Customer Reviews

Mutation

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(34)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

From the beginning of Robin Cook's Mutation, it becomes pretty obvious that Victor Frank bares striking similarities to Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein). Not only do their names give away this obvious clue, but the work that that Victor is involved in also gives it away. Dr. Frank is working on a project with an NGF gene. This involves tampering with his wife's eggs, and the unborn fertilized egg that will become his son VJ. This devious work makes us believe that Victor will be the creator of a monster. Within the first few pages any intelligent reader would have to know that the real conflict is going to be creator vs. creature. The problem with the book is that it seems to waste too much time in the middle. The clues are there the whole time, but yet the characters aren't intelligent enough to pick up on what the reader already can. The book is filled with numerous conflicts between Victor and many characters that just drift away from the story. By the time that the creature (son VJ) confronts Dr. Frank it is too late. At this point the reader is too tired to even care anymore. There is a small amount of action in those last fifty pages, but it takes way too long to establish the real conflict. The book is tired and boring not to mention unbelievable. Don't bother wasting time on this book, it's an interesting idea, but Cook just fills it up with too much junk in the middle.

Although a little heavy handed with allusions to Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", Robin Cook's "Mutation" is a good enough read. The plot revolves around genetic manipulation of the unborn: Victor (named just like in the Shelley work) genetically enhances five embryos, one of which becomes his second son (a genius), VJ (for Victor Jr.). By VJ's tenth birthday, several people close to him have mysteriously died from a rare form of liver cancer, and Marsha, his mother, begins to suspect that all is not right. By the time she convinces Victor that their son has, to put it mildly, a personality disorder, VJ has begun to conduct his own experiments in genetic research. Cook, as always, includes great biological plot points, and at the least, the book is educational and raises several issues that are as relevant now as when the book was first published several years ago. However, the element of surprise just isn't there, and an attentive reader can spot what's coming a mile away. The end implies that the story isn't over...but isn't as ambiguous as Shelley's "Frankenstein". Or as profound...

I will admit that when I first read this novel I was only fourteen and I remember liking it. Then I read it again, now that I'm older, and I realize now just how amateur it really is. From the writing to the plot to the clichéd characters `Mutation' fails to live up to the reputation of a beloved author. Maybe my growing distaste of this novel is due to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of the medical thriller...but before you automatically disregard this review as biased let me just explain the main reasons for my complaints, for they in themselves have nothing to do with the `medical' aspect of the story.

The strange child / scary child plotline has been done a time or two or three-hundred. In this book the scenario isn't revived as much as revisited. It seems the same, nothing new or exciting, and when the child or quote-unquote creation trumps over master it seems, what did I call it, that's right...clichéd. The master / creator, whatever you want to call him...dad, is Dr. Victor Frank, a bio-physicist who attempted to create the perfect child but instead created a monster. He quickly becomes the guilty victim and I had trouble decided whether or not I, the reader, was supposed to sympathize or loathe him. Really, his character is so boring that I couldn't muster up any feeling whatsoever for him.

The mother, the true `victim' if this story calls for one, comes off somewhat stupid. Cooks first mistake was making her a child psychologist because everyone knows that, at least in the entertainment world, psychologists spend their free time analyzing their own families so it's ridiculous to conclude that she never noticed her son's strange behavior until it was too late. The ending, contrived as it is (the third definition in the dictionary for this is "brought about with difficulty" so it fits), does redeem some of the bad qualities of this book because it is a bit, oh how do I put this, chilling. Not so much, but enough to make me wish to god almighty Robin Cook had started with the last half and built a well oiled machine.

Like I mentioned, as a young teen this isn't half bad, but now that my palate has been tempted by the fruit of much more deserving literature I can't truly applaud this sloppy work. If you're a young reader then this may work just fine for you. If you're a fan of Cook then you may want to read it just to say that you had (I know how I am, if I love an author I will read everything he's written just because he wrote it) but if you're looking for a good thriller or just a well written book then this is not the one for you. It's a quick read, but for the reader who relishes in a good read this will not resonate as a worth while nor satisfying read.

Robin Cook's book Mutation was a scientific thriller that kept me reading page after page. From the beginning of the book where a strange birth takes place to where you find out Vj's a kid super genius, how couldn't you keep reading on?

Mutations is about a Dr. Victor Frank whose love for science ultimately conflicts with his better judgment...

This book was not only interesting and entertaining but it was also well written. Cook's method of using a lot of detail pays off in this thriller. His descriptions of things such as weather and highway signs help the reader paint a visual picture while reading. This book raises many important matters, one of which is cloning. Cook states his opinion on cloning through his writing very clearly, and I suggest reading this book to all people.

Mutation by Dr. Robin cook is a letdown of a medical thriller. This book follows many themes including beauty and science. It follows the traditional Frankenstein plot with the main character's name as Dr. Victor Frank. This book captivates the reader for about the first 1/4 of the book but then becomes a little too unrealistic to believe. Mutation's characters also are to unperceptive to care about them because they miss to many hints towards the climax that would have easily solved the conflict. The author also chooses to use a large vocabulary of medical terms that the average reader would not understand and soon give up on the book. Also, Dr.Cook uses many specific refrences to the Boston area using certain highway exits and adresses which later prove to be useless. But to Dr.Cook's favor he did use good detail in his book and followed his themes all the way through. For example, if one is interested in science then it might keep a part of the readers attention because of it's strong theme of science. In conclusion this book is not worth your time so please pass up on it and pick another.

Mutation, by Robin Cook, is not a book for those looking for an intellectual read. The plot is rather insane, to the pooint of needing to suspend your suspension of disbelief, simply to get through it. Aside from the insanity,the plot is predictable enough to warrant several occasions of flippinf ahead to overcome the characters ever-so-slow realizations. The fact that Cook has decided to add many specicfic references to highway exits and medical terms the average reader wouldn't understand only serves to further detract form the novel.

This novel is by no means boring, but on the other side of the spectrum, it is not a read that will invoke the use of your brain, aside from the act of reading itself. Therefore, if you are siitin around with nothign better to do and the book happens to fall into your lap you might consider reading it.

Robin Cooks medical thriller "Mutation" is a laughable attempt to create a modern day Frankinstien horror novel. The unrealistic characters, and unexplainable events that occur throughout the book create a twisted plot from start to finish. The unnecessary descriptive details add to loss of interest in the book. The predictable novel dissappoints readers with a rushed ending of unthinkable events.

Robin Cook's 'Mutation' offers little or no intellectual substance. In this so called "Medical thriller," we are introduced to several characters so unbelievable that in no way could we relate our live's to their's. The only thing connecting them with the rest of human kind is their physical make-up, which is described in too much detail. These as well as several other long uninteresting details are distributed so imensely throughout the novel that one is forced to wonder if they are mere space fillers or are just completely inane. Whatever the case, there is actually little importance contained in such deatils. Finally, though, and most imporatntly, mutation is no more than a modernized version of Mary Shelly's 'Frankenstein' which not only degrades but disrespects the classic novel's ideology by portraying it as simple and unrealistic. You may find better reading on the side of a passing bus.

Mutation, the fiction medical thriller by Dr. Robin Cook, recieves a diversity of opinions as to its quality. Understandably, a book about a young boy who mischeviously works to manufacture humans will get mixed reviews. Given that, and the fact that VJ is aided by a shady slew of immigrants and uses drug money to help proceed his laboratory makes this book seem so false that it's not worth the time to be read. The simple fact is that Dr. Robin Cook has created a genius novel for the field of medicine. His out-of-the-ordinary plot along with his convenient usage of medical terminology allow this novel to seep deep within the reader's moral conscience. Cook's plot, while far-fetched at times, maintains an upbeat tempo throughout, and his prior knowledge into the field of medicine makes for one heck of a good read. Could the 11-year old son possibly out-do his father in his studies of genetic manipulation to create the perfect human? Believe it, and get past the fact that this is not your average story, and yet it will keep you on seat's end for all 300-plus pages. This novel could even provide a look into the future of medical technology across the world. Who knows? Read on...it's worth it.

Imaginative yes, realistic no, this is one way to describe Robin Cook's book Mutation. Robin Cook tells a chilling tail of scientific advancements such as the story of new age surrogate parenting and genetic research.

In the book, we meet Victor Frank a successful scientist who thrives to create the perfect child. All is well until the newest member of the Frank family (V.J.) develops extraordinary abilities, he can walk at six months and read and write at three years old. Then terror strikes, the idea of having science to create a flawless being is beginning to fail. V.J. loses his genius powers, Dr. Frank is having trouble at his lab and Mrs. Frank cannot connect with V.J.

The book has twist and turns that become more and more outrageous and unbelievable, thus leading to the stopping of turning pages and the beginning of TV sets turning on. The story takes too long to get to the dramatic ending that it is inevitable to realize and concern for the characters are lost.

The book has a strong message that science is not always the answer and at the end of the book it can be understood that either is Robin Cook for a good read.