Abduction

At the bottom of the ocean an unlikely quintet of people is unable to resurface. Richard and Michael are divers, macho and quarrelsome; they have been sucked downwards when they tried to return to their bell. Perry, president of the Ocean drilling company, is in a submersible, along with Suzanne, a marine scientist, and Donald the pilot. They are investigating a seamount - an underwater volcano - when an eruption takes place. At first it seems they are headed for destruction as various processes strip them of clothes and even hair. To their amazement, however, they find they have spent a month in an elaborate decontamination programme. Dressed in silky garments, they meet the most beautiful people they have ever seen. Here begins the adventure in the undersea utopia that Cook has created. For the people of Interterra are first-generation humans, who evolved about 550 million years ago! Suzanne and her party explore the life of Interterra and discover a society with a laid-back attitude to personal relationships and no jealousy or violence. There is no need to work and 'worker clones' perform all chores. Even death has been obviated - the 'essence' of the departed is reborn in a new body. The only problem is that the group are virtually prisoners. No one will let them return to life above the ocean because of the danger of exposing Interterra's secret. Gradually the place seems less like heaven. Suzanne is interrogated to see if scientists on earth suspect the existence of this alternative civilization. She copes with this but is distressed to discover that her new lover is married. Richard and Michael, despite enjoying the sexual freedom of their new life, have increasingly pressing reasons for leaving. Just what have they hidden in the fridge? Robin Cook has written an intriguing novel, a clever combination of science fiction and utopian idealism. His characters are well drawn and believable and his mixture of chilling events and subtle humour keeps the suspense going right to the end. (Kirkus UK)