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Summary: Mutant: A Book Review
Review: "Mutant", written by Peter Clement who was a physician who headed an emergency room at a major metropolitan hospital, is a medical novel, that when you're coming right down to it, basically warns us about the dangers of genetic tinkering . In this case,a "genetic vaccine" which is to be inserted into corn by a virus gets out of control; the virus jumps the species barrier. People and animals who eat contaminated corn get sick, and some die from Ebola. Those who look into this state of affairs find out that the key villain is, by means of terrorist attacks, forcing the American public to talk about the issue of genetic engineering, above all the relocation of genetic material from one species into another species. The malevolent one takes advantage of unsuspecting environmentalists to sustain his plot, and causes more than four hundred to die. "Mutant" hurdles from today's headlines into the heart and mind of its reader. Calling attention to these problems is a worthy goal. However, the paragraphs of technical explanations will go above and beyond the heads of most readers. His characters are solidly realized and intensely real, although these two main activists seem implausibly irresponsible and thoughtless. While the action scenes are written effectively, the love and sex scenes are unconvincing. "Mutant" had all the makings of a great and wonderful medical thriller, but then fell downright flat. Authors have the ability to push their plot action to its extreme limits but Dr. Clement has gone far beyond that by twisting and turning his plot and making it tedious and difficult to tag along. It seems that many writers are having a hard time thinking up of original plots that have not been used yet, especially in this kind of field. This book is an example of this, because in reading this story you can see that it does not always work. Although much of the novel is, on the most part, believable, grouping together too much scientific terminology does not make for a very amusing or enjoyable read, and breaches our sense of reliability. This kind of language is used in this story probably because this author is a genuine M.D., so he most likely thought that his readers would have the capacity and knowledge to understand all of the medical lingo being used. On this he was wrong, I myself know none who can read this book from beginning to end and understand half of what has been written. In my opinion, medical novels should either maintain a low level of scientific terms, or provide context clues in order for the reader grasp their meanings, not just dish them out like Dr. Clement has done in this book. I find it almost unbelievable that any person can turn their back on something such as this literary experience without having been even partly stunned by the use of so much medical speech, so many plot twists, or so many reckless acts described in this novel.
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Summary: Compelling thriller!
Review: A smart, compelling thriller. I really enjoyed it. Keep them coming, Dr. Clement. Brad - Canada
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Summary: Excellent medical thriller
Review: Agrenomics is a bioengineering company that is developing, testing, and planning to implement a genetic weapon of mass destruction. They are performing their work on behalf of a client who wants to bring America to its knees. The firm is spraying a genetic vector all over the Midwest so that a deadly disease limited to the animal population will invade the human race. Dr. Kathleen Sullivan believes that scientific experts should police the bioengineering companies to insure they are adhering to what they claim they say they are doing. At a conference, she meets Dr. Richard Steele, an ER doctor who is very concerned with hazards ignored by the bioengineering crowd. When they return to New York, someone targets both of them for death. Still the intrepid duo risk their lives to expose wrongdoings that could impact future generations if not stopped. It is quite frightening to realize that humanity has reached the ability to eradicate the species without dropping one nuclear bomb. However, what makes this tale even scarier is that it feels plausible for brilliant scientists to willingly eradicate part of the populace in a sort of wisdom without compassion manner. Through his highly technical explanations are beyond the ken of the average layperson, Peter Clement concludes with his medical thriller MUTANT that science fiction is very close to science fact. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Unfortunate Coincidence
Review: Althoug this book seems to coencide some what with the events of 9-11, i'm sure clement is not a modern nostradomus. he is simply a brilliant writer. The engrosing tale of the potental horrors of naked dna vectors kept me captivated during the entire book.
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Summary: Another fear-mongering slam against biotechnology.
Review: If you like having popular rhetoric slammed down your throat in the guise of a medical thriller, than this one should fit the bill. But if you have even a mild grip on the reality of the twenty first century, then this novel is more of an insult to the reader. I was quite surprised that a physician could write a novel filled with such unsubstantiated sensationalism--doing what one of his characters describes as "shouting 'Fire' in a crowded movie theater." I must admit that the 'suspense' and plot are better than average, but the unrelenting slams against genetic engineering and biotechnology get very tiring after the first 75 pages.
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Summary: DISAPPOINTING...TOO TECHNICAL
Review: On an isolated highway, a woman cradles her dying son. Though a physician, she can't stop the flow of foamy blood escaping his body. Days later, an autopsy reveals the boy died a disease only found in birds. At the opposite end of the world, ER doctor Richard Steele suffers a near fatal heart attack, in the middle of his own hospital. Recovering from his heart attack, Richard is recruited for the examination of hazards on genetically altered foods. While attending a conference in Hawaii, Richard will become aware of a powerful company using genetic breakthroughs to produce disease-resistant crops, even if they propose a major threat to humans. From a secret laboratory in New York, to a bloody crime scene in a French cathedral, to a terrifying act at a farm in Hawaii, a plot has been set forth. A plot that could change the world as we know it, for one man knows that altered strains of DNA cannot only change plant life, but also create the deadliest weapon of mass destruction. 'Mutant' had all the makings of a great medical thriller, but then fell flat. Combining to much technical jargon, and too many plot twists, it becomes tiresome and hard to follow. It seems many authors are having a hard time coming up with original plots in this genre, and as many of them try (such as this author), it doesn't always work. Although much of the novel could be plausible, it didn't make for fun reading. This book does come with a money back guarantee from the publisher, so readers could give this title a try, since they don't have anything to lose, but most medical thriller fans will just wait for new novels from Robin Cook and Michael Palmer. Nick Gonnella
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Summary: Packed with suspense
Review: Peter Clement's Mutant is a medical thriller that is packed with suspense: an activist warning of new DNA strains and environmental problems investigates a powerful company's genetic breakthroughs, and individuals leading disparate lives are drawn together in the survey of genetically modified foods and dangers from bioengineering. An absorbing and highly recommended thriller.
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Summary: Conventional medical thriller about bioengineering.
Review: Peter Clement, in his new novel, "Mutant," goes to great pains to explain how dangerous it is to tinker with the genetic makeup of foods, people and animals. Using scientific jargon, Clement explains that once diseases cross species barriers, an illness like the flu can be fatal to millions of people. Even Ebola can theoretically be transmitted by genetically altering the food supply. Not only can accidents occur, but evil scientists have the capability of purposely altering genes in order to harm large numbers of innocent people. This is a serious subject which should receive thoughtful treatment. "Mutant" does not succeed in giving this subject the weight it deserves. The spunky heroine of this novel is Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a gorgeous woman with a fiery temper and tremendous intelligence. Her counterpart is Dr. Richard Steele, a troubled ER doctor who gets involved in the anti-bioengineering movement. Both Steele and Sullivan endanger their lives to get to the bottom of an evil scheme to "strike at the heart of America". What brings this novel down are the cliches that Clement uses in his plot and in his writing. An example is this passage from the novel describing an attack on Dr. Steele by a pair of killer dogs: "He [Dr. Steele] felt locked into their stares, paralyzed by the blood lust he saw burning in their molten pupils and reading in them a hunger as primeval as that of any jungle beast." This is very bad writing. In addition, Clement relies on one of the biggest cliches of all. It seems that a Middle Eastern madman (who could it be?) wants some deadly bioengineered DNA let loose on a large number of Americans. A mysterious American is helping this madman to achieve his nefarious goal. If you have not figured out who the mastermind of the evil plan is by the halfway point of this book, then you are simply not paying attention. Other cliches are Dr. Steele's inability to deal with the loss of his wife and the very hackneyed ending, with its "perils of Pauline" pseudo-drama. Do you want true thrills without the nonsense? Go back to the classic of all time, Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain". When I read this great novel so many years ago, I was truly frightened and educated. The movie was great, too. A few other enjoyable medical thrillers are Michael Palmer's "The Sisterhood" and Tess Gerritsen's "Harvest". "Mutant" is silly and contrived. I do not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Conventional medical thriller about bioengineering.
Review: Peter Clement, in his new novel, "Mutant," goes to great pains to explain how dangerous it is to tinker with the genetic makeup of foods, people and animals. Using scientific jargon, Clement explains that once diseases cross species barriers, an illness like the flu can be fatal to millions of people. Even Ebola can theoretically be transmitted by genetically altering the food supply. Not only can accidents occur, but evil scientists have the capability of purposely altering genes in order to harm large numbers of innocent people. This is a serious subject which should receive thoughtful treatment. "Mutant" does not succeed in giving this subject the weight it deserves. The spunky heroine of this novel is Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a gorgeous woman with a fiery temper and tremendous intelligence. Her counterpart is Dr. Richard Steele, a troubled ER doctor who gets involved in the anti-bioengineering movement. Both Steele and Sullivan endanger their lives to get to the bottom of an evil scheme to "strike at the heart of America". What brings this novel down are the cliches that Clement uses in his plot and in his writing. An example is this passage from the novel describing an attack on Dr. Steele by a pair of killer dogs: "He [Dr. Steele] felt locked into their stares, paralyzed by the blood lust he saw burning in their molten pupils and reading in them a hunger as primeval as that of any jungle beast." This is very bad writing. In addition, Clement relies on one of the biggest cliches of all. It seems that a Middle Eastern madman (who could it be?) wants some deadly bioengineered DNA let loose on a large number of Americans. A mysterious American is helping this madman to achieve his nefarious goal. If you have not figured out who the mastermind of the evil plan is by the halfway point of this book, then you are simply not paying attention. Other cliches are Dr. Steele's inability to deal with the loss of his wife and the very hackneyed ending, with its "perils of Pauline" pseudo-drama. Do you want true thrills without the nonsense? Go back to the classic of all time, Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain". When I read this great novel so many years ago, I was truly frightened and educated. The movie was great, too. A few other enjoyable medical thrillers are Michael Palmer's "The Sisterhood" and Tess Gerritsen's "Harvest". "Mutant" is silly and contrived. I do not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Conventional medical thriller about bioengineering.
Review: Peter Clement, in his new novel, "Mutant," goes to great pains to explain how dangerous it is to tinker with the genetic makeup of foods, people and animals. Using scientific jargon, Clement explains that once diseases cross species barriers, an illness like the flu can be fatal to millions of people. Even Ebola can theoretically be transmitted by genetically altering the food supply. Not only can accidents occur, but evil scientists have the capability of purposely altering genes in order to harm large numbers of innocent people. This is a serious subject which should receive thoughtful treatment. "Mutant" does not succeed in giving this subject the weight it deserves. The spunky heroine of this novel is Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a gorgeous woman with a fiery temper and tremendous intelligence. Her counterpart is Dr. Richard Steele, a troubled ER doctor who gets involved in the anti-bioengineering movement. Both Steele and Sullivan endanger their lives to get to the bottom of an evil scheme to "strike at the heart of America". What brings this novel down are the cliches that Clement uses in his plot and in his writing. An example is this passage from the novel describing an attack on Dr. Steele by a pair of killer dogs: "He [Dr. Steele] felt locked into their stares, paralyzed by the blood lust he saw burning in their molten pupils and reading in them a hunger as primeval as that of any jungle beast." This is very bad writing. In addition, Clement relies on one of the biggest cliches of all. It seems that a Middle Eastern madman (who could it be?) wants some deadly bioengineered DNA let loose on a large number of Americans. A mysterious American is helping this madman to achieve his nefarious goal. If you have not figured out who the mastermind of the evil plan is by the halfway point of this book, then you are simply not paying attention. Other cliches are Dr. Steele's inability to deal with the loss of his wife and the very hackneyed ending, with its "perils of Pauline" pseudo-drama. Do you want true thrills without the nonsense? Go back to the classic of all time, Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain". When I read this great novel so many years ago, I was truly frightened and educated. The movie was great, too. A few other enjoyable medical thrillers are Michael Palmer's "The Sisterhood" and Tess Gerritsen's "Harvest". "Mutant" is silly and contrived. I do not recommend it.
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