The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project) | Douglas E. Richards

The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project) | Douglas E. Richards | Courtesy of Teens Read Too

books:

The Prometheus Pro...

	The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project) Douglas E. Richards Dna Press, 2007 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Included in The California Department of Education?s Recommended Literature for Science and Math and in Missouri State University?s Best New Books to Engage Students in Math and Science This fast-paced, science fiction adventure is a stand-alone sequel to The Prometheus Project: Trapped. Along with their scientist parents, the brother-sister duo of Ryan and Regan continue their exploration of a fantastic alien city built deep underground. When the city is captured by a ruthless alien?with unknown capabilities and diabolical plans?and his band of mercenaries, the adult members of the team are taken hostage, and the siblings remain the team?s only hope. To save the adults, Ryan and Regan must outwit the brilliant alien and his well-trained force, free the prisoners, and thwart a seemingly unstoppable invasion. Crammed with cliffhangers, nonstop action, and unexpected twists and turns, this novel introduces scientific topics?sound and hearing, ultrasonic sound, experimental methodologies, flashpowder, human memory, and superconductivity?to children while engaging their imaginations.

for more information click here

A page-turner for kids of all ages!

Book Two of The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), is a science-fiction fantasy whose main characters, Ryan and Regan, are the youngest members of a top-secret team sent by the government to investigate the greatest discovery ever made: a vast city buried deep underground ... beneath Pennsylvania.

I admire the way author Douglas E. Richards sums up the first in the series, The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), in the prologue to this second book.

The children's parents are noted scientists and important members of the team of scientists and elite security guards selected by the U.S. President to explore the fantastic, abandoned city. In fact, their father is responsible for solving the code that removes the energy barrier that allows them access and egress. In book one the entire team disappears, except the children. They form a friendship with the central computer who seems so human to them they dub it "The Teacher." The Teacher gives them the special gift of "telepathy" which, along with their natural brilliance and scientific knowledge, aids them in their quest to discover what happened to the team and to save them.

Now, in book two, The Prometheus Project: Captured (The Prometheus Project), an evil alien journeys through one of the "Zoo" portals from another planet to invade the city. The children are alerted by an aborted telepathic message that something is wrong, but by the time they reach the team, they--except one guard--have been taken hostage by ruthless mercenaries led by the monstrous alien.

What is the "Zoo," and how does it figure in the children's plan to save the team and thwart the mysterious alien's far-reaching plan. How does the President figure into his evil plot? What supernatural power does the alien use to control humans? And why doesn't that power work on the children? When does the missing guard show up and is he able to help the children? Since the brilliant alien meticulously planned this invasion long before the team started their exploration, why does he destroy the entrance to the city, then pretend to be trapped inside too? Why does he threaten to kill the children's mother if their father doesn't come up with a new "entrance code" within six hours?

Once again, the fate of the team--and this time, the entire world--lies in the hands of these extraordinary children. Will they be in time to save their mother ... and the world?

To find the answers to those questions and more, read this book; I gave four stars for Richards's well-developed characters, inventiveness of plot and for the smooth way he presents unbelievable situations in such realistic, intelligent manners as to make them genuinely believable. You will think you're there with the characters, enjoying adventure after adventure as these clever children outwit world-renowned scientists to help save the world from the evil alien. I started to deduct one star because there were too many grammatical errors, but because Richards writes so well and it's such an original plot, I decided not to. FYI, none of the errors were blatant enough to halt the smooth flow, but they certainly "jarred" at times.

Since the author, Douglas E. Richards, has a career in biotechnology, his technical jargon rings true. I recommend this book, especially to young adults for whom this exciting page-turner is written. I look forward to reading the first book and future editions in the series, hoping the author secures a top-notch editor next time around.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
Author of: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

for more information click here

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Quick note: This is the second book in THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT series (which I say mostly because I hope there will be many more), but it definitely stands alone. The first book, The Prometheus Project: Trapped (Richards, Douglas E. Prometheus Project), is nicely recapped in the first chapter of CAPTURED, and referred to often enough that you don't really feel like you've missed anything. Other than the fun of reading the first one.

Ryan and Regan Resnick are extremely smart kids. Maybe a little too smart. But boy is everyone else lucky that they are! Last summer, their scientist parents dragged them to a sleepy town in Pennsylvania, for no reason that they could see. Until they found the secret city that the government, and their parents, were studying, under high security. It was built by aliens. Ryan and Regan's dad was the first person to ever break through the barrier that the aliens put up. Until Ryan and Regan found their own way in. It's a good thing they did, too. Since they ended up having to save everyone. Now they are the youngest members of the Prometheus Project.

Between school and the Prometheus Project, Ryan and Regan have plenty to occupy their time and minds. Especially since they seem to have acquired some telepathic ability that connects them to each other as well as to the main computer in the city. They can communicate as well as sense the connections. At least they could with the computer until it sent out some kind of warning the other day, and seems to have shut down. But no one in the city seems to notice anything strange, so they let it go.

Planning to do some exploring and help with a few experiments, they meet their parents in the building that they've set up shop in. Much to the brother and sister's disappointment, their parents have a dinner party planned and are ready to go home. After much convincing it is agreed that they will be allowed to stay overnight by themselves. After all, the city is guarded by the best security the government can offer. Plus their parents are planning to be back at six in the morning.

Ryan and Regan wake up the next morning to find that it's already eight o'clock, and their parents still aren't back. They set out to investigate, only to find the city apparently deserted. No scientists, not even security people. Something is definitely wrong. And it looks like it's up to Ryan and Regan to solve it. As long as whatever took out the computer doesn't get them next.

Fast paced adventure, mixed with quick thinking. I don't know if I would have nearly the presence of mind that these two have, but it sure was fun to ride along with them! There is a lot of scientific information, which I'm sure is very interesting if you get it. I can speak from experience and say that it's not necessary to understand all of it. It's done in a way that just about anybody can follow, and doesn't make you feel dumb for not getting it all. Ryan and Regan are great fun, and the story is just a cool idea! The whole book is very well written, but the last chapter is too perfect! You'll agree when you read it.

I'm (impatiently) looking forward to getting a copy of the first book in the mail, and the next one as soon as the author can get it finished!

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

for more information click here

Review by Steve

Prometheus Project: Captured by Douglas Richards is the second book in the Prometheus Project Series. This young teenager Sci-fi series is about an underground alien city left as an outpost to watch the emerging human race. The main characters are a brother and sister whose parents are brilliant scientists working on a top-secret team to explore and learn all about the alien technology.

In the first book, the kids use reasoning and logic to break into the city and with the help of the city's telepathic computer teacher, saves their mother from a deadly accident. And while doing so, they learn about time paradox, gravity, and the scientific method s among other things. It was a really good book, and one I highly recommended.

Captured, the second book, has an escaped alien convict who uses technologically enhanced mental powers to take over the city. Again, the kids use reasoning and logic to overcome the alien and save the day.

As I wrote in the first review, we home-school our kids and my part is to help in math and some science. It's not hard being knowledgeable when you have the teacher's guide. So the funniest part in the book for me was when the daughter discovered something to prove her father, a world-class scientist, was wrong.

Both books have been tested and approved by our two youngest children, Nona, age 10 & Jimmy, age 13.

for more information click here

Highly recommended

When Ryan and Regan Resnick first discover the Prometheus Project in Trapped, they must try to save their mother. In Captured, they face an even bigger challenge - this time they need to save the world.

When the alien race known as the Qwervy created Prometheus, they hadn't anticipated other aliens sneaking in and using it for sinister motives. Now a brilliant alien criminal has taken over the city and has plans to take over the world. All of the adults on the team have been taken hostage, and it's up to Ryan and Regan to outwit the alien.

In order to demonstrate the concepts the kids will need to use, the author sets the stage early before disaster strikes. But then these two exceptional kids use those concepts masterfully against the diabolical alien.

I loved Trapped, and I think Douglas E. Richards outdid himself in Captured. These are books the thinking kid will love, and a wonderful adventure. I'm eagerly awaiting the next volumes in this outstanding series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

for more information click here

Captured

Captured is the second book in The Prometheus Project. In the first book, Trapped, Ryan and Regan Resnick were surprised to learn that their parents were part of the Prometheus Project, a top-secret team of scientists who discovered an alien city buried within the Earth. Due to their unquenchable curiosity, quick wit, and predisposition to find trouble, the children not only discovered their parents' secret but also managed to become an important part of the team.

In Captured, Ryan and Regan are given a warning from the teacher, an alien device that communicates with the kids telepathically. They are told that an intruder has entered the alien city. A security check doesn't seem to find anything. Then, strange things begin to happen. The head of security suddenly loses his memory, in fact he can't remember order that initial security check. Something weird is going on.

I was captivated by Captured. I found the second book in this great series just as entertaining and action filled as the first book.

for more information click here

products you might be interested in