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Natural Selection

The central problem of the novel is the predator itself. Interesting when first introduced, the pathetic demon ray is killed having bagged a whopping total of 3 humans. The creature has all the lethality of a rabid Chihuahua -- it can kill you, but you need the survival instincts of a lemming to let that happen.

The animal's appalling ineffectiveness may stem from the fact that it's the worst procrastinator in the animal kingdom. The demon ray spends oceans of time tracking down a prey, only to dilly-dally and give the intended quarry a thousand opportunities to escape (which they usually do). When the creature actually manages to kill, the fresh carcass is left lying around for no reason than other than furthering the plot. Why would a water-bred species have evolved to kill prey and then leave it for snack time sometime on the morrow?

Despite these problems, the most disappointing aspect of the book is the completely fabricated science. I appreciate when an author does background research to blend, shape, and fit actual theories into an entertaining what-if. The science in this book -- from the conduit theory to the creature's mode of flying -- is made up from whole clothe.

If the novel had any narrative punch, I could forgive the author's laziness in the science department. The lifeless narrative is a disaster for a novel meant to be a thriller. While not single dimensional, the characters are so dull that if you met them in real life, you'd need a dozen cups of coffee to remain awake through the introductions. The character arc of the central character, Jason, charts how he learns to trust others. Awww, how... ummm... riveting.