The Presence: A Novel

by John Saul

Book Overview

Beyond the sparkling Hawaiian beaches, masked by the deceptive beauty of the rainforest, evil awaits sixteen-year-old Michael Sundquist and his mother, Katharine, an anthropologist who has come to the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0449002411
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.1" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

A Gripping and Exciting Read

The Presence, by John Saul, is a truly gripping and exciting read that totally throws the reader into the content of the story and truly makes the reader feel as though the far-fetched nature of the novel could actually be feasible. The novel's focus on main character Michael Sundquist and his unwilling involvement in one of the most influential and terrifying scientific discoveries of all time. This book not only discusses the possibility of life outside of the confines of earth, but it also delves into the mystery of creation and simultaneously puts to rest all past speculation on either of the two topics. Saul has created a novel that can stand the test time because of universal nature. While the book has a slow beginning it ultimately develops into a tale that the reader cannot wait to finish and discover. John Saul sets up the book so that even readers that do not have a strong scientific background are able to understand the vast scientific concepts that are contained in the novel. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for and exciting read that will bring them into a world full of mystery and suspense.

Average Twist Makes Above Average Book

John Saul uses his usual plot twists in The Presence to keep the reader spellbound. In his novel, Dr. Katherine Sundquist, an antropologist, moves her asthmatic son, Michael, and herself to Maui after receiving an unrefusable job offer. Despite Michael's refusals to leave New York, the two leave for Hawaii. Unbeknowanced to the Sundquists', a terrible medical horror is about to change their lives forever. I, personally, loved the novel. It was depressing for me to put it down. Saul uses his writing genius to employ several plot twists with tons of crucial information to captivate the reader. It ranks right up there with my other favortie Saul book, The Homing.

A Real Gripper - Definitely Unputdownable!!!!!!

My boyfriend chose this book for me to read during our summer holidays and then chased me to finish it so he could read it!!! We're both new to John Saul but are now determined to read as much of his other material as we can.

This would make a great movie

Thought that this is one helluva read. It certainly made me think a lot about how we all got here. Sometimes I think Saul knows some scientific secrets that none of us know.

great read!

This is the first time I read anything from John Saul and I found it fast paced and very entertaining. I do not recommend having this book next to you while driving as I tended to pick it up during stop lights and got "honked at too many times". The characters were believable which is hard to find in many thrillers these days. This book has all the ingredents to become a movie. So everyone should check this one out before Hollywood gets it's hands on it. Mr. Saul has a new fan from Japan!