Vitals

by Greg Bear

Book Overview

Blending fierce, fast plots with vivid characters and mind-bending ideas, Greg Bear has mastered a powerful alchemy of suspense, science, and action in his gripping thrillers. Darwin's Radio was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345435281
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Mind-blowing, surrealistic landscape

Is an author to be bashed for stepping outside his safe zone? Granted, this is not your typical sci-fi tale of aliens, fabulous nanotechnology, time travel or space exploration. It is a mesmerizing, almost hallucinogenic journey through a world that may or may not exist. What starts out as a tale of science into life-extension evolves into a warning on the pitfalls of trying to fool Mother Nature. The search for immortality is only useful as an introduction into the REAL story. Ancient bacteria have the power to alter the natural breakdown of DNA and tricking the body into acting young. In Stalinist Russia there was a program to bestow eternal life on the leading henchmen using this bacteria. But with success came madness and the ability to exercise a type of mind control. The rest of the story is the frenzied race (from different points of view) to stop the spread of the bacteria and we are plunged into a world of unknown terror and paranoia leaving us satisfied but with more questions than answers. No one is whom they appear, madeness is rampant and everyone is suspect. Characterization, usually a weak aspect of sci-fi is strong, action is fierce and both historical and scientific research is evident throughout. Yes it was gruesome but then Stalinist Russia was a hell on Earth. Yes there is a conspiracy but it was not gratuitous (a la The Devinci Code). A good read that deserved a better reception.

X-Files Is Greasy Kid's Stuff!

I am not subject to paranoia, but this book got to me. I found myself becoming more relaxed after finishing the book. Whew!

Spooky Stuff

Secret conspiracies, plot twists and evil scientists. What more could you ask for? A couple of days after reading it, I had to go back and re-read bits of it, just to make sure I understood what was going on. There are a lot of wait-a-minute moments, where everything you've assumed up to that point gets yanked out from under you. A word of warning, though: If you like stories with a nice, neat, happily-ever-after ending, you'll probably have a problem with this book.

A powerful science fiction thriller

Brilliant biochemist Hal Cousins conducts research on bacteria living on the ocean floor that if proves fruitful will be the Fountain of Youth as immortality would be the norm. However, someone does not want Hal's work to reach fruition and actually one of the team tries to kill him. Others are also murdered and Hal comes under suspicion of the homicides that include his twin brother, Rob. Hal soon learns that under Stalin's rule, Soviet microbiologist Maxim Golokhov discovered how to use bacteria to control human behavior. His program, Silk clandestinely came to the United States to set in motion a plan for world domination. As Hal uncovers more of the truth, he wonders if he is paranoid as he sees Silk operatives in everyone including his brother's widow and wonders why Silk wants to stop him from developing the immortality elixir? VITALS is a powerful science fiction thriller that never slows down whether the tale is in a bathysphere on the ocean floor or in a lab. The story line is fast-paced, seems credible, and is loaded with action though the climax leaves some threads dangling perhaps for a sequel. As he did with DARWIN'S RADIO, Greg Bear stirs up the biological paranoia that seems part of living in this century.Harriet Klausner