The Presence (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Dr. Katharine Sundquist is hired to work on a short term archaeology project in beautiful Maui. It seems to be an ideal situation for her and her 16-year-old son, Michael, who suffers from asthma as well as the recent death of his father. She soon learns, however, that all is not well in paradise. There is a restricted wing in her high-tech laboratory where secret deliveries arrive at midnight and she discovers that deadly medical experiments are being performed. Then Michael and three friends sneak into a dive shop and help themselves to some equipment. During their night dive, they come upon a contaminated area in the ocean. Back on land, they find that their lungs cannot tolerate oxygen and they can survive only by breathing poisonous fumes. One by one, the boys are killed or simply vanish. When Michael is the only one left alive, Katharine must act quickly to save him. YAs will be engrossed in the computer search for DNA codes, the strange prehistoric or not so prehistoric bones that Katharine unearths, and a mysterious underwater geode from outer space. There is enough adventure and suspense in this thriller to capture the interest of even the most reluctant readers.?Katherine Fitch, Lake Braddock Middle School, Burke, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Saul, who recently took a cue from Stephen King with the release of a serialized novel, The Blackstone Chronicles, here tells of a young archaeologist's encounter with horror in Hawaii.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (April 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449002411
• ISBN-13: 978-0449002414
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Silly, predictable, and entertaining. It's a Saul story., April 10, 2001

By	Chadwick H. Saxelid "Bookworm" (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

You can forget the bogus Maui setting for this book, it's simply a backdrop decoration. This "speculative fiction" story is set firmly in John Saul Techno-Thriller Territory, so it can really take place anywhere. Anyone who has read a Saul novel knows this tale too well - some Meglomanical Corporation has taken over a small town so it may conduct unethical medical experiments on the children and teenagers. Been there and done that in The God Project, Darkness, Shadows, Sleepwalk, Creature, and on and on. But one reads John Saul for dependable fun, not for surprises, and The Presence does have its moments of gruesome fun. It did not stun me, nor did it bore me, it just kept me suitably entertained until the end, which is about all I expect from John Saul.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Left me searching for more..., December 19, 2000

By	Sister Moon (In The Kitchen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Presence (Hardcover)

I adore John Saul's work. He is a fantastic author, and his use of science and its possible evils are twisted and formed into great reading. However, The Presence left me empty. I breezed through the first half in no time- great story! But about 3/4 of the way into it, I realized that I had already figured out the rest of the book. I spent the last pages nodding my head, and waiting for a surprise- unfortunately, nothing came. I loved the setting and his description of Hawaii, and his characters were likeable, as always. Promising story...but doesn't fulfill the promise.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointing, October 24, 2000

By	Quinton Kriel "QK" (Armonk , NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Im glad this was the fourth Saul book that i read, because if it was the first i would not have bothered with his other books.

I loved the other three, but this one does not live up to the usuall John Saul quality. I found it difficult to pick up and read, almost an effort.