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Summary: Great Cook story: gripping suspense, humor, & ethics issues
Review: We've read all of Cook's medical "thrillers" (even his Egyptian mystery, the "Sphinx"), and would argue that some are a lot better than others. But along comes "Seizure", just possibly his best ever! A current affairs-type premise finds two intellectual doctors trying to save from impending financial ruin their stem-cell research company with a promising technology to grow disease-curing cells. They approach a US Senator to help stop a bill to outlaw their procedures, only to learn he has Parkinson's disease and proposes using himself as an experiment -- completely illegal of course! To add an incredible twist to the idea, he wants the DNA necessary to come from the Shroud of Turin (implications, to use Christ's DNA). What happens therafter is a roller coaster ride of trials and tribulations for our leading characters, with finally the operation on the senator at first glance a success. As yet another interesting touch, Cook reprises the evil doctors from "Shock" who fled the U.S. to re-open the Wingate Clinic (from that story) in the Bahamas to skirt federal medical laws.There's much more than a fun story to captivate readers with this novel. The discussions of the Shroud, apparently proven years ago to be a fraud, were intriguing and will probably stimulate new interst in just where and how the famous relic came to be. The scene where the senator meets with a Cardinal to "negotiate" getting a sample of the shroud was one of the most humorous we've read in a long time. Lastly, the ongoing ethics of the human experiment, and whether the type of research described in the story should be banned or not is a central theme for which the author has serious positions to unfold, even elaborating on what he thinks is right in an author's note at the end. Cook also admitted his fascination with learning so much about the Shroud and refers us to other books on that subject should we care to pursue it. Robin Cook often grabs us with a provocative premise but then sometimes peters out. In this book, the action, the interaction of the characters, and the entertaining and amusing side issues all wrap up into a fine summertime read -- don't miss it!
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Summary: same old
Review: There is no thought-provoking discussion of 'issues'. The book doesn't get us to think about issues. The scientific technology is just a convenient vehicle for yet another 'scary' Frankenstein story. The story line was fraught with huge plot holes. The main characters (two molecular biologists) were without dimension and their conversations were insipid. The author seemed to have gotten together some nice sounding molecular biology technical catch phrases that he strung together to try to make the story more scientifically believable. If he were writing a technical manual, it might sound credible, but putting it in the framework of an implausible storyline with unrealistic characters.... Ok, what really mad me mad was 1) it was another typical 'Frankenstein' story about what horrible things happen when we do molecular biology. Enough already! 2) the molecular biologists were totally amoral, so clichéd and typical of the Frankenstein story plot, 3) the ending while dramatic was pointless and abrupt as if the author said, ok 325 pages, that's it, the end, and again 4) the molecular biologists were moronic. For instance, they discuss the Shroud of Turin and after reading a book from the popular press come to the conclusion that the shroud is the authentic shroud of Christ. Really scientific! Why did the author put that in anyway? It wasn't integral to the plot. The author seems to have used his novel as a convenient vehicle for conveying his own personal beliefs about the srhoud, putting them in a form to make it appear as if they were scientifically valid and acceptable. That would be forgivable if it was done in some believable fashion with some substance, with some real discussion of pros and cons, with some actual scientific analysis but it was as if the author didn't want to exert any intellectual energy at all. At least make the characters talk like scientists instead of being puppets to mindlessly mouth whatever you wish. I don't care what the author believes but to make his science characters utter nonsense is utter nonsense.
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Summary: Seizure?
Review: Perhaps you may learn something of stem cell technology but it is not worth slogging through this very boring novel to do so. The story is predictable, lineal, corny, and without a single character to like or relate to. Seizure is a catchy moniker but is a red herring title creating anticipation of a story line and excitement that Cook never delivers.
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Summary: Carpe Diem
Review: Seize the day. Cook has propelled the reader into the brave new world of stem cell technology. The book is the author at his very best. After a lackluster summer, we finally have a winner. The characters are compelling and the action is all too real. You do not need a doctorate in cellular DNA to know that this book is right on the edge. Cook makes people think about the moral dilemna of a technology that is far outstripping its moral code. This may be his best book in a while and I read it non stop. If you buy one book this summer, Seizure must be it.
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Summary: Insultingl;y sloppy work from a former decent writer
Review: Robin Cook has produced some intriguing and entertaining novels in the distant past. Even if his work was always stamped with a trademark formula, and was largely "by the numbers" and overly plot-driven, his earlier work nonetheless provided a bit of interest. His thrillers were thrilling, as they should be. "Seizure," however, is remarkably bad. The characterizations are nothing more than cartoons. This isn't even "plot driven," as the novel is so weak, and so flimsy, that it barely has a plot. It is as if Cook had a pretty good idea for a book, then turned the assignment of actually writing it over to his 20 year-old neice (or whomever, but someone of dubious writing talent). The poor craftsmanship and crappy execution of this lame attempt is offensive to me. Cook has demonstrated in the past that he has talent for churning out readable thrillers. If his work has now dropped to this low of a level, however, he may soon find himself out of a market for even his pulp fiction product. Avoid this book! And if you know Cook, tell him he owes me six quid, the price of his lastest ghastly mess.
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Summary: Not a good "Cook"
Review: I was very disappointed by this book.
Besides the complicated and improbable scenario, the style itself is aweful. It seems Cook took pleasure to show off his knowledge of complicated words and sentences. The dialogues are completely irrealistic: "My eagerness at having finally gotten here to Nassau has me fired up, whereas in actuality I'm bushed too." "If it goes down easily and if the flight schedule is copacetic, maybe you can do it in one day." "copacetic"? "whereas in actuality"? Who speaks like that? Come on... Many books by Cook are very good. This one is to forget as quickly as possible.
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Summary: Lord, help me..........
Review: I have read several of Robin Cook's novels and have enjoyed the majority of them. I thought Coma was brilliant. This book ,however, was awful. I could not believe the dialogue. I wish a had a copy next to me to cite specific examples since there are so many. Sorry Robin but men and women, Phds or not, do not speak to each other that way. Did anyone else notice the odd use of exclamation points ? The character development was shoddy at best. I have never reviewed a book this way in the past but this time I just could not help myself. Save yourself the grief and pick up a magazine instead.
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Summary: Good Subject Gone Bad
Review: The premise behind "Seizure" by Robin Cook is one that is timely and emotionally charged. I fully expected a well studied story line of medical ethics and religiously skewed politics. What a disappointment.
Within the first 50 pages the story becomes contrived and cliche'. Throwing a few medical terms around does not make for an intelligent book, and incorporating contrived mafia figures into the mix does not make for intrigue. Even the gratuitous love story is shallow and obviously as dissatisfying to the characters as it was to this reader.
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Summary: What happened to Robin Cook's writing?
Review: Granted, Robin Cook isn't high-brow literature, but until I read Seizure I enjoyed his writing for what it was: quick-read medical thrillers full of sometimes over-the-top plots and sometimes unbelivable characters but still readable and entertaining.
What happened with Seizure? Reading this one I sometimes got the feeling that the entire book was a joke because the plot and dialogue is absolutely laughable in some places.
But what I really hated about Seizure was the long, drawn-out and completely unneccesary details that make up about 1/3 of the entire book. A character goes to take a shower and we get to read two pages about their choice of shampoo and soap and a long paragraph about how cold the water was. None of which was at all important to the plot. Very irritating.
I gave this one 1 star only because I couldn't give it zero. A very disappointing effort from a writer who has shown the ability to be much better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Great plot idea!!
Review: Robin Cook has again created an excellent plot, with good characters. This might have been a five-star, if not for the occasional slow-moving dialogue.
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