Sleeping Giants

Sylvain Neuvel

Apr 2016 · The Themis Files Book 1 · Sold by Del Rey

About this eBook

A page-turning debut in the tradition of Michael Crichton, World War Z, and The Martian, Sleeping Giants is a thriller fueled by an earthshaking mystery—and a fight to control a gargantuan power.

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

Praise for Sleeping Giants

“As high-concept as it is, Sleeping Giants is a thriller through and through. . . . One of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory, [and] a smart demonstration of how science fiction can honor its traditions and reverse-engineer them at the same time.”—NPR

“Neuvel weaves a complex tapestry with ancient machinery buried in the Earth, shadow governments, and geopolitical conflicts. But the most surprising thing about the book may just be how compelling the central characters are in the midst of these larger-than-life concepts. . . . I can’t stop thinking about it.”—Chicago Review of Books

“A remarkable debut . . . Reminiscent of Max Brooks’s World War Z, the story’s format effectively builds suspense.”—Library Journal (debut of the month)

“This stellar debut novel . . . masterfully blends together elements of sci-fi, political thriller and apocalyptic fiction. . . . A page-turner of the highest order.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Don’t miss any of The Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel:
SLEEPING GIANTS | WAKING GODS | ONLY HUMAN

Ratings and reviews

It was entertaining. The author takes on an old sci-fi idea and has an interesting approach to presenting it. The characters were a bit cookie cutter and shallow. The story could be more intriguing and I am anxious for the next book to come out and see if it gets there. I felt like just about the time the story was getting good and I began to feel attached to the characters it ended. I would actually probably give it 3.5-4 stars, but it seems that most people assume anything lower than 5 was disappointing.

Narration was monotone, and sounded almost as boring as the subject matter felt. The foreshadowing is pandering, a lack of research by the author is obvious throughout. Didn't read the book, but definitly do not recommend buying the audio. Also, felt like a pathetic attempt to replicate Max Brooks work, and just turned into a dumpster fire. Sorry he got my money

We don't know what our government and military do, we don't know all of Earth's history, and we dont know how small we actually are. I think the author somehow found a way to make it sound simple, but it's not. Our everyday lives feel too complex to handle, but you could zoom out indefinitely and our problems would get smaller and smaller. The author did a great job of opening minds without making us feel dumb. Can't wait for the next book!

About the author

Sylvain Neuvel is a linguist and translator based in Montreal. He is at work on an R2-D2 replica and his next novel.