Invasion - Robin Cook

You might think, with this book, Invasion, by Robin Cook, is it going to be any different, or is it the same as other stories out there? Always keep in mind, each story has itws own unique way of telling something in one form or another. I have read a lot of his books. You need to get deeper into the story and appreciate it.

It's not a bad story. I think in my own personal eperience, he lacked the time to develop the characters. The plot was okay, I guess, but not strong. I still enjoyed reading this book. Some of the story's ideas are good, but noting original. A meteor falls from the sky.

It was still a good read. There was an originality of the about the aliens I liked. The story still I think was written in Robin Cook's own style and ways in telling this story. An alien virus infects the people in the area where the meteor landed. It's a good story and makes you think. It delves into the mysteries of alien technology and existence. Its creatieve. There's always a thriller aspect to his novels, and medical facets in the story.

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I wonder if Spielberg ever reads sci-fi stuff. If he doesn?t, he?s missing out a lot. But still, I?m damn sure he hasn?t read this one, because if he ever had, he?d never have produced, ?ET the Extra-Terrestrial?.

?Invasion? by Robin Cook sounds more like a medical thriller than a science fiction novel.

In the novel, the author relates about an invasion of alien spacecraft into the Earth?s atmosphere. Anyone, who comes in contact with the ?Alien? stuff, gets infected with a flu-like disease. Soon, the disease spreads and develops into a catastrophe.

So far, the book sounds hardly different from what we saw in ?Close Encounters of the Third Kind? or ?Independence Day?. The same story of alien invasions, same situations when UFO?s look like shooting stars, and all other factors that have been related with the words ?space? and ?sci-fi?. All like an over ridden cliché.

But as we get deeper into the book, the story becomes more and more thrilling. An alien virus infects the people and within no time crowds start mutating into strange creatures devoid of any emotion. As more and more people get infected, all of them start working unanimously, like a single organism, to establish what they call a ?Gateway to the other galaxies?.

Finally, the only uninfected people are a couple of students, some scientists and a cop, all working tirelessly to get rid of this global problem.

It is indeed interesting to see the earth from an extra-terrestrial point of view. The parts of the book, which reflect the aliens? thoughts, are beautifully written. They (aliens) are seen intrigued with the problems like environmental pollution, crime and global warming. Consequently, the virus takes over 68% of the world?s population.

There?s quite a big deal of scientific, biological stuff in the novel. So personally, I?d recommend the book only if you have a sound liking for sci-fi. Otherwise the book will become extremely irritating, since it looks like a cross between a medical journal and, as I said before, a Spielberg movie.

But if you do have a scientific temper, you won?t find a better author. The storyline is so excitingly high-tech that I did a sort of mini-research on viruses and antibodies. The virus in the book seemingly defies fundamental laws like Charles Darwin?s theory of evolution and the law of conservation of energy. The author also talks of the fifth dimension, black holes and other aspects, which you can find only in books by Stephen Hawking. Cook also tells a lot about genetics, DNA, chromosomes, microbiology? you name it!

All in all, ignoring some minor drawbacks, ?Invasion? is a great piece of literature.

For those who are studying MBBS or are already doctors, I would request you not to read the book. You see guys, my father, a medical practitioner like Robin Cook, has bought a large number of medical thrillers.

Somehow, he hates Cook?s books like poison. Quoting his exact words, ?Dr. Cook has spoiled my medical instincts.?

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This novel offers a look into the unthinkable future ,sure,a bit far-fetched but nevertheless a pretty good read.It offers a subtle change from the usual Robin Cook medical thrillers or as the title puts it 'a deadly threat to life on earth from the icy vastness of outer space'.

Mysteriously,one night,electronic equipment of all kinds begin to spark and explode throughout the city.The next morning the city is covered with countless strange black discs scattered everywhere.A college student,Beau Stark is among the first to pick up one of the discs.He encounters a sharp pain,like a bee-sting and gradually becomes infected.His flu-like symptoms signify the revival of an ancient alien virus implanted millions of years ago in mankind's genetic code-and since then lying dormant until the hosts are sufficiently developed,that is,until now.Meanwhile,all over the nation,people and other creatures succumb to the same virus and start to behave in a bizarre fashion,as if controlled by an alien intelligence.

Beau Stark gradually assumes leadership of these infected people,his college friends realise that something truly horrifying is happening around them.As they struggle to piece together the puzzle,they soon become the prey to these group of predators.Meanwhile,on their shoulders lies the burden of saving all humanity and time is running out,fast...

Robin Cook has a strange knack of keeping you engrossed in the book.Its no less in this particular novel.One of those books which you just cant stop reading until you finish.A really good read.

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Robin Cook one of the premier science fiction writers along with Micheal Crichton, Arthur C. Clarke and a few others. Science fiction is my favourite genre with horror books from Stephen King a close second and murder mysteries and spy thrillers from Sidney Sheldon and others a third.

In this book Robin Cook writes a chilling tale and builds up an excellent write-up leaving you to bite your nails as to what will happen next. A few moments you might even be terrified to read further. But the curiousity will surely outweigh the terror.

One night at 10:15 pm all electronic items in a town burst or get destroyed. This is accompanied by the dropping of countless strange black discs which are unusually heavy for their size. A guy named Beau is the first one to pick it up. The thing stings him and he gets infested.

Similiarly almost all people in the town are infested except a few who are left out. Those who are infested start coughing and sneezing, and within six hours get a flu for sometime but when they recover they feel better than ever. They start behaving differently. They always have a smile on their face and their eyes glow in the dark. Not only humans but many animals too display these traits. They stop conversing because they know what the other person is thinking. They stop using cars and start growing plants and vegetables. They start talking as to how the earth should be saved from wars and how the environment should be preserved.

In fact they start behaving like different cells or organs of a body who each know their role. Beau who was the first to be infected becomes their head and acts like the brain. Another trait of these people is that they try to target people who are not already infected and try to infect them. Also those people who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart trouble or any other genetic disease are killed by the infection.

Similiar occurrences occur around the world and 68% of humanity is infested including the U.S President, the Surgeon General and all heads of states of other countries. Now it is left to the few remaining un-infested people to fight back and stop this erosion of consciousness and end of the species. Among these are Beau’s fiancée Cassy and friend (medical student) Pitt, Jonathan and his parents Nancy(virologist) and Eugene(physicist), Jesse(cop) and emergency doctor Sheila. Later on they are joined by Dr. Harley whom they meet through the Internet and who is an immunologist.

In course of time they find out that three billion years ago aliens had planted some alien DNA while the earth was being formed. That DNA in the form of genetic code gets converted into genes and is present in every living organism that lived on this earth. However that genetic trait became dormant and inactive in all beings in the course of time. On being stung by the black discs a protein is injected which acts as a promoter and activates the alien gene. In a sense that meant we are all related to aliens and can be converted to super beings just by infection.

After planting the DNA the aliens returned every 100 million years to see how life on earth was progressing and whether it was ready to be inhabited. On their last visit they discovered dinosaurs which they did not like and destroyed the species and made the adjustments so that humans could be evolved. Now having seen that humankind was ready they were returning. Beau who is the leader starts mutating and becoming like an alien. Under his orders a gateway is built so that aliens from outer space can come here.

Now the crack team mentioned above gets going. They do research and carry out tests and take the data to the authorities who are already infested. In the process of their research Eugene and Jesse are imploded and sent to a parallel universe by the black shells. Nancy and Sheila are caught and forcibly infected. Sheila is kidnapped and taken to Beau who still can’t stop loving her. He is angry with himself for succumbing to his human genes but he cannot help it. Things look down but Jonathan, Pitt and Sheila meet Harly through the Internet and are led to an underground lab which was created to thwart the Russian chemical weapons during the Cold War.

To their horror they find Harly is infested. But Harly explains that he has kept himself under control with a vaccine that he created using the data given to him by them via the Internet. Sheila after being infected escapes before the symptoms set in and tells them all that Beau told her. This info is valuable as they are able to develop an air borne infection which will get rid of the virus.

They then subsequently destroy the gateway and infect all the people with the virus. It makes for amazing reading. And if you have any knowledge or interest in genetic engineering then it will be the ultimate. The only part of this book that does not live up to the mark is the climax. The book builds up very nicely but the climax is all too easy. But it is totally worth it. Another thing is how the black discs without any recharging are able to create or store unlimited amounts of protein. The author leaves that to our imagination.

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