Review of "The 6th Extinction: A Sigma Force Novel" by James Rollins

 In this 10th book in the Sigma Force series two civilian scientists - one in California and one in Brazil - are trying to develop 'outside-the-box' solutions to counteract humankind's destruction of the Earth. Unfortunately the cures are worse than the disease. The book can be read as a standalone.





FYI: Sigma Force is a secret division of the U.S. Department of Defense, composed of former Special Forces officers who've been trained in various scientific disciplines. 

*****

The story: In a covert underground laboratory in northern California, Dr. Kendall Hess has developed man-made indestructible viral shells, and loaded them with a substance that will kill ANYTHING and EVERYTHING it contacts. 





When the virus gets loose - and safeguards in the lab fail - a desperate distress call goes out. The SOS ends with the plea: "Kill us. Kill us all." California State Park Ranger Jenna Beck and her partner - a Siberian Husky named Nikko - arrive at the scene to see the lab explode and Hess get abducted by well-trained commandos. 



The commandos try to kill Jenna (because she witnessed the kidnapping), but the Ranger is very resourceful and holds her own until Sigma Force personnel arrive.

Everyone in the California lab (aside from Hess) is dead and the virus-contaminated smoke emanating from the burning facility is killing everything it touches: bacteria, fungi, insects, plants, animals, people, etc. Moreover, the destruction is spreading and seems unstoppable. 



Skip ahead a short while and two victims of the virus - the dog Nikko and a Sigma Force operative - are quarantined and fighting for their lives.





In addition, the discovery of old maps and other clues result in two Sigma Force units being dispatched: one team - led by Gray Pierce - goes to a laboratory in the Antarctic. 



Another squad - led by Painter Crowe -travels to the mountains of Brazil. Both teams are attacked at every turn, and the book is chock full of action scenes filled with death and destruction. 



At the Antarctic facility, Sigma Force learns about a habitat beneath the Antarctic ice, populated by ancient exotic creatures living in lakes and caverns. 



These organisms, which are unknown to the outside world, have an unusual type of genetic material called XNA (for xenonucleic acid). XNA contains a different sugar component than RNA (which contains ribose) or DNA (which contains deoxyribose). 

It turns out that Hess's California lab used XNA to create the deadly substance in the undestroyable viral shells. Hess's ultimate aim was to fortify the DNA and RNA of 'normal' plants and animals - so they could withstand global warming, habitat destruction, and other harmful changes to the planet. However the discoveries in Antarctica don't provide a solution to the spreading calamity in California.

In Brazil, Sigma Force finds that (supposedly dead) scientist Dr. Elwes Cutter - an evil genius - has used XNA to bioengineer a tropical ecosystem filled with deadly plants and animals. (I have to admire the author's imagination in creating all the unusual creatures in this novel.) 





In addition, Cutter had Hess abducted, so he could get the 'blueprints' for the invincible viral shells. Cutter has various nefarious schemes in mind to 'save the Earth' (which I can't reveal because of spoilers).

Meanwhile, back in California a government scientist, Dr. Raymond Lindahl, is trying to stop the virus before it spreads to the whole region, country, and perhaps world. Lindahl is planning to use the nuclear option if all else fails. In addition, Lindahl wants to use poor Nikko as a test subject - to study the effects of the virus on his body. Other Sigma Force personnel strongly object to these plans for Nikko, but the scientist is very insistent. This leads to some drastic actions.....

With all this going on, the Sigma Force teams face a race against time at every turn. 



The units in the Antarctic and Brazil are fighting to survive attacks by commandos AND deadly creatures; the Brazil team is trying to capture Cutter before he carries out his diabolical plans; and all of Sigma Force is desperate to stop the virus before Lindahl blows up California. Can they do it? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Rollins includes a lot of real science in the book including: life in extreme environments; techniques for manipulating genetic material; methods for creating new species; attempts to resurrect extinct species; and more. 



I enjoyed the novel but found that the escapades and organisms in the two locations, Antarctica and Brazil, got confused in my mind....and I sometimes had stop and think where I was in the book. Still, it's a good story that would appeal to fans of science-filled, action-packed stories.....and I'd recommend the book to those readers. 

If you're a long-time fan of the series you should know that all the popular Sigma Force characters are on hand for the proceedings - and there are some changes in the private lives of a couple (can you say wedding?). 

Rating: 3.5 stars