Seizure

by Robin Cook

Book Overview

In a novel as timely as it is terrifying, New York Times -bestselling author Robin Cook explores the controversial clash of politics and biotechnology. When Dr. Daniel Lowell and his partner, Dr. Stephanie D'Agostino, discover a new cloning procedure that utilizes stem cells to treat otherwise incurable and degenerative diseases, they know they've hit the medical jackpot. But with their cutting-edge method pending approval, they run into a roadblock...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425197948
• ISBN13: 9780425197943
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.4" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Convulsion - Robin Cook

Author has generated another superb book. Had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Controversial

This is a story about two people with passion. One--a powerful senator who used his position for his own benefit. He was diagnosed with Parkinson disease and as much as he was against the stem cell cloning, he used his political position with a promised to get it to pass. The other--a brilliant researcher who longed for a little fame and a desire to save his company that's going belly under. The Shroud of Turin gave additional struggle to the characters and gave the story more complexity. I've always loved Robin Cook's writing style--the way he describes scenes and truly enjoy his dialogues. The only thing I did not like about this book is the ending. I prefer happy ones. Cold Eyes

Encouraged my husband to read ...

Something he does not do very often. He really got into the story and kept telling me all about it as he read further into the book.

Robin Cook's BEST!

BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I WERE EQUALLY PLEASED WITH ROBIN COOK'SLATEST BOOK "SEIZURE"...WE HAVE READ ALL HIS BOOKS AND AGREEDTHAT THIS IS HIS BEST TO DATE! ONE DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE A MEDICALBACKGROUND TO APPRECIATE (AS A LAYPERSON) WHAT WAS INVOLVEDIN AN EXCITING PLOT THAT HAD TWISTS AND TURNS AND BECAME ATHRILLING, SUSPENCEFUL PAGE TURNER, RIGHT UP TO THE END.WE CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS NEXT BOOK!!!

Great Cook story: gripping suspense, humor, & ethics issues

We've read all of Cook's medical "thrillers" (even his Egyptian mystery, the "Sphinx"), and would argue that some are a lot better than others. But along comes "Seizure", just possibly his best ever! A current affairs-type premise finds two intellectual doctors trying to save from impending financial ruin their stem-cell research company with a promising technology to grow disease-curing cells. They approach a US Senator to help stop a bill to outlaw their procedures, only to learn he has Parkinson's disease and proposes using himself as an experiment -- completely illegal of course! To add an incredible twist to the idea, he wants the DNA necessary to come from the Shroud of Turin (implications, to use Christ's DNA). What happens therafter is a roller coaster ride of trials and tribulations for our leading characters, with finally the operation on the senator at first glance a success. As yet another interesting touch, Cook reprises the evil doctors from "Shock" who fled the U.S. to re-open the Wingate Clinic (from that story) in the Bahamas to skirt federal medical laws.There's much more than a fun story to captivate readers with this novel. The discussions of the Shroud, apparently proven years ago to be a fraud, were intriguing and will probably stimulate new interst in just where and how the famous relic came to be. The scene where the senator meets with a Cardinal to "negotiate" getting a sample of the shroud was one of the most humorous we've read in a long time. Lastly, the ongoing ethics of the human experiment, and whether the type of research described in the story should be banned or not is a central theme for which the author has serious positions to unfold, even elaborating on what he thinks is right in an author's note at the end. Cook also admitted his fascination with learning so much about the Shroud and refers us to other books on that subject should we care to pursue it.Robin Cook often grabs us with a provocative premise but then sometimes peters out. In this book, the action, the interaction of the characters, and the entertaining and amusing side issues all wrap up into a fine summertime read -- don't miss it!