When I first saw the title 'Nano' I thought the book must be about the Tata car. On closer inspection, though, the author turned out to be Robin Cook. I remember watching 'Coma' a few years ago and being creeped out of my skin (though I am not sure it will have the same effect if I watch it again!). Apart from that, I am not familiar with any of his novels. The back cover suggested that the plot is woven against the backdrop of nanotechnology. Intrigued, I got it issued.
This novel is a sort of a sequel to the story of Pia, who is a brilliant nanotechnology researcher. Looks like in one of her earlier adventurers of uncovering truth about some illegal (and possibly, unethical) doings of certain people and organization she and her friend George have narrowly escaped an attempt on their lives. Their 3rd friend, Will, has been lying in a coma due to the injuries sustained in the same episode. Pia has a dogged determination for ferreting out truth, despite risks to her personal safety and well-being. But there is another side to her personality. Due to years of neglect and abuse in the foster homes, it is difficult for her to trust people. And she often ends up hurting their feelings.
Apart from Pia, the center stage of the novel is occupied by Nano - a company that's doing cutting--edge research into the applications of nanotechnology. It is headed by Zachary Berman - a rich man with an eye for beautiful intelligent women and accustomed to getting what he wants one way or other. Pia is working at Nano and needless to say, has been fending off unwanted attention from Berman when she is not busy working on some kind of nanorobots that can go into human bodies to fight disease. One day, while out jogging in the Nano premises, Pia comes across a runner, a Chinese one, whose heart, for all intents and purposes has stopped beating for more than an hour. Yet, when Pia arranges to transport him to the ER of a hospital he wakes up asi if nothing has happened - without any apparent damage to his body in general, and brain in particular. Pia is amazed, and intrigued when Nano security turns out in full force to whisk the man away. But when she tries to investigate, she is stone-walled. Another similar episode confirms her suspicions that there's something rotten in the state of Nano!
Despite warnings to mind her own business Pia continues to investigate the matter along with Paul, the doctor in the ER where the runner has been admitted and occasional help from George. Until finally Berman, and those who are operating in the shadowy background decide that she has gone a step too far.....
The novel moves at a fast pace but not so much that it makes you dizzy. The plot is not crowded with characters and so it is easy to return to the novel after a gap of 2-3 days. The technical descriptions were a bit too much for my taste - though I like to read about medical things - making me skip entire paragraphs at times. But it was interesting to read about what goes into researching such technologies and developing applications out of it. Kind of reminded me of Arthur Hailey's very domain specific novels like Wheels and Hotel.
I am sure every reader will get a sense that there is more to Pia's story than what's told in this novel. So I will wait to read the sequel :-)
This novel is a sort of a sequel to the story of Pia, who is a brilliant nanotechnology researcher. Looks like in one of her earlier adventurers of uncovering truth about some illegal (and possibly, unethical) doings of certain people and organization she and her friend George have narrowly escaped an attempt on their lives. Their 3rd friend, Will, has been lying in a coma due to the injuries sustained in the same episode. Pia has a dogged determination for ferreting out truth, despite risks to her personal safety and well-being. But there is another side to her personality. Due to years of neglect and abuse in the foster homes, it is difficult for her to trust people. And she often ends up hurting their feelings.
Apart from Pia, the center stage of the novel is occupied by Nano - a company that's doing cutting--edge research into the applications of nanotechnology. It is headed by Zachary Berman - a rich man with an eye for beautiful intelligent women and accustomed to getting what he wants one way or other. Pia is working at Nano and needless to say, has been fending off unwanted attention from Berman when she is not busy working on some kind of nanorobots that can go into human bodies to fight disease. One day, while out jogging in the Nano premises, Pia comes across a runner, a Chinese one, whose heart, for all intents and purposes has stopped beating for more than an hour. Yet, when Pia arranges to transport him to the ER of a hospital he wakes up asi if nothing has happened - without any apparent damage to his body in general, and brain in particular. Pia is amazed, and intrigued when Nano security turns out in full force to whisk the man away. But when she tries to investigate, she is stone-walled. Another similar episode confirms her suspicions that there's something rotten in the state of Nano!
Despite warnings to mind her own business Pia continues to investigate the matter along with Paul, the doctor in the ER where the runner has been admitted and occasional help from George. Until finally Berman, and those who are operating in the shadowy background decide that she has gone a step too far.....
The novel moves at a fast pace but not so much that it makes you dizzy. The plot is not crowded with characters and so it is easy to return to the novel after a gap of 2-3 days. The technical descriptions were a bit too much for my taste - though I like to read about medical things - making me skip entire paragraphs at times. But it was interesting to read about what goes into researching such technologies and developing applications out of it. Kind of reminded me of Arthur Hailey's very domain specific novels like Wheels and Hotel.
I am sure every reader will get a sense that there is more to Pia's story than what's told in this novel. So I will wait to read the sequel :-)
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