Petrified
Nathan Underhill, the zoologist introduced in Basilisk (2009), is at it again. Still working on his cutting edge stem-cell research, trying to find cures for modern-day afflictions by genetically engineering ancient (not to mention mythological) creatures, including a phoenix-worm, which, consumed by fire, will produce a living, breathing phoenix. As regular readers of Masterton's novels will expect, mayhem ensues. As he does in his best work (including Basilisk), Masterton doesn't waste a lot of time justifying or backfilling his wild story: you either accept the premise, or you don't. Remarkably, though, it's hard not to accept it. Masterton writes with such conviction that the idea of a man creating a mythological creature in a modern day lab seems, if not normal, at least plausible. And, as the pace picks up, we are too busy following the action to wonder about such fiddling irrelevancies as whether any of this could actually happen. A splendidly entertaining horror novel from a master of the genre. -- Booklist, October 1st, 2011