Mutation of Thoughts. Review on Mutation - Robin Cook

This sci-fi thriller, a medical thriller to be precise from Robin Cook (the master of medical thrillers) is one of his scariest.

Not much because of the gene mutation Dr. Victor Frank (reminding us of 'Dr. Frankenstein'? or my imagination playing games?) induces into his test-tube born son VJ. But for the mutation of human thought process which happens as this novel unfolds....

Have you ever been witness to the 'ripple effect' which happens when you throw that ONE unthoughtful comment into a review that ''incensed'' you? The same with Dr. Frank, a curiosity of understanding & enhancing 'human intellect' ( whether it is moral/immoral merits a debate) forces him to experiment with his own son. A born genius with an IQ level equal to Einsteins & Newtons added together.

Now VJ is a 'born prodigy' something he didn't wish for, he suddenly finds himself in a world of 'muggles'. There is no one he could relate to, neither his elder brother nor his nanny (except for his father whom he admires till the end). It is like a baboon growing up amongst Chimpanzees.

It brings about 2 changes in him. One he pretends to be dumb/stupid to protect himself from becoming a 'show piece'. Two, a contempt for the world (a.k.a Fascism) he cannot relate to. The only world that he could live peacefully is a world dominated by a few super-intelligent men & lots of 'stupid' slaves to serve them (like his own servant who helps him set his own secret private lab). A Hitler in the making...

He eliminates ruthlessly both his Nanny & his brother who come in the way of his noble (perceived) endeavor. Devices a way of growing ''cocaine'' without any need for plants & gets material support from the Mafia. Next comes the ''experiment'' to develop ''stupid slaves'' for which he uses the remaining embryos left in the test tube by his parents. He is also merciless in eliminating any perceived competitor.

Repeated deaths of anything standing in VJs way makes his father suspicious of his 'creation', ''suspicion'' leads to ''disbelief'', disbelief leads to ''acceptance'' ( leading to the revelation of the 'Grand Plan'). Dr. Frank finds his ''redemption'' in choosing the same fate as his experiment.

But as we are soon going to find 'Individuals Die. But not the Ideas'... Read the Book ...

PS : Why does VJs mother though being a psychiatrist doesn't recognize this 'trait' in her own son? May be she didn't look at it from that 'angle'? or too scared (of what might come out) to ''comment''?

Vivek