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Pure Life: Immortality is for the Privileged
How Far Would You Go to Cheat Death?
Nearly two years after his wife’s death, soon-to-be retired CIA agent and American hero, Jim Lantana, is running for the U.S. Senate and finally getting his life back on track. But when the CIA beckons him to complete one last, top-secret mission aboard a massive hospital ship called the Pura Vida, Jim is suddenly thrust back in the game.
As captain of the ship, Dr. Horst Mendelbaum has operated in secret just outside the periphery of ethical medicine for decades. He and his staff conduct dangerous, experimental treatments – all funded by the world’s super-wealthy in a desperate attempt at life-extension.
Nearly two years after his wife’s death, soon-to-be retired CIA agent and American hero, Jim Lantana, is running for the U.S. Senate and finally getting his life back on track. But when the CIA beckons him to complete one last, top-secret mission aboard a massive hospital ship called the Pura Vida, Jim is suddenly thrust back in the game.
As captain of the ship, Dr. Horst Mendelbaum has operated in secret just outside the periphery of ethical medicine for decades. He and his staff conduct dangerous, experimental treatments – all funded by the world’s super-wealthy in a desperate attempt at life-extension.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2012
1 person is currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin C. Yablon
3 books2 followersBenjamin Yablon is a prominent attorney in Denver, Colorado, where he has merged his legal expertise with his passion for storytelling. In his forthcoming second novel, 'The Chinese Dam', Benjamin brings his readers into the twisted world of favors and influence needed to buy passage aboard the Pura Vida.
The next chapter in the Pure Life series begins amid China’s construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in human history. The dam, poised to destroy 5,000 years worth of valuable artifacts, ignites an archeological arms race. On the cusp of a discovery as profound as the Rosetta Stone, Doctor Emanuel Founder is poisoned and left for dead. Now, with the help of a Navy SEAL whose entire team was destroyed by a rogue Chinese general, Emanuel’s daughter must retrace his journey of discovery and danger to unravel the SECRET OF THE THREE GORGES. Danielle Founder will stop at nothing to rescue the Vin De Vie, a substance purported to prolong life – a substance that is of great interest to the creator of the world’s most advanced hospital ship, The Pura Vida.
Benjamin lives in the Washington Park neighborhood of Denver with his wife and their daughters.
The next chapter in the Pure Life series begins amid China’s construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in human history. The dam, poised to destroy 5,000 years worth of valuable artifacts, ignites an archeological arms race. On the cusp of a discovery as profound as the Rosetta Stone, Doctor Emanuel Founder is poisoned and left for dead. Now, with the help of a Navy SEAL whose entire team was destroyed by a rogue Chinese general, Emanuel’s daughter must retrace his journey of discovery and danger to unravel the SECRET OF THE THREE GORGES. Danielle Founder will stop at nothing to rescue the Vin De Vie, a substance purported to prolong life – a substance that is of great interest to the creator of the world’s most advanced hospital ship, The Pura Vida.
Benjamin lives in the Washington Park neighborhood of Denver with his wife and their daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2013
When you want to get away from those pesky laws dealing with ethics in medicine where do you go? …International waters of course. Pura Vida is a completely refurbished oil tanker that is actually a floating hospital with cutting edge treatments, some legal, and some not so much. It is a hospital only available to those with very, very, deep pockets or immense power. “Pure Life: Immortality is for the Privileged” is a new novel by Benjamin C. Yablon.
Mendelbaum developed this cutting edge floating hospital to save his brother, but also in the vision of his Nazi parentage. Only those with the right amount of money or power can find treatment on Pura Vida. Mendelbaum preys on those desperate enough to do anything to survive, including unethical and completely experimental treatments. The research done on the ship has zero regulations, including those that ban human testing. The reader eventually learns many of his ‘employees’ are trapped on the ship, mainly through the use of blackmail. In the end this novel is about one doctors fight for the right to survive, leave the ship, and save the ‘test subjects.’
While this novel could be classified as a thriller, there is so much more to it then that. This novel delves into the ethics of different scientific procedures, human testing, greed, eugenics, prostitution, power, death and so much more. This is a novel that can truly get a reader thinking.
Yablon did an absolutely fantastic job with character development. By the end I hated and abhorred Mendelbaum as much as any character that came into contact with him. I related and empathized well with Abigail, she was a strong and smart heroine put in an impossible situation.
I do agree that reading the back cover of the novel ruined some of the action later on. However, overall “Pure Life: Immortality is for the Privileged” was a very worthwhile read. A thriller that will get you thinking and dish out great entertainment at the same time.
I received this novel through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way influenced my review. I was not required to, nor compensated for, writing a review.
Mendelbaum developed this cutting edge floating hospital to save his brother, but also in the vision of his Nazi parentage. Only those with the right amount of money or power can find treatment on Pura Vida. Mendelbaum preys on those desperate enough to do anything to survive, including unethical and completely experimental treatments. The research done on the ship has zero regulations, including those that ban human testing. The reader eventually learns many of his ‘employees’ are trapped on the ship, mainly through the use of blackmail. In the end this novel is about one doctors fight for the right to survive, leave the ship, and save the ‘test subjects.’
While this novel could be classified as a thriller, there is so much more to it then that. This novel delves into the ethics of different scientific procedures, human testing, greed, eugenics, prostitution, power, death and so much more. This is a novel that can truly get a reader thinking.
Yablon did an absolutely fantastic job with character development. By the end I hated and abhorred Mendelbaum as much as any character that came into contact with him. I related and empathized well with Abigail, she was a strong and smart heroine put in an impossible situation.
I do agree that reading the back cover of the novel ruined some of the action later on. However, overall “Pure Life: Immortality is for the Privileged” was a very worthwhile read. A thriller that will get you thinking and dish out great entertainment at the same time.
I received this novel through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way influenced my review. I was not required to, nor compensated for, writing a review.
April 2, 2013
Sci Fi is not usually my thing but this was clever, well done and fun to read.
May 19, 2013
A real page turner and full of plot twists and turns! Life on the Pura Vida is never dull!
December 12, 2012
Very action packed. Like reading a movie.
July 22, 2013
First off, if I had the option, I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars.
I found it to be an enjoyable, though somewhat predictable book. Though I took a couple of days to finish the book, it can be completed in one afternoon as the pages turn quickly. Pure Life is a non-stop action adventure novel that rapidly brings you into the story. The converted oil barge in the ocean is where most of the action takes place, and before you know it, you have read 50 or more pages. The writing is pretty good, and I applaud Mr. Yablon for the minimal cursing that is in the book. (It's often easy, especially for an action/adventure novel, to fall into the rut of good and bad guys swearing.) While Pure Life had the feel of a book geared towards the late teenage crowd, it is a book that can be read and enjoyed by any adult. I did find it to be somewhat predictable, but that is not to say there were not twists and turns in the storyline. I can think of two twists I did not see coming, which made the book fun.
On a side note, I read the back cover of the book and I would recommend to anyone reading Pure Life to not do so. Once you are about 75 pages into the book, what you read kills some of the suspense the author is trying to create.
Overall, this is a fun book that can be read in an afternoon. It is the type of book you read just to be entertained! I would recommend this book to anyone who like action/adventure books and just wants to get away for a little while.
I found it to be an enjoyable, though somewhat predictable book. Though I took a couple of days to finish the book, it can be completed in one afternoon as the pages turn quickly. Pure Life is a non-stop action adventure novel that rapidly brings you into the story. The converted oil barge in the ocean is where most of the action takes place, and before you know it, you have read 50 or more pages. The writing is pretty good, and I applaud Mr. Yablon for the minimal cursing that is in the book. (It's often easy, especially for an action/adventure novel, to fall into the rut of good and bad guys swearing.) While Pure Life had the feel of a book geared towards the late teenage crowd, it is a book that can be read and enjoyed by any adult. I did find it to be somewhat predictable, but that is not to say there were not twists and turns in the storyline. I can think of two twists I did not see coming, which made the book fun.
On a side note, I read the back cover of the book and I would recommend to anyone reading Pure Life to not do so. Once you are about 75 pages into the book, what you read kills some of the suspense the author is trying to create.
Overall, this is a fun book that can be read in an afternoon. It is the type of book you read just to be entertained! I would recommend this book to anyone who like action/adventure books and just wants to get away for a little while.
July 31, 2013
I was so pleased to win a free copy from Goodreads, which contained a personalized message from Ben Yablon! What an adventure! The ship, Pure Life, is a meld of science fiction, action thriller, and sexual fantasy. I thought it was clever that the scientist conducting the technologically advanced experiments aboard the Pure LIfe was a descendant of the infamous Nazi doctor who performed horrific experiments on those trapped inside concentration camps. The characters aboard the ship were so villainous that they were hard for me to like. I wished there had been more of a focus on Jim, the hero of this thriller. The plot was a little slow, with too much focus on the inhabitants of the Pure Life in the beginning of the book. Some of the conversations felt a little forced, which made this hard to get into.
August 28, 2013
I received this book through Goodread's First Reads - thank you!
I really like the concept of this book, and thought that it was a fast-paced and easy read. It has a little bit of everything: horror, action and romance. The story is unique and intelligent and features a lot of advanced technology. I just felt that it could have used more character development. I had a hard time getting into the story because most of the characters weren't likable or realistic, making it difficult for me to relate to them in any way. The ones I did like seemed to be overshadowed by the clinical story of the ship and its villians. I wanted to enjoy this book more, and in the end found it just wasn't for me. But overall the story was interesting and thrilling and would definitely appeal to the right reader.
I really like the concept of this book, and thought that it was a fast-paced and easy read. It has a little bit of everything: horror, action and romance. The story is unique and intelligent and features a lot of advanced technology. I just felt that it could have used more character development. I had a hard time getting into the story because most of the characters weren't likable or realistic, making it difficult for me to relate to them in any way. The ones I did like seemed to be overshadowed by the clinical story of the ship and its villians. I wanted to enjoy this book more, and in the end found it just wasn't for me. But overall the story was interesting and thrilling and would definitely appeal to the right reader.
July 20, 2013
*I wont a copy of this book on Goodreads Giveaways*
I just couldn't get into this book. Granted, Sci Fi is not my favorite genre, but I thought from the description it would be more like a medical thriller. I guess it was somewhat, but I found it totally unbelievable. I liked the "hero" of the book and would have liked to read more about him, but got bogged down in the story on the ship. I just couldn't get interested in any of the characters on board. I haven't finished it, just keep putting it aside for something more appealing to me. If I finish and find it more interesting, I'll update the review.
I just couldn't get into this book. Granted, Sci Fi is not my favorite genre, but I thought from the description it would be more like a medical thriller. I guess it was somewhat, but I found it totally unbelievable. I liked the "hero" of the book and would have liked to read more about him, but got bogged down in the story on the ship. I just couldn't get interested in any of the characters on board. I haven't finished it, just keep putting it aside for something more appealing to me. If I finish and find it more interesting, I'll update the review.
February 5, 2014
This book was out there in terms of a crazy madman trying to do what he did. I do not want to give away that info here, however I will recommend this to everyone who likes to read. It was a very good book, I enjoyed it a lot.
July 24, 2013
Wow this book was twisted. I loved the concept (NOT like I agree with it but it was super unique) but it was like a scary movie that's too scary. It's hard to pay attention to the characters, the actual plot, when everything is so damn scary. Thanks Goodreads Giveaway!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews