What do you think?
Rate this book
Transfection
Molecular biologist Dr. Carl Peters is under pressure on two his research grants are disappearing and his marriage is falling apart. But when medical researchers discover that genetically modified animal feed has tainted the food chain, he finally gets the funding he always dreamed of.
Dr. Peters discovers the reason behind the cancer link with GM food, but it's so crazy, he barely believes it himself.
Transfection is a 5,700 word, 23-page old-school science fiction story, starring a molecular biologist who makes a discovery that shocks the world, only to find his life under threat. It takes in militant vegans, corruption, homelessness, university politics, radiation, the celebrity-obsessed media, and a shadowy conspiracy.
Transfection is a digital original.
Praise for If You Go Into The
"There are definite shades of HP Lovecraft in both stories...punchy, entertaining reads with a bit of mental gymnastics thrown in, you can't go wrong with this one." -- Jenny Mounfield, The Compulsive Reader , author of The Ice-cream Man .
"Two very well-constructed and thought-provoking tales from an author I know I will be keeping my eyes on. 4.5 stars." --Heather L. Faville, Doubleshot Reviews
"This is the most professional design - both inside and out - that I have seen since I started reviewing at SIFT. The writing in this story is top-notch. The writer has a strong, clean voice. He's able to sustain an air of mystery and suspense without it feeling cheap." -- Sarah Nicolas, SIFT Book Reviews
"I heartily recommend this masterful piece of work to any and all that thoroughly enjoy the art of the word, and especially to those that have a special place in their hearts for short stories, as I believe this to be a fabulous exponent of the genre." -- LE Olteano, Butterfly Books
Dr. Peters discovers the reason behind the cancer link with GM food, but it's so crazy, he barely believes it himself.
Transfection is a 5,700 word, 23-page old-school science fiction story, starring a molecular biologist who makes a discovery that shocks the world, only to find his life under threat. It takes in militant vegans, corruption, homelessness, university politics, radiation, the celebrity-obsessed media, and a shadowy conspiracy.
Transfection is a digital original.
Praise for If You Go Into The
"There are definite shades of HP Lovecraft in both stories...punchy, entertaining reads with a bit of mental gymnastics thrown in, you can't go wrong with this one." -- Jenny Mounfield, The Compulsive Reader , author of The Ice-cream Man .
"Two very well-constructed and thought-provoking tales from an author I know I will be keeping my eyes on. 4.5 stars." --Heather L. Faville, Doubleshot Reviews
"This is the most professional design - both inside and out - that I have seen since I started reviewing at SIFT. The writing in this story is top-notch. The writer has a strong, clean voice. He's able to sustain an air of mystery and suspense without it feeling cheap." -- Sarah Nicolas, SIFT Book Reviews
"I heartily recommend this masterful piece of work to any and all that thoroughly enjoy the art of the word, and especially to those that have a special place in their hearts for short stories, as I believe this to be a fabulous exponent of the genre." -- LE Olteano, Butterfly Books
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2011
About the author
David Gaughran
11 books283 followersDavid Gaughran was born in Ireland but now lives in a quaint little fishing village in Portugal, although this hasn't increased the amount of time he spends outside the house. He writes historical fiction and science fiction under another name, has helped thousands of authors publish their work through his workshops, blog, and writers' books - Let's Get Digital, Strangers to Superfans, BookBub Ads Expert, and Amazon Decoded - and has also created giant marketing campaigns for some of the biggest self-publishers on the planet. Visit DavidGaughran.com to get yourself a free book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 5, 2019
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Although I would term this story a thriller more than a science fiction I have to say it was good and very suspenseful. The story was short but I felt the author was successful in building up the small events to eventually reveal the final bigger one. The story is about Dr. Peters who makes a big discovery while researching genetically modified food and how that discovery affects the industry and people.
I would say this would make a fun short read for anybody who wants something suspenseful but short at the same time.
Although I would term this story a thriller more than a science fiction I have to say it was good and very suspenseful. The story was short but I felt the author was successful in building up the small events to eventually reveal the final bigger one. The story is about Dr. Peters who makes a big discovery while researching genetically modified food and how that discovery affects the industry and people.
I would say this would make a fun short read for anybody who wants something suspenseful but short at the same time.
October 6, 2011
This is a
Reading Good Books
review.
I love a good medical thriller. I challenge myself in understanding all the technical jargon and keeping up with the pace and different plots of the story. Short story thrillers are a little tricky. Usually, thrillers take their time establishing the mystery and building up to the big reveal. This book only had 5,000+ words to set it up and execute.
The blurb seemed very promising. It doesn’t really give away much, if anything. But it read like a teaser or a pitch rather than a stand-alone story. The premise had so much to work on and a short story format was not enough for that. A lot was left unexplained, including the “reason behind the cancer link with GM food”. So yeah, I ended the book scratching my head and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
The writing was excellent and polished. I was impressed by that and frankly, that’s the reason why I kept reading. For its length, the character development was done well even with the time jumps. But because plot development was severely lacking, I didn’t care much for the story itself. It could’ve worked as a full book or anything longer than a short story.
Rating: 3/5.
Recommendation: It’s 5,500 words, it shouldn’t take you too long to read. I read it during my down time at work and still got stuff done.
I love a good medical thriller. I challenge myself in understanding all the technical jargon and keeping up with the pace and different plots of the story. Short story thrillers are a little tricky. Usually, thrillers take their time establishing the mystery and building up to the big reveal. This book only had 5,000+ words to set it up and execute.
The blurb seemed very promising. It doesn’t really give away much, if anything. But it read like a teaser or a pitch rather than a stand-alone story. The premise had so much to work on and a short story format was not enough for that. A lot was left unexplained, including the “reason behind the cancer link with GM food”. So yeah, I ended the book scratching my head and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
The writing was excellent and polished. I was impressed by that and frankly, that’s the reason why I kept reading. For its length, the character development was done well even with the time jumps. But because plot development was severely lacking, I didn’t care much for the story itself. It could’ve worked as a full book or anything longer than a short story.
Rating: 3/5.
Recommendation: It’s 5,500 words, it shouldn’t take you too long to read. I read it during my down time at work and still got stuff done.
June 5, 2011
As regular readers might have noticed I'm a bit of a short story fan, and I've read a few scientific based books in the past that I've really enjoyed so Transfection looked like a good bet for me. It is a short story, around 23 pages of real life book, so took me very little time to read.
Dr Carl Peters is a biologist who has sacrificed a lot to his research and has been struggling with funding. When there is a suggestion that GM food is linked to cancer suddenly the money comes rolling in and he is on the up. However when he discovers the reason for it he's labelled crazy and is soon on a downward slope again.
This story touches on some interesting topics, and I would have happily read more should the author have chosen to expand on the themes. However for the length I was impressed that I felt sympathy for the Dr and everything he goes through in the course of the book, the character was obviously developed economically but well. I went through a range of emotions as I read, as the book ran the gamut from amusing to sinister. While the story is only short the author has obviously spent a lot of time in creating a polished product.
This was a really good quick , well written and I'm pleased to have more by the author on my kindle, to be read and reviewed at a later date.
Dr Carl Peters is a biologist who has sacrificed a lot to his research and has been struggling with funding. When there is a suggestion that GM food is linked to cancer suddenly the money comes rolling in and he is on the up. However when he discovers the reason for it he's labelled crazy and is soon on a downward slope again.
This story touches on some interesting topics, and I would have happily read more should the author have chosen to expand on the themes. However for the length I was impressed that I felt sympathy for the Dr and everything he goes through in the course of the book, the character was obviously developed economically but well. I went through a range of emotions as I read, as the book ran the gamut from amusing to sinister. While the story is only short the author has obviously spent a lot of time in creating a polished product.
This was a really good quick , well written and I'm pleased to have more by the author on my kindle, to be read and reviewed at a later date.
July 11, 2011
I've always liked short stories, especially those with a bit of science fiction and a touch of Twilight Zone threwn in. While the story by David Gaughran fits right in with my own taste and the premise as such is really great, focusing on a scenario of genetically mutated food and "life signs" of plants (pretty creepy seeing how I'm a vegetarian), the writing itself just didn't manage to convince me. The narrative felt rushed and suspense didn't have a chance to build up the way it should within a short story.
Of course it's not easy and certainly not fair to judge an author by just one single short story, especially when the idea he brought to paper is a good one. To me it seems that it would have worked better as a novella as that would have made it possible to get a better feeling for the characters and also improved the flow of the story.
In short: A fascinating short story, but a rather weak implementation!
Of course it's not easy and certainly not fair to judge an author by just one single short story, especially when the idea he brought to paper is a good one. To me it seems that it would have worked better as a novella as that would have made it possible to get a better feeling for the characters and also improved the flow of the story.
In short: A fascinating short story, but a rather weak implementation!
January 28, 2014
Short stories seem easy to write, since they are short. Not so. Sometimes I find it’s easier to write a novel instead of a short story since you have more time to flesh it out. On too many occasions, authors don’t get it right. The plot can feel unfinished, characters might be flat, description severely lacking, or it could be all of these or a combination.
Transfection shows writers how it can be done. Mr. Gaughran show his skill and understanding of how to write not just short stories, but how to write in general. I read his story in one sitting and considering its only 27 pages that isn’t all that impressive on my part. What was impressive was how quickly the author pulled me into the story and held my attention to the last word. I felt the suspense and got to know the main character.
My one regret was that the ending seemed rushed. However, I have a feeling this was done intentionally by the author. Sometimes in life, things just end too quickly.
Transfection shows writers how it can be done. Mr. Gaughran show his skill and understanding of how to write not just short stories, but how to write in general. I read his story in one sitting and considering its only 27 pages that isn’t all that impressive on my part. What was impressive was how quickly the author pulled me into the story and held my attention to the last word. I felt the suspense and got to know the main character.
My one regret was that the ending seemed rushed. However, I have a feeling this was done intentionally by the author. Sometimes in life, things just end too quickly.
July 7, 2011
I don't quite know how to feel about this piece. For a short, it's good. But it felt like there was far too much telling and not enough showing. I know that with scientific stuff it's kind of hard to show instead of tell, but I felt like there wasn't enough effort put into the showing and instead was excited with telling instead.
Had this been a proposal for a longer novel, I think I could have stood with the amount of tell over show. Hell, I'd absolutely love to see a full-length novel with these characters and this concept. It's a solid read, but it could have used a little more visualization and a little less text to it.
Still, give it a read and see what you think. I like it as a short, but I think I would have liked it more as a longer novel/novella.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, and shelfari)
Had this been a proposal for a longer novel, I think I could have stood with the amount of tell over show. Hell, I'd absolutely love to see a full-length novel with these characters and this concept. It's a solid read, but it could have used a little more visualization and a little less text to it.
Still, give it a read and see what you think. I like it as a short, but I think I would have liked it more as a longer novel/novella.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, and shelfari)
July 15, 2011
A fantastically written story that takes you to a place you don't know where you are going. Dr. Peters, the main character, is researching genetically engineered food and he makes quite a discovery.
September 9, 2018
Ok
It was an ok short story. It was hard to tell if Jim was crazy or not. Maybe that was the point.
It was an ok short story. It was hard to tell if Jim was crazy or not. Maybe that was the point.
February 3, 2023
KSKS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2011
And here I am, again talking about David Gaughran‘s artful wording again. It feels like only yesterday I was talking about his amazing work, If you go into the woods. Wait, it actually was yesterday Well as you can clearly see, when I say I love someone’s work, I mean it; I was yearning for an encore. And here it is.
Transfection is a different ballgame altogether. The topic, for one thing, falls in a completely different area. We’re talking of a thrilling sci-fi work here, as opposed to rich fantasy, again delivered in the short and sweet form that Gaughran seems to so skillfully master.
Obviously, as the great writer I believe him to be, David Gaughran demonstrates the acute ability to shift between styles with such grace and eloquence, that you’ll be left wondering what it is that he can’t do, really. I know what reading this work of his left me with, and that is the clear desire to read more by him.
The characters are well built, the author again demonstrating the keen ability to condense in few words great impressions. His quirky and quite charming character, Dr. Carl Peters feels like an old acquaintance, a dear old friend even, after the first 2 pages of the story. His life is bound to stir some strong emotion within you, I know it did for me. As the read went on, I found myself focused entirely on the writing, and guessing what would be next very little to not at all – that is one of my most annoying habits when reading, watching movies, plays, and so on, my mind’s always rushing with possibilities of what would be coming next; a lot of the time, I guess the plot lines before they’re presented to me, leaving me with a somewhat disappointing flavor for the story itself, though I am aware this is my own fault.
Well, for this story, there was none of that. And although I did get a somber feeling there would be something big happening next, mostly because of the fresh memory of Gaughran’s strong twists from yesterday’s read, I totally did not expect that ending. I really didn’t see it coming, although evil corporations and big-league business always seem to go hand in hand with dramatic happenings (just in books, movies, and so forth, in reality you don’t really get to know about them surely…of course, I mean they probably don’t exist! *stares around nervously*).
Yet again, the author uses some very strong images in his great work. The notions he plays with do have a haunting quality to them, just like the case was with If you go into the woods, though here I’d say they are less poignant, for me at least. It seems I am unable to stop comparing the two, and it is somewhat unfair of me, since they have different writing styles, subjects and everything.
And the unfairness goes on still: I’m giving this beautiful read a full-hearted 4 butterflies rating. It’s a piece of beauty, well written, well thought, well put together. However, had I not read If you go into the woods so recently, I might have been persuaded to actually give this lovely work a 5 butterflies rating, for many reasons. But right now, with yesterday’s beauty still lulling in my soul, I wouldn’t be able to.
The cover though, the cover is absolute full-on 5 butterflies material, just like the cover for If you go into the woods, Kate Gaughran, you’re an amazing artist!
All in all, I recommend this to people who do enjoy a well written sci-fi, and surely to those who enjoy short stories. But what I’d wholeheartedly recommend is, after you read this beautiful piece of writing, you go and read If you go into the woods too; David Gaughran’s writing is so good, you’ll be left craving for more.
Transfection is a different ballgame altogether. The topic, for one thing, falls in a completely different area. We’re talking of a thrilling sci-fi work here, as opposed to rich fantasy, again delivered in the short and sweet form that Gaughran seems to so skillfully master.
Obviously, as the great writer I believe him to be, David Gaughran demonstrates the acute ability to shift between styles with such grace and eloquence, that you’ll be left wondering what it is that he can’t do, really. I know what reading this work of his left me with, and that is the clear desire to read more by him.
The characters are well built, the author again demonstrating the keen ability to condense in few words great impressions. His quirky and quite charming character, Dr. Carl Peters feels like an old acquaintance, a dear old friend even, after the first 2 pages of the story. His life is bound to stir some strong emotion within you, I know it did for me. As the read went on, I found myself focused entirely on the writing, and guessing what would be next very little to not at all – that is one of my most annoying habits when reading, watching movies, plays, and so on, my mind’s always rushing with possibilities of what would be coming next; a lot of the time, I guess the plot lines before they’re presented to me, leaving me with a somewhat disappointing flavor for the story itself, though I am aware this is my own fault.
Well, for this story, there was none of that. And although I did get a somber feeling there would be something big happening next, mostly because of the fresh memory of Gaughran’s strong twists from yesterday’s read, I totally did not expect that ending. I really didn’t see it coming, although evil corporations and big-league business always seem to go hand in hand with dramatic happenings (just in books, movies, and so forth, in reality you don’t really get to know about them surely…of course, I mean they probably don’t exist! *stares around nervously*).
Yet again, the author uses some very strong images in his great work. The notions he plays with do have a haunting quality to them, just like the case was with If you go into the woods, though here I’d say they are less poignant, for me at least. It seems I am unable to stop comparing the two, and it is somewhat unfair of me, since they have different writing styles, subjects and everything.
And the unfairness goes on still: I’m giving this beautiful read a full-hearted 4 butterflies rating. It’s a piece of beauty, well written, well thought, well put together. However, had I not read If you go into the woods so recently, I might have been persuaded to actually give this lovely work a 5 butterflies rating, for many reasons. But right now, with yesterday’s beauty still lulling in my soul, I wouldn’t be able to.
The cover though, the cover is absolute full-on 5 butterflies material, just like the cover for If you go into the woods, Kate Gaughran, you’re an amazing artist!
All in all, I recommend this to people who do enjoy a well written sci-fi, and surely to those who enjoy short stories. But what I’d wholeheartedly recommend is, after you read this beautiful piece of writing, you go and read If you go into the woods too; David Gaughran’s writing is so good, you’ll be left craving for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2020
Scientific advancements generally aim to help improve people's lives, but there may be times that it's detrimental to those making those advancements, as in Transfection by David Gaughran.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Dr. Carl Peters is a molecular biologist under quite a bit of stress with his research grants disappearing and his marriage falling apart. The rise in genetically modified food sources has led to concerns about the results appearing in the food chain, leading to funding that helps Dr. Peters research the link between cancer and the genetically modified food. But what he discovers is so incredibly unbelievable that his life takes a wild turn as people don't believe what he's uncovered through his research.
This brief story delves into a world where plants are studied and genetically modified to provide a more reliable food supply, but what science has found is startling, both in what the research reveals as well as what corporations are willing to do to conceal the truth from people. Short and suspenseful, the story moves quickly through the series of presented events, serving as more of a teaser snippet than a self-contained and realized narrative; the lack of information seems to be where the suspense derives from rather than a more fully fleshed out scenario. The plot and world were underdeveloped, raising more questions than it answered, but the characterization of Dr. Peters was well described and decently developed within this condensed space though it'd be rather interesting to see this premise expanded to a full-length novel.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Dr. Carl Peters is a molecular biologist under quite a bit of stress with his research grants disappearing and his marriage falling apart. The rise in genetically modified food sources has led to concerns about the results appearing in the food chain, leading to funding that helps Dr. Peters research the link between cancer and the genetically modified food. But what he discovers is so incredibly unbelievable that his life takes a wild turn as people don't believe what he's uncovered through his research.
This brief story delves into a world where plants are studied and genetically modified to provide a more reliable food supply, but what science has found is startling, both in what the research reveals as well as what corporations are willing to do to conceal the truth from people. Short and suspenseful, the story moves quickly through the series of presented events, serving as more of a teaser snippet than a self-contained and realized narrative; the lack of information seems to be where the suspense derives from rather than a more fully fleshed out scenario. The plot and world were underdeveloped, raising more questions than it answered, but the characterization of Dr. Peters was well described and decently developed within this condensed space though it'd be rather interesting to see this premise expanded to a full-length novel.
December 9, 2014
Transfection for me was a let down ��� the cover was perfect, the blurb intriguing and concept exciting but the execution ��� just didn't live up to the promise. Transfection is a short story of only 5,700 words, I have nothing against short stories but hold them to the same standards as a full novel, and that was where Transfection failed for me. The whole book reads like a proposal for a novel, it is very descriptive, as if you are being told the story rather than reading it. In addition the story seems to jump in time at several points with little signposting which made the book feel disjointed and even more of a ���proposal���. The characterisation was good, especially considering the length of the book, although at times Dr Peters��� character undergoes quite dramatic shifts that are not fully explained or explored, although perhaps this is due to the length of the book.
Overall, the premise was excellent and had the promise to be an excellent example of the medical thriller genre and I hope Gaughran continues to come up with such interesting plots. However, the execution was sub-standard, and the book felt more like reading a proposal for a new novel, rather than a stand-alone story it���s self. There was too much ���tell��� on the part of the author and at times the story jumps around which disrupts the flow although it does mean that the story is pacey. This story could have easily been much longer, and it was ambitious for Gaughran to attempt to fit such a full plot into such a small number of pages.
Overall, the premise was excellent and had the promise to be an excellent example of the medical thriller genre and I hope Gaughran continues to come up with such interesting plots. However, the execution was sub-standard, and the book felt more like reading a proposal for a new novel, rather than a stand-alone story it���s self. There was too much ���tell��� on the part of the author and at times the story jumps around which disrupts the flow although it does mean that the story is pacey. This story could have easily been much longer, and it was ambitious for Gaughran to attempt to fit such a full plot into such a small number of pages.
June 21, 2011
Dr Carl Peters is a molecular biologist so wrapped up in his work that he didn't even hear his wife's car back out of the garage when she left him. His research grants have been disappearing that is until medical researchers discover that genetically modified (GM) animal feed has tainted the food chain and now Dr Peters has all the funding he ever wanted. His research concludes what the reason is behind the GM food cancer link, but it is so insane that the Carl barely believes it himself.
I truly enjoy David Gaughran's writing style and was, again, pleasantly pleased by his work with Transfection. Coming in at just 5,500 words, this is a tale that grips you and keeps you wanting more. Even with it's short length I felt sympathy for the Dr and the predicament he had gotten himself into. Other emotions were involved in the reading of this story....I became angered at the treatment of Carl and, at times, I even laughed out loud at some of the antics as I was reading. Transfection is well worth the $0.99 pricetag.
Transfection is yet another well written and, dare I say again, thought provoking, tale from David Gaughran.
I truly enjoy David Gaughran's writing style and was, again, pleasantly pleased by his work with Transfection. Coming in at just 5,500 words, this is a tale that grips you and keeps you wanting more. Even with it's short length I felt sympathy for the Dr and the predicament he had gotten himself into. Other emotions were involved in the reading of this story....I became angered at the treatment of Carl and, at times, I even laughed out loud at some of the antics as I was reading. Transfection is well worth the $0.99 pricetag.
Transfection is yet another well written and, dare I say again, thought provoking, tale from David Gaughran.
July 4, 2011
I usually avoid short stories because I find they tend to leave out too much, the characters are flat, and there just isn't enough time for the willing suspension of disbelief to kick in. Not so Transfection - a sweet little piece of science fiction (or, at least, I want to believe it's fiction).
Author, David Gaughran, has a real gift for telling big stories in small spaces. This tale involves the danger of genetically modified foods, the willingness of some corporations to trade public safety for quick profits (you know, the old 'acceptable risk' gambit), and the equal willingness of some scientists to bend or even outright fake research results to match the corporate line. And, while, Gaughran builds a real sense of suspense and paranoia (um, is it paranoia if it's true?), he introduces us to his protagonist, Dr Carl Peters, warts and all, and, what's more, he makes us care for him. And he does all this in 18 short pages - not a mean feat by any stretch of the imagination.
This is the first book I have read by this author and all I can say is, I want more!
Author, David Gaughran, has a real gift for telling big stories in small spaces. This tale involves the danger of genetically modified foods, the willingness of some corporations to trade public safety for quick profits (you know, the old 'acceptable risk' gambit), and the equal willingness of some scientists to bend or even outright fake research results to match the corporate line. And, while, Gaughran builds a real sense of suspense and paranoia (um, is it paranoia if it's true?), he introduces us to his protagonist, Dr Carl Peters, warts and all, and, what's more, he makes us care for him. And he does all this in 18 short pages - not a mean feat by any stretch of the imagination.
This is the first book I have read by this author and all I can say is, I want more!
July 28, 2011
I received a copy of this story through the Librarything giveaway program.
I love these kind of stories, that are almost science fiction without being completely. It was a really quick read, but fun. Do not be frightened by the premise, there are no complicated scientific terms to muddy up the waters.
It was a bit of a rollercoaster, as we follow a scientist from a discovery of huge proportions to being fired to being rehired. We start to question our beliefs as well as the characters’, which gives the reader the feeling of not being able to trust the narrator. For me, that always makes for a great story. There were even some comedic moments to lighten up the mood.
There are a few unanswered questions, which might for some readers not be wholly satisfying, but it is a well written, balanced and captivating short story.
Well worth buying, in my opinion.
I love these kind of stories, that are almost science fiction without being completely. It was a really quick read, but fun. Do not be frightened by the premise, there are no complicated scientific terms to muddy up the waters.
It was a bit of a rollercoaster, as we follow a scientist from a discovery of huge proportions to being fired to being rehired. We start to question our beliefs as well as the characters’, which gives the reader the feeling of not being able to trust the narrator. For me, that always makes for a great story. There were even some comedic moments to lighten up the mood.
There are a few unanswered questions, which might for some readers not be wholly satisfying, but it is a well written, balanced and captivating short story.
Well worth buying, in my opinion.
March 2, 2013
Review originally featured on Bookluvrs Haven
Another short story I downloaded from Amazon on a free promotion. I didn't particularly care for it, but didn't totally dislike it either.
I did not relate to the main character nor completely cared for the plot of this story as it developed, though I did find the blurb interesting, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to download it in the first place. It just didn't deliver fully to my expectations of what I hoped this story would be.
There was a lack of suspense building as this story evolved, when the plot should have been filled with it. It was an interesting idea. There were interesting characters. But the execution of both aspects was quite 'Meh'. The ending of this story was also a big let down for me. Not sorry that I read it, but I am glad that I did get it for free.
Another short story I downloaded from Amazon on a free promotion. I didn't particularly care for it, but didn't totally dislike it either.
I did not relate to the main character nor completely cared for the plot of this story as it developed, though I did find the blurb interesting, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to download it in the first place. It just didn't deliver fully to my expectations of what I hoped this story would be.
There was a lack of suspense building as this story evolved, when the plot should have been filled with it. It was an interesting idea. There were interesting characters. But the execution of both aspects was quite 'Meh'. The ending of this story was also a big let down for me. Not sorry that I read it, but I am glad that I did get it for free.
August 26, 2011
Dr. Carl Peters worked at a university in a lab and was eccentric. His only friend was assistant Jim Glover. Carl spent more time in the lab than he did at home. He worked with genetic modification food.
It tells how much he obssessed with work and science till he lost everything and he knows part of it was his fault for the choices he made.
It shows him spireling down and up. That you need to work on more than one aspeck at a time.
Also shows greed and how science studies can be made into less than truethful ways.
The story was a little hard with the science for me to follow but it was good. Just not a story I would pick up and read again.
I was given the short story in exchange for honest review.
It tells how much he obssessed with work and science till he lost everything and he knows part of it was his fault for the choices he made.
It shows him spireling down and up. That you need to work on more than one aspeck at a time.
Also shows greed and how science studies can be made into less than truethful ways.
The story was a little hard with the science for me to follow but it was good. Just not a story I would pick up and read again.
I was given the short story in exchange for honest review.
August 15, 2011
The story's basis is well researched, which is a big plus. Sure, there are theories and such thrown out there, but this is a work of fiction. For me, when a writer has obviously put a lot of work into not just his style, but knowing what he's writing about, I have a good deal of respect for him. It takes a good writer to write a good tale of course, but it also takes a lot to do the hard work involved in building that story.
See the in-depth review at Sift: http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/08/tr...
Review by: Shannon of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
See the in-depth review at Sift: http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/08/tr...
Review by: Shannon of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
September 29, 2014
A very interesting sci-fi read that, in my opinion, forces the readers to take a look inside themselves to decide how they would behave/react in a similar scenario. The battles that the MC goes through is quite heartbreaking, right up to the end of the book when he is trying to shout from the rooftops the "truth" that no one wants to hear.
I think my favorite part of this story though (it totally made me laugh) was how the Vegetarians were having to try and figure out what they could actually eat that wouldn't make them look like hypocrites.
Great story, I will be reading more by this author.
I think my favorite part of this story though (it totally made me laugh) was how the Vegetarians were having to try and figure out what they could actually eat that wouldn't make them look like hypocrites.
Great story, I will be reading more by this author.
August 8, 2011
I liked this short story..not as much as 'If You Go Into The Woods'..but the story is totally different also. It was a lot of information and detail for a short story, felt like it ended to soon. Although that is part of what draws me to Davids other stories... It did jump around a little bit too much for me. Felt like it really wanted to go longer and I think it would have been great if it had, even just a little bit to get back some of the excitment it lost somewhere. I did like the ending!! All in all it's a good book!
June 21, 2011
This was a well written story, and an interesting idea. It's a well polished and enjoyable read, for what it's offering. I would have liked a bit more character development from Dr. Peters and a bit more on Jim too, as that would really have grabbed me, but as it was I felt unsatisfied at the end of it.
For me it's too short and too linear to get a 4 or 5 star rating, but make no mistake: this is a well written short story and worth a read.
For me it's too short and too linear to get a 4 or 5 star rating, but make no mistake: this is a well written short story and worth a read.
October 23, 2012
I just can't believe the story ended like that,like seriously?I mean after all that effort to bring out that everything was wrong with their research,the one person who would help actually just rips the CD,and everything is for nothing.I was disappointed but I loved the plot.Being a scientist.I was able to understand everything he was talking about.Good read,I would read his other novels or books.
May 6, 2013
I felt completely betrayed by this. This isn't even a short story. It's a prelude to a novel - a novel that it appears the author has no intention of writing.
It's one thing to write a story and leave the reader wondering what happens next, but in this case we get a story without any kind of conclusion, and a sense that even the author doesn't care what happens next.
It's a good thing it was only a waste of 15 minutes.
It's one thing to write a story and leave the reader wondering what happens next, but in this case we get a story without any kind of conclusion, and a sense that even the author doesn't care what happens next.
It's a good thing it was only a waste of 15 minutes.
May 19, 2016
Doctor Peters is a very interesting character with insights into plant life that exceed his intellect and puts his life at risk. Life becomes difficult when his research is highjacked. There are some inconsistencies with timing of events and little attention to secondary characters often found in a short story. Gaughran missed a unique opportunity to delve into characters, corporation, and university research that would take a good story and make it great.
September 25, 2012
This book has so much promise. It was like a full length novel smashed into a short story. There is room for more. I would read this book rewritten, but maybe 150-200 or even 300-400 pages longer. Reading this was almost like watching a movie in fast forward. Nice plot, it just was too hasty to finish itself.
October 24, 2012
This was a good short with a very interesting premise and a nice sort of twist. With the interest and concerns currently surrounding genetically modified foods, combined with the state of politics in our country today, this sci-fi type story doesn't seem that far fetched. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it and it was just supposed to be fun? In which case, it succeeded.
May 25, 2011
An out and out technothriller thingamy. The writing style suggested a fable. The narraitive had a pseudo-journalistic "macro" feel. My own preference would be for a more "micro-" narrative approach. The storyline was unusual, to put it mildly. I enjoyed it. A good read.
May 28, 2011
Fast read, interesting concept and the ending totally creeped me out. Still thinking about it the next day! Honestly, I'm not a short story person, but this was fantastic and I'd highly recommend it. 4 1/2 stars! :-)
July 4, 2011
This is a great sci-fi novella. Fast paced and draws interest from the first few sentences. My only complaint is that it's too short. But if you like classical sci-fi like Issac Asimov or Arthur C. Clark, then this is worth a read.
January 21, 2012
Interesting. Would give the vegan, if they were to read it, something to think about. What is really going on with the genetically modified foods? Perhaps nothing perhaps something? Then again? We can always manipulate the data to have it tell us what we want to hear.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews