FAVORITE FRIENDSHIPS PICK #5: GRAY & MONK FROM THE SIGMA FORCE SERIES BY JAMES ROLLINS
(This is not the whole of the series currently out but, I mean, if you have to start it it’s enough LoL)
I’m gonna be very surprised if anyone that reads this post actually has even the palest idea who these characters or this series even are, so I’m gonna start with that.
The Sigma Force series by James Rollins is an adventure-thriller adult series. The books strongly rely on historical and scientific research and twist it to bring them to their extremes till it’s almost paranormal or sci-fi, really.
These are also the kind of books I call: smart books.
I love when reading a novel I can feel my brain working, not just following the events but learning and absorbing information, when I can see the depth of research the author went to make of the book an intellectual effort too. It’s incredibly satisfying for me to reach the end of these stories because not only I followed and survived a complex and beautifully crafted plot, exciting adventures and got to deepen my knowledge of great, complex and beloved characters, but I learnt something. Was it physics, biology, was art or history…it’s just GREAT!
James Rollins enriches me with his work in many way.
I hope I’ll have a chance to mention his books again and again in the future and this time I’m starting with his characters.
Grayson Pierce and Monk Kokkalis. Gray and Monk.
In my definition I reflected on what made a friendship really pull at my heartstrings and found 3 elements: Support, Loyalty and Acceptance.
In many ways Gray and Monk have exactly this!
First thing to know: who are these guys?
The Sigma Force series tells the story of the Sigma, a secret US govern organization that is made of highly trained soldiers and fighters who also happen to be scientists and expert on many knowledge fields. They are soldiers & scientists. Basically it’s coolest thing ever *squeals*
The series follows a group of these exceptional people through their missions to protect the planet from the kind of danger that make you start the book: how the holy lasagna are they even gonna survive that?! I really hope that never actually happens because in the real world we would all just DIE SO BAD.
Crazy adventures I mean.
The Super Main, as I call them because I’m hilarious, are Painter Crowe (light of my LIFE) and Grayson Pierce, one half of this epic bromance.
Gray is a former US Ranger that simply put makes him a major badass, he is also a great biologist and physic, he is also an expert on other very unexpected fields considering he studied in Tibet in a Monastery where he learnt the power of meditation, the power of the human mind and is generally a man of great spirituality…I have a crush you say? DO NOT BE RIDICULOUS I DO NO-
Yes okay fine, let’s just…keep going.
Gray also has very complicated family situation: he never had the best relationship with his father but now he is sick (Alzheimer) and this personal tragedy profoundly influences his life and his human progression through the novels.
Monk is an operative agent former Green Beret with the grade of Staff Sargent is a medic (you should be very fucking grateful for this info because in looking for it I actually SPOILED MYSELF I AM NOT OKAY THELMAAAAAA…okay I’m an idiot let’s move on.) and Gray’s closet friend both on field and in his personal life. They have a friendship that reflects two people that already are adult, they have a professional and personal history together but also deeply cherish their privacy and respect the other’s.
It’s incredibly interesting seeing how even when there is deep worry for the other situation, when either Gray or Monk know their friend is struggling they always respect the other person right to keep that to themselves, even if it’s hard they patiently wait for the moment when their friend will ask for a ear to listen or shoulder to cry on or at times, maybe, advice.
They are both strong and intelligent men, used to handle themselves in life and work but they learn through respect and friendship to rely on the other for support or to complement in the area of their respective specialization.
It’s a mature sort of friendship that left being the drama and focuses on a more discreet sort of support for people that have to face adulthood and everything that comes with it.
In particular I really like that despite the image of two very physically strong men they often rely on each other for emotional support, they talk about their feelings, their fears…or maybe don’t talk about it but count poon the other to know their pain and be a sort of shield in front of others or silent witness of a moment of weakness or fragility.
Monk goes through a physical mutilation that leaves him profoundly hurt and Gray knows it and in a particular scenes admits to be ready to help his friend in case but not yet…because he trusts Monk to be able to show him if and when he’ll need a push. There is such trust, affection and loyalty between them.
And Monk knows about Gray’s struggle with his father, how their relationship has always been rocky and now the illness is hurting them both in another way: showing them they wasted a lot of time…and there is not much left. He is there to reassure Gray that he can look like his father, be proud of that even, and still be reassured that those darker shades of his father’s soul did not follow in his blood. He can love that hard, difficult dad and not feel guilty, just like he doesn’t have to feel guilty if he left when he did because it was the best thing for him and he has a right to protect himself.
Gray and Monk support each other as friends and colleagues.
They are fiercely loyal to each other in their life always being ready to sacrifice everything for the other and on the field where Gray is the leader and Monk the most trusted right hand.
They accept each other limits and flaws and are there to point out when the other is being a stupid cucumber but never EVER would abandon the other…
It’s GREAT.
This is why I love them so much.
The only reason this relationship is not higher on my top5 is because it’s not a focal point of the story telling: of course we see the bond grow and develop and change becoming stronger and more beautiful in every new adventure but it’s just a part of their story, not a main one even if most definitely absolutely important and I’d say even fundamental. They are brothers in arms but the story of the Sigma Force and Gray’s story is about saving the world so you know…thank god they have each other of the wolrd would be so screwed.
(This post is a giant cry fest don’t mind me I’ll just dissolve into salty water it’s fIIIINEEE)
I hope you do decide to pick up these series! I know adult adventure-thrillers are not everyone’s cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa BUT in case you do want to step out your comfort zone…this is a great investment of your time, in my opinion!
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