Customer Reviews

Adrenaline

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Adrenaline is a doubly appropriate name for John B. Olson's first solo novel, for not only does adrenaline hold an integral place in the medical foundation of the plot, the novel itself rushes from first page to last at an adrenaline-pumping pace. The action gets a little repetitive from time to time, but it never slows down. I have to admit that I did have a little trouble settling down into this fictional world of Olson's making. On the one hand, you have a modern-day medical thriller involving the search for a cure to a dread disease. On the other hand, you have a character haunted, either figuratively or literally (you don't know early on) by a mysterious and possibly quasi-human Dark Man, and the streets of this world are sometimes populated by almost surreal drug users of a slightly fantastic nature. Thus, the story resides somewhat uncomfortably in a modern, scientific setting; perhaps this was intentional on the part of the author - it did, after all, force me to think more deeply about these characters and the story unfolding before my eager eyes.

James Parker is a much-heralded graduate student in biochemistry. He is desperately seeking a cure for muscular dystrophy, a disease that not only he, but his sister also, suffers from. Already confined to a wheelchair, James figures he has about four years left to fight, but his sister Jenny is already in the final throes of the disease. Finally, James seems to be on the brink of a breakthrough, as a certain chemical derivative of adrenaline has induced motion in his MC-afflicted test mice. In the throes of hopeful joy, he heroically barrels into a crowd of Glass-heads (drug addicts) threatening a young woman outside the chemistry building, and the mysterious character of Darcy Williams enters his life. Darcy is a difficult character to decipher early on; she is incredibly paranoid, seeing agents of a mysterious Dark Man all around her, refusing to let anyone know where she lives, and keeping all manner of secrets from those who would befriend her. She begins to help Parker with his experiments, bringing along, somewhat reluctantly, a young suitor of hers named Jason. There is a lot of romantic tension between Parker and Darcy from the beginning, one that builds into a lot of "does he like me? - does she like me?" material -almost too much, actually.

Confident that he has discovered a cure but knowing his sister Jenny will never live long enough to benefit from it as it plods its way through years of testing and approval, James violates everything he knows is right and medically ethical and begins testing the drug on himself (despite the fact that the drug caused incidents of extreme aggression in his test mice). It has quite an effect on him, initially setting him on fire internally, causing spasms of immense agony, and similar nasty side effects. It also, however, begins working. In short order, he regains the ability to walk; eventually, he acquires a degree of unnatural strength and agility. He also experiences disturbing nightmares and unsettling blackout periods, often waking up later in the unhealthiest of places and conditions. As the work proceeds, mysterious men begin following our heroes, destroying their labs, attacking them, and seemingly going after the medical secret Parker seems to hold. Although a lot of the action gets repetitive, and one wonders where everybody else in Berkeley is all the time, Olson makes it difficult to figure out exactly what is going on. Is it the obvious? Is it Darcy's Dark Man? What about the fictional professor Jason created in order to publicize the research, a scientist who seems rather well-known for a nonexistent person? The ultimate conclusion is surprisingly satisfying, although I just can't accept a couple of the conclusions I'm apparently supposed to accept here.

James and Darcy are engaging characters you will be rooting for with great enthusiasm. On a few occasions, however, they do or say things that struck me as clichéd or a bit overdrawn, reminding me that this is in fact a novel about people who don't really exist. The action also seems a tad repetitive in places, but these are small complaints on my part. Olson has no trouble whatsoever in terms of pace, suspense, and action. You have to stop and take a breath between chapters because Olson doesn't slow down for a second; he maintains the energy of this story all the way to the end, an accomplishment that is really quite remarkable.

I am a twelve year old kid and I love adventure books. My mom had just read a book by one of her favorite authors and said I needed to read it. I read it and I loved it. It's a great book with adventure, exitement, suspense, mystery, great character descriptions, and some romance.(Personly, the romance wasn't my favorite part, but I'm a 12 year old. What do you expect?)It is about a man with muscular dystrophy and his sister has it too. He discovers a cure with the help of a friend. Thats where things went downwards for him and his friend.(I had better not tell you to much, or that would spoil the book, wouldn't it?) Overall, it was a great book(and I love this author), and I would highly recommend this and his two other books to other preteens.

Adrenaline opens with biochemistry student James Parker on the verge of a cure for muscular dystrophy, a disease that has debilitated he and his sister. In a clever rescue attempt, he meets Darcy Williams, another dedicated biochemistry student.

When Parker tells Darcy about his experiment, she and her overzealous boyfriend Jason eagerly volunteer to assist him with his research. Parker is overjoyed but it doesn't last long when he discovers his sister is running out of time.

He decides that he cannot wait on the normal refinement and testing process that his drug must go through. Influenced by his sister's worsening condition, Parker desperately takes matters in his own hands. Then things really start to go wrong.

Darcy is paranoid and running from someone or something that she won't reveal to anyone. Jason seems obsessed with the possibility of the drug making lots of money and his genuineness is questioned as he witnessed hanging out with some questionable characters. Creatures with incredible strength are creeping up everywhere and terrorizing the college campus, causing massive fear and bloodshed. Eventually all the secrets, schemes, identities and motives are revealed.

John B. Olson is no stranger to science and stories of suspense. He received a doctorate degree in biochemistry and has co-authored Oxygen and The Fifth Man.

James Parker is in a race against death.

Confined to a wheelchair with muscular dystrophy, biochemistry grad student, James Parker, found a cure for this crippling disease. Yet, it would have taken years for the drug to go through the tedious and expensive testing required for government approval. James and his sister Jenny didn't have that kind of time. In an act born of desperation and determination, James took his "cure"; a drug he named Adrenaline 355. After observing the amazing results this drug produced in his lab mice, he felt there was enough data to consider this compound his last and only chance to overcome the disease. However, when some bizarre side effects surfaced in his lab animals, James had to decide if saving his own life was worth jeopardizing the lives of others.

Against the backdrop of the excitement of a major medical breakthrough, there was the softer and more tender side of love. James Parker's life became linked with Darcy Williams, another grad student. Together they shared the thrill of Parker's discovery and the terror of the possible complications. Darcy also had some secrets in her past, which were crippling her in an emotional way. Will James's love for her be the cure she needs?

John B. Olson has written a stimulating story that throbs with excitement. The author has a degree in biochemistry and his knowledge in this area allowed him to write with accuracy and detail. Readers will be able to glimpse life and victory from Parker's wheelchair. The author has created a different kind of hero; one that is produced from the ashes of despair. The issue of science versus sacrifice is brought to life and examined in the actions of the characters. Readers will be challenged in their thinking and also eager to reach the final pages.

Adrenaline pulsates with heart-pumping action and a story line that stimulates the senses.

Joyce
Courtesy of "Love Romances"

Romance? Intrigue? Futuristic? Adventure? I guess I would best say an exciting adventure with an intertwining plot of romance, intrigue and a touch of unreality. There's something for everyone. I can see its appeal to teenagers, young adults and even us oldsters with good cardiovascular systems.

Olson's characters are so real I find myself feeling like I almost know them. They have both deficits and credits to their accounts. How the characters handle them is an intricate part of the story. Even characters almost incidental to the story have haunting qualities. Perhaps it's my 65 years showing, but my favorite parts of the book have to be the tiny peeks into family life. Such love, fun and joy!

I've know several real people with Muscular Dystrophy. I have a strong empathy for them and read every news story I can find about medical advances which will help their plight. The cure conceived by Parker is pure fantasy but I look forward to the day when genetic engineering will work better on the mice - and then the humans.

The plotting of the book is superb. As in "Oxygen" and "The Fifth Man", there is more excitement in one chapter than in many entire books. If "Oxygen" made you breathless and "The Fifth Man" left you exhausted, "Adrenaline" will give you atrial fibrillations.

I believe John B. Olson, Randall Ingermanson and Ted Dekker are three of the best young fiction writers around. These guys can write!!

Wheelchair-bound James Parker is a Cal Berkeley researcher studying muscular dystrophy. Both he and his sister (who is on the verge of death) suffer from the disease, making him desperate to find a cure. He discovers a breakthrough drug, "Adrenaline 355", which gives lab mice super strength but also violent behavior. In spite of the side-effects, James begins experimenting on himself. Sinister forces soon learn of the drug and its properties, putting James and his friends in peril.

Olson does a good job of creating sympathetic characters, especially Parker and Darcy. Sometimes their behavior was a bit melodramatic, but overall they felt like real people.

Despite this, the story never drew me in. First, the novel's setting was confusing. It seems to take place in the present day, but the city around the college campus is infested with drug addicts hooked on "Glass", a drug that currently does not exist. Does the story take place in the near future instead of the present?

I also found the plot repetitive. Stand around the lab and talk. Get chased by some bad guys. Go back to the lab and talk some more. Get chased again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The cover blurb alludes to "the limits of medical ethics", but it's never a real issue in the story. I had hoped for something deeper, especially from a "Christian" novel. In fact, there's precious little Christian content at all. Toward the end, Parker declares himself a follower of Christ, but this revelation comes out of the clear blue. Up to that point we never see him read his Bible, pray, or attend church. He eagerly pursues Darcy without discussing matters of faith, so apparently witnessing isn't high on his agenda either.

I had also hoped that Olson's biochemistry background would give the novel a "Chrichton-esque" feel, but the author doesn't spend much time on the science behind the science fiction.

Despite an interesting premise and likable characters, "Adrenaline" was disappointing.

This thriller had non-stop action and an unforgettable hero suffering from multiple sclerosis. Parker's brilliant mind is contrasted by his weakened body, making the reader admire him for his abilities and sympathize with him as the underdog.

Clues unfold piece by piece in the drama around Parker's accidental discovery of a possible cure for MS. Olson deftly braids various plot threads together and apart as the story progresses, joining everything together at the end for a satisfying and realistic conclusion.

There is constant danger in every chapter and exciting scenes that kept me up all night finishing this book. The title is very appropriate.

The geek speak is at a minimum. I had no troubles understanding the scientific background of the storyline.

This is an excellent contemporary take on Jekyll and Hyde, with a splash of medical science fiction and an intense portrayal of the protagonists' emotional and spiritual struggles with "wholeness." It is a plot-driven book, but the characters leap off the page and come to life.

I would recommend this book to any teenager, boy or girl, in my youth group, and any adult suspense fan.

Grant recipient post graduate biochemistry student James Parker is euphoric. Mouse 87, suffering from muscular dystrophy and barely able to move for several months, suddenly is running around like a marathon runner after an injection of adrenaline 355. However, when he calls his mother with the good news, he learns his sister Jenny, who suffers from the debilitating disease like James does, is back in the hospital with a very weak heart. However, something weird has occurred. The metal bars to the cage containing Mouse 87 have been bent and the test rodent escaped.

Still feeling like he is on a natural high, James, wheelchair and all, rescues graduate student Darcy Williams from glass heads. His discovery excites the campus and medical community bringing hope to muscular dystrophy sufferers while James and Darcy fall in love. However, the "Invisible Man," leader of the glass heads wants this incredible find; he increases the assaults on the campus with the prime targets being James and Darcy.

Fans will feel they are on ADRENALINE with this action-packed medical research thriller that never slows down until the bridge forms a final surprising coupling. The story line is at its best when it concentrates on James, Darcy and his sister. Jenny is a role model as never stopped believing that God will take care of her in some fashion. When the plot switches to the Invisible Man, it loses a bit of its momentum though he is the key to much of the adversarial moments. John B. Olson deftly provides sub-genre fans with a fabulous terse tale that will excite readers who will search for his co-authored Martian works.

Harriet Klausner

This book is thrilling, romantic, and shows a real comprehension of what it's like to live with a disability. Not that you need to have a special interest in disabilities to enjoy it. Once you get started reading you won't be able to put it down.

I started reading this book years ago and I just couldn't get into it. As a big fan of "Oxygen" and "The Fifth Man" I was really looking forward to reading "Adrenaline". I figured it must be me so I placed it back on the shelf to read at a later date. Well the later date arrived and I gave it another shot. I discovered again that I had a hard time reading this book. After evaluating why I had issues I discovered it was because the writing is more like a movie script then a novel. All the conversations were hard to get through due to the constant interruptions about what the speakers were doing, touching, seeing or whatever. Since so many people liked this book I sped through the rest of it even though I didn't want to. The story was okay and I saw nothing that really made this "Christian" fiction except the lack of foul language, sex and a few other things prevalent in secular fiction. And one more thing, what year was this story taking place 2003 or 2050? It would have helped if we were told.

1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing