by Gary Braver, published in 2000.I’m going to start right off by saying I really enjoyed this novel. At it’s heart is a huge “what if” question, one which is handled well by author Gary Braver.It is no surprise that our population is aging as the tidal wave of baby boomers heads into their fifties and sixties. And it is no surprise that the dream of prolonging one’s life is on the minds of many people, people getting ready to retire and would like to live as long as they could.How about forever?This novel is a bio-techno-thriller in the vein of Crichton, Sawyer or Clancy. The protagonist, Chris Bacon, is lead to a unique plant by a friend. It is a plant which grows in only one exotic location in the world and it has unbelievable properties.It can prolong your life as long as you imbibe it’s essence. You need never grow old, you need never die. Could this be a Godsend, or hell on earth?Armed with a shoot of this plant, Chris Bacon who happens to be working at a pharmaceutical company, begins to work on his own outside his companies knowledge on distilling and creating the essence of the plant. He succeeds and the “Elixir” he has produced will transform the world forever - if it gets out.You just know things will spiral out of control, and they do to your reading pleasure. Chris eventually goes on the run with his family after being framed. The pace of the novel is good, the scenes well written but the real meat of the story is how people react to the idea of being able to live forever and what others will do for that secret.It is quite a deep question and I’m sure one we have all thought about at one time or another. But, philosophers aside, how would our society react to such a thing?Gary Braver paints us a picture inside the corporate, criminal and political minds surrounding the issue of life everlasting.Who wants to live forever? Read this novel and find out.Fast paced and entertaining, I would give this novel a 3 our of 5.
In Gary Braver's Elixir, he took us on a journey to Papua New Guinea and back home to the USA. When biologist Chris Bacon headed to the forests of Papua New Guinea for medicinal plants, he had no idea on what he would find and take home from him. A rare flower that's rumored by a tribal shaman to prevent human aging. Hooked on his fountain-of-youth fantasies, he planned to tamper with the plant to make an elixir. Unknowingly as he messed around with nature, it leashed dangerous forces to threaten his family and exposed the world to its unleashed and perilous consequences.
What do You think about Elixir (2001)?
4.5 Stars. I really liked it (4 stars) but only bordered on being amazing (5 stars). Braver does an excellent job of character and plot development which results in a book that is a page turner that can threaten your sleep cycle. A few times I thought to myself that it was a lot like John Grisham’s hang on to your hat book, The Firm.I’ve read some of the reviews that moan about the unbelievable parts and the incorrect science (technically). To those folks I’ll not assault them with the scientific facts that Scotty can’t really beam up Captain Kirk either. Point being it’s a story about some interesting characters in some interesting fictional situations that are extraordinary enough to be on the thrilling side of reading for pleasure.Mild spoiler alert, stop here.Elixir is a longevity drug with some fatal withdrawal side effects. In this book Mr. Braver examines many of the situations that would very likely develop were such a thing ever actually concocted. The book is fun to read if only to share some time with the interesting characters and their reactions to the idea of immortality.
—Norm Davis
A good fiction writer makes his writing invisible - that is, the story draws you in and you're oblivious to the writing (e.g., Dan Brown).A great fiction writer constantly amazes you by using words in delightfully unexpected ways (e.g., Oscar Wilde).An unmatured ficton writer writes in a way that constantly draws attention to the writing in less flattering ways. Unfortunately Elixir represents the latter. As I was reading this I constantly found myself thinking - "that could have been said better," "that didn't quite work," or "he missed an opportunity there." I made it through chapter 3 and found myself becoming more focused on the writing than the story so I abandoned it. He may have had the elements of a good story - given some of the other reviews - but he needs to work on the writing - especially dialogue.
—Don
