Scientist Hal Cousins is close to discovering the key to immortality but someone has already found it and will kill him to keep it secret. Vitals is a tense technothriller in the best Michael Crichton tradition. A mile and a half below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, scientist Hal Cousins, frightened of the dark and no friend of God, is looking for the fountain of youth. The Nobel Prize doesn't interest him. Hal is in longevity research for the long haul, the really long haul. 'Angels' (rich businessmen keen to ... Read More
Scientist Hal Cousins is close to discovering the key to immortality but someone has already found it and will kill him to keep it secret. Vitals is a tense technothriller in the best Michael Crichton tradition. A mile and a half below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, scientist Hal Cousins, frightened of the dark and no friend of God, is looking for the fountain of youth. The Nobel Prize doesn't interest him. Hal is in longevity research for the long haul, the really long haul. 'Angels' (rich businessmen keen to live a thousand years) fund him. Hal finds what he is searching for: xenos, the single-celled tramps of the sea floor, each one as big as a clenched fist. But then the pilot of his sub goes berserk. Hal barely survives; the xenos don't. The pilot kills himself. Five other scientists in related fields die violently in the space of a week. Hal discovers a trail of death stretching back over decades, from Stalin's Russia to present-day Manhattan. Another epidemic of murder by superbly trained killers has been triggered by what Hal nearly discovered... From the bottom of Russia's Lake Baikal to a billionaire's bionic house built into the cliffs of the Californian seashore, from the darkest days of the reign of Joseph Stalin in Russia to the capitalist free-for-all of modern America, the edge of immortality is the most dangerous place to be. Read Less
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $4.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by HarperCollins.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $5.22, like new condition, Sold by Fantastic Literature Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rayleigh, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2003 by Harper.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $5.34, like new condition, Sold by Fantastic Literature Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rayleigh, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Harper Collins.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $6.58, very good condition, Sold by Jenhams rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dundee, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by HarperCollins.
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Very good in very good dust jacket. First Edition. A hardback First Edition in Very Good condition, some noticeable tanning to page margins, in a Very Good dustjacket. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own).
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $6.63, very good condition, Sold by Fantastic Literature Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rayleigh, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2003 by Harper Collins.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $6.65, good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by HarperCollins.
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Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $6.69, like new condition, Sold by Fantastic Literature Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rayleigh, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Harper Collins.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $6.71, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by HarperCollins.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of Vitals to cart. $9.39, like new condition, Sold by Fantastic Literature Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rayleigh, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Harper Collins.
There are precious few authors writing true science fiction these days--ie fiction with science in it, so I was excited to pick up a copy of Mr. Bear's Vitals. The thrilling opening and premise had me hooked. A biologist descends to the bottom of the ocean searching for the first cellular life on the planet in order to unlock the secrets of aging. Wow. The dive scene was gripping and I settled in for a page-turner. Unfortunately, the the story takes a 360 degree turn soon after and the scientist hero finds himself investigating a cold war/mind control plot instead of the secret to eternal youth.
The rest of the story isn't bad, but there are plenty of conspiracy theory/spy novels that are better. The main character is never fleshed out and never truly sympathetic and the action becomes a little uneven. Still, there a few intriguing ideas presented in Vitals and I would recommend it to someone interested in cellular biology for that reason.
