Rating: 
Summary: Read the book. Don't bother with the abridged audio version
Review: I read this book almost a year ago and really enjoyed the scary story. A crazy Russian scientist is out to destroy us with a horrible genetically engineered killer disease. Human trials one and two have taken place as the story opens and the villain scientist is ecstatic. Through a chance encounter, our demented fiend pairs up with a couple of other crazies and together they plot an evil plan, which seems guaranteed to succeed. In a race against time the heroes must thwart the dastardly master-plan. The pace was swift and the story that unfolded was believable and terrifying. I enjoyed the book.Recently, I listened to the abridged audio version of the book read by Blair Underwood. I was extremely disappointed. Mr. Underwood read with enthusiasm and energy but the rendering of the female voices were all ludicrous. His falsetto attempt to differentiate characters by vocal quality failed miserably, in my opinion. It would have been better had he not even attempted the tonal variation as by doing so he turned the entire story into a sort of comic jest. If you want a laugh, listen to the abridged tape, otherwise don't waste your time or money on it!
Rating:
Summary: TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!
Review: It may well be labeled fiction but it's cut too close to home. Everyday, we hear about technology break through. We have very intelligent scientists who devote their lives to discoveries & improvements. Good thing if these discoveries & developments are used to improve everyday lives & to bring good deeds & prosperity to everyone. But what if these developments include something like COBRA which can mass exterminate? It may be used as biological weapons (to protect who from what?) or it may be used as a tool to control population as what Cope may have intended to(do humans have the right to take this to their own hands?). These issues are highly debatable --- whether be it in a moral, ethical, or social view. But why do we do this & what for?
Rating: 
Summary: This book is outstanding
Review: Richard Preston tells a great story and gives a brief background of the United States' biochemical activity and history, as well as that of other countries. I felt that the book The Cobra Event was an entertaining and exciting fictional book. It is informative, as in telling how certain biochemical viruses work. It is also intellectual. It tells of a new virus and the deaths this virus causes. These deaths are descriptive and gruesome in order to show how devastating the virus is. It brings attention to how dangerous biochemical warfare can be. Full of action, The Cobra Event depicts the incredible chases of the FBI pursuing the unknown terrorists. The Cobra Event also displays the hardship and emotions the FBI endures in chasing this man made killer. The back cover of the book claims that this book worried President Clinton so much that he had a group of intelligence experts evaluate the authenticity of the book. Preston's description of the events that occurred is admirable, and brings more life into his story. The portrayal of Preston's characters is also remarkable, allowing the readers to understand the agent's feelings. While I have not read any of Preston's other books, I imagine that they are as good and hair raising as this one. I recommend that anyone and everyone read this book because it is simply superb.
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Summary: This could happen tomorrow...
Review: A very good book! I was a little apprehensive about reading Richard Preston's latest, since this one was fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised! He writes a very believable and scientifically accurate depiction of biological warfare, that will utterly blow your mind. Prepare to curl up and begin to fear for your lives!
Rating:
Summary: biological terror
Review: the cobra event manages to scare you with the cold hard facts of biological warfare.it scares you by telling you that a terrorist can easily wipe out a city the size of new york with a small dose of genetically engeneered virus. After reading this book,you will probably live life more cautious and in fear.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Richard Preston has just perfectly melded a suspense and science-fiction together. This has to be one of the most perfected, and yet terrifying books I have ever read. Preston is truly a gifted writer, and has blessed the reading world by releasing this. I suggest you read this, indefinately. I am sure you will be blown away also.
Rating:
Summary: great hybrid read
Review: I came to this book after reading "The Hot Zone," Preston's non-fiction account of a near-disaster involving an outbreak of Ebola in a Washington, D.C. suburb. I was reluctant to pick up "The Cobra Event" because it was fiction -- I thought it could not be nearly as exciting as "The Hot Zone" because it wasn't, well, true. But halfway through "The Cobra Event," I was hooked. After all, why do we love detective novels so much, when we know they aren't "true"? Because the characters are appealing, the plot is riveting, and in the back of our minds, we know that this kind of story might someday _become_ true. Even while we curl up on the couch, enjoying a fictional murder/terrorism/epidemiology adventure through the subways of New York City, Preston is making an excellent case for why we should be afraid for the fate of the "real" world. I highly recommend this very scary novel.
Rating:
Summary: Biologically Frightining
Review: I thought that this book was a great read. It is very frightining though to think that this deadly viruses might actually and do exist. I read The Hot Zone and instantly became a Richard Preston fan. I believe that I finished The Hot Zone in a few days and have read it several times since. I read The Cobra Event in just under a week and I know that in the months and years to come, I will read it again, along with The Hot Zone.
Rating:
Summary: Intense and Scary
Review: Great read and and a superb angle at horror...reality not fantasy. Only drawbacks were the stiff parts where he tried to inject political views (not that I disagree) which didn't fit well in a work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic read
Review: A real page turner, a book to recommend to all who liked "hot zone". Guess the "Cobra Event" deserved more publicity in Europe. Richard Preston has a very good and pleasant style in writing, great read!
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