Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: Contest

Top positive review

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

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

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Susie

Three Stars

Reviewed in Australia on 14 October 2015

Fast paced and full of action and suspense. A real page turner.

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From Australia

ROGER NORSWORTHY

Cracker

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.

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Amazon Customer

Four Stars

Reviewed in Australia on 5 April 2017

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Another great adventure by Matthew Reilly.

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Cricket n Cho

What a great read

Reviewed in Australia on 9 May 2016

Mathew Reilly is a seriously good writer who has now to deal with the tall poppy syndrome. Contest is a great book to read, to own or even to hold. Get over the genre thing and give it a go. There is no stuck up pretence with any of Reilly's books they are fun to read.

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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.

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

E. Mcdonald

Contest, by Matthew Reilly

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2010

Verified Purchase

I had already read some of Matthew Reilly's later books before I read Contest,which was his first book.He is one of my favourite authors and I certainly was not disappointed when I read Contest.
If you like action,suspense and your hero struggling against seemingly impossible odds, you will like this book.
If you enjoyed Star Wars and the Dinosaur films, you will probably not find the interesting 'alien' creatures in Contest too difficult to accept.

DKS

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2017

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Arrived quickly and was as expected.

Kindle Customer John B

No contest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2013

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An interesting book with a somewhat original concept, in that it placed the action in the present within a current existing environment. An unlikely hero.

Richard L Clark

For his first book its very good, sets the standard of Matthew Reilly books to ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2017

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For his first book its very good, sets the standard of Matthew Reilly books to come and they only get better.

fan of gore

An early work and not as polished as his later ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2014

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An early work and not as polished as his later work but imaginative and very enjoyable read but content is dated as it is set when pent I'm 3 was the big tech innovation.

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

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