The Cure

by Douglas E. Richards

The gripping futuristic thriller by the New York Times bestselling author. (An updated and expanded version of the Tor-published original. First time in KU.)

When Erin finds a cure for the psychopathic condition, only she can stop a coming alien invasion. But far more than the fate of Earth is hanging in the balance.

After a devastating encounter with a psychopath as a child, Erin Palmer has devoted her life to studying these monsters. But when she discovers it's possible to reverse the condition, restoring souls to psychopaths, she'll have to break the law and violate her most cherished ethical principles to do so.

But this is only the beginning of her troubles. Hunted by powerful, shadowy forces, Erin learns a seemingly impossible truth—that her discovery will have pivotal importance to an intergalactic war that is racing toward Earth. A war that could not only lead to human extinction, but also determine the future course of galactic civilization . . .

The Cure examines the science behind what makes psychopaths tick, and wraps this into a science-fiction thriller with twists, turns, and epic intergalactic implications.

At a time when society seems to be facing an epidemic of psychopathic monsters, The Cure explores this condition, and the surprisingly thorny ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding it, within an explosive, thought-provoking, roller-coaster-ride of a thriller that will have readers turning pages deep into the night.

"Richards is an extraordinary writer," (Dean Koontz) who can "keep you turning the pages all night long." (Douglas Preston)

"Richards is a worthy successor to Michael Crichton." (SF Book dot com)

NEAR-FUTURE SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES
1-WIRED (Wired 1)
2-AMPED (Wired 2)

3-MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
4-BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
5-MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)

6-SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
7-TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

8-THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
9-A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONES
10-THE CURE
11-QUANTUM LENS
12-GAME CHANGER
13-INFINITY BORN
14-SEEKER
15-VERACITY
16-ORACLE
17-THE IMMORTALITY CODE
18-UNIDENTIFIED
19-PORTALS

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
20-TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
21-CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
22-STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

23-OUT OF THIS WORLD
24-DEVIL'S SWORD

Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Classics

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2013

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Spoiler Alert!
But I personally think people will want this one...



There are aliens in this story.
Now, it may seem like I've just given away a huge plot point and potentially ruined the story. Hmmm.
Maybe I have, but I don't think so.
And here's why:
Do you think readers who like stories about aliens are going to look twice at this book after reading the blurb?
No. No, they will not. It's obviously a psychological thriller.
And do you think fans of thrillers are going to be pleased when halfway through an interesting book about psychopaths, they get hit upside the head with some weird alien conspiracy?
Um, no. I'm thinking...pissed will be a better word to describe the reaction from that camp.
So, yeah. There are aliens in this story.

Now that we've got that out of the way, there were a lot of things that I liked about The Cure.
First was just the amount of information that the author gathered on psychopaths. It was really interesting, and it had me giving everyone I know the fisheye for weeks.
Apparently, I'm totally surrounded!
Evidently, I'm not the only one who thinks this kind of thing is interesting, because when I started talking about the book to other people they all has the same reaction. It seems that the universal response is that we would all like to be able to instantly recognize the dangerous schemers and scammers in the world.
And that is precisely what the main character sets out to do. Turns out, psychopathic personalities aren't just different from the rest of us in the moral sense. They're actually hardwired differently from birth. Erin thinks that she can isolate those differences in their brainwaves, and create an early warning device that people can use to protect themselves.
I'm thinking that would make a neat app for your cell phone!

Ok, here's another warning for the reader. That 'devastating encounter' from Erin's childhood that's mentioned in the blurb? *shudder*
Before starting this one, I looked up a few reviews on it, and several of them mentioned that the book starts off with a graphic scene that is not for the squeamish.
M'kay.
Normally I don't read books with serial killers, graphic torture, etc., and I don't watch movies with stuff like that either. So, no. I've never seen any of the Saw flicks.
It's not my bag, baby...
But I figured that since I knew about it going in, I'd be ok.
And I was. Sort of. It was still hard to read because I'm so not cool with kids in a potential rape and torture scene. And maybe I threw up in my mouth a little bit before it was over.
*Urrrp*
I just...well, that's not a spoiler I mind letting people in on, because some of us need to mentally prep for stuff like that.
I'm not bashing the scene, because it definitely could have been a lot worse. I'm just a wuss. And it wasn't just some gratuitous thing thrown in there for the shock value. Without it, you wouldn't really get why Erin is the way she is and does the things she does.

There's a romance between Erin and Kyle, but it felt sort of forced and fake. Plus, the entire time I kept thinking he was probably a serial killer or something.
Which probably had a lot to do with the subject matter of the book, and not how he was portrayed.
Then again, I don't read a lot of books like this, so maybe that's how romances are normally written in this genre.

If you're in the market for an alien thriller with an interesting look at psychopaths thrown in, I think you'll like this one.

Big thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is quite a good book. It is well written and edited and the plot and characters were enjoyable. The last third of the book was unexpected and surprising, but just not for me. I think other readers would find the entire book quite pleasing.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Douglas E. Richards is known for his mind-bending science fiction thrillers that are a touch different from the mainstream variety, not to mention a penchant for throwing in unexpected twists that will leave you reeling. I finally got the chance to experience Richards' work for myself with his newest techno-thriller The Cure, and it appears that his knack for storytelling has not been exaggerated.

But first, readers should be aware that the prologue contains extremely graphic and brutal violence. I had a very hard time getting through it myself, and was tempted to skip the entire scene all together. However, as abhorrent as it was, this section served its purpose -- we are introduced to the main character Erin Palmer, whose entire life was shaped by a severely traumatic experience with a psychopath when she was just eleven years old.

Now a grad student, Erin has dedicated much of her life to studying and trying to understand psychopathy. When her research attracts the attention of neuroscientist Hugh Raborn who contacts her with a possible treatment and ultimately a cure for the condition, one would think Erin would be over the moon. And yet, she is troubled by the ethical implications of a such a revolutionary scientific breakthrough, not to mention her suspicions that Raborn isn't being completely honest with her.

Then, enter the HUGE twist. Let's just say I spent a lot of time during the first third of this book scratching my head trying to figure out where the "science fiction" aspect comes in with regards to the plot. Granted, the author gets innovative and very high-tech when it comes to the science and medical theory, but up to this point, The Cure came across as more of a suspense-thriller. Suffice to say, everything changed when Richards drops a huge bombshell, at once giving me my sci-fi fix and taking the story in a direction I never would have seen coming in a million years!

For obvious reasons, I can't say much more pertaining to this development without revealing any major spoilers, and really, where would be the fun in that! If the book's plot sounds intriguing to you though, I do encourage you to check it out; albeit I admit I was initially skeptical over this new turn of events, they gradually grew on me. By the end of the revelation I was at least curious enough and willing to go along to see where Richards will take me, and it's a good thing I did because the rest of the book can only be described as one wild ride -- and emphasis on wild. If nothing else, this twist has definitely piqued my interest in the author's other books.

When first faced with the driving pace and unique blend of suspense and science in The Cure, one of my earliest thoughts was that Douglas E. Richards' style reminds me very much of the late Michael Crichton's. It also came as no surprise when I finished the book and did some further reading to discover that many others have made the same comparison. The writing took some time to get used to, since at times it was awkward and seemed almost didactic in nature, but it is clear Richards knows what he's talking about. I am no molecular biologist like the author, nor am I well-versed in fields like quantum physics or psychology, but he took some very complex theories and made it straightforward enough to make the story compelling, and for me to understand that there is a lot at stake.

The book wraps up nicely, which is astounding in light of the widely different subjects involved as well as multiple twists in the plot. The story is suspenseful, audacious and a lot of fun, especially if you're a fan of the kind of science-fiction thrillers by authors like Crichton or Douglas Preston. Once in a while, a book like this comes along and shakes up my reading list, which is something I can appreciate, and on top of that, it gave me plenty to think about.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read any of Douglas E. Richards books before-I tend to not read Science Fiction too often, but this one had me curious. This is classified as a science fiction/technothriller and it is certainly a hold onto your hat you are going for a fast ride down a dangerous path kind of book. It really has a lot of twists and turns and kept me totally enthralled. This is one of those sci-fi books that you hope will continue being sci-fi for MANY more years to come!! Read it!!

The first chapter will have you cringing at what happens and is very graphic (or perhaps I have a vivid imagination)-but once you get past this the story unfolds-but that first chapter explains a lot of why things happen like they happen and why Erin Palmer does what she does and reacts the way she reacts--so just keep reading!The Cure

[Lauren Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that I used to find lying around the house after my mother bought it at a sale and then forgot about it. A book no one’s heard of but, based on the blurb, it could be an entertaining mystery/thriller/adventure. I’d ignore it until I was bored and had nothing else to read in the middle of the school holidays, and probably find it enjoyable in that context. In my limited experience I might not have noticed how The Cure is like a made-for-TV movie with an unknown cast of bad actors. Now, however, it’s the kind of book that I swear and yell at.

One of the first things that struck me was the shamelessly clunky info dumping. For example, while Erin is waiting for a prisoner to fill out a questionnaire, she just so happens to think back on her first conversation with her thesis supervisor. The flashback functions as a narrative device for explaining what her research is all about. That would be ok if it wasn’t such a deeply implausible flashback – about a chapter long and far too detailed for what is only a few minutes of reflection. In addition, Erin intentionally played dumb so that her supervisor explained all sorts of basic things about psychopaths. Erin’s excuse was that she tried to keep the professor talking in order to assess him, but it’s absurd for someone with her research interests and qualifications to pretend to be uninformed about the fundamental characteristics of the people she wants to study. It’s so obviously being done purely for the reader’s benefit.

Similar info dumping occurs frequently, not always in that as-you-know-bob manner, but typically lengthy and unrefined. There are plenty of other daft and awkward things you’ll have to put up with to read this. Like the fact that Erin risks everything for a man she’s never met, who offers her a cure that’s virtually impossible to create. We find out how it was possible later, but Erin signed on without that information. Similarly, Raborn contacted her and asked for her help with his world-changing but very dangerous and illegal research based on an interview in a community newspaper (apparently he sensed her passion in the article). In her search for Raborn, Erin goes to a lab where they test products on animals. She gets in very easily, and a lab assistant actually gives her a tour, even explaining what they do to some of the animals (like turning them radioactive). What kind of moron just gives out highly controversial information like that? To someone who could be a journalist? This doesn’t even have any purpose for the story; I think maybe the author – a molecular biologist – is just telling us this stuff because he can.

Other problems include boring characters. Like Erin who is just so blandly perfect. She’s stunningly beautiful:
"She had a flawless complexion, a figure a bikini model would envy, and a grace and agility that had arisen from years of training in martial arts and other forms of self- defense. Her hair was a deep chestnut-brown, and glowed with health and vigor, and her features were strong but delicate."

She’s kick-ass. She’s intelligent and highly educated. She worked harder at university than most students are capable of working. She has deep childhood trauma but it causes almost no problems for her, because she has learned to control it. When all sorts of dodgy people come after her, she has the skills to fight or escape them. And even though these people are professionals, Erin can outsmart them because – get this – she reads lots of thrillers.

When Kyle Hansen meets her, he just can’t stop saying how beautiful and brilliant and amazing she is (it’s nauseating). He’s some kind of computer expert who only reads sci fi, making him open-minded enough to accept the extraordinary things in this plot, but leaving him a bit short other skills. He keeps emphasising that he’s just a geek, which means he’s super-lucky to be going on the run with a super-hot smart chick like Erin. Cue extremely cheesy romance.

The Cure is so full of shit like this that it actually detracts from any possible plausibility. The plot is based on the idea that the 1% of psychopaths in the human population have a massive detrimental influence on the whole. They cause pain, from breaking their partner’s hearts to starting wars and oppressive regimes. In fact, they will eventually cause the downfall of the entire human race. Curing that 1% will supposedly save us and make the world a happier place. If this was a completely different book, then sure, I might buy that. But here, it just sounds… dumb. And gets dumber. The author even uses the concept to set up the western world (and America in particular) as an essentially good, compassionate entity that’s being manipulated by evil psychopaths from the Middle East. In fact, this story is taking place in America, and not anywhere else, because no other country could be trusted to take the right course of action. Yes, really.

Now admittedly, and in spite of my overall feelings about this book, there are a few things I liked. All the information about the nature of psychopaths was actually quite interesting and even useful (another recent read featured a major psychopathic character). It’s mostly delivered as if this were an undergrad psychology lecture rather than a novel, but it’s the kind of lecture I would enjoy. A couple of the ethical issues that Erin faces are sort of interesting. And although I thought the book was lame, I somehow found myself curious enough to want to follow the story to the end. Which annoyed me because this is a stupid book and the ending held no surprises anyway.

For more sff reviews, check out my blog Violin in a Void

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like edge of your seat thrillers that touch on science and science fiction? Looking for that escape into something that is both intriguing and intense? The Cure by Douglas E. Richards fit the bill for me, and went beyond with one of those “I didn’t see THAT one coming,” plot twists that had my imagination running full tilt! As a young child, Erin Palmer has had her life shredded in front of her eyes by a twisted monster who felt no qualms about the vile acts he committed. Having grown into a brilliant scientist and self-confident woman, Erin is determined to find what makes a psychopath tick. Is it genetic? Is there a “cure” for this abnormal and anti-social trait? There is one scientist who believes in and encourages her work, going so far as to help direct her focus, and yet, he remains mysteriously distant, communicating only via computer. Is this man who he says he is? Is he even human? Does he harbor a more devious plan? Could it be possible that psychopaths are necessary as part of human survival? Is it their extreme evil that will save the world? Erin stands with only one ally as she becomes a target for both clandestine government agencies and beings far superior, both technologically and intellectually. Has Earth become a pawn in some intergalactic battle for supremacy?

Douglas E. Richards hit the ground running with The Cure from page one and never looked back! His main character, Erin, was strong, quick-thinking and resourceful when needed, yet still human and flawed. The author colored many of the other characters just a little gray, leaving room to wonder about them as the story progressed. Using mini-flashbacks to fill in gaps was a brilliant tool that gave me that “aha’ feeling and neatly pinning together bits and pieces of the story. I was completely engrossed in the unique mystery of as it raced through a maze of subplots and revelations full of possibilities. I did NOT know who to trust until the very end and still I wondered, is Earth really safe for now?

This ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Forge Books in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Forge Books
ISBN: 978-0765374097
Number of Pages: 320
Genre: Thriller/Sci-fi
Recommended Age: Adults
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Alan Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked Wired and Amped, you won't be disappointed.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When Erin Palmer was twelve years old, on a night which began very much like every other night of her young life, she witnessed her family slaughtered by a man with no conscience. A bonafide psychopath. Because of her dark past – or perhaps in spite of it – she is now one of the most promising doctoral candidates in the country for her research into psychopathy. She works one-on-one with the most violent convicted felons, exploring their behavior and the way their brains function.

Erin’s ultimate goal, however, is not to just understand psychopathy, but to cure it. Backed by neuroscientist and pharmaceutical genius Hugh Raborn, she has managed to do just that: find a cure. But now, right when everything should be coming together, Erin finds herself suspended from her research. She discovers Raborn is not what he seems to be. And the cure she’s worked so hard to find is wanted for something very different than what it was designed for. Before she knows what’s happening, Erin is caught up in a global struggle, not just for her own life, but for all of humanity."

[Ansley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really jumped the shark for me. I definitely misread the summary on Amazon apparently, because it started out like a good biotech thriller, but then became unbelievable. I think I confused the author with Douglas Preston, so it's my own fault.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was trying my best to give it a fighting chance but when the twist came mid-plot, my heart sank. It just didn't make any sense to me at all.

It just got more and more weird and in the end I just gave up on the book.

[Joe Hempel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is courtesy of topoftheheapreviews.com

Psycopathy can be defined as an individual that manifests amoral and anti-social behavior. We typically classify murderers and rapists as psychopaths. So what happens when a cure is discovered? This book by microbiologist Douglas E. Richards delves into that difficult to understand realm and takes you on one interesting ride.



Douglas E. Richards is incredibly smart. It’s very obvious when you read this book. He is able to take such a complex subject as neuroscience and put it into terms that are compelling and easy to understand. What would happen if we found a cure for Psychopathy? What would our world be like?

Erin Palmer suffered a horrible tragedy when she was younger and that shaped her current self, and has led her to the field that she is in. Miraculously she found the patterns and the genes inside the human brain that make psychopaths different from the rest of society. Through controversial testing she confirmed that what she found, in fact cured psychopathy.

For the first 35% of the book I was enthralled. The character of Erin Palmer had multiple layers to her built by the events in her past. While she was incredibly driven in her field, she was also incredibly flawed and skeptical of everything around her. It was hard for her to trust just about anyone. The science being used, the what if scenarios that were being presented were well written and pulled you along page by page. Up to this point, I was ready to compare this to a Jurrasic Park of sorts. Everything seemed like it was so plausible. I didn’t have to suspend my belief because it made me believe that this was possible.

Then comes a twist. A twist that for me took me out of the experience, and I almost quit reading. I’m not going to spoil it here, but it came from left field for me. I don’t know whether I was just so jaded to these huge twists that come from nowhere in books that I’ve read, or if it was I was just disappointed in the turn it took. I gave him a chance though, and I kept reading.

I’m glad I did.

I was ready at the point I almost quit to just say, screw it, 2 stars on Amazon, this is just too outside my realm. He had me hook line and sinker, I was believing in everything he wrote, and now it’s gone.

But I’m not.

As the twists and turns unfold, and the action picks up, and you begin to see the broader picture of what’s going on, you start to turn the pages again at a break-neck pace. You see the character of Erin Palmer grow and become a better person than she was in the beginning. Everything starts to get put into perspective and the importance of her cure for psychopathy begins to take shape, and show that if she didn’t find it, there could have been dire consequences.

Once you get into the swing of things, don’t get too comfortable where you’re at. The twists and surprises keep coming, and nothing is what it seems…even if you think things make sense.

The writing is sharp, the action is well done and well paced, and you’ll be rewarded if you hang on for the ride until the end.

The Bottom Line: This book is going to live or die based on what you think of the twist. It almost died for me, but thankfully I kept reading, and I think you should too. At some point this goes from being a sort of medical thriller, to your typical high speed, hand to hand combat, action thriller. That is okay though, because the writing is still smart, and he never loses where he’s going. It’s tough to say that you WILL like it, but once I got past that first twist, I settled in for a great ride and enjoyed my time in his narrative.

[Jennifer Deshpande · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t get to the end. I got pissed off when the aliens showed up.

[Shakib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat thriller

This dude is a great storyteller! His stories have incredible twists and turns and have a big picture threat level that is both terrifying and believable at the same time. I have read several of his books and I only wish his writing style was slightly more mature. As it is it’s a bit pulpy. But the stories and his storytelling is amazing. I don’t know why Hollywood is not optioning his films for movies.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was very interesting. There were more twists and turns in this than you can shake a stick at however. At times you could never figure out who the "good" guys were. It makes for an interesting, if somewhat unbelievable tale.

[Tim Thullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far fetched but interesting and exciting read. Not as good as two previous books, wired and amped.

Far fetched but interesting and exciting read. Not as good as two previous books, wired and amped. Worth a read.

[Norm Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started slow, that's a valid gripe - or slow for Douglas E. Richards. He usually starts with something like pulling the rip cord and the parachute lines tangle. The jumper fails to cut away the tangled parachute and in a panic deploys the back up which only tangles things up further. Petty intense.

This one does start with some traumatically cringe-worthy psychopathic brutality and only one surviving child, who is our protagonist. So my slow argument doesn't really hold up very well. But that's just shoving you in the door. Once you're in the book, you're waiting for grandma to make the tea… there's the fuss about Earl Grey or Cinnamon Apple… boring... metaphorically. Then Erin, our traumatic surviving child has grown up. She has overcome the massive trauma and is now studying psychopathy. It's about that time you think you've figured out where Mr. Richards is going with "The Cure".

You'll be wrong. He does some writer "magic tricks."

While you're looking at the "cure psychopathy" presumption, he changes where you're not looking. When you turn the page you're rubbing your chin thinking, well..., ok..., didn't think it would go that way.


So you hope the writer magician will do it again. He uses the deceptive sleight of hand again and "The Cure" story you imagined was happening eludes your anticipation again, making this horror thriller into a medical mystery. Next turn the page you realize you didn't see the "Alien Highway - Entering the Sci Fi Twilight Zone" sign.

Titles often give readers a fair idea what's to come. This one starts with a child traumatized by a psychopath. Then we learn the child has grown into a Ph.D. intern studying prison inmate psychopaths. The title "The Cure" suggests rather clearly what is going on and you have a good idea where the author is going.

If you've committed to believing that presumption, get ready to become a Douglas E. Richards fan. He will pull a rabbit out of the hat, but he hasn't even opened the curtain to the show yet.

If I've whetted your appetite, standby. I'll supply links. The rest is just chatting and some book tech info. My review job is complete.

I liked this book. I've splurged on Mr. Richards books recently. His books remind me a bit of Robert A. Heinlein.  RAH would go to some length to explain the idea of Schroedinger's cat as he explored the early ideas about quantum mechanics in a Sci-Fi murder-mystery. Alternately Mr. Richards also reminds me a bit of Isaac Asimov. Isaac explored the ethical dilemma of advances in science, usually with the scientist losing control of the science to powerful politicians who may not be so concerned about some possible, even likely, tragic moral results that may pop up.

Mr. Richards sprinkles similar things into the stories he tells. Some of us old science fiction fans are starving for this type of "what if" story where the author not only explores the extrapolation of some recent science, but also stops to think how it may go terribly wrong instead of becoming a magic happy pill to solve all the ills of humanity.

When younger it seemed to me that it was forever before the next edition of Analog or Asimov's came out. So to fill the eternities between I would devour Science News Weekly to keep my wild imagination fed. That way I might "get it" when Octavia Butler's "Lilith's Brood" (Xenogenesis Series) came out or some newbie like David Brin published some sleeping blockbuster about "Uplift Wars" - a book that seemed to launch Zecharia Sitchin into his avocation with Ancient Sumerian curiosities.

Congratulations to the folks who rated this book miserably. I sometimes look at the reviews before writing mine. Usually, I feel like everyone else but sometimes I apparently read a vastly different book than some reviewers. I get it with the sincere reviews but many times there are clues the reviewer didn't suspend disbelief long enough to actually enjoy the book.

Read in 4 sessions over five days including Friday, October 11, 2019 (15%), Sunday, October 13, 2019 (24%), Wednesday, October 16, 2019 (36%), Thursday, October 17, 2019 (41%), and Friday, October 18, 2019 (100%).


oclc:892937656
lccn:2013018442
goodreads: 18888715
asin: B00CQY7SBW
google: lx7f0qfJcjQC
e-isbn13: 9781466839960
e-isbn10 :1466839961

See my Sagely Fox reviews on blogspot here
See my Sagely Fox reviews on Wordpress here.
See my LibraryThing Page for The Cure here.

[EG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Wired and Amped, but found this story a bit hard to get into and finish. Not that I hated it. The story just had a few twists in the plot that I did not expect and threw me off. It might take me another reading down the road to actually get into the story and appreciate it better, in which case I will revise my rating.

[Iris Norton · Rating 1 out of 5]

我把它解讀成［變態的］adj.［療法］n.，但應該是［變態］n.［療法］n. 這本來應該是生化科幻的小說，我以為會像是喀邁拉空間、奈米獵殺那類在科學上失控導致一場災變，除了作者在生化上幾乎沒什麼深度研究外，個人對這點已經很反感了，即使我學過的東西早就還給老師了，但是沒研究過的題材拿來當主軸寫作實在太不負責任。再來它根本不是生化懸疑小說，故事發展慢慢的就變成商業掛勾，金主後又有金主，然後一個女研究生莫名的像Agent Hunt身手矯健，因不明原因受到兩方追緝，就像好萊塢電影主角總是能逢凶化吉度過一個個難關，而男主就默默的陪在身邊逃難，還可以一邊談一段羅曼史，到這裡我就要砸書了，最後演變成荒腔走板的變!形!金!剛!，我就爆炸了。(不是我不相信aliens，這根本是詐欺嘛~)

[Jonas Salonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this book was surprising. I won't tell anyhting about the plot as I don't want to spoil the book... But it was interesting and surprising.

Richards' writing style is very nice and fluent and it was a joy to read. The opening scene is disgusting. I know Richards has his reasons for writing that but it still is disgusting. Thankfully the opening is pretty short and the book does not continue that style.

One problem I had with this book was the main character. Even though Richards tries his best to make the caharacter likeable he does not fully succeed. The main character is just too good in everyhting. It's like reading a Clive Cussler-book. She is beautiful, has big tits, she is beyond genius, good in martial arts and science, clever beyond belief... She doesn't have any flaws.

That aside the first half of the book goes forward smoothly but the latter part is a bit... slow. OR how should I say this... The latter part of the book goes forward mainly through dialogue. It seemed somehow lame that we get to know much of the story by someone lecturing to us about the happenings.

But it's not as bad as it sounds. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Constant Page Turner!! A+++++!

Douglas Richard’s has been given the appellation of “a worthy successor to Michael Crichton”. This is one of the few of Richard’s books I’ve read, but it also seems to me to give the greatest credence to that monicker. This book ROCKS on so many levels, it’s hard to take account of all of them! It’s and intellectual, ethical and character driven rollercoaster that at times got my adrenaline pumping! If you’ve read the book, “ A Clockwork Orange”, or read or seen “Crichton’s own “The Terminal Man” in film or book form, than you’ve skirted a few of the type of medical ethical, philosophical and moral questions that reading “ The Cure” Will land you in. At the same time, readers of Philip K. Dick’s writings will appreciate the flipped perspectives on things and that perspective (if not reality?) are often in the eye of the beholder. “The Cure” is great science fiction, but don’t be surprised if after finishing it, and relegating it to your bookshelf, that it’s compelling insights remain with you for long after you’ve finished it!!

[James LaRue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller with SF twist

Richards has created another suspenseful yarn around hard science--in this case the real and profound differences of the brains of psychopaths.

As with other thrillers, the heroes (in this case the heroine who survived an encounter with a psychopath as a child) possesses an unlikely set of martial arts and spy craft skills, but the motivation is plausible.

Wrapped around that basic issue is a complex SF threat involving aliens. First, they show up to save us from self destruction. Then, in a twist I won't reveal here, their plans are more urgently selfish.

Note: the first time I read about a hive mind, linked by species-wide quantum entanglement, was in Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. It looks like Richards may have come up with it first.

All in all, an engaging read with likable characters.

[Crystal Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my dirt book by this author and wow what a doozy of a book you will not be bored reading this book i had a hard time putting it sown. There is mostly dialog in the book but I'm fine with that As long as i like the characters. The start of the book was pretty gruesome to say the least And was very hard to get thru. Any violence against animals and children is hard for me. But it gives you a better understanding of who she is how she thinks and feels and her actions.

Im excited to read more from this author ... Not sure where to start lol. Any book like this i would love to read. So many subjects i love was in this book. Thank you for such an amazing book. I wish there was like a follow up book or like a series. I read them all.

[Forrest Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Richards is my favorite author. I believe I have read every one of his books. His stories can be compared to a college lecture except they are much more entertaining. When the story is finished and you read the author’s comments, you feel you have been educated in scientific areas you only thought you knew before reading his books. His books are lessons delving far deeper and in more directions than you anticipate by reading the title.

The Cure is so thrilling and interesting given the current state of our nation. There is so much to be learned in this tale that is happening today, you will be astounded at the understanding you retain.

Well done (again) Mr. Richards

W2I

[Hugh Crawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have Read quite a few of Douglas Richards books and this one was okay to a certain degree. Where I ran into a problem was the general gist of the book which included aliens and a Hive mentality, has already been done I can't remember the author or the name or title of the book but it was so similar to that particular book that I almost stopped reading it thinking I had read this book before. After reviewing the wide breath of books that I have read this was not one of them so my only concern is it is almost like this was a rehash of the same topic, just with a different title and different characters.

[Thomas G. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesson on Psychology and Criminal Effects

Sounds like a text book but this is a well written novel on those Subjects. It starts with a very gruesome killing of a whole family except one. We are then transported to this girls work on her college election of her thesis which is on the behavior of killers of this type.
This sounds like a very likely thing for her considering her childhood!
This leads to communications with a leads in this field but it turns out this leads to an outher world connection which proves to be the gist of the situation!
A very good argument which is well researched!

[Alli Saleh · Rating 3 out of 5]

So..this book threw me for a major loop.
I thought this was going to be a story about a woman detective confronting her worst enemy in the end. Oh, how I was wrong. And I was really off and this book kinda lead me down a weird path. Interesting, fast read. When I found out what Drake was, I hesitated to finish the book due to how ridiculous it sounded. But, I was interested how it played out. I’m not one for mystery, but I like a good twist. It’s definitely a weird one. Lots of physics and quantum stuff. 3 stars because it wasn’t a bad book by any means. Just not my preferred genre.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug is an intelligent writer. His stories have a direction and flow that keeps my attention.

The Cure is a near future first contact story. It's hard to keep up with who is the bad guy and who is really trying to save humankind. I have read several Richards' books, in each one I see the male hero that is his alter-ego. In this work, the male hero is a little clueless and can't put the pieces together in the chaos he is facing.

If you like a first contact story, you will enjoy The Cure.

[Doris A. Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Sci-Fi story

First time reading this author's work. Even though I read, in the preface online, that it would involve aliens; when the story line went that direction, an eye-roll may have occurred. Not my usual genre. Up until that moment, I was sailing through the story, and really developing interest, in the characters. Overall the storyline was good, I will venture into another of this author's writings, and will leave my interpretations up in the air if they will reach 5-stars.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really do have to kind of wonder about the main character, is she really that gullible? O.K. The book starts with quite a shocker than we move along to some WTF moments. Still a decent book and a good (not great ) read. Moving into about the last 60 pages or so the author says, "Hold my beer." Now this is where the twists and tricks really amp up to an almost incredulous level. Overall I cannot say it was a bad read. Yet I know I cannot say it was a great read. Well if you liked that one come along for the next.

[John Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Richards surprises me again

I’ve enjoyed the plot twists from many of his books and have come to recognize them as I’m familiar with his books, but this one caught me off guard. Every time I expected it to go one way, the whole story line had a paradigm shift I did not expect or predict. The only disappointing part of this book is no epilogue explaining the topics and research that I’ve grown fond of reading.