The Magic Bullet - Hardcover

Stein, Harry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385312865 ISBN 13: 9780385312868

Publisher: Delacorte Press, 1995

Synopsis

Conceived with dazzling insider's knowledge of cutting-edge medical research, The Magic Bullet propels us relentlessly along on a hunt for the elusive miracle cure for cancer.  Harry Stein's spellbinding new thriller is set on the dark edge of American medicine, where human fife takes a backseat to greed, ambition, and the bottom line. At 31, Dr. Daniel Logan has gotten the biggest break of his career--a research fellowship at the American Cancer Institute near Washington, D.C.  The patients who come here know it is their last hope for survival, and they willingly take drugs that are shrouded in secrecy...even when things begin to go very, very wrong.  Soon Dr. Logan learns that he has no influence on the arrogant, world-famous researchers who give the orders, and no hope that anyone will listen when he stumbles upon the "magic bullet," a possible miracle cure--for breast cancer.  The reason: a conspiracy so deadly and unconscionable that he cannot believe it's real until his life becomes a nightmare-and time begins to run out for one very special patient: the most prominent woman in American politics. Featuring passionate young doctors desperate for the glory of a cancer cure, deadly sabotage, betrayal, and a lethal medical conspiracy, Harry Stein's "what-if' premise is hair-raising...shocking...the stuff of an instant bestseller.  The fear is real.  The medical facts are authentic...and the cure?  You'll be held spellbound finding out.

About this title

From Booklist:

Stein, who has written a number of articles on ethical issues, turns his attention to the ethics--or lack thereof--in breast-cancer research. His story is set in the fictionalized American Cancer Institute, where Dr. Daniel Logan, a brilliant young biochemist and M.D., suffers through a year from hell as a research fellow with the Institute. Not only are his bosses officious, obnoxious prima donnas with terminal cases of one-upmanship, but the intense competition for funding, fame, and a viable cure for the big C leads adult physicians to behave like ill-tempered five-year-olds. Fortunately for Dan, two classmates, John Reston and Sabrina Como, turn out to be good pals, and in addition to working 95-hour weeks, the three decide to launch their own research protocol with a drug called Compound Q. Disaster befalls the trio and their dream drug, but despite the drama, there's a happy ending. A serious and timely topic--curing breast cancer--can't keep this book from occasionally falling into the written equivalent of a bad soap opera, but it's an undeniable page-turner, full of medical crises, attractive hospital personnel, juicy politics, and slam-bang suspense. A possible best-seller, especially given it's "expos{‚}e" slant on cancer research. Emily Melton

From Publishers Weekly:

The often duplicitous politics of cancer research provide the background for this tense, detailed medical thriller about a potential cure for breast cancer. Working with two associates, Daniel Logan, a junior associate at Washington, D.C.'s American Cancer Federation, develops a new treatment for the disease using a drug called Compound J (a drug which was pioneered in the 1930s by a Japanese research assistant of Dr. Paul Ehrlich, one of Logan's personal heroes). As Logan tests his potential cure, the erratic and self-serving behavior of the ACF's power players begins to hiss like a fuse headed for an explosion. The ultimate fate of Logan's work is tied to the treatment of a VIP patient, but the book's conclusion proves somewhat disappointing: instead of a climactic battle, all we get is the general's order to attack. That, plus an illogical coincidence during Logan's visit to Dr. Ehrlich's laboratory are only minor shortcomings, however, in an otherwise solidly crafted and engrossing narrative. Stein adroitly uses his characters' flaws and desires to propel his intelligent story while raising provocative moral questions. Literary Guild Super Release; film option to Ruddy Morgan Organization.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0385312865
• ISBN 13: 9780385312868
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 390