He leído ocho libros del doctor Robin Cook, el 75% han sido thrillers médicos de conspiraciones y experimentos que salieron al, del 25% restante, la mitad fue un libro de una conspiración por ocultar el tráfico de tesoros arqueloógicos en Egipto y la otra mitad fue un excelente libro de ciencia ficción con muchísimos cambios inesperados en la trama. Todos esos libros tienen un perfecto balance de suspenso, acción, erotismo, sorpresas y dilemas éticos.Por desgracia Godplayer (o "El Falso Dios", en mi edición), tiene tan solo una pizca de todo lo que mencioné, es cierto que no carece de dichos elementos, imprescindibles en toda obra de Cook, pero la trama resulta predecible, desde el principio es evidente quién será el villano y por consiguiente el culpable de las misteriosas muertes en el Boston Memorial.De las 254 páginas del libro, 200 transcurren sin pena ni gloria, son entretenidas pero obvias y de no ser por las últimas 50, el libro bien podría ser una novela mediocre de algún autor segundón.La única razón por la cual le otorgo dos estrellas en lugar de una, es por el dilema ético, que como en todos los libros anteriores, también está presente y me deja pensando: ¿Es mejor salvar el corazón de una persona que tiene todo a su favor para llevar una vida plena y duradera o salvar el de una persona con decenas de enfermedades que lo llevaran a una muerte segura aun si sobrevive a la operación cardiaca?A lo largo de la novela estuve deambulando entre ambas opciones, a veces me parecia mejor una que otra, aunque al final no me he podido decidir totalmente por un lado. Pobres medicos, que bueno que estudié ingeniería, ¡jajaja!
This book made me very very angry. Here's the thing: Someone is killing patients at Boston Memorial, and the reasons are confusing - but two people might be starting to figure out that something is going on. One, Cassi Kingsley, is a former pathology resident who has switched to psychiatry, and the other is her friend Robert, who is still in pathology. They've noticed a pattern in deaths that don't have proper explanations. Cassi's husband, Thomas, is a superstar of the cardiology ward, and a surgeon of top class - he wants her to stop, as if these deaths have a medical reason, it will bring down the hospital. Sounds neat, right? Well, it is. Except that the book was written in the 80s, and here's the 'getting mad' part. Thomas is annoyed that Cassi is associating with a 'known homosexual' like Robert. Other homosexuals in the book are likened to AIDS as a sort of causal result of their lifestyle (this from a doctor, *sigh*). Oh, and when Cassi starts to wonder about her husband's sanity, everyone tells her to calm down, stand by her man, etc. She also constantly thinks things like, "If my husband left me, my life would fall apart! What would I do?!" He's emotionally abusive, and she takes it as if it is her due. Sexism is rampant throughout the book, Cassi has all the resolve of a wet noodle, never trusts herself without her husband's opinion, won't schedule necessary eye surgery because her husband hasn't chatted it over with her yet, and dear criminy I'll stop now, before I blow a vein or something. Urk.
What do You think about Godplayer (2000)?
This was a fairly good book with a kind of blah ending. There was a lot of build up for a two page resolution. I did like the mystery and suspense. The dated nature of the subject matter was actually very interesting and amusing (hospitals and the behavior of people in general were a lot different in the 70s and 80s than they are now). Some of the plot twists didn't make sense or seemed obvious (I would say to myself "duh, didn't they realize that!?")So, not a disappointing read, but only 3 stars.
—Matthew
Did not like this book at all. It was very boring, the main characters were pathetic. There were too many loose ends that never got resolved. Characters came into the picture that didn't do anything of any significance. There was no action throughout the majority of the book. Everything happened in the last 100 pages or so. The only reason I finished it at all is because I can't quit reading a book right in the middle of one otherwise I would have cast it aside. Quite a disappointment coming from such a great author as Robin Cook.
—Elizabeth
I was a bit in two minds about Godplayer. I enjoyed reading it and the idea of the mad scientist behind it is of all ages, even though parts of the story seemed outdated. But what brought it down was the main character Cassi, who acted really dense, immature and stubborn in an annoying and unexplained way. I still find it a miracle that she managed to figure out what was happening, although it took her longer than me (and probably most other readers). Thankfully Robin Cook has improved his writing skills over the years.
—Helle
