Mount Dragon

By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Guy Carson is a brilliant scientist at GeneDyne, one of the world's foremost biochemical companies. When he is transferred to Mount Dragon, GeneDyne's high-security genetic engineering lab, his good fortune seems too good to be true.

Carson soon finds that it is. He learns that GeneDyne geneticists are tinkering with a common virus with an eye on the enormous profit to be had from a cure for the flu. Their cure involves permanently altering DNA in humans, and Carson's job is to stabilize the virus. But Carson starts to wonder if this is justifiable, even for the most noble medical cause. Altering genes is a risky job, and the possibility of creating another killer virus is very real. What's more, Mount Dragon harbors another secret that puts the world at horrifying risk.

©2008 Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (P)2008 B00FO6WK0S

Outstanding Tale!

This was such an immersive story! I could not stop listening. All of the elements of the story were so engrossing that I didn't mind flitting from scene to scene. One of my favorite Lincoln-Child creations!

Good Stuff

While this is only the second Preston/Child novel I have listened to, it is quite good. Following the harrowing action of Guy Carson trying to make "X-Flu" safe while people around him die or become deranged, Preston and Child always seem to get the details right enough to make you understand why this is a desperate time. If for no other reason than to argue bio-ethics in a fictional setting, this is a wise choice for the average audio-book listener. My only drawback is that it is 15 hours long and you are wondering who will be left at the end of 15 hours from this dread virus.
A+ for effort and B for the voices used, but hey, we can't get perfection every time!

Solid

While the overall plot is predictable, there are a few twists that keep it interesting. Overall an enjoyable few hours.

A must read on so many levels!

I rarely write reviews. I listen to too many books to do so.

I am a biochemist by training and enterpreur in the medical/biotechnology arena. Because of my background(s), I found this book an incredible distillation of so many topics. The authors present a technologically accurate description of the biotechnology and medical implications of a host of topics.

In addition, the writing, poetry, quotes, and other "liberal arts" kinds of things is fantastic.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in biotechnology and some of the capital "market drivers" described.

Naturally, there is a "love story" involved, a villain, and several important "supporting cast members".

As I was listening to the book, I couldn't help but think this would be an excellent text for Seniors in high schools. That is not a demeaning statement, rather it is a statement of how readable and informative the book is.

Kudos to both authors, and to David Coacci for the outstanding text and performance.

Interesting listen after the swine flu epidemic

It was scary to listen to this book after the swine flu and the bird flu epidemic. It felt like reading a prophecy. Fortunately these epidemics didn't kill most of the Earth's population as Mount Dragon predicted it could happen.

The story has several layers. One of them is the question: should scientists tinker with the human genome, alter our genes and change the core of our humanity for good. There are arguments pro and con, everyone should answer it for himself/herself. But the question is worth to talk about.

Another layer is the human desire for money and power. I also would add the human desire to do good. It was satisfying to see that the top guy admitted his mistake at the end and went down with dignity.

Another layer is that it's an action book with suspense and chase and fight. I liked that the main character is not an exaggerated super hero but a regular capable guy. OK, not so regular that you can find one at every corner, because he has a PhD and he's smart, but he has the temper and flaws that anyone of us has. By the way, the characterisation is quite good. I liked that the bad guy wasn't ultimate villain, but the authors showed the shades of his personality together with his good intentions.

The book proves that the authors did their housework in research. The places described vividly, the science is awesome and there are so many nice details about smaller things (for example about the banjo, or the horses). However they are not overdone, they fit very well into the story and they make it more believable.

The narration was well done except that doing female voices is not David Colacci's strength.

This my first book from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, but I will read / listen to more from them for sure.

loved the book

great story, keep up the good work. I'll be reading them eagerly. you each time manage to excite my imagination

Great book !!

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have never written a bad book !! together or separate. Read them all !! you won't be disappointed! !

ffun read, story keep me coming back, and what an

fun read, story keep me coming back, fun and technical,and what an ending!! great little read

Mount Dragon

An excellent book! Really gripping story, with an unexpected twist at the end. A must for your library.

Excellent story about modern day threats

Well researched information about dealing with level 4 and 5 pathogens and the danger of genetic manipulation. It covers the sophomoric, power madness and greed of a Gates-like character too rich and too immature to be trusted and the havoc they can cause. Well developed, believable characters and the dilemmas of genetic research today.