Rating: 
Summary: Reasonable but strains the credulity and irritates in places
Review: Just to add my short twopennyworth to what's already been said; the general consensus is that there are many better thrillers out there and many a damn site worse. I honestly cannot disagree with that. Whilst I found the characterisation fairly strong (if a tad stereotypical at times), the lush descriptions of Maui very satisfying and the clammy claustrophobia of the breathing theme very effective, there were quite a few gaping holes in the plot that sadly diminish the reader's enjoyment. ** WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD ** For example, Katharine turning ace detective rather than going to the police earlier on is a bit Scooby-Dooish isn't it? The astronomical mathematics of the fading supernova simply don't add up (if it's 15 million light years away, that means it actually went nova 15 MYA, so how long before were the "seeds" despatched then to reach Earth before life appeared?) and the vilain flying his helicopter soooo low over the volcano is just asking for trouble and we all know what's going to happen! There's also a little bit of Darwinian dogma thrown in for good measure, to annoy the creationists out there. But come on frip; fair's fair. Despite the numerous niggles, I still quite enjoyed The Presence. It rattles along at a cracking pace, firing on the majority of its cylinders most of the time. There are worse ways to while away an evening or two and I am looking forward to exploring some other books by this prolific author.
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Gripper - Definitely Unputdownable!!!!!!
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho Hum.
Review: Not one of the better books I've read from John Saul. It wasn't that scary and the book bogged down in parts. I never bought into the plot, it just seemed to far fetched. The villians were a little to James Bondish for me.
Rating:
Summary: John Saul--The Presence (1997)
Review: Not quite to the standards of his most enduring and successful novels ("Nightshade" and "The Manhattan Hunt Club"), this Saul tale is fairly gripping and enjoyable, only to have the finale fall from beneath its wings. The story revolves around anthropologist Katharine Sunquist, who recently was hired to study the unusual skeletal remains unearthed on the volcanic flanks of Maui, Hawaii. All seems well for herself and her son, Michael, but beyond the beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests of the beautiful land there is a malevolence that is waiting to inflict terror.Admist the ocean floor, a mysteroius, undiscovered substance awaits for inhabitants, thirsting to become anew. When one of Michael's good friends unexplainably dies during the night, a disturbing revelation strikes Katharine--the corporation that is funding her expedition is actually using her for a far more important investment. As Katharine stages a battle against the company that is attempting to use her son as a medical exemplar, she must uncover the horrific truth of the terror that is killing those around her. Similar to the likes of Koontz, John Saul presents a realisic terror that frightens many regular people in the world--and uses this fear to create a novel that would be extremely good if there was not so much emphasis on metaphorical description and more focus on character development. Katharine and Michael are not depicted as entirely as possible, leaving "The Presence" as a novel that has a great story, a creepy premise, and partial characters that we do not care too much about. Fans of Saul will undoubtedly take pleasure in this work, but it could have been better.
Rating:
Summary: John Saul--The Presence (1997)
Review: Not quite to the standards of his most enduring and successful novels ("Nightshade" and "The Manhattan Hunt Club"), this Saul tale is fairly gripping and enjoyable, only to have the finale fall from beneath its wings. The story revolves around anthropologist Katharine Sunquist, who recently was hired to study the unusual skeletal remains unearthed on the volcanic flanks of Maui, Hawaii. All seems well for herself and her son, Michael, but beyond the beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests of the beautiful land there is a malevolence that is waiting to inflict terror. Admist the ocean floor, a mysteroius, undiscovered substance awaits for inhabitants, thirsting to become anew. When one of Michael's good friends unexplainably dies during the night, a disturbing revelation strikes Katharine--the corporation that is funding her expedition is actually using her for a far more important investment. As Katharine stages a battle against the company that is attempting to use her son as a medical exemplar, she must uncover the horrific truth of the terror that is killing those around her. Similar to the likes of Koontz, John Saul presents a realisic terror that frightens many regular people in the world--and uses this fear to create a novel that would be extremely good if there was not so much emphasis on metaphorical description and more focus on character development. Katharine and Michael are not depicted as entirely as possible, leaving "The Presence" as a novel that has a great story, a creepy premise, and partial characters that we do not care too much about. Fans of Saul will undoubtedly take pleasure in this work, but it could have been better.
Rating: 
Summary: Two words -- DON'T BOTHER
Review: Nothing compared to other Saul novels. It seemed like he had an idea, but had trouble developing it.
Rating: 
Summary: TYPICAL SAUL
Review: SAUL'S LATEST EFFORT IS A GOOD,FAST READ. THE INTRODUCTION OF A HEROINE WAS A WONDERFUL ADDITION. I ALSO BELIEVE IT WOULD MAKE A GOOD MOVIE.
Rating:
Summary: NOTHING COMPARED TO HIS EARLIER WORK
Review: The begining was great but towards the end I lost interest. All of his other books I would read them and I got hooked on them from begining to end!! So needless to say I was rather disappointed in the end of this one!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't follow Saul's usual technique.
Review: The Presence doesn't fail to entertain, but it falls short of the white knuckled suspence that faithful readers have come to expect. Previous Saul works have facinated readers with medical horrors. The Presence, while intriquing, doesn't quite leave the reader with their customary shivers after putting down one of Saul's books. For the first time reader, The Presence is a must read. Saul leaves the reader pondering the origins of mankind, and the mixture of medical, archaelogical, and astronomical sciences gives the reader plenty to think about. The Presence should be evaluated by each individual reader. But this faithful follower of Saul is left wondering if his next novel will be revived back to the horrificly suspence status she has come to expect.
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping and Exciting Read
Review: 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.
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