Albrick's Gold [Hardcover]

Simon LeVay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

From the man behind the controversial "gay brain" studies comes a chilling tale of medical experimentation run amok. Dr. Roger Cavendish, one of America's leading researchers into the mysteries of sexuality and the mind, finds himself faced with a medical mystery straight out of his worst nightmares.

A rise in violent crime is detected in the student body of ultraconservative Levitican University, home of Cavendish's rival, Guy Albrick. While Albrick's studies seem to reflect the findings of Cavendish; that sexuality is somehow linked to innate brain structure. Albrick goes further in claiming to have developed a clinical procedure for the manipulation of sexual orientation. Cavendish is initially skeptical of such claims, and gradually uncovers evidence that Levitican University students have become the subjects of highly unethical, scientifically unsound experiments in genetic engineering. With a little help, Cavendish begins to unravel the mystery behind the shocking crimes on the Levitican campus; even as the wave of violence threatens to overtake him and all others in its path. With Albrick's Gold, Simon LeVay has fashioned the darker ramifications of today's cutting-edge science into a classic medical thriller.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Simon LeVay, a neurobiologist best known for his theory that a region of the hypothalamus in gay men is smaller than in heterosexual men, has fictionalized his research for Albrick's Gold, a medical thriller with graphic descriptions and frequent visits to the county morgue. The novel's hero, an openly gay scientific researcher named Roger Cavendish, has been invited to speak at Levitican University in southern California, a wealthy fundamentalist institution noted for the unusually successful yet violence- prone graduates of its R.O.T.C. program and its diabolical experiments to "cure" homosexualtiy in young male students, carried out by the neurologist Guy Albrick and his henchmen. -- The New York Times Book Review, Martha E. Stone

Well-plotted and imaginative [Levay's] premise and execution are original and engaging. -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Since the 1991 publication of his article concerning differences in gay and straight brain structures, neurobiologist Simon LeVay's name has been all but synonymous with the controversy surrounding biological theories of sexuality. In 1992, LeVay co-founded the Institute of Lesbian and Gay Education. He is the author of the titles The Sexual Brain, City of Friends: A Portrait of the Gay and Lesbian Community in America (with Elisabeth Nonas), and Queer Science: The Use and Abuse of Research into Homosexuality.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 293 pages
• Publisher: Masquerade Books Inc; 1st Richard Kasak book ed edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563335182
• ISBN-13: 978-1563335181
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,769,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simon LeVay is a British-born neuroscientist turned writer. He is best known for a 1991 study, published in Science, which reported on a difference in brain structure between gay and straight men. He has served on the faculties of Harvard Medical School and the Salk Institute in San Diego, but he now lives in Los Angeles. He has written several books on sex, including a college textbook titled Human Sexuality (now in its third edition), and most recently Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation. Once a fanatical bicycle racer, LeVay continues to ride his bicycle though at a more sober pace. He is intolerant of creationists and lactose.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Over-the-Top Goldmine, April 23, 2004

By 

Jak Klinikowski "justjak13" (El Paso, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Albrick's Gold (Hardcover)

Roger Cavendish, our gay hero, is a one of America's leading researchers. He has discovered a specific difference between the homosexual male brain and the heterosexual male brain. Roger is invited to speak at fictional Levitican University, an ultra-conservative right wing Christian institution, about his discoveries. His host is Dr.Albrick a notorious but brilliant scientist. Roger's initial lecture is interrupted by a group from Act Out, a gay organization opposed to his findings and Levitican in general. A melee ensues and Roger is whisked away from danger by Jeff, a student at the school and a member of the Levitican church. Come to find out, Jeff is gay but is participating in a program at the school to alter his preference to women. The lifestyle alteration procedure has had considerable success however a couple of recent graduates of the program have become involved in some very violent incidents. Intrigued, Roger begins to investigate, and stumbles upon a veritable, Pandora's box of illegal medical experimentation and manipulation involving not only the science department, but also the schools large corp. of ROTC cadets.

This book is an exceptionally involving edge of your seat thriller, with good gay guys and their straight comrades doing noble battle with evil right wing conservative villains. Along the way a sweet, if slight, love story develops between Roger and Jeff. Can Roger convince Jeff that there is nothing to be ashamed of in being gay? Will Jeff decide to be straight once he has the chance? Will our heroes, be able to discover a way to thwart Dr.Albrick's evil final plan before it is too late? All these questions and more, will be answered by the time this novel reaches its all out, full throttle, conclusion.

This book is way over the top in terms of believability, but it is one heck of a lot of fun to read. The pages don't turn fast enough. Levay's scientific background helps keep the medical and technical scenes hopping without being too far fetched, and the plot starts off at a sprint, and never once lets up its pace. Of course, if one were to question too closely, the plausibility of the premise, I suppose one could punch this book full of holes, but why would one want to spoil such an entertaining read?