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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 under the label of 'Karanadon Entertainment', and sold them himself. Image File history File links Contest. ...
Matthew John Reilly, (born 2 July 1974 in Sydney), is an Australian action/thriller writer. ...
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Ice Station is Australian thriller writer Matthew Reillys second novel, released in 1998. ...
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Cosette Dwyer is an amazing author. ...
Matthew John Reilly, (born 2 July 1974 in Sydney), is an Australian action/thriller writer. ...
Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...
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Before publishing the novel in North America, Reilly wrote again most of the novel, placing the contest in the New York Library (originally a fictitious library) and added mentions to the other contestants in order to improve his story. World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...
Synopsis
While in their house, Dr. Stephen Swain and his daughter Holly are teleported inside of the New York Library by a bright ray of white light. Inside the library, they're joined by Selexin, a small alien who explains to Stephen he's a contestant in The Presidian, an intergalactic contest where he must compete against six other alien races.
The rules of the contest are simple, kill or be killed; you can only win if the other contestants are dead. The library has been sealed so the contestants can't leave. The only way out is through a portal that will activate once all contestants are confirmed dead. It is up to Swain to survive through this madness along with his daughter.
The other contestants are willing to do whatever it takes to win The Presidian and need to kill Swain in order to win. Hiding is not an option, as there is a precautory measure inside the library. The Karanadon. A huge sleeping beast whose sole purpose is to make sure at the end, only the winner or none remain alive.
Characters There are seven contestants in The Presidian, although the main ones are Swain, Bellos, Reese and Balthazar. Also listed are non contestant characters important to the story. | Contestants | | Stephen Swain | A doctor, main character of the story who lives with his daughter Holly. Swain alongside with his daughter is sent into the contest representing Earth. | | Bellos | A Malonian, a species of trophy collectors widely regarded as the most lethal huntsmen in the galaxy. Is amorphic, being able to alter his physical shape, allowing him to appear as a tall, highly-developed man, so as to facilitate usage of door handles or potential weapons etc. made for the human form. Bellos also has a pair of horns. Bellos appears dressed all in black, with the exception of a golden breastplate taken from a Roman Centurion by Bellos' ancestor in a previous Presidian. | | Reese | A huge black creature that uses its antennae to paralyse its prey and then kills them with its razor sharp tail. It has no eyes and a three sided jaw. | | Balthazar | A Crisean, a species of expert-blade wielding warriors. Is amorphic, being able to alter his physical shape, allowing him to appear as a tall, bearded man so as to facilitate usage of door handles or potential weapons etc. made for the human form. | | The Rachnid | An alien that waits on the top of caves, then jumps down to strangle its prey with its eight long legs. | | The Konda | An insectoid with claws that contain a powerful toxin. It cannot breath earth's oxygen, so it uses a breath mask. | | The Codex | An alien with a floating triangular black head, with a tail of what seems like white pearls hanging down from its head. | | Non Contestants | | Holly Swain | Stephen Swain's daughter, she was teleported inside the library along with her dad by mistake. She is not supposed to be a contestant, but she can't leave the library until the contest is over. | | Selexin | Stephen Swain's guide through the contest, their race can't participate in the Presidian since they are too small so they serve as witnesses of the kills of the contestants. | | The Karanadon | An enormous dormant beast located inside the place of the contest prior to its start, to be awakened in the case that the participants wouldn't or couldn't kill each other in a certain time. |
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations Reilly has filmed the events of the first fifteen minutes of the novel, his intention is to show the footage in order to get funding to make a movie of the novel, which he intends to direct.[1][2] |
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