The Death Committee

Title: The Death Committee
Author: Noah GordonFirst published: 1969Pages: 361

Coming from the author of ‘The Physician’, I carried a lot of expectations about this book in mind when I took it up for reading, but was in for a rude shock! The two works seemed to be generations apart in narration, story line, choice of characters and in every way imaginable. This seems to be one of the earliest works of Gordon and the shadows of fame and renown he earned through the magnum opus can’t be discerned in any way through the boring narrative. The story revolves around the Suffolk County General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and the protagonists are three doctors, Adam Silverstone, Spurgeon Robinson and Rafael Meomartino. The loose morals and free sexuality of hippy-age America is evident through many passages. Even the hero of the work doesn’t seem to be under any compunction to seek sexual relationships even when he was firmly in love in someone else! We are in no way capable nor competent to pass judgements on the moral values of America, but these are some of the hardships which we find difficult to swallow. Such loose ends are abundant in the book.

A very poor work indeed! In fact, it is difficult to write a fitting review of the book either. I may have to put in more time and effort to write a review than the author did for writing this impossibly unattractive work. The book is not at all recommended.

Rating: 1 Star