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| Archaeologists at work in Sweden |
In case you missed it, yesterday I posted about the Top Ten Things You Never Knew About Archaeology. In reply, historical mystery author Gary Corby asked if I'd given thought to writing an archaeological thriller. I have, and I mentioned that.
I really don't know.
So I'm curious. I'd love to hear what you all think. What would constitute an archaeological thriller? When you hear the phrase, what, if anything, pops into your mind? I'd love to hear from everyone!
.Nevets.
Well, before I actually read your post, as I was clicking over, this was my answer:
ReplyDeleteA book where something archaeological (either a MacGuffin, or the archaeological discovery, is the driving force behind the thrill. In other words, a book about either an artifact that people want, or an archaeological discovery that they want covered up.
I still stand by this, but after reading your post, I'd have to say that this description pretty neatly fits in with Indiana Jones, Dirk Pitt, even Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE, etc.
Would I read an archaeological thriller? HECK YES.
I say do it, so I can read it :)
When I read "archaeological thriller" the first thing I thought of was Nightfall by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, and the scene where one of the MCs is excavating a site that serves as proof that there will be a total eclipse for the first time in 2000+ years.
ReplyDeleteSimply a thriller format in which archaeology plays a central element in the plot. You'll need an exotic locale too.
ReplyDelete"The chance discovery of a mysterious artefact during an archaeological dig on Crete, led by Professor Sandra Futheringham-Jones of Oxford University and ably assisted by her handsome post-doc student Chuck White, leads to a series of attempts on their lives. In their desperate bid to survive they discover that a secret society of the descendants of the high priests who ruled Minoan civilization have been controlling the world ever since, and that knowledge of the artefact will expose their existence. To save themselves, Sandra and Chuck must decipher the strange markings on the artefact, which unfortunately are written in Linear A."
Also, all archaeological thrillers involve whips. Sandra carries a whip because she's into that sort of thing.
Thanks, y'all!
ReplyDelete@LT - Thanks for your input and encouragement! I have a short story from ~ 1998 that's a sci fi archaeology-themed psychological thriller about a cover-up like you describe. I'll resurface that story one day.
@G'Eagle - Thank you so much for reminding me about "Nightfall"! I haven't read that in forever. I need to do that again.
@Gary - Love the scenario. And I always suspected that about Sandra...
Yeah, what they all said.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Easterman does something similar.
Does it have to be literally archaeological? It made me think of layers beneath layers; a story unfoldling that way. Could be about anything (incuding, of course, archaeology).
ReplyDelete