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Dr. Richard Steele #1
Mutant by Peter Clement
Former ER doctor Peter Clement blends electrifying human drama with the suspense of top-notch medical thrillers. Now, in an all-too-plausible story that could have been torn from today's headlines, Clement has written his most gripping, utterly chilling novel to date.On an isolated stretch of moonlit highway in Oahu, a woman cradles her dying son in her arms. Though a physician, she cannot staunch the flow of foamy blood from his body. In the days that follow, an autopsy draws a shocking the boy, his lungs filled with blood, died of a disease previously found only in birds.On the other side of the globe, a burned-out ER doctor repeats to himself over and Physician, heal thyself. For Dr. Richard Steele, a near fatal heart attack in the middle of his own hospital was the last warning he needed. Now Steele is being recruited into a movement to examine the hazards of genetically modified foods, a job that takes him to an explosive conference in Hawaii.Spearheaded by a charismatic female doctor, the anti-bioengineering movement is gathering steam. While a powerful company is using genetic breakthroughs to create new, disease-resistant super crops, activists warn that new DNA strains will wreak havoc on the environment. But no one suspects that the controversy is masking a far more frightening human threat.From the war-torn Middle East to an insulated laboratory in New York, from murder in a French cathedral to an act of terrifying violence at a remote Hawaii farm, a horrific plot is set in motion. With genetic researching opening new doors, one man has realized that altered strains of DNA cannot only change the make up of plant life--they can create the deadliest weapon of mass destruction ever unleashed upon the world.
Hardcover
First published July 3, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 21, 2009
Mutant, a stunning cover design, magnificent blurb, an intense prologue, is a boring novel. This is because the book is a slow paced book, the cover is misleading, and the characters are placed in a messy confusing relationship with each other. At first glance the book is great, but, as you continue to read on, you notice that the storyline feels like it is slowing down gradually as the chapters go by. When reading the novel you would get the feeling of, regret and torture, regretting ever picking it up and starting it, and torture, when wishing for something intriguing to happen, and anxious for some action. It would feel as if time has stopped.
Books that procrastinate can be exceptional, depending on what the topic of it is and the person who is reading it. Lethargic novels can be great to people who like to spend time working on reading the book or to the people who enjoy stalling time and being patient waiting for something to happen. But prolonged novels like Mutant, elaborate on unnecessary emotions of the characters; the book also has extremely detailed descriptions of the scenery. At times, the more description of the scenery, helps the reader better understand the scene the characters are in, but too much causes the reader to want to just skip head a couple of lines and ignore some important parts of the book. Like the beautifully crafted prologue, it acted as a hook to grab you in, but after the prologue everything seems to go down hill. Heart grabbing, the prologue holds onto your attention like a leech sucking up your concentration until it gets its fill at the end of the prologue, then it releases its grip and falls off. Leaving you to believe there will be more to come, but like a roller coaster, when you go up, there will be a part where you fall down.
The misleading cover was also a problem, when you first glance at it, there is a feeling of suspense in it because there is just a needle with a neon green background, and it gives to feeling of wanting to open the book and begin a galvanizing adventure with the characters. The cover was designed with a dark area on the book and slowly moves towards a bright green, and a needle smack in the middle of the cover grabbing the attention of the readers, making them feel like a hungry animal ready to pounce on prey. The back cover holds a very striking and mysterious blurb that makes the reader feel as if this book would be full of some action filled and would feel like a full blown thriller. But that is not the case; the book does have action, but only in the spur of a moment.
The character relationship was extremely raunchy. Every character all had a relation with each other somehow. The protagonist, Dr. Richard Steele, seemed to be in every setting of the book, and he seemed to be connected to every other character whether they are his son or his friends, and his friends seem to be connected to the events that are happening in the story. Because there is no clear transition from one scene and character to the next, the book made me feel as if the next scene and character were the same as the previous and it caused a great amount of confusion and I was forced to look back and reread the previous scene before I realized there was a transition of characters and scene.
This novel allowed my mind to feel refreshed a showed me another way of thinking; it allowed me to fully understand that books, can be covered by a mask, and can hide its true identity. Mutant is a great example of a book with a secret identity. The cover was attention grabbing, the blurb was suspenseful, and the hook really held on, but it turns out that even with these amazing details, Mutant was still an annoying book with too many character relationships and seemed to drag on forever. This book would be suitable for some people, like those who have a lot of spare time or is interested in the topic of science fiction. But for readers like me, who enjoy fast moving books, I would advise you not to try this one.
________________________________________________________________________
This books was, for me, closer to the "what in the world just happened category". To tell the truth there were parts in the story where it really grabbed my attention and held it for maybe 2 pages and then the story line seems to die off for another 50 pages. But if the books was just filled with the thrilling events, there would be no story line. Except I felt the story line was a bit confusing, the characters were unclear and the transitions between many of the places in the books were on a fuzzy line of confusion. but from another point of view i felt like this book did have some interesting points that held my attention and had me at suspense.
Books that procrastinate can be exceptional, depending on what the topic of it is and the person who is reading it. Lethargic novels can be great to people who like to spend time working on reading the book or to the people who enjoy stalling time and being patient waiting for something to happen. But prolonged novels like Mutant, elaborate on unnecessary emotions of the characters; the book also has extremely detailed descriptions of the scenery. At times, the more description of the scenery, helps the reader better understand the scene the characters are in, but too much causes the reader to want to just skip head a couple of lines and ignore some important parts of the book. Like the beautifully crafted prologue, it acted as a hook to grab you in, but after the prologue everything seems to go down hill. Heart grabbing, the prologue holds onto your attention like a leech sucking up your concentration until it gets its fill at the end of the prologue, then it releases its grip and falls off. Leaving you to believe there will be more to come, but like a roller coaster, when you go up, there will be a part where you fall down.
The misleading cover was also a problem, when you first glance at it, there is a feeling of suspense in it because there is just a needle with a neon green background, and it gives to feeling of wanting to open the book and begin a galvanizing adventure with the characters. The cover was designed with a dark area on the book and slowly moves towards a bright green, and a needle smack in the middle of the cover grabbing the attention of the readers, making them feel like a hungry animal ready to pounce on prey. The back cover holds a very striking and mysterious blurb that makes the reader feel as if this book would be full of some action filled and would feel like a full blown thriller. But that is not the case; the book does have action, but only in the spur of a moment.
The character relationship was extremely raunchy. Every character all had a relation with each other somehow. The protagonist, Dr. Richard Steele, seemed to be in every setting of the book, and he seemed to be connected to every other character whether they are his son or his friends, and his friends seem to be connected to the events that are happening in the story. Because there is no clear transition from one scene and character to the next, the book made me feel as if the next scene and character were the same as the previous and it caused a great amount of confusion and I was forced to look back and reread the previous scene before I realized there was a transition of characters and scene.
This novel allowed my mind to feel refreshed a showed me another way of thinking; it allowed me to fully understand that books, can be covered by a mask, and can hide its true identity. Mutant is a great example of a book with a secret identity. The cover was attention grabbing, the blurb was suspenseful, and the hook really held on, but it turns out that even with these amazing details, Mutant was still an annoying book with too many character relationships and seemed to drag on forever. This book would be suitable for some people, like those who have a lot of spare time or is interested in the topic of science fiction. But for readers like me, who enjoy fast moving books, I would advise you not to try this one.
________________________________________________________________________
This books was, for me, closer to the "what in the world just happened category". To tell the truth there were parts in the story where it really grabbed my attention and held it for maybe 2 pages and then the story line seems to die off for another 50 pages. But if the books was just filled with the thrilling events, there would be no story line. Except I felt the story line was a bit confusing, the characters were unclear and the transitions between many of the places in the books were on a fuzzy line of confusion. but from another point of view i felt like this book did have some interesting points that held my attention and had me at suspense.
January 7, 2016
Die Gefahren der Gentechnik thematisiert das Buch ebenso wie die des Fanatismus - auch wenn dieser einer guten Sache dienen soll (wobei - die Fanatiker halten ihre Sache immer für eine gute...).
Das Buch wurde vor der großen Vogelgrippe-Epidemie geschrieben und gewinnt dadurch eine besondere Art der Aktualität, da es unter anderem auch die Übertragbarkeit dieser Krankheit auf den Menschen beschreibt.
Die Geschichte ist im Großen und Ganzen spannend erzählt, und die vielen wissenschaftlichen Erklärungen schienen zumindest mir als Halblaien recht plausibel, ich konnte keine augenfälligen groben Schnitzer entdecken. Wenn diese Einschätzung stimmt, kann man auch noch einiges über die Funktionsweise viraler Krankheiten und genetischer Modifikationen lernen.
Was etwas störte, war ein Überangebot von ziemlich unwahrscheinlichen Zufällen und Handlungen, durch die die Guten der Story ein ums andere Mal dem sicheren Tod entrannen. Weniger wäre in dieser Hinsicht mehr gewesen. Trotzdem ist es ein gutes Buch, das eine spannende Story erzählt und nebenbei noch Wissen vermittelt.
Das Buch wurde vor der großen Vogelgrippe-Epidemie geschrieben und gewinnt dadurch eine besondere Art der Aktualität, da es unter anderem auch die Übertragbarkeit dieser Krankheit auf den Menschen beschreibt.
Die Geschichte ist im Großen und Ganzen spannend erzählt, und die vielen wissenschaftlichen Erklärungen schienen zumindest mir als Halblaien recht plausibel, ich konnte keine augenfälligen groben Schnitzer entdecken. Wenn diese Einschätzung stimmt, kann man auch noch einiges über die Funktionsweise viraler Krankheiten und genetischer Modifikationen lernen.
Was etwas störte, war ein Überangebot von ziemlich unwahrscheinlichen Zufällen und Handlungen, durch die die Guten der Story ein ums andere Mal dem sicheren Tod entrannen. Weniger wäre in dieser Hinsicht mehr gewesen. Trotzdem ist es ein gutes Buch, das eine spannende Story erzählt und nebenbei noch Wissen vermittelt.
December 14, 2011
This was my 1st novel by this author. There was so much wrong with it that I refuse to finish it. I was at page 184 and still could not make heads or tails of what the storyline was or where it was going. The point of this book was buried some where under all the medical jargon and it annoyed me sooooo much. I usually hate beginning books and not finishing them but... I just couldn't. I hope that doesn't make me a failure. There was too much going on and too little going on in this book. I don't recommend this novel for anyone unless they have a background in biology or whatever.
October 5, 2022
Mutant by Peter Clement was on his take of power of genetic engineering to destroy, though quite an old one as the novel was released two decades back in the year 2000 and just I got my hands on it to read. Though the story, just perputed the usual drama at the heart of all American movies, that their country or world was in some kind of great danger and few Samaritans (read Americans) fight a great war, going against all odds to save the world!! In the book, some greedy people in power like Morgan and Patton, mutated the crop of corn in the farm field of South America, germinating it with Ebola virus. In the initial years some people died due to bird flu and environmentalist Dr. Sullivan along with Dr. Richard steel tried to get to the mystery of the deaths, running multiple PCR in the labs with the theory that mutated vector with virus jumped from one species to another and that the virus in the plant could jump from the plants through bird or animals or even directly to human beings. The idea was terrific (and terrible) and very much possible as we look at the human handling of genetic engineering in this 22nd century now, but the story in the book was not as much about genetic engineering as about the violent actions of all characters running or looking for things, which I found little boring. Though, I look forward to exploring other medical thrillers of the author, being from the field, the story is simply not an edge of the thriller as one finds in Robin cook's series. I can give this book 2 to 2.5 at the most.
April 27, 2024
Keďže naozaj veľmi málokedy si čítam anotácie knihy, predtým, ako ju otvorím, stalo sa, že som siahol po knihe Laboratoř od Petra Clementa. Ale keďže mám rád seriály s doktorskou tematikou o šialených doktorov, akým je napríklad Dr. House, možno som po knihe siahol inštinktívne.
Nič, čo som osobne očakával, som však v knihe nenašiel. Začiatok mi prišiel, ako opis pandémie Covid. To ma naozaj trochu nudilo, Aae na počudovanie čítanie mi išlo akosi rýchlo. Možno to bolo vďaka tomu, že v knihe viacmenej absentujú ľudské príbehy, ich vzťahy a podobne. Takto som sa mohol sústrediť na fakty, ktoré mi kniha ponúkala. Dozvedel som sa napríklad, že sója je rovnaký a možno nebezpečnejší alergén, ako orechy, alebo to, že kukurice je „děfka”
Pri čítaní knihy som si taktiež uvedomil, ako prežité situácie ovplyvňuje človeka a budujú jeho rezistenciu, proti katastrofám. Nič čo sa v knihe udialo mi neprišlo napínavé, šokujúce, alebo neuveriteľne. Možno je to práve preto, že všetci máme ešte v mysli stopy prežitej pandémie. Zamýšľal som sa nad tým, či by som knihu čítal s iným postojom, keby nebol CovidPass. Tak či onak na príbehu niečo bolo, čo neviem pomenovať no napriek všetkému, to udržiavalo moju pozornosť a poháňalo ma čítať ďalej
Nič, čo som osobne očakával, som však v knihe nenašiel. Začiatok mi prišiel, ako opis pandémie Covid. To ma naozaj trochu nudilo, Aae na počudovanie čítanie mi išlo akosi rýchlo. Možno to bolo vďaka tomu, že v knihe viacmenej absentujú ľudské príbehy, ich vzťahy a podobne. Takto som sa mohol sústrediť na fakty, ktoré mi kniha ponúkala. Dozvedel som sa napríklad, že sója je rovnaký a možno nebezpečnejší alergén, ako orechy, alebo to, že kukurice je „děfka”
Pri čítaní knihy som si taktiež uvedomil, ako prežité situácie ovplyvňuje človeka a budujú jeho rezistenciu, proti katastrofám. Nič čo sa v knihe udialo mi neprišlo napínavé, šokujúce, alebo neuveriteľne. Možno je to práve preto, že všetci máme ešte v mysli stopy prežitej pandémie. Zamýšľal som sa nad tým, či by som knihu čítal s iným postojom, keby nebol CovidPass. Tak či onak na príbehu niečo bolo, čo neviem pomenovať no napriek všetkému, to udržiavalo moju pozornosť a poháňalo ma čítať ďalej
May 28, 2021
Rated 4/5 because generally it was very good. But that 4 also hides some mixed feelings.
Scary because the overall idea still seems like something that could occur. But in that complicated a fashion? And the idea of how they did it, could happen. But then the author undercuts his own science by saying something blatantly wrong like "look at the bands on the gel under the microscope." NO! You don't look at gels under a microscope! Even in 2000! I know I looked at plenty of gels back then and never used a microscope! At those lines the whole book seems like a joke.
Not sure needed to have both viruses, but sure did make it scarier.
The plot twist of the main antagonist, unexpected, but unrealistic/exaggerated motivation. I did not like that.
The protagonists were strong, I liked them.
So clean up science, better antagonist motivation, then five stars.
Scary because the overall idea still seems like something that could occur. But in that complicated a fashion? And the idea of how they did it, could happen. But then the author undercuts his own science by saying something blatantly wrong like "look at the bands on the gel under the microscope." NO! You don't look at gels under a microscope! Even in 2000! I know I looked at plenty of gels back then and never used a microscope! At those lines the whole book seems like a joke.
Not sure needed to have both viruses, but sure did make it scarier.
The plot twist of the main antagonist, unexpected, but unrealistic/exaggerated motivation. I did not like that.
The protagonists were strong, I liked them.
So clean up science, better antagonist motivation, then five stars.
March 29, 2022
After reading a third of the book I raised my hands. The author seems to have done a lot of research work on the subject, and when it came to the writing itself, it was difficult for him to separate from these research works, and he decided to incorporate them within the book itself. In so doing he has contributed endlessly to technical pages, between which there is nothing in the plot story
In general in the first 3rd there are 5 or 6 parallel stories that have not yet being connected.
In general in the first 3rd there are 5 or 6 parallel stories that have not yet being connected.
April 25, 2018
This book is interesting and suspenseful, but there is too much explicit description of sex for my taste. Also, the technical medical mambo jumbo sometimes made my eyes glaze over. I must say my wariness of genetically modified foods and vaccines was heightened by reading this book.
October 2, 2024
Die Beschreibungen im Buch sind viel zu detailliert und komplex. Wenn man sich mit Gentechnologie nicht auskennt, schaltet man irgendwann ab. Außerdem war die Story ein wenig zu unglaubwürdig (obwohl es das Thema durchaus nicht war) und letztendlich war es nicht der große Reißer.
February 17, 2017
Couldn't finish it. Started off great but almost immediately started whining......had to put it out of its misery by donating it to the faculty bookshelf.
June 25, 2020
Poor writing, terrible gender stereotypes, massive plot issues.
August 31, 2021
Very slow at times
June 8, 2019
Mutant by Peter Clement is an interesting proposition - a medical thriller, a virus/disease novel, a grand conspiracy, a story of contaminated food, a story of corporate negligence, a story of murder and attempted murder with a few sex scenes thrown in.
Whilst the main thrust of the plot involves corporations genetically engineering food with potentially unknown consequences it turns into an investigation of such with the idea that the consequences are not so unknown but rather covered up, and actively so. As things progress it seems that further development and dispersion is taking place for reasons that are yet to be revealed.
It's a pretty good tale, however it could have used some more length to properly cover all the aspects of the corporate negligence and plotting it attempted to bring into the plot, as would have further attention been given to the Farsi speaking security guards which seemed to be addressed rather minimally towards the end.
Whilst the main thrust of the plot involves corporations genetically engineering food with potentially unknown consequences it turns into an investigation of such with the idea that the consequences are not so unknown but rather covered up, and actively so. As things progress it seems that further development and dispersion is taking place for reasons that are yet to be revealed.
It's a pretty good tale, however it could have used some more length to properly cover all the aspects of the corporate negligence and plotting it attempted to bring into the plot, as would have further attention been given to the Farsi speaking security guards which seemed to be addressed rather minimally towards the end.
February 16, 2017
This is the second or third of Clement's books that I've come across, and again, it's nothing special. In re-reading my review from 6 years ago of the last book of his I read, I wasn't overly impressed with him back then, and still am not now. At least that one focused primarily on a doctor and a hospital, whereas 'Mutant' takes its physician main character (a recurring character, but not the same one as in the other book) out of the hospital and gets him involved in a political investigation related to genetically modified foods. Medical/science books I like, political books with a science theme, less so.
It starts off interestingly enough, with a doctor in Hawaii rushing her young son to the hospital after he falls acutely and critically ill and eventually dies of a mysterious flu-like disease. But that plotline is just as quickly made an afterthought and Clement never really returns to this mystery flu or other victims. Instead he focuses on Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, an environmentalist waging war against the movement to produce genetically engineered foods, and somehow ties Dr. Richard Steele, his emergency room doctor recurring character, into Sullivan's fight. Not that the storyline about GMOs wasn't interesting, especially because the book was written 15 years ago and the effects of GMOs are an even hotter topic now, I just didn't feel very connected to the book, and I'm sure it will be just as forgettable as his other books have been thus far, that 5 years from now, I won't even recall having read it.
It starts off interestingly enough, with a doctor in Hawaii rushing her young son to the hospital after he falls acutely and critically ill and eventually dies of a mysterious flu-like disease. But that plotline is just as quickly made an afterthought and Clement never really returns to this mystery flu or other victims. Instead he focuses on Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, an environmentalist waging war against the movement to produce genetically engineered foods, and somehow ties Dr. Richard Steele, his emergency room doctor recurring character, into Sullivan's fight. Not that the storyline about GMOs wasn't interesting, especially because the book was written 15 years ago and the effects of GMOs are an even hotter topic now, I just didn't feel very connected to the book, and I'm sure it will be just as forgettable as his other books have been thus far, that 5 years from now, I won't even recall having read it.
July 23, 2012
A good medical/terrorist thriller about genetic modifications in crops, which allow naked DNA to free itself from it's host, and jump the species barrier (any errors in science discussed are mine alone). Someone devises a plan to hijack these naked NA strands and attach them to some nasty stuff, through the food cycle. Dr. Steele, an ER doctor who is burned out, is asked to attend a conference on genetically altered food in Hwaaii and the possible dangers it could hold, and the benefits. While there he meets Lisa Sullivan, a charismatic Irish firecracker of an academic and GMO activist. Together they accidentally stumble upon a plot so vast they don't even realize it's true significance, but someone does, because over and over, someone tries to kill them. From Oahu to the east coast, they race against the clock to find out what is going on and stop it. I believe I have read this before, since I found it in a box of other medical thrillers that I read about 10 years ago, but I either forgot to pencil in that I had rad it and when, or I bought the book after reading it from the library. Either way, I of course, did not recall it. No reflection on the book, just my memory at work. All in all it was a good, solid thriller, with some solid science in it. Some of it hard for a layperson like me to follow, but I got enough to get what the trouble was, and what the evil doers were up to. There are other books with these characters. Decent character development of Steele, although Sullivan wasn't developed nearly as much, and was just this activist who was passionate about what she did, and could turn on the Irish when she needed it or got upset. Plot driven then.
June 14, 2010
My brother, Sebastian Cruz, recommended this book to me after reading it a while back. I think it was for his summer assignment. But anyways, i read it and it was a pretty good book that mostly revolved around the issue of messing with DNA to save people and solve modern days problems. The protagonist Dr. Richard Steele with the aid of some along the way, has to stop a company which is rapidly making genetic breakthroughs which is solving the world's problems. Problems such as pesticides, by changing the DNA of the plants to become extremel resistant to diseases and bugs and the sort. This however becomes out of hand and quickly becomes really dangerous to the enviroment. Their breakthroughs then begin to threaten the eco system of the world and humanity itself. This book was awesome, i especially liked it because it relates to many problems we have today on similar topics and issues. And even though this is fiction, it opens the eyes of the readers to multiple possibilites and gibes the reader a message which is eco-friendly. I think my brother has awesome taste in books, since this book was great. I recommend this book to anybody who likes a good read that concerns modern day issues.
April 7, 2014
"Mutant" by Peter Clement was quite a shocking surprise. As I was reading along one of the characters looks out of his office window towards the Twin Towers in New York City and says something along the lines that they weren't going to last long now. I knew the book was older, so I wasn't really surprised at the possibility the Twin Towers landmark would be mentioned, but when their existence was thrown into question, I had to immediately check the publishing date which was July 2001, before the horrific tragedy of September 1 of the same year. I was so freaked out. As I continued on and they scientists were discussing a possible cure for the virus combo, they mentioned that Tami-flu should be a good choice. I was freaked out again. I had never heard of Tami-flu until the outbreak of Swine Flu somewhere after 2006 (I think maybe 2009 but I'm not sure). I couldn't put the book down just for waiting to see what else was going to be foretold of the future. The story itself was very good and captivating on it own, but the added shocks threw me over the edge. I have to read more of this author.
March 16, 2011
With all of the news these days about health problems caused by genetically modified crops, Clement's 2001 novel seems a little prescient. In fact, it seems especially prescient in light of 9/11/2001 -- an unfortunate fact that he acknowledges in his afterword.
In any event, Clement's tale of environmentalists looking into the connections between outbreaks of bird flu and genetically modified corn -- and the terrorists who are trying to stop them -- is a good read. It helps to understand something about the medical field in order to follow some of the technical terms; Clement is a former Emergency Dept. physician and he tends to presume his audience knows what he's talking about. (Fortunately for me, I worked in hospitals for seven years -- but I can understand other reviewers' complaints about this).
The story is fast-paced and believable. Highly recommended.
In any event, Clement's tale of environmentalists looking into the connections between outbreaks of bird flu and genetically modified corn -- and the terrorists who are trying to stop them -- is a good read. It helps to understand something about the medical field in order to follow some of the technical terms; Clement is a former Emergency Dept. physician and he tends to presume his audience knows what he's talking about. (Fortunately for me, I worked in hospitals for seven years -- but I can understand other reviewers' complaints about this).
The story is fast-paced and believable. Highly recommended.
September 20, 2007
MUTANT- DNF
Clement, Peter
ER physician Richard Steele joins geneticist Kathleen Sullivan, prominent among anti-bioengineering forces, in her investigation of the effects of genetically modified foods and genetic vectors that can cause diseases to cross the species barrier. Gradually, they unravel a complex web that spans the globe. After a young boy in Hawaii succumbs to an illness that previously affected only birds, the story line expands to include three corporate entities, which may be in collaboration toward a perilous goal. Richard and Kathleen find their lives in danger, and the threat of genetic weapons becomes increasingly real.
Sold-Couldn't get through it
Clement, Peter
ER physician Richard Steele joins geneticist Kathleen Sullivan, prominent among anti-bioengineering forces, in her investigation of the effects of genetically modified foods and genetic vectors that can cause diseases to cross the species barrier. Gradually, they unravel a complex web that spans the globe. After a young boy in Hawaii succumbs to an illness that previously affected only birds, the story line expands to include three corporate entities, which may be in collaboration toward a perilous goal. Richard and Kathleen find their lives in danger, and the threat of genetic weapons becomes increasingly real.
Sold-Couldn't get through it
August 6, 2012
Being in agriculture and knowing about the controversy over genetically altered seed, it was of particular interest to me. The fact it was supposedly written prior to 9/11 added an aspect. I wonder if it was actually printed before the attack or if it may have been edited and then printed right after. Haven't taken the time to research that so I can be definitive. Clement isn't the best writer, but he's certainly not the worst. I will try and get a copy of a newer title. Picked up this paperback for a dime at a library booth at the County Fair. Love sales like that!
January 28, 2009
This book is just another medical thriller about the genetic altering of foods nothing special. I find the book really hard to follow with all the medical mumbo jumbo he packs into it and all of its terms. I also had a hard time finding out who was the villan, if you read this make sure you read it carefully. I like the other novels by Peter Clement, however I don't think this book is worth reading, unless your interested in the world of food engineering.
November 12, 2012
This has much the feel of a Michael Crichton work. It's very much a cautionary tale, that I fear came too late (some studies imply that the cause of many "avant garde" allergies {such a wheat gluten} are caused by the genetic modifications of our foods and pesticides.[return][return]It was overall a good book, though the characters were very cookie-cutter for this type of book.
Read
June 3, 2010I found that this book a little complicated and hard to understand because of the way it talks about two main people and how they met up. The beginning when it talks about each of their own lifes is the most comfusing part for me. But overall I found it to be interesting because of how they each problems with their lifes and how they were met to be with eachother.
September 1, 2009
Interesting info and plot about genetically modified organisms & bio-terrorism.
August 20, 2013
Had a hard time with this. DNA and cell talk lost me. Love the other book I read of his. Just not my topic of interest I suppose.
Read
November 16, 2010boring, boring, boring.
April 9, 2014
This is a story about generic engineering made to go wrong. Fast moving light read good for travel or the beach.
July 11, 2008
Terrorists + DNA + Bird Flu. Boring characters.
September 10, 2016
Very suspenseful
Read
December 22, 2012Interesting but somewhat hard to understand the scientific/technical terms.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews