 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1742011241
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1742011240
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.2 x 1.4 x 12.2 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 1,017,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 12,333 in Occult Stories
- 96,156 in Science Fiction (Books)
- 299,928 in Religion & Spirituality (Books)

Customer Reviews:
364 ratings

Matthew Reilly
475
Paperback
4 offers from $12.80
Matthew Reilly
296
Paperback
4 offers from $12.00
Matthew Reilly
890
Paperback
3 offers from $13.50
Matthew Reilly
722
Paperback
4 offers from $4.75
Matthew Reilly
627
Paperback
4 offers from $8.00
Matthew Reilly
1,076
Paperback
3 offers from $12.80

About the author

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Matthew Reilly

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Matthew Reilly is the international bestselling author of eight novels: The 6 Sacred Stones, 7 Deadly Wonders, Ice Station, Temple, Contest, Area 7, Scarecrow, and the children's book Hover Car Racer, and one novella, Hell Island. His books are published in more than eighteen languages in twenty countries, and he has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		19%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Matthew Reilly's first and finest work - Contest is a brilliant thrill ride that should not be missed

Reviewed in Australia on 18 April 2015

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The first of Matthew Reilly's books - and in my opinion, still his best. This is the story of a ER Dr who is taken to be part of an intergalactic contest to the death. Only the Dr has no idea and he has an added incentive that the other contestants don't.
This story is a continuous thrill ride that you just can't put down - like all of Matthew Reilly's books.
This book is absolutely brilliant, and you will be captivated right up to the final pages.
This is Matthew Reilly at his best - and should not be missed by anyone who loves Sci-Fi or Action novels.

2 people found this helpful

First but not my last - definitely!

Reviewed in Australia on 23 November 2015

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First full-sized novel of Matthew Reilly's that I have read and it definitely won't be the last.
I felt like I was in the middle of a sci-fi action movie - fun & nail-biting at the same time.
The pace of the novel was very fast and exhausting to read. I kept wondering how the main character was going to get out of each situation he found himself in.
The finish was sorted out to my total satisfaction.

Reviewed in Australia on 31 December 2018

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This book was originally self published due to no company wanting to take it on. Very foolish of them. I have read everything else that Reilly has now had published and this first book has always been my favourite.

One person found this helpful

A story with a difference

Reviewed in Australia on 3 November 2021

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Really enjoyed this book

a very good read.

Reviewed in Australia on 26 June 2020

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That was a different type of story but loved it.good work Matthew.

Reviewed in Australia on 24 February 2021

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Replacement for a lost copy

ROGER NORSWORTHY

Reviewed in Australia on 3 November 2014

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Great pace, as is the norm with Matthew Reilly, wanted to read more about this genre from him. He does action so well - all his books should be movies.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in Australia on 26 April 2015

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One of the best, and so different to what I expected!

Top reviews from other countries

G. Noble

Great plot which moves at a blistering pace

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2019

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Dr Stephen Swain and his young daughter, Holly, find themselves in the midst of a lethal contest within the confines of the New York State Library. Transported inside by alien beings, the 7 contestants have to battle to the death, with the victor winning his/her freedom. Unable to escape due to a forcefield and a bracelet which self-destructs if a contestant manages to make it beyond the perimeter, and confronted by some of the deadliest fighters in the universe, Swain must reach deep inside to find the skills to survive.

As a big fan of Reilly's Shane Schofield books, I was intrigued to read this first book from the author. You can tell that it is the first book Reilly wrote as it is not as polished as the Schofield books, however, it was still a really good story that blasted along at a blistering pace. There is obviously quite a lot of violence and death in the book due to the subject. Excellent read.

Danimal

Really enjoyed this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2018

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The first book Matthew Reilly realeased. This was great, I really enjoyed this, I liked the idea and concept of the story, and found it good and tense in the right places. It’s fast paced like all his books, and again isn’t going to win prizes for writting, but it’s one of his better books.
Its very easy to read and visualise. The story is kind of like predator meets night at the museum. I would recommend this to younger readers.

7 people found this helpful

Mr. William Oxley

FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2011

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This is the rewritten version of Contest by Matthew Reilly that first came out as a self-published novel in 1996. The difference with the original is in moving the Contest to the New York Public Library instead of a fictitious library and adding in 2 more combatants to the Presidian's contest.

As a whole this book is a great page turner at a high action level where you can not take a breath. Our human contestant is Dr Stephen Swain. He has been chosen by the Presidian committee to represent one of the alien nations in a historic battle to the death where the last contestant standing is the winner. Although this is not quite true, because the last contestant has to defeat the beast. Swain has six other contestants that he will have to out live in order to win his potential freedom and be crowned the winner. Unfortunately he is up against some of the Universes greatest hunters and killers who have trained for years to get to the contest and win.

Two questions. One of the questions that I have to ask is why was Dr Swain chosen to represent the human race in this fighting contest, rather than an SAS or Green Beret. And on top of that how come the committee makes so many mistakes; transporting his daughter in but then not taking her out, allowing an other contestant to cheat, and not sealing up the exit. Plus if I was betting on this grand sporting event, then I would want to watch it unfold, otherwise where is the tension and drama. The Grand National would not be worth a flutter if not for the build up and climatic race.

Apart from that I thought the story was very readable and enjoyable.

2 people found this helpful

Dogbite Dave

ANOTHER excellent book by an excellent author.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2018

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I write this review based on decades of experiences. I have always been an avid reader, even more so since injury and pain keep me awake and sleepless. I read a good three books a week.

I discovered this author through his scarecrow series. He has several other characters that have formed series but this is a stand alone book.

I do not want to give up too much of the plot but this book takes off in an unexpected direction.

A man and his daughter, aliens, ingenuity, combat and humour ALL rolled into one.

A good read and is the next best thing to a page turner which is in my view the best of books.

Kindle Customer

Wow what a contest!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2016

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I actually read this book years ago and loved the fast pace and frenetic speed in which the reader gets caught up in! You can't but enjoy any book written by Matthew Reilly and I am an avid fan and reader of his books. This one is a stand alone compared to his others and is a flight to the death with the most obscure characters! If you want something a little different that deals with everyday life and not of this world you will enjoy this and like the characters of Swain, his daughter Holly and Selexin! Throw in Reece and a Rachnid and you will have an interesting read! Enjoy!

One person found this helpful

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