Customer Reviews

Pigeon Project

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When Anglo American scientist, Professor Davis Macdonald discovers that the formula he has been working on for years has been proven, he naively thinks that all mankind will benefit from his find. Under the aegis of the Soviet government, he has been living and working in a remote region of Soviet Russia where the inhabitants all live to a very old and healthy age. The Soviets are determined to keep this a secret so as to benefit only themselves, so when the Professor leaves on a trip to Venice, to attend a world medical conference, the Soviets send military agents to track him down and return him to the USSR. Tim Jordan is an American writer, working in Venice, who accidenally meets and befriends the Professor and tries to help him escape from the city which has been sealed off by the police and the local Communist supporters. The remainder of the story is one which would make a wonderful movie and one which would especially be loved by readers who have visited Venice. In his desperate attempt to keep the Professor safe, Tim moves him from one to another of his friends and acquaintances in all parts of Venice, only to see him betrayed, Judas like, for the promise of a large reward. It's an interesting and sobering look at the mercenary side of people in general, even one's friends in whom one had faith. Mad scenes follow involving speed boats, helicopters and thwarted lovers in this somewhat frenetic, but great fun read.

A British scientist, working in the Soviet Union, discovers the secret of greatly prolonging life. To keep the Soviets from keeping the secret for themselves, Professor MacDonald flees to Venice. The local authorities, members of Italy's Communist Party, co-operate with the Soviets and close off access to or from Venice and begin a massive search for the professor.

The books basic premise (i.e., the formula to dramatically extend human life) is a stretch, and the idea that Venice could be quarantined in pursuit of a single scientist with such a formula also seems farfetched. This lockdown exists solely to create the crisis that drives the story. Every attempt to escape the city is predictably blocked at the last possible minute, and only when the author is ready to end the story does escape become possible. This book is the equivalent of a summer action movie--its a fun ride as long as you read it at a superficial level.

This book could have provided a great deal of food for thought. The book briefly touches on the philosophical issues regarding the benefits/dangers of such a formula, but fails to follow up on them or explore them in any detail. This conflict between the potential benefits and dangers of such a discovery could have provided a story with greater depth and interest. Instead the book stays focused on the action oriented storyline.

Perhaps the book's greatest strength is the setting. For anyone who has ever visited Venice, the descriptions here should be familiar. The author clearly researched the setting, and provides an authentic setting for this story. Too bad the same effort wasn't given to the story itself.

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "The secret. Every man and woman has dreamed of it. Now it's within reach ... and they'll do anything to possess it. The screen goddess. The contessa. The wily priest. The American public relations man looking for a cause. And his lover who may die for it. They are all caught between life's wildest dream ... and death."