Impact

A meteorite crashes near the coast of Maine, prompting ex-CIA agent Ford Palmer to investigate its mysterious origins. The investigation leads him to uncover a pattern of similar impacts across the globe, each with unexplained characteristics. College dropout Abbey Straw makes observations through her telescope in Maine that seem connected to the impacts, while in Cambodia, scientist Dorothy Arveson discovers something unprecedented during her research. The three storylines converge as they pursue answers about the source and nature of these astronomical events. The mounting evidence points to forces beyond Earth, leading to a race against time with global implications. Government agencies, scientists, and rival groups become entangled in the search for truth about these phenomena. Impact combines scientific intrigue with action elements to explore themes of discovery and humanity's place in the cosmos. The narrative raises questions about how societies and individuals respond when faced with potential evidence of extraterrestrial activity.

Readers found Impact to be a fast-paced thriller that keeps pages turning, though many noted the plot becomes far-fetched in later chapters. The multiple storyline structure created suspense but left some feeling the narratives were disjointed. Liked: - Quick pace and short chapters maintain momentum - Strong female protagonist in Wyman Ford - Scientific elements feel well-researched - First third hooks readers effectively Disliked: - Plot grows increasingly implausible - Character development feels thin - Too many coincidences drive the story - Ending disappoints many readers as rushed One reader noted: "Started strong but went off the rails when it shifted from mystery to sci-fi." Another stated: "The science was interesting but the characters never felt real to me." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (890+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (300+ ratings) Most recommend it as an entertaining beach read but not Preston's strongest work.

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🔹 The meteorite crater central to the story was inspired by an actual discovery in northern Cambodia, where scientists found a 12-kilometer-wide crater created by an ancient impact. 🔹 Author Douglas Preston spent years as a writer for the American Museum of Natural History in New York, giving him extensive knowledge of archaeology and scientific expeditions that he uses in his novels. 🔹 The Tunguska Event referenced in the book was real - in 1908, a mysterious explosion flattened 80 million trees over 830 square miles in Siberia, likely caused by a meteor or comet. 🔹 While writing Impact, Preston consulted with NASA scientists about realistic scenarios for meteor strikes and their potential effects on Earth's civilization. 🔹 The Maine coastline setting described in the novel comes from Preston's personal experience - he lived there for several years and still maintains a home in that region.