Customer Reviews

Skin (Thorndike Speculative Fiction)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book took me almost 2 years to read (not because it was bad, but I have a hard time reading a book without putting it down for months at a time). I've owned it for 7 years, finally finished it last night and was actually quite impressed with it. I've read all but "Ruins" of the X-Files novels (that is next) and once I picked this back up about a month ago, I had a hard time putting it down. I found "Antibodies" to be the best of the series though.

Quick Plot: (Lets see if I remember this right) Mulder and Scully are investigating the case where a man who received a skin transplant from a John Doe became excessively violent and powerful. They travel and uncover a gruesome secret that has been going on for more than 25 years.

One note: There is a mistake in the book. The author mentions that Scully has a cross necklace, but mistakenly identifies it as being silver, not gold.

Perhaps it was the proximity to the similarly themed Antibodies (the old contaminated man on the run plot again, so soon?), or maybe it was the unnecessary use of profanity (which calls attention to itself in a bad way, is the author that desperate to keep the book out of the YA section?), but this franchise novel (apparently the series last) did not come to life for me. There was little atmosphere to the proceedings and plot twists and clues seemed contrived (rather than increasing the suspense they seem to happen just to keep the plot moving forward and, contrary to X-Files logic, FBI agents cannot barge in on Police investigations and make them their own just satiate curiosity - they have to be assigned - and they just can't fly all over the globe tracking down clues on a whim - there is paperwork to be filled and expenses to be approved). For the record, a skin graft goes wrong when the wrong doner is used, causing a formerly meek college professor to go on a killing spree. This novel maintains interest, but it lacks the feel of the show and is hampered by its shopworn premise. If this is the best that the hired writers could come up with it is not surprising why the spin-off novels never caught on.

It takes only a rudimentary knowledge of medicine (heck, even if you watch "ER" a few times), to pick apart the erroneous medical scenes and dialogue in this book. I know, I know. This wasn't meant to be a textbook, but a little research would have gone a long way in making this book more enjoyable to read. For my wife and I, who are big fans of the show, it was very frustrating.

As far as this being a good "x-files" book? "Whirlwind", "Antibodies", and "Goblins" were far better.

I finished this a few weeks ago and was disappointed. It's not that Mezrich isn't a good writer; he's probably the best of the bunch among the X-Files novel adaptationists.

Here's where things go south in Skin.

After Mulder and Scully get Skinner's permission to go to Thailand to pursue leads, it seems that the detail, atmosphere, and grittiness, which Mezrich does a great job of setting up, are largely tossed out the window. In Thailand, the atmosphere seems forced, the villians cardboard cutouts, and the plot preposterous.

Also, if you were a fan of Mulder's wry humor, there's little if any of that to be found here.

Kevin J. Anderson's novelizations, while not perfect, remain true to the spirit of the TV show.

In the Novel The X-Files Skin By Ben Mezrich Mulder and Scully are trying to find the person behind the disease thats on the skin and that gets people with superhuman strength and then dies later on. In the beginning of the book these two med. students are getting skin of a donor that is already dead for a professer that burned his skin in a water heater accendent that a bunch of steam went on his thigh. so after the opperation the doctor said he's find and everything went wrong from there. Agent Fox Mulder and Dana Scully got on the scene and ask workers and police what happened to the body of the professer where did it go and so on then they see a bloodbath in the Hosptial room where Perry Stanton was at and not no more only to find a nurse on the ground dead. As the Agents are investigating this strange case the Bureau is keeping everytthing hidden from Mulder and Scully. soon on Mulder and Scully are in Thailand searching for an abandoned MASH unit were nalpalm victims were treated for there injuryies even if some of the victims were nursed back to health and may not see there famlies. Scully goes on a hunt to find a experimental medical technology while Mulder stakes are even more higher than scully's while they try to find the Thai Monster known has the Skinn Eater. Ben Mezrich did a real good job in creating this novel because it even says on the back of the novel he's a X-Files Fan for many years and that he used to draw cartoons for a living but in the book he did good explaining every detail that Mulder and Scully went through, how everything that happened from begining to end. I my self really liked this novel its one of the best Science Fiction novels I read and i like the X-Files on tv because im really into top secert stuff like when Mulder searches for aliens and he thinks theres life out there so I think who ever likes the X-Files or Science Fiction Novels you should read this book

Sorry fans this book is not for you. This new author to the series don't know Jack, Mulder or Scully. He does'nt even know what guns they use or how they speak. Take my advice and move on to one of the Kevin J. Anderson written books. They are much more fun to read and accurate. Ben is a Snoozer.

Maybe I'm easily satisfied, but I have been very happy with the characterizations and the science of this and several other X files novels. I thought the science was well done and not too technical and I could easily imagine this as if it were on TV. I have see all but 6 of the X files programs and though, I am an engineer, not a scientist, I found the technical aspects of the book to be reasonable. Maybe the detractors have their imagination to fault more.

I read this book last year and didn't give it much thought after that. I'm a big fan of Kevin J. Anderson so I had reservations about taking in another author whose work I'm not familiar with. Anyway, the concept was quite interesting, especially the idea that it tackles Asian myths/legends. Then the story pretty much limps around after that. It's all medical jargons, reminds of that Hugh Grant movie, "Extreme Measures," only this deals with skin. If you're looking for the science fiction stuff that most x-Files stories are centered, don't read this one. I suggest you borrow someone who has this book rather than purchase one for yourself.

Not as good as Kevin J Anderson's Ruins X-Files novel, but it was ok. The Characters are familiar, and the bad guys are absently menacing. We never really understand or believe the motivations, But Mezrich sells the story and the setting. An unlikely place for 2 FBI agents, but his skill lies in his medical knowledge. The bits and explainations make the impossible almost plausible, and that's the purpose af fantasy fiction. The story is a little slow and simpler than the plot pretends to be. The author has promise, he'll only get better.

NEVER, since I have learned to read have I seen an author transform television characters into literary figures so exactly. I am an avid fan of the show and I can vouch for the characterizations. Mezrich hit the nail on the head. I can only shake my head at those who get so hung up on things like the color of Scully's cross and such. Details, details. I feel sorry for people who read books with such a strong sense of criticism. The story might as well have been written by Chris Carter. If you like X-files, read this one. If you like good science fiction, read this one. If you like a good story with a strong plot and good writing, read this one. I did, and I was not sorry.