Seizure

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing
Review: "Seizure" is the first Robin Cook book that I have read. Apparently this is something of a sequel to an earlier book. The plot focuses on situation ethics, in the context of stem cell research. Two PhD researchers blunder their way to Italy to retrieve bloodstained fibers from the Shroud of Turin in order to extract DNA fragments for use in the treatment of a hypocritical politician with Parkinson's disease. Murphy's Law is definitely in effect, yet the duo narrowly escape consequences of their blunders again and again.

If you read the book simply as entertainment, I believe you'll enjoy the pacing, the vivid descriptions, and the educational tidbits about the Shroud of Turin. However, Cook definitely has an agenda that he is preaching about stem cell research. He would like to apply situational ethics and say that human life does not begin at conception, but that you should be able to decide when human life begins based on the method of creating the cells, and on the intended future of the embryo. In other words, if you didn't plan to create a baby, then its okay to experiment on the cells. One of his main points throughout the book is to be careful about applying "ends justify the means" reasoning, and yet that is precisely what he promotes when saying that the possible benefits of stem cell thereapy justify the destruction of human life during experimentation. Additionally, the premise that fetal stem cells are necessary is definitely not in alignment with published journal articles which show that adult stem cells are superior. I'm very surprised that he didn't know this, given his medical background. He apparently spent some effort researching the Shroud of Turin, and its disappointing that he didnt apply the same energy to his stem cell background research.

Rating:
Summary: Not a good "Cook"
Review: I was very disappointed by this book.
Besides the complicated and improbable scenario, the style itself is aweful. It seems Cook took pleasure to show off his knowledge of complicated words and sentences. The dialogues are completely irrealistic:

"My eagerness at having finally gotten here to Nassau has me fired up, whereas in actuality I'm bushed too."

"If it goes down easily and if the flight schedule is copacetic, maybe you can do it in one day."

"copacetic"? "whereas in actuality"? Who speaks like that? Come on...

Many books by Cook are very good. This one is to forget as quickly as possible.

Rating:
Summary: (1 1/2) A BARELY READABLE STORY From A Talented Author
Review: If you fall into one of the following four categories you might be considering reading this book, but BEWARE, with the possible exception of number four you will in all likelihood be very disappointed. First, you are a diehard Robin Cook Fan. Second, you read SHOCK and understand that Spencer Wingate and his cohorts at the Wingate Clinic play a relatively small but central role in this book. Third, you are interested in the medical aspects and the ethical debate concerning cloning and stem cell research. Last, you are a speed reader who only skims most novels for the central element of the plot and are not bothered by unlikable characters and uneven writing.

The plot is as described in other reviews and on the book jacket. Dr. Daniel Lowell, a brilliant medical researcher (previously employed by Merck) resigns the Harvard faculty to start his own biotech firm. He is joined by his younger associate, Stephanie D'Agostino, with the hope of commercializing a procedure developed by Daniel, HTSR (Homologous Transgenic Segmental Recombination). Their future is threatened when the powerful Senator Ashley Butler threatens to introduce legislation banning the procedure at a time when Daniel's firm is in need of a further cash infusion from his venture capital backers. Meanwhile, Senator Butler's staff research has led him to believe that the HTSR treatment might successfully provide a cure for his recently diagnosed but rapidly progressing Parkinson's Disease. (Since it would threaten his political career, his disease has been a closely kept secret, known only to his long time aide Carol Manning and his physician.) There are several subplots including a DNA sample extracted from a fragment of the Shroud of Turin, the use of the facilities of the Wingate clinic (which has relocated to the Bahamas), and Stephanie's family connections to the Boston Mob (in an unbelievable use of stereotyping).

As the author has explained, he views himself as writing "faction", and wants to use his books to inform and enlighten, as well as preach whatever happens to be his message of the moment. However, he has apparently forgotten that his stories should also be interesting and entertaining. He claims that he needed to research the political aspects of this book in D.C., and yet the political insights are minimal. The information on the Shroud of Turin was new to me, but the segments on therapeutic cloning were much too technical and lengthy to maintain my interest. Thus a story with several potentially interesting subplots and which had the potential to involve an interesting discussion of the potential ethical dilemmas involved in biotech experimentation tried to do too much and as a result accomplished almost nothing.

In addition, without exception the characters were totally unlikable stereotypes and caricatures. Daniel was a selfish individual lacking in judgment who was only interested in fame and fortune; the Catholic clergy were primarily interested in their political goals; Senator Butler was a totally self-centered fraud, Stephanie was portrayed as the typical female companion who was too weak to resist Daniel's and the Senator's plan even though her instincts and her intuition told her it was wrong and would probably fail; finally, the distractions caused by her family had no discernible purpose except to lengthen the book. And if you plan to read this book to find out what happened to Spencer Wingate, Paul Saunders and Kurt Hermann you will be disappointed as well. Even the dialog and the writng style seem unnatural for much of the book.

The only reasons I rounded up my rating are that there are a few moments of real tension if you plough through the whole book, there is some interesting information presented about the controversy concerning therapeutic cloning, and the plot has promise (although unfulfilled). So , if you fit into category four at the begining of my review, you might find this book marginally worthwhile. Unfortunately, I got over my disappointment with the author's last few books (since I used to be a big fan of his) and read this in my usual thorough style, only to be disappointed once again.

Rating:
Summary: When Medical. Political,& Business Ethics Go Awry
Review: In this novel, Dr. Robin Cook sheds light on the moral and ethical concerns which accompany medical/scientific research. He show us how a senator who takes an absolute and inflexible public stand on controversial research ithat involves the use of embryos, suddenly does an about face, when he develops a chronic and incurable disease himself. The senator volunteers to be the human subject, i.e., "guinea pig" for the *very* procedure that he was so staunchly publicly against ... Why? Because the procedure has a high probablity of curing his Parkinson's disease. The Senator has an unusual request as to the source of the donor cells, from which the embryos will create dopamine making cells ...

The personality of the senator was described fully and in depth, and had the personalities of the main characters, Daniel Lowell, MD, Ph.D. and Stephanie D'Agostino been developed better, I would have given this book a rating of 5. Overall I found this novel to be excellent. It reveals the realities that cause otherwise intelligent and moral people to take unusual risks. These two people risked losing both their excellent reputations and standing in the scientific community and their bio tech research company because Congress did not sanction their medical procedure, although it proven to have successful outcomes on animals. Another interesting twist in this book, is the extreme measures some unique investors take to recover their money, when they realize the value of the stocks have plummetted.

Dr. Daniel Lowell and Dr. Stepanie D'Agostino utilize a research clinic and hospital in the Bahamas to test their procedure on their volunteer human subject. The bizarre circumstances which occur during and after the procedure are all too real ... as anyone working in the healthcare industry can attest. Odd things can and do happen for many reasons ... I am certain this book would be a huge hit as a movie, as so many preceding books by this author have been. The theme is current and relevant. The politician is believable, especially as he does not represent the interests of the public but his own. The main characters when played by a popular actor and actress would have the added benefit of visual appeal which would provide depth to the personalities. This book falls into the "I can't put it down until I am finished reading it" category. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Rating:
Summary: Insultingl;y sloppy work from a former decent writer
Review: Robin Cook has produced some intriguing and entertaining novels in the distant past. Even if his work was always stamped with a trademark formula, and was largely "by the numbers" and overly plot-driven, his earlier work nonetheless provided a bit of interest. His thrillers were thrilling, as they should be. "Seizure," however, is remarkably bad. The characterizations are nothing more than cartoons. This isn't even "plot driven," as the novel is so weak, and so flimsy, that it barely has a plot. It is as if Cook had a pretty good idea for a book, then turned the assignment of actually writing it over to his 20 year-old neice (or whomever, but someone of dubious writing talent). The poor craftsmanship and crappy execution of this lame attempt is offensive to me. Cook has demonstrated in the past that he has talent for churning out readable thrillers. If his work has now dropped to this low of a level, however, he may soon find himself out of a market for even his pulp fiction product. Avoid this book! And if you know Cook, tell him he owes me six quid, the price of his lastest ghastly mess.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable yet not his best
Review: The character development was about on par with some of his better efforts and I only mildly noted that he was interjecting his own personal beliefs into the novel. I would go ahead and recommend buying it if youre a fan of cook's previous work however, if not, I dont know that this will make you a life long fan.
In regards to the previous reviwer, check your facts, adult stem cells have not rarely if ever been called superior to embryonic stem cells. This is primarily because they have a more determined shape, which dictates function, while on the other hand the embryonic stem cells can take on any function with what is certainly an entirely natural effect thanks to 2+_ million years of human evolution. I would like to remind everyone, if it seems like Dr Cook is on a crusade in this book, maybe he is, embryonic stem cells can cure cancer, help parapalegics walk again, restore memory aka cure Parkinsons and Alzheimers, and many other wonderful things, thats why its already being done is dozens of other nations. It is sad when severly sick Americans who are near their collective death bed's have to travel to Korea or China for MEDICAL treatment.