What do you think?
Rate this book
Goldengirl
Orphan Goldine Serafin was adopted at the age of three. Her adoptive father, a brilliant physiologist who immediately saw the child's physical potential, started her on a rigorous training course to prove his theory that humans can become "super beings"--a theory that others in his field scoff at. Serafin figures the best publicity he can get for his work is to make Goldine into a prime physical specimen who can perform the unheard-of feat of winning three gold medals at the Olympics. Enter sports promoter Jack Dryden, who senses that Goldine's victory could spell disaster for everyone involved.
408 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
22 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 27, 2022
Author Peter Lovesy, writing under a pseudonym, shows both track and field expertise and medical research in this psychological and sports thriller. Though filmed in 1979, NBC aired the filmed version (staring a 5'11" Susan Anton) in 1981, after the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
All of the historical examples of athletes are accurate; the 1980 Olympic athletes are not (though the East German women still dominated the 100m, 200m and 400m events). The author's research into the medical effects of growth hormones is also accurate, and a major factor of the novel. Were the psychological aspects also part of that, or just the result of the professional manipulation of "amateur" athletics?
The ending was fairly short, and I'm wondering if the TV version was similar - I intend to find out soon. There are definitely scenes which could *not* have been brought straight from the book. This novel wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either - it easily rates 3 gold stars.
All of the historical examples of athletes are accurate; the 1980 Olympic athletes are not (though the East German women still dominated the 100m, 200m and 400m events). The author's research into the medical effects of growth hormones is also accurate, and a major factor of the novel. Were the psychological aspects also part of that, or just the result of the professional manipulation of "amateur" athletics?
The ending was fairly short, and I'm wondering if the TV version was similar - I intend to find out soon. There are definitely scenes which could *not* have been brought straight from the book. This novel wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either - it easily rates 3 gold stars.
February 12, 2015
A book that was written about an American athlete that participates in the 1980 Moscow Olympics but little did the author know that the USA would boycott the event thus making his novel completely implausible.
Nevertheless this is an excellent read. The tale is about a girl that was born from the Nazi's dream of a super human Arian. This girl is discovered by a physiologist who sees her potential as a super athlete and who will also prove his controversial theories on human growth. As the story starts a publicist is invited by a select group of men who seek to profit big time if the athlete, nicknamed Goldengirl, wins three gold medals in the Moscow Olympics. To achieve this she is put through an intensive physical and psychological program designed to make her the perfect running machine. But is Goldengirl a puppet to investors who seek to make millions in sponsorship deals or a mad experiment in human growth? All of this unfolds within the world of sports and sports sponsorship which even in 1979 was gigantic business and which author Peter Lear seems to know pretty well. A movie was made of this but sadly I've never seen it. Lear writes with a swift pace and a great feel for storytelling, his dialogue is excellent and really moves the story forward as well as providing characterisation without resorting to endless background history for each character. Give this one a try, you won't be disappointed.
Nevertheless this is an excellent read. The tale is about a girl that was born from the Nazi's dream of a super human Arian. This girl is discovered by a physiologist who sees her potential as a super athlete and who will also prove his controversial theories on human growth. As the story starts a publicist is invited by a select group of men who seek to profit big time if the athlete, nicknamed Goldengirl, wins three gold medals in the Moscow Olympics. To achieve this she is put through an intensive physical and psychological program designed to make her the perfect running machine. But is Goldengirl a puppet to investors who seek to make millions in sponsorship deals or a mad experiment in human growth? All of this unfolds within the world of sports and sports sponsorship which even in 1979 was gigantic business and which author Peter Lear seems to know pretty well. A movie was made of this but sadly I've never seen it. Lear writes with a swift pace and a great feel for storytelling, his dialogue is excellent and really moves the story forward as well as providing characterisation without resorting to endless background history for each character. Give this one a try, you won't be disappointed.
November 18, 2022
I read this book in 1979 as an impressionable 16 year old. I absolutely loved it. It would be interesting to read it again and see what I thought of it now.
August 14, 2019
Golden Girl is the first of three books Peter Lovesey wrote under the pseudonym Peter Lear. It is a science fiction book, but as it is forty plus years old, like much science fiction it is about something that is part of our lives.
Goldine Serafin is adopted by a scientist who is interest in the development of the human body. He is convinced that with the perfect specimen, he can accelerate the rate at which humans develop from generation to generation. The child he and his wife adopt is the grand child of German Olympic champions. Dr. Serafin studied development of humans in Germany and so this child holds a special interest.
Goldine is home-schooled and trained to be the premier Olympic runner. She has a premier track coach as a trainer, a syndicate supporting her training, and nothing anyone would call a normal life.
She makes it to the Olympics, but of course there are unforeseen consequences of her training.
In addition to the physical training, her adoptive father is injecting her with HGH from the time she is a child. Who knew what HGH was in the late 1970s? Lovesey did. He has done a phenomenal job of researching the material in this book. The medical effects of HGH (which we know well today) as well as the history of physical growth, effects on the body from extreme exertion and the minutiae of track and field history (which he has written about in non-fiction work).
The Lear books do not read like Lovesey books. Lovesey found a separate voice for the Lear novels. It is not as well-paced as the Lovesey voice. But it is a good voice.
The story builds as the book moves along.
Lovesey may have been able to foresee administration of things such as HGH but he could not foresee the western world pulling out of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. And that is but a quibble.
This is a very engaging novel.
Goldine Serafin is adopted by a scientist who is interest in the development of the human body. He is convinced that with the perfect specimen, he can accelerate the rate at which humans develop from generation to generation. The child he and his wife adopt is the grand child of German Olympic champions. Dr. Serafin studied development of humans in Germany and so this child holds a special interest.
Goldine is home-schooled and trained to be the premier Olympic runner. She has a premier track coach as a trainer, a syndicate supporting her training, and nothing anyone would call a normal life.
She makes it to the Olympics, but of course there are unforeseen consequences of her training.
In addition to the physical training, her adoptive father is injecting her with HGH from the time she is a child. Who knew what HGH was in the late 1970s? Lovesey did. He has done a phenomenal job of researching the material in this book. The medical effects of HGH (which we know well today) as well as the history of physical growth, effects on the body from extreme exertion and the minutiae of track and field history (which he has written about in non-fiction work).
The Lear books do not read like Lovesey books. Lovesey found a separate voice for the Lear novels. It is not as well-paced as the Lovesey voice. But it is a good voice.
The story builds as the book moves along.
Lovesey may have been able to foresee administration of things such as HGH but he could not foresee the western world pulling out of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. And that is but a quibble.
This is a very engaging novel.
December 4, 2016
First let me start by saying this novel is long, so be prepared for a long and informative read. I really don't know if this story is fiction. I'm pretty sure it is in genre, but in aspect there were many facts. Secondly, the main character Jack Dryden was a pinnacle influence in the birth of GoldenGirl. Thirdly, Dean "Goldine" Serafin will not last 6months in the real world beyond track. Her mental instability has escalated 0-100 real quick, and she will lose her semi-indepence and her mind. This book is more about science like Dr. Serafin said, not about the sport. To put ityin a nutshell Goldine is one shot away from a thorazine drip and straight jacket because she's been conditioned to be gradually fifty shades of f***ed up. This was less of a mystery, and more of a psychological drama!
August 10, 2024
Thinking of this as a thriller, it kind of works. It's compelling, but also does not read well at all in 2024 - terribly sexist and mysogenistic. Not to mention, of course, that the basic idea of an American winning golds in the Moscow olympics of 1980 has a big core boycott problem. But yes, the evolving horror of the situation and the manipulation of Dean / Goldine / Goldengirl still has some of the fascination that it did when I first read this as a probably too-young and too-olympic-obsessed barely teen.
June 11, 2021
Another Entertaining Novel
This book is different from what Peter Lovesey usually writes which are murder mysteries set in England. This is a story of power and control. A doctor raises his adopted daughter to become an Olympic racer to prove his theory. What happens to the girl, the people hired to train her and the people financing the training is a riveting story.
This book is different from what Peter Lovesey usually writes which are murder mysteries set in England. This is a story of power and control. A doctor raises his adopted daughter to become an Olympic racer to prove his theory. What happens to the girl, the people hired to train her and the people financing the training is a riveting story.
Read
November 17, 2021This was a surprise, I have read The Sgt. Cribb series, but this was a stand alone, and I vaguely remember Susan Anton did this movie for TV, back in the day. Some editions have this by Peter Lear, but I knew it was Lovesey when I started it. interesting read, but very different style from his Series works, at least I thought so.
August 1, 2024
I could see where the book was going and the mild references to the past, I didn't however expect the twist towards the end. Not a bad book, but not one I'd read again.
July 11, 2015
Not to judge a book by its cover (or the blurb on the back, for that matter) but I expected a hooty 70s marriage of "The Boys From Brazil" and "The Bionic Woman." Instead, this lackluster claptrap delivered some half baked theories on human growth (um, we're getting taller), weak satire, and the shocking allegation that athletes are often ruthlessly exploited with little regard for their physical well-being (NO!). Uhg! Who cares?
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews