Twist: A Novel by Dr. Alan Kolok - If You Think being A Researcher Is Boring, Read This!

Twist: A Novel by Dr. Alan S. Kolok

I learned about Twist while in a Zoom meeting that Dr. Kolok was also attending. I purchased the Kindle edition after reading the book's blurb.

Twist is a short novel that hooked me right from the beginning and lever let me down through its entirety. Everything about it was engaging. The writing was clear and concise; the plot was easy to follow, and the characters were interesting and felt like real people. In short, an excellent book overall based on science fact stretched just enough to feel plausible, if not a little scary.

A professor from Iowa State University learns about an incident in Stockton, California, where several people are killed when a driver plows his pickup truck into a group of students at a local high school football game. When he learns the assailant is not known as a violent person, he wonders if the problem might be caused by prions, proteins that cause mad cow disease. During his investigation, the professor discovers a new form of the prions that may be directly responsible for an increasing number of incidents in and around Stockton.

He continues his research with colleagues and investigates ways to stop further spread, but when he becomes infected himself, he fears it might be too late.

The principal character in Twist is Dr. Alex Pendergraf. His main area of interest is to study the prions that cause mad cow disease. He has a piece of ground where he has several buried dead bovines and takes samples to his lab, where his graduate assistant performs testing and helps to analyze results. When the opportunity arises that he can study prions up close, his scientific curiosity gets the better of him. He travels from Ames, Iowa, to Stockton to gather blood samples and make firsthand observations. The danger is real, and Alex finds an answer that is quite alarming.

One cannot but help liking Alex. He is an unassuming man who immerses himself in his work. I admire Alex's focus and his dogged quest for answers. 

The other characters that appear in Twist all come off the page as real people one can find. There's the Stockton police officer who listens and makes informed decisions. There is a lab assistant who is dedicated, but has some personal issues she is dealing with, but she sets those aside to do her job well.

I felt the character development was appropriate for the character's role. While I was rooting for Alex and his colleagues, I also felt bad for the characters that would otherwise have been horrible criminals, but because of the prions, they are as much victims as those unfortunately hurt by them.

My favorite point of plot in Twist is how focused the principal character is as he searches for answers to his questions. It appears Alex is very close to being obsessed, but not quite. I would call him a true scientist because he is more driven about discovery than he is about the rewards he might earn through his work.

A theme that stood out most for me is how it takes cooperation between numerous individuals to find answers. People setting their need for personal gain aside to solve a problem came through to me in this story. Alex is the leader of a team, and he can bring others together to uncover important answers to difficult questions.

My takeaway from Twist is how one character works to encourage and help another through difficult times. When a new graduate assistant joins the lab, he feels unsure of himself even before he has really started working. He appears to be contemplating quitting because he feels so overwhelmed. The world of academia can be a very competitive place, making it seem hostile, and the new assistant seems to be feeling all of that. Tori, Alex's assistant, sees this struggling student and takes time to help and encourage her struggling colleague. She gives him advice based on her own experience that culminates in a quote I really like...

"Just one more thing, Smitty," she said.

"Yeah?" Smitty looked at her.

"Swim like a duck," she said.

"A duck?"

"You know, calm and collected on the surface, but below the surface, Smitty, paddle like hell."

This is advice I would give anyone starting out in college, or in a new employment situation. Brilliant!

I found Twist a fascinating look into the world of scientific research with a sci-fi twist. It has everything a fan might want in a great story, including solid characters, a few humorous situations, and some very intense situations. It is a fast-paced story that will keep the reader turning pages eager to see what happens next. It is entertaining and fun to read. The science jargon used is not overwhelming, making it easy for the layperson to understand. If you are looking for a nice diversion, at 240 pages, Twist is accessible and can be read in a sitting or two.

Alan S. Kolok is an environmental toxicologist with a PhD from the University of Colorado. A prolific writer, he has written scientific articles, newspaper columns, and blogs on toxicology and environmental epidemiology. He is passionate about connecting the non-scientific audience to ideas and ways of understanding, and recently authored Modern Poisons: A brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology, a nonfiction book that makes modern toxicology accessible to the lay-science audience.