The Terminal Man - Softcover

Crichton, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0804171297 ISBN 13: 9780804171298

Publisher: Vintage, 2014

Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Timeline, and Sphere comes a neurological thriller about the dangers of cutting-edge medical experimentation.

Harry Benson suffers from violent seizures. So violent that he often blackouts when they take hold. Shortly after severely beating two men during an episode, the police escort Benson to a Los Angeles hospital for treatment. There, Dr. Roger McPherson, head of the prestigious Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, is convinced he can cure Benson with an experimental procedure that would place electrodes deep in his brain's pleasure centers, effectively short-circuiting Harry's seizures with pulses of bliss. The surgery is successful, but while Benson is in recovery, he discovers how to trigger the pulses himself. To make matters worse his violent impulses have only grown, and he soon escapes the hospital with a deadly agenda. . .

About this title

Review:

Harry has a problem. Ever since getting in a car accident, he's suffered from "thought seizures", violent fits in which he attacks other people. He used to be an artificial intelligence researcher, which may explain why he targets anyone who either works on machines or who acts like a machine--mechanics, gas-station attendants, prostitutes, exotic dancers. But there's hope: He can become part machine himself, undergoing "Stage 3", an experimental procedure implanting 40 electrodes deep in the pleasure centres of his brain. The surgery is successful and blissful pulses of electricity short- circuit Harry's seizures. That is, until Harry figures out how to overload himself with the satisfying jolts and escapes on a murderous rampage. One of Crichton's earliest, playing ably on 70s' fears of computers and mind-control. --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com

Review:

"One of the great storytellers of our age. . . . The best Michael Crichton novels are . . . edifying reads, whose gripping plots contain real ideas."--Newsday

"Crichton combines his knowledge of science with great talent for creating suspense."--San Francisco Chronicle

"Crichton is a master at blending edge-of-the-chair adventure and a scientific seminar, educating his readers as he entertains them."--Chicago Sun-Times

"Crichton has so perfected the fusion thriller with science fiction that his novels define the genre."--Los Angeles Times

"Crichton is a master at explaining complex concepts in simple terms."--Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Vintage
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0804171297
• ISBN 13: 9780804171298
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272