NetGalley Top Reviewer

NetGalley Top Reviewer
NetGalley Top Reviewer

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Drug of Choice by John Lange (Michael Crichton)

 Published in 1970 by medical student Michael Crichton under a pseudonym , this short novel was fast and fun. I’d read another of his earlier books, A Case of Need, years ago, and enjoyed it but had never before looked for other early titles by this author and filmmaker though I’ve long been an admirer of his work. 


The plot involves pharmacological substances used to alter reality and the protagonist, a young idealistic doctor, is sufficiently outraged by the effects and is determined to stop the experimentation. Lots of action propels the narrative and the momentum is not bogged down by a lot of scientific and medical detail that sometimes alienates some readers. Most of the characters are not memorable and the outcome is quite predictable, but the story is entertaining just the same. 


I love science fiction, medical details, suspense, drama, mystery, and crime. There were parts of this short novel that I would have liked to have seen better developed, but it was a one-sitting read and I may go hunt down others written during this time period that I missed after having read most all of Crichton’s later, more well-known works. Enjoy!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - mystery thriller

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