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Abduction
The world's bestselling master of the medical thriller, Robin Cook skillfully combines human drama and high-tech thrills with the latest breakthroughs and controversies of modern medicine. Now, in his most daring novel yet, a mysterious transmission from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean leads a crew of oceanographers and divers to a phenomenon beyond scientific understanding—a discovery that will change everything we know about life on Earth…
404 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 15, 2000
350 people are currently reading
2955 people want to read
About the author
Robin Cook
190 books5,056 followersLibrarian Note: Not to be confused with British novelist Robin Cook a pseudonym of Robert William Arthur Cook.
Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American doctor / novelist who writes about medicine, biotechnology, and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for being the author who created the medical-thriller genre by combining medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. His books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List with several at #1. A number of his books have also been featured in Reader's Digest. Many were also featured in the Literary Guild. Many have been made into motion pictures.
Cook is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University School of Medicine. He finished his postgraduate medical training at Harvard that included general surgery and ophthalmology. He divides his time between homes in Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Jean. He is currently on leave from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has successfully combined medical fact with fiction to produce a succession of bestselling books. Cook's medical thrillers are designed, in part, to make the public aware of both the technological possibilities of modern medicine and the ensuing ethical conundrums.
Cook got a taste of the larger world when the Cousteau Society recruited him to run its blood - gas lab in the South of France while he was in medical school. Intrigued by diving, he later called on a connection he made through Jacques Cousteau to become an aquanaut with the US Navy Sealab when he was drafted in the 60's. During his navy career he served on a nuclear submarine for a seventy-five day stay underwater where he wrote his first book! [1]
Cook was a private member of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Board of Trustees, appointed to a six-year term by the President George W. Bush.[2]
[edit] Doctor / Novelist
Dr. Cook's profession as a doctor has provided him with ideas and background for many of his novels. In each of his novels, he strives to write about the issues at the forefront of current medical practice.
To date, he has explored issues such as organ donation, genetic engineering,fertility treatment, medical research funding, managed care, medical malpractice, drug research, drug pricing, specialty hospitals, stem cells, and organ transplantation.[3]
Dr. Cook has been remarked to have an uncanny ability to anticipate national controversy. In an interview with Dr.Cook, Stephen McDonald talked to him about his novel Shock; Cook admits the timing of Shock was fortuitous. "I suppose that you could say that it's the most like Coma in that it deals with an issue that everybody seems to be concerned about," he says, "I wrote this book to address the stem cell issue, which the public really doesn't know much about. Besides entertaining readers, my main goal is to get people interested in some of these issues, because it's the public that ultimately really should decide which way we ought to go in something as that has enormous potential for treating disease and disability but touches up against the ethically problematic abortion issue."[4]
Keeping his lab coat handy helps him turn our fear of doctors into bestsellers. "I joke that if my books stop selling, I can always fall back on brain surgery," he says. "But I am still very interested in being a doctor. If I had to do it over again, I would still study medicine. I think of myself more as a doctor who writes, rather than a writer who happens to be a doctor." After 35 books,he has come up with a diagnosis to explain why his medical thrillers remain so popular. "The main reason is, we all realize we are at risk. We're all going to be patients sometime," he says. "You can write about great white sharks or haunted houses, and you can say I'm not going into the ocean or I'm not going in haunted houses, but you can't say you're n
Dr. Robin Cook (born May 4, 1940 in New York City, New York) is an American doctor / novelist who writes about medicine, biotechnology, and topics affecting public health.
He is best known for being the author who created the medical-thriller genre by combining medical writing with the thriller genre of writing. His books have been bestsellers on the "New York Times" Bestseller List with several at #1. A number of his books have also been featured in Reader's Digest. Many were also featured in the Literary Guild. Many have been made into motion pictures.
Cook is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University School of Medicine. He finished his postgraduate medical training at Harvard that included general surgery and ophthalmology. He divides his time between homes in Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Jean. He is currently on leave from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has successfully combined medical fact with fiction to produce a succession of bestselling books. Cook's medical thrillers are designed, in part, to make the public aware of both the technological possibilities of modern medicine and the ensuing ethical conundrums.
Cook got a taste of the larger world when the Cousteau Society recruited him to run its blood - gas lab in the South of France while he was in medical school. Intrigued by diving, he later called on a connection he made through Jacques Cousteau to become an aquanaut with the US Navy Sealab when he was drafted in the 60's. During his navy career he served on a nuclear submarine for a seventy-five day stay underwater where he wrote his first book! [1]
Cook was a private member of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Board of Trustees, appointed to a six-year term by the President George W. Bush.[2]
[edit] Doctor / Novelist
Dr. Cook's profession as a doctor has provided him with ideas and background for many of his novels. In each of his novels, he strives to write about the issues at the forefront of current medical practice.
To date, he has explored issues such as organ donation, genetic engineering,fertility treatment, medical research funding, managed care, medical malpractice, drug research, drug pricing, specialty hospitals, stem cells, and organ transplantation.[3]
Dr. Cook has been remarked to have an uncanny ability to anticipate national controversy. In an interview with Dr.Cook, Stephen McDonald talked to him about his novel Shock; Cook admits the timing of Shock was fortuitous. "I suppose that you could say that it's the most like Coma in that it deals with an issue that everybody seems to be concerned about," he says, "I wrote this book to address the stem cell issue, which the public really doesn't know much about. Besides entertaining readers, my main goal is to get people interested in some of these issues, because it's the public that ultimately really should decide which way we ought to go in something as that has enormous potential for treating disease and disability but touches up against the ethically problematic abortion issue."[4]
Keeping his lab coat handy helps him turn our fear of doctors into bestsellers. "I joke that if my books stop selling, I can always fall back on brain surgery," he says. "But I am still very interested in being a doctor. If I had to do it over again, I would still study medicine. I think of myself more as a doctor who writes, rather than a writer who happens to be a doctor." After 35 books,he has come up with a diagnosis to explain why his medical thrillers remain so popular. "The main reason is, we all realize we are at risk. We're all going to be patients sometime," he says. "You can write about great white sharks or haunted houses, and you can say I'm not going into the ocean or I'm not going in haunted houses, but you can't say you're n
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 488 reviews
May 9, 2015
Description: A mysterious transmission from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean leads a crew of divers and oceanographers to investigate a phenomenon beyond scientific understanding.
...And to the discovery that will permanently change everything we have previously come to know about life on this Earth.
Wait up, when was Abyss published? *runs off to check...*
*...sprints back* 1989, that's when. And Journey to the Centre of the Earth was 1864. Both infinitely better fayre than this phone-in. Are all Robin Cook's like this, I hope not because I nabbed a handful a few year's back.
Anyway, it was company enough in between motor cross races, yet not good enough to continue once the outing was over
2* Abduction
2* Mutation
...And to the discovery that will permanently change everything we have previously come to know about life on this Earth.
Wait up, when was Abyss published? *runs off to check...**...sprints back* 1989, that's when. And Journey to the Centre of the Earth was 1864. Both infinitely better fayre than this phone-in. Are all Robin Cook's like this, I hope not because I nabbed a handful a few year's back.
Anyway, it was company enough in between motor cross races, yet not good enough to continue once the outing was over
2* Abduction
2* Mutation
March 20, 2024
First of all, Robin Cook surprised me with this here novel. This is way different from his standard fare which admittedly is already quite readable. With this effort though he clearly reinvented himself. This is so much more Michael Crichton and less Robin Cook as we know him.
The premise: (stated in a few key words) Exploration, Deep Sea, Secret Base,
The argument: Add the traditional characters and interaction (three stooges/hillbillies, the rational scientist, the unyielding military man, the arbiter - a rich tycoon) trying through dialogue (extrapolation, induction, deduction) to solve a baffling mystery within a plot reminiscent of the classic Jules Verne and H . Rider Haggard works.
... And the conclusion is: right up my alley😊
Highlights in quote: "None of them are Russians. - Well, none of them are Americans neither. There is not a single overweight person.😁
"You are delightedly primitive". -"You are yanking my chain..." - Not at all... Not at all.😁
The premise: (stated in a few key words) Exploration, Deep Sea, Secret Base,
The argument: Add the traditional characters and interaction (three stooges/hillbillies, the rational scientist, the unyielding military man, the arbiter - a rich tycoon) trying through dialogue (extrapolation, induction, deduction) to solve a baffling mystery within a plot reminiscent of the classic Jules Verne and H . Rider Haggard works.
... And the conclusion is: right up my alley😊
Highlights in quote: "None of them are Russians. - Well, none of them are Americans neither. There is not a single overweight person.😁
"You are delightedly primitive". -"You are yanking my chain..." - Not at all... Not at all.😁
July 31, 2007
Alas, my run of bad books continues. Unlike The Woman in White, I did manage to finish Abduction but mostly from a morbid curiosity to see just how bad the book could get. I read this book as part of the Medical Mystery Madness challenge but the book only just barely qualifies.
Abduction suffers from some Cook's typical weak one-note characterizations. In this case, it's the two rampant homophobes, the beautiful lady scientist, the nebishy entrepreneur and the nobel chauffer (excuse me, submarine pilot). Then there are the oh-so-perfect ever-so-advanced aliens beneath the surface who live for ever and have evloved beyond the need for sex, work or violence. Oh yeah, and they have space and time travel but have chosen to stay living in the Mohorovicic zone.
Coupled with the cardboard characterization is a nonsensical plot cribbed from a laundry list of much better speculative fiction.The bulk of the book is one long tour of a city in Interterra puncuated with bland attempts at homo-errotic sex scenes. Rather than suffering through Abduction, read these books (and one film) that should have been included in a bibliography:
* The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)
* Voyage to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)
* The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1918)
* Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)
* Demolition Man, the 1993 film.
Abduction suffers from some Cook's typical weak one-note characterizations. In this case, it's the two rampant homophobes, the beautiful lady scientist, the nebishy entrepreneur and the nobel chauffer (excuse me, submarine pilot). Then there are the oh-so-perfect ever-so-advanced aliens beneath the surface who live for ever and have evloved beyond the need for sex, work or violence. Oh yeah, and they have space and time travel but have chosen to stay living in the Mohorovicic zone.
Coupled with the cardboard characterization is a nonsensical plot cribbed from a laundry list of much better speculative fiction.The bulk of the book is one long tour of a city in Interterra puncuated with bland attempts at homo-errotic sex scenes. Rather than suffering through Abduction, read these books (and one film) that should have been included in a bibliography:
* The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)
* Voyage to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)
* The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1918)
* Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)
* Demolition Man, the 1993 film.
June 8, 2011
I fell in love with this book when I first read it at age 13, and I've read it two more times since then.
It's about a very advanced, very secret utopian society deep under the ocean floor. Even though this society is underground (or ocean, I should say) they recreate their environment around them to look just like the earth at the surface. They use phosphorescent fish and shrimp to make the sunrise/sunset, as well as mimicking the stars in the night sky. There's no pollution, violence, poverty, war, or anything else that's a problem above ground.
However, therein lies the problem, as it is within our very nature as humans to have problems and strife; without them we seem to crumble....
This book has descriptions that are out of this world, and it also points out that although our society is riddled with problems, it is precisely those flaws that make us who we are as a human race. It's definitely one of the best books I've ever read!
It's about a very advanced, very secret utopian society deep under the ocean floor. Even though this society is underground (or ocean, I should say) they recreate their environment around them to look just like the earth at the surface. They use phosphorescent fish and shrimp to make the sunrise/sunset, as well as mimicking the stars in the night sky. There's no pollution, violence, poverty, war, or anything else that's a problem above ground.
However, therein lies the problem, as it is within our very nature as humans to have problems and strife; without them we seem to crumble....
This book has descriptions that are out of this world, and it also points out that although our society is riddled with problems, it is precisely those flaws that make us who we are as a human race. It's definitely one of the best books I've ever read!
January 29, 2009
This is a startlingly bad book. Cook's premise is that half a billion years ago humans evolved, grew powerful, and moved into a spacious and habitable hollow shell (!) between the Earth's crust and mantle. They lived there for 500 million years, not interacting with the surface world, until humanity evolved again, completely separately (!!). A group of modern-day humans are kidnapped by the the shell-dwellers and taken to their undersea city. Our heros' escape is facilitated by the fact that all the signs in this 500-million-year-old city are in English (!!!).
April 2, 2021
Reading this book was, indeed, a guilty pleasure. The plot was trashy, ludicrous junk food - and yet I couldn't stop reading it. I kept thinking it couldn't get any worse, but then it did. It's so bad that it's good.
It's a story that might appeal to fans of Jules Verne, or better yet, fans of SyFy Channel original movies. (No spoilers on the theme.) If you're in the mood for some incredibly cheesy sci fi set under the sea, this book might be for you.
It's a story that might appeal to fans of Jules Verne, or better yet, fans of SyFy Channel original movies. (No spoilers on the theme.) If you're in the mood for some incredibly cheesy sci fi set under the sea, this book might be for you.
May 31, 2019
Apologies to Robin Cook, but OMFG, this is simply the stupidest book I have ever read. And not by a little. By a lot. I'm not even sure where to begin.
But we'll start with the characters. Go find a cardboard box. Hold it. Study it. Get to know it because that box has more depth than any of the characters in this book. The main female character is a cliche across the board, feeling guilty for things she has no reason to feel about, apologizing a lot, being super emotional, etc. The military guy is super paranoid and says "soldier!" a lot. The two divers are the most over the top ridiculous cliches I've ever read. They are presented as these super advanced divers, but they act like twelve year old idiots 95% of the time. Murderous, over the top homophobic idiots.
Actually, I just decided I've given enough of my time to this craptastic book, so I'll finish by saying this book is so awful, you'd be better off filling your bed with rattlesnakes and cacti, covering yourself fire ants, and rolling around in the bed while being forced to listen to Roseanne Barr sing the National Anthem.
Much better off.
But we'll start with the characters. Go find a cardboard box. Hold it. Study it. Get to know it because that box has more depth than any of the characters in this book. The main female character is a cliche across the board, feeling guilty for things she has no reason to feel about, apologizing a lot, being super emotional, etc. The military guy is super paranoid and says "soldier!" a lot. The two divers are the most over the top ridiculous cliches I've ever read. They are presented as these super advanced divers, but they act like twelve year old idiots 95% of the time. Murderous, over the top homophobic idiots.
Actually, I just decided I've given enough of my time to this craptastic book, so I'll finish by saying this book is so awful, you'd be better off filling your bed with rattlesnakes and cacti, covering yourself fire ants, and rolling around in the bed while being forced to listen to Roseanne Barr sing the National Anthem.
Much better off.
September 23, 2018
What happens when a small group of deep-sea adventurers find an underwater volcano that is more than it appears? These people are swept away (literally) into a strange experience. After going through humiliation by a surreal "cleansing" process thousands of feet underground they find out that deep underneath the sea there is a never-before-seen species of people.
These people seem to live in perfect peace and harmony (where war or violence are things they do not know of) and they feel that they have found a heaven on earth. But there is a twist when a critical decision is made that not all of the sea crew agree on... and that just may change them forever.
This book was so much fun to read. I enjoyed the characters and found them much more interesting than Cook's other book Invasion. And just like the other book there is a lot of theories involving evolution and things that I normally disagree on because of conviction in my life.
Other than that last statement, I did like this book. It was very creative and made me enjoy the characters who lived in a world one would never think of existed. And I liked that it challenged the idea that "what if there was a beautiful 'perfect' world you could live in forever or for the rest of your life? But as long as you had to be separate from your loved ones as long as you lived?"
Good book. I'd recommend it.
These people seem to live in perfect peace and harmony (where war or violence are things they do not know of) and they feel that they have found a heaven on earth. But there is a twist when a critical decision is made that not all of the sea crew agree on... and that just may change them forever.
This book was so much fun to read. I enjoyed the characters and found them much more interesting than Cook's other book Invasion. And just like the other book there is a lot of theories involving evolution and things that I normally disagree on because of conviction in my life.
Other than that last statement, I did like this book. It was very creative and made me enjoy the characters who lived in a world one would never think of existed. And I liked that it challenged the idea that "what if there was a beautiful 'perfect' world you could live in forever or for the rest of your life? But as long as you had to be separate from your loved ones as long as you lived?"
Good book. I'd recommend it.
July 30, 2014
I felt like reading a Robin Cook novel, but I should have realized what was coming when I downloaded the only Cook e-book that my library had available without any waiting.
Cook’s writing is cartoonish. Characters behave in highly exaggerated and stereotyped fashion. Tropes such as “…as I’m sure you know…” and “…refresh his memory…” are used to trigger stark info-dumps. I can’t even begin to imagine what would possess someone to write a line like, “she gave off a stunning gender message.” What does that even mean?!
Characters are walking, talking stereotypes. The paranoid ex-military bully is straight out of every 80s movie ever. The two juvenile, barbaric divers provide the obvious source of idiocy and conflict.
As for the under-sea civilization, we have the standardized highly advanced, childlike and naive, completely non-violent, free-loving people. I felt like I’d gone back to a 1960s vision of utopia. They’re entertained by the ‘primitive’ main characters and of course cannot understand why they wouldn’t be satisfied being held captive in paradise.
Abduction was published in 2000. Frankly it would have been outdated and derivative even a couple of decades before that. Now it’s just a bizarre throwback to a badly-beaten trope.
For a longer review including premise, visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/07/r...
Cook’s writing is cartoonish. Characters behave in highly exaggerated and stereotyped fashion. Tropes such as “…as I’m sure you know…” and “…refresh his memory…” are used to trigger stark info-dumps. I can’t even begin to imagine what would possess someone to write a line like, “she gave off a stunning gender message.” What does that even mean?!
Characters are walking, talking stereotypes. The paranoid ex-military bully is straight out of every 80s movie ever. The two juvenile, barbaric divers provide the obvious source of idiocy and conflict.
As for the under-sea civilization, we have the standardized highly advanced, childlike and naive, completely non-violent, free-loving people. I felt like I’d gone back to a 1960s vision of utopia. They’re entertained by the ‘primitive’ main characters and of course cannot understand why they wouldn’t be satisfied being held captive in paradise.
Abduction was published in 2000. Frankly it would have been outdated and derivative even a couple of decades before that. Now it’s just a bizarre throwback to a badly-beaten trope.
For a longer review including premise, visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/07/r...
December 18, 2020
Geen thriller, meer een sf roman. Wat saai,veel een origineel verhaal.
September 16, 2018
4 stars
Había leído "Contagio", del mismo autor de esta novela, y me había encantado, así que cuando vi este libro en la estantería del Fnac a un precio irresistible no me pude resistir, valga la redundancia. Y menudo acierto. Sorprendentemente me ha parecido muy divertida, cosa que no esperaba al tratarse de una historia de ciencia ficción; además de fascinante y entretenida. No podía dejar de leer por necesidad pura de saber que iba a pasar a continuación. Los personajes son los que dan ese toque cómico a la novela, en especial "Perry" al que yo no podía dejar de imaginarme como un Rick Moranis en su papel en la pelicula "Cazafantasmas", salvando las distancias.
Inspirada en "Viaje al centro de la tierra" de Verne, nos relata las aventuras de un grupo de personas topándose con el misterio en el fondo submarino. Tiene un trasfondo sociológico delicioso, sobre la condición humana, la evolución de la humanidad que parece afectar a unos sujetos y a otros no, sobre la violencia y las mentes primarias, sobre las mentes más evolucionadas y civilizadas.
Me ha encantado como dan respuesta a varios misterios que existen en nuestro planeta desde tiempos inmemoriales, lo he disfrutado demasiado.
Y para acabar decir que no me esperaba el final, el cual me ha parecido cómico al nivel de la novela.
Había leído "Contagio", del mismo autor de esta novela, y me había encantado, así que cuando vi este libro en la estantería del Fnac a un precio irresistible no me pude resistir, valga la redundancia. Y menudo acierto. Sorprendentemente me ha parecido muy divertida, cosa que no esperaba al tratarse de una historia de ciencia ficción; además de fascinante y entretenida. No podía dejar de leer por necesidad pura de saber que iba a pasar a continuación. Los personajes son los que dan ese toque cómico a la novela, en especial "Perry" al que yo no podía dejar de imaginarme como un Rick Moranis en su papel en la pelicula "Cazafantasmas", salvando las distancias.
Inspirada en "Viaje al centro de la tierra" de Verne, nos relata las aventuras de un grupo de personas topándose con el misterio en el fondo submarino. Tiene un trasfondo sociológico delicioso, sobre la condición humana, la evolución de la humanidad que parece afectar a unos sujetos y a otros no, sobre la violencia y las mentes primarias, sobre las mentes más evolucionadas y civilizadas.
Me ha encantado como dan respuesta a varios misterios que existen en nuestro planeta desde tiempos inmemoriales, lo he disfrutado demasiado.
Y para acabar decir que no me esperaba el final, el cual me ha parecido cómico al nivel de la novela.
February 22, 2009
Quite possibly my most favorite read of Robin Cook's "fantasy" novels. I like all his books but he seems to have two ways he writes. Sometimes the scenarios are so realistic I start thinking twice about ever going to a hospital again and some, like this book, deviate into a more fantasy based medical scenario. As far as medical suspense I think he is one of the best and his 2 different writing styles keep things interesting.
March 27, 2018
Science fiction is a difficult genre to write about. Put in bits of fantasy, and the job becomes tougher.
So I shall commend the author on the attempt, which at least begins well. A group of workers belonging to an oil drilling(?) company and their president are sucked into an underwater volcano/earthquake (the details are pretty hazy), and transferred into a region between the sea bed and the Earth's core, known as Interterra. They discover that the region is inhabited by people who look like them (oh but wait, they are very very good looking, as the characters can't stop thinking about), yet entirely different in their way of living. They reveal themselves as first generation humans, thrive in perfect harmony, and seek carnal pleasure through rubbing of hands (weird much?)
As I write this, I realize the summary is more interesting than the actual content. Oh that's because I missed writing about the central characters. So you have a couple of homophobes, a war veteran (the only bearable character in the book), an oceanographer who's beautiful and compassionate (because she's a woman, duh), and the company President who fleetingly pines for her, before a better product comes along.
Much of the book focuses on unending orgies-all platonic by earth standards, mind you, which only end when the sane character finally broaches the question about their alleged abduction.
When an author thinks, hey let's write something on science fiction, and ends up with this mess, it is only the reader who suffers. The book receives an additional star of the final twist in the story.
P.S. Jules Verne did a far better job of writing books on this genre (and somewhat similar plotline), more than a century ago. Creative imagination needs talent, hence proved.
So I shall commend the author on the attempt, which at least begins well. A group of workers belonging to an oil drilling(?) company and their president are sucked into an underwater volcano/earthquake (the details are pretty hazy), and transferred into a region between the sea bed and the Earth's core, known as Interterra. They discover that the region is inhabited by people who look like them (oh but wait, they are very very good looking, as the characters can't stop thinking about), yet entirely different in their way of living. They reveal themselves as first generation humans, thrive in perfect harmony, and seek carnal pleasure through rubbing of hands (weird much?)
As I write this, I realize the summary is more interesting than the actual content. Oh that's because I missed writing about the central characters. So you have a couple of homophobes, a war veteran (the only bearable character in the book), an oceanographer who's beautiful and compassionate (because she's a woman, duh), and the company President who fleetingly pines for her, before a better product comes along.
Much of the book focuses on unending orgies-all platonic by earth standards, mind you, which only end when the sane character finally broaches the question about their alleged abduction.
When an author thinks, hey let's write something on science fiction, and ends up with this mess, it is only the reader who suffers. The book receives an additional star of the final twist in the story.
P.S. Jules Verne did a far better job of writing books on this genre (and somewhat similar plotline), more than a century ago. Creative imagination needs talent, hence proved.
July 24, 2010
Contrarian View -- not that bad ! Entertaining !
We've read every one of Cook's books; he is after all quite prolific... But having seen others rather severely pan this novel, maybe our expectations were low. Surprise -- we liked it a lot! OK, maybe it was pure escapism, but we found it a welcome switch from the medico-suspense genre typical of Cook (ala Sphinx, showing another side of Cook's dexterity and topical brilliance). Admittedly not a sci-fi dabbler at all, we found the adventure underwater, followed by the discovery (albeit, via abduction) of "Interterra" (Utopia) quite amusing. His "explanations" of various scientific mysteries at least bordered on possibility (hey, this is fiction after all!), including the story of Atlantis and similar phenomena. We did think the ending was a bit abrupt; we might have voted 5 stars if he could have handled that a little better. In fact, we'd argue the escape element near the end was virtually the only segment of the book with little or no plausibility.
Anyhow, we enjoyed. While we often criticize Cook for his unbelievable action (as opposed to premise or plot), his vivid imagination is in fine form here for an "airport" paperback.
We've read every one of Cook's books; he is after all quite prolific... But having seen others rather severely pan this novel, maybe our expectations were low. Surprise -- we liked it a lot! OK, maybe it was pure escapism, but we found it a welcome switch from the medico-suspense genre typical of Cook (ala Sphinx, showing another side of Cook's dexterity and topical brilliance). Admittedly not a sci-fi dabbler at all, we found the adventure underwater, followed by the discovery (albeit, via abduction) of "Interterra" (Utopia) quite amusing. His "explanations" of various scientific mysteries at least bordered on possibility (hey, this is fiction after all!), including the story of Atlantis and similar phenomena. We did think the ending was a bit abrupt; we might have voted 5 stars if he could have handled that a little better. In fact, we'd argue the escape element near the end was virtually the only segment of the book with little or no plausibility.
Anyhow, we enjoyed. While we often criticize Cook for his unbelievable action (as opposed to premise or plot), his vivid imagination is in fine form here for an "airport" paperback.
November 28, 2016
Wooden characters and wooden dialogue hamper this sci-fi tale and prevent the reader from fully suspending his disbelief. It was almost as if Cook inserted two motley, ill-mannered rubes into the book after having written the rest of it. The last one-third of the book and some of the science almost make up for the novel's many flaws by reflecting on deeper themes, but it was too little, too late.
As with other Robin Cook novels, the author presents exciting and intriguing scientific scenarios that are supported by his scientific knowledge. However, he often misses the mark in presenting characters and characters' psychology that fully engage the reader.
As with other Robin Cook novels, the author presents exciting and intriguing scientific scenarios that are supported by his scientific knowledge. However, he often misses the mark in presenting characters and characters' psychology that fully engage the reader.
November 5, 2018
The only thing good about this novel was its premise and even that fell a little flat in the middle. Frankly, the biggest sore point for me was that how could the interterrans "know" everything about secondary humans but not know how to control a bunch of them if they started revolting? How can sending them back in time be the only solution? And also, I think this is the first book where I ended up hating the "good guys" by the end of the novel (and felt they deserved what they got) and started sympathizing with the supposedly "bad guys".
August 23, 2007
Robin Cook tends to write medical thrillers. This book was most certainly NOT a medical thriller. It wasn't even close to any book Robin has ever written. I found the "Atlantis" story kind of silly and uncomfortable; it just wasn't what I was expecting.
May 2, 2013
I finished it. That's about all the recommendation I'll claim for it. There is too many books (and some are by Robin Cook) worth reading to waste time with this one but if you're stuck at the hospital waiting room, give it a try.
August 21, 2016
Her ütopya romanında olduğu gibi bunda da; muasır medeniyet seviyesinin en üst noktasında aynı ortak eylem var. Tüm yazarların mükemmel dünya tasvirlerinin temelini, ne zaman, nerde, kimle, kaç kişiyle, hangi pozisyonda istersen, dosyasıya, sınırsız seks yapabilmek oluşturuyor. Bunda da böyle. Hayır, bir de bu yazarların çoğu Amerikalı. Ulan, sizin burun kıvırdığınız, hali hazırdaki seks hayatınız bile bizim için ütopyayken, bu yaptığınız düpedüz adilik. Hala neyin derdindesiniz. Biz ölelim, o zaman, hiç yaşamayalım.
Roman, ciddi derecede "Dünyanın Merkezine Yolculuk" ve "Cesur YeniDünya" ile benzerlikler gösteriyor. Büyük ölçüde etkilenilmiş, esinlenilmiş. Özellikle, Cesur Yeni Dünya'dakinde olduğu gibi sahiplenme kavramının olmadığı, kadın erkek eşitliği, meşrebi en geniş insanın bile sınırlarını zorlayacağı seks hayatı, anne, baba, çocuk kavramlarının es geçildiği doğum süreci en büyük benzerlikler. Sadece birkaç küçük noktada kendine has detaylar mevcut. Her ne kadar Robin Cook romanları derin felsefeler içermese de, yine aynı Cesur Yeni Dünya'da olduğu gibi "bir insanı zorla mutlu etmek faşistlik midir?" sorusu gündeme geliyor ve acaba "soft faşizm" diye bir kavram olabilir mi diye düşünüyorsunuz.http://ucalisan.blogspot.com.tr/2016/...
Roman, ciddi derecede "Dünyanın Merkezine Yolculuk" ve "Cesur YeniDünya" ile benzerlikler gösteriyor. Büyük ölçüde etkilenilmiş, esinlenilmiş. Özellikle, Cesur Yeni Dünya'dakinde olduğu gibi sahiplenme kavramının olmadığı, kadın erkek eşitliği, meşrebi en geniş insanın bile sınırlarını zorlayacağı seks hayatı, anne, baba, çocuk kavramlarının es geçildiği doğum süreci en büyük benzerlikler. Sadece birkaç küçük noktada kendine has detaylar mevcut. Her ne kadar Robin Cook romanları derin felsefeler içermese de, yine aynı Cesur Yeni Dünya'da olduğu gibi "bir insanı zorla mutlu etmek faşistlik midir?" sorusu gündeme geliyor ve acaba "soft faşizm" diye bir kavram olabilir mi diye düşünüyorsunuz.http://ucalisan.blogspot.com.tr/2016/...
May 13, 2020
Bona lectura d'acció dintre un escenari de ciència-ficció, que es llegeix bastant de pressa. La història parteix de la realitat per fer-nos endinsar en un nou món submarí on una societat distòpica desitja anar convencent nous adeptes de l'"exterior" per a la seva causa, y vol evitar que el món humà en general sàpiga d'ells. No arriba a sorprendre, la història, però sí que resulta amena i entretinguda.
March 7, 2010
This book is not Robin Cook's usual genre of writing; with this book, he departs from his usual medical mistery and takes a shot with Science Fiction and that's the only reason I have read it. Not that I didn't heat great things about Cook's medical mistery books, but I just don't like that genre, however, if you give me good fantasy or sci-fi books to read, I'll take them and start right away.
This book is about a voyage to the depth of the ocean, where researchers find a new civilization (no aliens in outer space in this book). Their voyage, adventures, findings... Everything told in details in the book. I found some of it to be believable and some- not so much, but entertaining and interesting none the less.
As a Sci-Fi book lover, I loved the book, it has ignited my imagination and it is one of my favorites.
This book is about a voyage to the depth of the ocean, where researchers find a new civilization (no aliens in outer space in this book). Their voyage, adventures, findings... Everything told in details in the book. I found some of it to be believable and some- not so much, but entertaining and interesting none the less.
As a Sci-Fi book lover, I loved the book, it has ignited my imagination and it is one of my favorites.
November 28, 2017
Of all the badly written Robin Cook novels, this takes the cake. That he does a lot of research on the subject of his novels is always known. But that he should use such a depth of knowledge to create such meaningless stories with laughable plots is the pity.
This book, for example is on some imaginary under-water world of subterranean humans. It is not even a good sci-fi, that kids would find exciting - what with the loathsome sociological and philosophical commentary that the author makes his main characters mouth.
An avoidable book. But again, one really can't avoid reading his books so as not to miss some very good scientific facts that he laces his trashy writing with.
This book, for example is on some imaginary under-water world of subterranean humans. It is not even a good sci-fi, that kids would find exciting - what with the loathsome sociological and philosophical commentary that the author makes his main characters mouth.
An avoidable book. But again, one really can't avoid reading his books so as not to miss some very good scientific facts that he laces his trashy writing with.
March 16, 2010
Robin Cook's books are normally a good read and I enjoy them. Have read about everything that he has written.
This book is as good as it gets. It is a good read for those who like novels with a medical background and mystery and suspense involved.
Cook is able to capture our attention very quickly and does not let us go until we have finished.
Enjoyed it.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
This book is as good as it gets. It is a good read for those who like novels with a medical background and mystery and suspense involved.
Cook is able to capture our attention very quickly and does not let us go until we have finished.
Enjoyed it.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
May 1, 2007
Does Inner Earth exist?
This book proposes the possibility that flying saucers are not from outer space but from "primary humans" living in paradise in the Moho layer, between earth's crust and mantle. I feel that's plausible. I've always had that feeling "we are not alone". hah.
This book proposes the possibility that flying saucers are not from outer space but from "primary humans" living in paradise in the Moho layer, between earth's crust and mantle. I feel that's plausible. I've always had that feeling "we are not alone". hah.
August 25, 2012
Thrilling, quick, silly at times..overall: very entertaining..
I thought it was the best thing i had ever read 5-6 years back...Don't quite think so right now.
I thought it was the best thing i had ever read 5-6 years back...Don't quite think so right now.
March 11, 2025
I’m not usually one for lowbrow airport fiction, but I got a stack of Robin Cook books from my Grandma and I have been so ready for some lackadaisical escapist fiction. I wouldn’t say Cook is lazy with his writing, but I’d say the depth of his novels is equivalent to that of a block buster action movie. The characters are one dimensional stereotypes, the plot has loopholes, and the ending leaves you wanting more.
But, I loved it! It was pure entertainment. Some parts were just hilarious! Also, I liked his ideas. Certain parts reminded me of Huxley’s Brave New World. He also really delved into the nature of modern culture and what an ideal world could possibly look like. He approached our contemporary mores and norms with the insight of an anthropologist. Overall, I found it to be a completely gripping read! I can’t wait to read more of his books.
But, I loved it! It was pure entertainment. Some parts were just hilarious! Also, I liked his ideas. Certain parts reminded me of Huxley’s Brave New World. He also really delved into the nature of modern culture and what an ideal world could possibly look like. He approached our contemporary mores and norms with the insight of an anthropologist. Overall, I found it to be a completely gripping read! I can’t wait to read more of his books.
September 14, 2025
Um registo diferente do habitual de Robin Cook, apesar de manter a preocupação em construir uma história cientificamente razoável. No entanto, a narrativa torna-se inesperada e fantasiosa, remetendo à lenda da Atlântida. Os diálogos são muito redundantes, pois a ideia chave transmitida já é transmitida no diálogo anterior, tornando-se um texto mais infantil e pobre em termos literários. Os personagens são também rasos, tendo o narrador de dar uma explicação sucinta do porquê de determinadas ações remeterem à sua infância para justificar o enredo que vamos acompanhar no futuro. O positivo da leitura são as reflexões sobre a condição humana e a dualidade entre quão bárbara e quão empática ela pode ser.
April 10, 2019
First half of the book flew by. Kinda a cheesy end but overall a good read.
September 13, 2019
Surprisingly entertaining if mostly mindless and facile. You do get some basic concepts in oceanography. In short, it was fun. The villains characterization was particularly well done even though they were archetypical macho toxic homophobes. Still, I really
hated them. The ending was also unexpected. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
hated them. The ending was also unexpected. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
November 27, 2019
I have no idea why I read another of this guys books. They really do not do it for me.
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