Contest (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Author | Matthew Reilly |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Fiction |
| Publisher | Thomas Dunne Books |
| Released | March 10, 2003 (US) |
| Media Type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 336 pages |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-312-28625-2 |
Contest is the first published novel by Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly, and established his career as one of the most popular writers among young Australians, as well as people all over the world. It is interesting to note that in 1996, after being rejected by several Australian publishing houses, Reilly personally paid for 1000 copies of the book to be published privately, and sold them himself.
[edit] Story
The New York Library is a sanctuary of knowledge: a hundred-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles, and spiral staircases. But for Stephen Swain and his 8 year-old daughter, Holly it is a place of nightmare. For just one night, this historic building is to become the venue contest... a contest in which Swain must compete, whether he wants to or not. The rules of the challenge are simple: seven contestants will enter, but only one will leave. With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight. The stakes are high; the odds against him are brutal. He can choose to run, to hide, or to fight - but if he wants to live, he needs to win. For, in this particular contest, unless you leave as victor, you do not leave at all.
Contest is the original Matthew Reilly bestseller, and is a strong indication of the direction that Australian literature is taking, especially the thriller genre and the work of younger writers.
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Contest is also a movie in production by Matthew Reilly himself. Earlier this year Reilly finished filming the events of the first fifteen minutes of the novel.
[edit] Fellow Contestants
Balthazar: A Crisean, a species of expert-blade wielding warriors. Able to alter physical shape causing him to appear as a tall, bearded man in the novel. This spiecies is also as close to human as the extraterresrials. Injured by Reese early on in the fight, he is saved by Swain. When he and Hawkins are stuck in a janitors closet they are attacked by the Cortex. Hawkins throws a match into a pool of flammable liquids but the Cortex survived and began strangling Balthazar who desperately kicked a box of chemicals into the fire incinerating him instantly.
