The Program
First edition cover
AuthorGregg Hurwitz
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
SeriesTim Rackley Novels
GenreNovel
PublisherWilliam Morrow
Publication date
August 31, 2004
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback) & AudioBook
Pages368 pp
ISBN0-06-053040-5
Preceded byThe Kill Clause 
Followed byTroubleshooter 

The Program: A Novel is a novel by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005.[1][2][3] Hurwitz's prior book, The Kill Clause, will soon be made into a motion-picture.[4] The Program picks up where The Kill Clause left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional Deputy U.S. Marshal, Tim Rackley.[5][6][7]

Plot

The work is part of a series following the character Tim Rackley, a member of the United States Marshals Service, and opens with a suicide in the La Brea Tar Pits. Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous mind control cult, by infiltrating the group.[8][9] Charismatic leader TD Betters had created his own society based on self-help tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself.[10]

The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program",[8] and characters also use the term Large Group Awareness Training and "LGAT" to refer to the course.[11] In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult".[11] The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and Lifespring.[11] Werner Erhard is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.[11]

Reception

Back cover, The Program, 2004 ed.

Publishers Weekly characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail.[10] Lukowsky of Booklist described the work as a "gripping read."[12] The Oakland Press described the work as a thriller and a good character study.[13] Oakland Press writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults.[13] The Chicago Sun-Times also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31.[8] The book also received favorable reviews in The Capital Times,[14] Cleveland Plain Dealer,[4] and the San Jose Mercury News.[15]

In the Audio version, AudioFile cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish.[16] AudioFile went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hurwitz, The Program, Audio CD, Baker Dylan (Narrator), HarperAudio, August 31, 2004., ISBN 0-06-075776-0 , ISBN 978-0-06-075776-2
  2. ↑ Hurwitz, The Program, Audio Cassette, Erik Steele (Narrator), BBC Audiobooks America, November 2005, ISBN 0-7927-3845-4 , ISBN 978-0-7927-3845-9 .
  3. ↑ Hurwitz, The Program, HarperTorch, August 30, 2005, ISBN 0-06-053041-3 , ISBN 978-0-06-053041-9
  4. 1 2 Gail, Nancy (January 16, 2005). "Interview with Gregg Hurwitz". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 2007 cleveland.com. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  5. ↑ Lukowsky, Wes (June 1, 2004). "Hurwitz, Gregg. The Program". Booklist. American Library Association. 100 (19–20): Page 1708.
  6. ↑ Staff (July 15, 2004). "Hurwitz, Gregg: The Program". Kirkus Reviews. VNU Business Media. 72 (14): Page 649.
  7. ↑ Staff (July 12, 2004). "The Program". Publishers Weekly. Reed Business Information. 251 (28): Page 44.
  8. 1 2 3 Montgomery, David (September 12, 2004). "Up against a monomaniacal 'Teacher'". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. p. 12.
  9. ↑ Adams, Jane (2004). "Editorial Review, The Program". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  10. 1 2 Publishers Weekly (2004)
  11. 1 2 3 4 Hurwitz, Gregg Andrew (2004). The Program. William Morrow. pp. 368. ISBN 0-06-053040-5.
  12. ↑ Lukowsky, Booklist (2004)
  13. 1 2 Terry, Mark (November 7, 2004). "Cult 'Program' rich with detail, thrills". The Oakland Press. 2007 The Oakland Press.
  14. ↑ Thomas, Rob (September 10, 2004). "Program's' Cult Tale Pulls You In". The Capital Times. Capital Newspapers.
  15. ↑ Weimers, Leigh (September 29, 2004). "Mighty Voices Could Make a Mighty Read". San Jose Mercury News. pp. 2B.
  16. 1 2 Staff (2005). "Review, The Program (Audio version)". AudioFile. AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine.
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