Cover of Virtually Maria Reviews and Comments - Virtually Maria.
rkmcd@tdl.com from California, 22 November, 1998
Seductive International thriller with technology twist.
This thriller draws you into the Gilkrensky Corporation and before you know it you are a captive in the corridors of power, trying to find out what happened to Maria, and why did the plane go down. You get to fly over Cairo, crawl into a pyramid, explore the mysterious links between past and present through the power of the pyramids. You get help form some intuitive and forward thinking hi-tech toys. (Bill Gates should read this)

A very good read for that rainy weekend when you feel like solving a few other peoples problems.


kmoriart@iol.ie from Dublin, Ireland , 11 November, 1998
Star Gate meets The Rock
A billionaire (Theo Gilkrensky) watches his wife die horribly and hides himself away from the world until one of his computer-piloted aircraft mysteriously crashes into the sands outside Cario. When Theo arrives to investigate, his bodyguard detail have their hands full as plots to kill the billionaire grow like weeds around them. Then the air-crash is linked to the mystical forces of the Great Pyramids...

Joyce's first novel is ambitious and full of interesting ideas. No surprising plot twists or un-expected double crosses, but there is a determined attempt to compensate with some smooth set-pieces, the best of which is a multi-helicopter air-battle/dual over the River Nile.

The perfect, sandy holiday read.


Cover of cormorant Critics Rave Over Captain Cockle!
  • ". . . a kind of submarine Jurassic Park . . ."
    - Sunday Business Post.
  • "If you want to experience life in the sea and a large dose of adventure, look no further than Captain Cockle and the Cormorant ."
    - South News.

  • Cover of pond Captain Cockle and the Loch Ness Monster
  • "The plot is skillfully interwoven . . . with little educational passages on water-monitoring, hatcheries and the nature of water pollution, which never get in the way of the narrative."
    - Fish Farmer.
  • " . . . a most imaginative and readable tale of an eccentric marine biologist who investigates some strange goings on in Loch Ness . . ."
    - The Irish Skipper
  • " . . . tens up would enjoy the adventure and technical bits, and would be much attracted by the cover. The author is a real aquaculturist, so he knows his stuff."
    - Books Ireland.

  • Cover of pond Captain Cockle and the Pond
  • " That incredible shrinking inventor, Captain Cockle, is trapped with his miniaturised wife and grandchildren in his flying submarine in John Joyce’s latest adventure . . . they are mistaken for toys by some full sized children, manage to right a family wrong, and give a villain his come-uppance in this hectic and enjoyable tale."
    - Gordon Snell in the Irish Times.

  • ©1997 ; ©1998 Dr. John R. Joyce. All rights reserved
    All images, text and story concepts for these books are copyright of the author, and may not be used or reproduced in any format without prior written consent of the author Dr J R. Joyce. For further information please contact
    john.joyce@marine.ie

    Last updated 12/21/98 -rkmcd