Customer Reviews

Frozen: My Journey into the World of Cryonics, Deception, and Death

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

There seems to be a need to qualify oneself in order for their reviews to be taken seriously regarding this book. So, for the record, I am neither an Alcorian or a cryonics basher. If that's good enough, here's my say:

I find it hard to believe Mr. Johnson. Why? Because the man doesn't have a single good thing to say about anyone or anything associated with Alcor at any point in his association with the organization (save for one engineer.) Normally in a whistle blower memoir we're introduced to someone who goes through stages. First they are a stalwart member of their organization (maybe a little naive but a believer nonetheless.) Then a hint of trouble arises. Then the trouble gets larger. Finally, near the apex of the story, we discover that all is definitely not well and the whistle blower wrestles with the moral obligation to bring down their associates.

From the beginning of this book, even before Mr. Johnson accepts Alcor's offer of employment, he makes the organization out to be a gaggle of physical freaks and comical caricatures. The office is filthy. The employees all look sickly and behave neurotically. There's dangerous, possibly illegal stuff in the supply cabinet that shouldn't be there. Red flags abound. Yet Mr Johnson signs on anyway. Why? So he can get away from his burn-out gig as a Vegas paramedic and live closer to his dad. Really?

Mr. Johnson is clearly a man with a long resume who would be sought after for his medical experience in a wide variety of fields. Why does he go to work for Alcor even after an interview he seems to equate with a visit to a mental ward? Why go to work for this gaggle of freaks who appear to have skeletons in their closet and red flags around every corner just so he can move to be near his dad?

As someone who relies heavily on common sense, I just don't buy Mr. Johnson's story. He absolutely loathes these people from page one. From the moment he meets them. From the second he approaches their offices. Loathes them. Each and every freakish caricature in the building. Loathes them.

What happened with Mr. Ted Williams' head is neither here nor there for me. If Mr. Johnson wanted to convince me that this story was true, he failed in the most important aspect a writer can: he failed to convince me that *he* is true. By the fourth chapter I became so mesmerized by his repetitive insults and ghoulish descriptions of the Alcor staff that I kept wondering if I had lost my place or if my bookmark had shifted in the night to an earlier chapter that I was re-reading over and over.

Mr. Johnson does not like Alcor. That is the story of this book. Period. If that sounds like a good read to you, by all means buy this book. If you assume that such a high profile book such as this would naturally be well balanced and intellectually-stimulating, think again.

Very interesting book. However, the part where it is claimed the death of the patient in North Hollywood was "hastened" by an Alcor staff member is simply untrue. I was the RN caring for the patient that night and he died of natural causes. His body was turned over to Alcor per the prior arrangements (the patient and his partner with Alcor) after I declared he had expired. At no time have I ever been a member of Alcor nor been in their employ. And at no time did anyone other then myself administer any medications to the patient that night that I am aware of and I do not believe it possible that this could have been done. When I observed and documented that he had no pulse, no respirations, and no heartbeat I concluded he had expired. The authors of the book never contacted me. I was interviewed by detectives from the LAPD several years ago when these charges were first made and I told them what I am writing in this review. UPDATE: This "book" did very poor in sales and is available for 1 penny in some outlets which is a penny more then it is worth. So much inaccurate and false information has been put forward about the "author" in terms of his experience and background. Contributing "author" to a paramedic book portrayed as "the" authoritative book for paramedics. Actually, writing a few paragraphs which I guess is considered a contributing "author" of a textbook. And we are still waiting for how to access the police reports on all of those incidents where people in the dark banged on his door, chased him through streets, and threatened and terrorized him. Did he contact any police agency? Going into "hiding" as a paramedic in Las Vegas is quite a "hiding". And still asking for sources for the other "gigs" on his resume that defy validation by googling. All in all the book is poorly written, alot of false information that was poorly researched and key individuals involved in the care of the patient in North Hollywood were never interviewed apparently because it would destroy one of the central claims in the book and doubtful the book could have been sold to a publisher if the truth had been told instead of using the false information that gives excitement and mystery to this boring read. It seems anybody can write a "book" these days as long as fiction is passed off as nonfiction and some third rate publishing house can crank out a hardcover. At least the movie deal fell by the wayside to spare us that calamity. Best riding the back of an ambulance after a one hit wonder flop. So if you read the "book" don't believe everything you read as they say.

After hearing about Ted Williams I simply had to read this book and while I initially believed what the Author was saying, I have since come to have serious doubts whether or not a lot of it is true. Alcor made a statement on their website regarding this book and its allegations and in all honesty they raise some legitimate issues. In particular is the fact that the author has tried to profit from all of this on numerous occasions. If the information really is true then it is a shame that Mr Johnson has taken the route he has releasing it to the public. For example putting the Ted Williams pictures on a website and trying to charge people [...] a pop so they can see them is..., well lets just say that this in itself does so much damage to Mr Johnson's credability that you really have no choice but to paint all of his statments and accusations with this same brush. It makes Mr Johnson appear to be an opportunist and in all honesty if he is willing to do the website thing then why shouldn't we believe that he is capable of lying to increase the shock value of his book thus making it sell more copies?

Do I believe that some of it is true? absolutely. Why else would Alcor get a court order against Mr. Johnson prohibiting him from releasing any additional information. Obviously he has information that can hurt Alcor and he has proof to back at least some of it up. This, combined with his poor choices, is one of the reasons why I am beginning to have my doubts about some of his accusations. The fact that Mr Johnson has real info that hurts alcor gives him the ability to make things up and it gives people a reason for believing such statements after all if he is telling the truth on statement A, why shouldn't we believe him on statement B? Johnson knows that Alcors image is already going to be severely damaged so there will be very little reason for people to believe any denials coming out of Alcor. It basically gives him the ability to lie and get away with it. Whether or not that's what he actually did is anyone's guess. The fact that he was all about making as much money as possible on this can definitely be used to argue that this is what he did.

Again I have no doubt that some of whats in this book is true. Its just a shame that Mr Johnson was more concerned about making money than he was about actually blowing the whistle on this company. It winds up damaging his credability thus it damages the book itself. Had he simply released this info to the public without trying to make money, well lets just say his argument would hold a lot more water and I wouldn't be sitting here questioning everything I just read, at least not as much as I am now.

The bottom line is I now have very little respect for everyone involved including Mr. Johnson. In other words I don't know who to believe. I still recommend reading this book, the difference now is that I recommend going to your library and checking out a copy instead of buying a copy and thus putting more money into Mr. Johnson's pockets.

I had read a few quotes from this book in a Sports Illustrated article about Ted Williams. I had some interest in what supposedly happened to him as well as what these cryogenic people though they could do. This would be a great book club book; it opens up a lot of discussion. If it could work, where is your soul while you are frozen, and are you stuck in a dream/nightmare, while you are frozen. It made me want to research if people that came out of comas, recalled dreams or thoughts when they were out. The guy that wrote it is being sued. Somethings may be exagerated, but it definitely had a ring of truth to it.

I am NOT a reader but this book kept me reading. It was in superb condition when it arrived and I've passed it on to my friends. Worth the money... worth MORE if you ask ME!

...then this book ain't worth the paper it's printed on.

I know one of the people who used to be involved in Alcor. In fact, he offered to get me a tour of the place up in Scottsdale (I've declined, not my cup of tea). However, when I looked him up in this book (using Amazon's "search this book" feature), I discovered that one of the references to my acquaintance is to a website created by a notorious space alien cult (think "Xenu"). In fact, I, and several dozen other people, are also referenced as "anti-religion" on this website because of our past activities against the space opera outfit.

In short, if you're going to use Religious Freedom Watch as a source, you've immediately lost my dollars to buy this book. FAIL.

My first advice for reading this book is that if you're going to buy it, buy the book and do not download the audio version. While Audible.com has a great selection of great digital books, the narration for this one is ridiculous. The narrator (whose name escapes me at the moment) mocks the dialogue of almost everyone within the book. The real text would be a much better read because the tonality is much more impartial than that of the audio version.
It's difficult to discern how much of this story is true. Like a bickering couple, both sides have valid points, and somewhere between the two bickering parties lies the truth behind everything from questionable/bizarre behavior to murder. If you're not familiar with Alcor (or the Ted Williams scandal for that matter), I would suggest that you visit their website (www.alcor.org) to learn a little bit about their organization as they perceive it to be, first. Their questionable behavior includes (but is certainly not limited to)

There are no medical doctors on staff (even as per there website on Feb 24, 2011). I would think that since what this company is providing is a medical procedure of some sorts, that they would have a physician, whose license is current, on their staff roster.

Cult-like behavior from cryonics members, including the Church/Society of Venturism.

Dumping AIDS/cancer-infected blood into the sinks or sewers of Alcor along with the highly toxic cryo-preservation fluid.

Recorded conversations with staff members of Alcor (some of whom are still there) about the murders of multiple members.

The mishandling of Ted Williams body in respect to his will and even his crazy son's wishes.

Death threats from "Alcorians" after Johnson blows the whistle on their operation.

Bizarre animal experimentation.

And more...

I completely disagree with the fact that Johnson's credibility is shot because he doesn't have anything nice to say about the place or the people. Most of the people who deal with/dealt with Charles Manson didn't have anything nice to say about him either. Even if 1/2 of what Johnson says is true, it should raise some eyebrows. What's more, it is fascinating, to me, how this company is still in business. I would encourage readers/listeners to make up their own minds about cryonics after reading the book. Even from reading Alcor's website, the whole thing is very bizarre to me. After hearing the book, I came to the conclusion that these people (Alcorians) function in a completely different realm of crazy than the rest of the crazy people in the world. That doesn't make Larry Johnson 100% correct or truthful. But do a little research while reading this book and you'll soon be able to make your own conclusions.

If only a fraction of what Johnson writes is true, then this book is worthwhile. You can tell from the tone of the more negative reviews of this book on Amazon that they are written either by Alcorians or cryonicists. As someone who has researched Alcor for myself, and as someone who has read this book and others (both in support of cryonics and not), this book is troubling. It should make anyone think twice before signing up for an Alcor membership.

Alcor has relentlessly pursued Mr. Johnson in court. The poor man will probably not recover from the hounding in court and the fines against him. Alcor's recent lawsuits against Larry Johnson (and there have been numerous, believe me) remind me of the tactics of the Church of Scientology trying to hush up former members. If you view Alcor as a kind of cult (a cult of "Alcorians" as they call themselves), it helps make sense of the more negative reviews, Alcor's relentless lawsuits, and even Larry Johnson is reportedly in hiding and scared for his life.

This book has become so cheap, even for Amazon. Good deal for a good read. Larry Johnson's evidence isn't just in the book, of course. He has pictures and audio proof of what he claims. Personally, I hope Alcor cleans up its act because I think cryonics is a great idea and would love to get involved. Unfortunately, if even if a fraction of what Johnson writes is true, Alcor is not nearly professional enough for me to consider it at the present time.

In other words, just to be clear, I'm actually for cryonics and want Alcor to clean up its act. People think Larry Johnson is lying in this book, and people have cited his recent pleading of the 5th amendment in a deposition as evidence that he is lying (because, they say, he doesn't want to incriminate himself). But just because he plead the 5th does not make him guilty. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Alcor has assumed from the start that Johnson is guilty until proven innocent. I suspect that Larry is tired and scared of Alcor's persistence in court--not because he lied, but because he has told the truth, and he's paying a heavy price for it.

If only half the things said in this book are true then its no wonder Alcor are trying to get it banned!

Scary but very entertaining.

The author suggests that cryonics is a field that attracts fanatics. If this were true, I would expect to see a slew of fanatical reviews, here, denouncing the book.

Perhaps the truth is that this book is simply not very interesting.