Darwin's Radio

Scientist experiments on self. Can't give a modern book more than 1 star for that. :) ( )

If the next evolutionary step happened, would we recognize it? Or would we think it a disease to destroy?

When a part of our genetic code suddenly activates, and women's pregnancies start go go wrong, it's a race to find the cause and cure it. Or is something else, entirely, happening?

Exciting and thought provoking look at how we react to change and what we might do to keep the status quo rather than take a step into the unknown. It's science vs politics and fear. ( )

Bear's story about the emergence of a new kind of human through the actions of a retrovirus fascinated me, and he wrote a real page-turner with this one. I particularly enjoyed the way he managed to stay with an engaging cast of characters while also zooming out to larger societal events and issues. The book ends in a way that implies a sequel without leaving any loose ends unraveling. Thought-provoking, too. ( )

Darwin's Radio is a science fiction story about how humans evolved and how they might evolve in the future. It is also a story of how our government might react to both an epidemic and science it does not agree with.

This is one of the best science fiction stories I have read in years! The characters are real, well-rounded, and interesting. The plot moves along nicely with no longer 'lectures' on the genetics involved and is (unfortunately) very believable. The writing is tight and clean.

I did have two tiny problems with the book. First, the characters, such as Christopher Dicken, are referred to through the first third of the book as 'Dicken' and then is suddenly referred as 'Christopher'. It took a few rereads to sort out whose last name went with the first. Second, the transitions from one chapter and point of view to the next chapter and point of view were too abrupt for my tastes in several spots.

Overall, wonderful!!! I will reread it again, once I've forgotten some of the plot, and now I can't wait to read the sequel. ( )

Engrossing biological hard sf. What happens when the human race evolves? and how will we cope? The answer is of course, badly. But with a ray of light still present throughout.

Bear posits the just about feasible hypothesis that sometimes evolution acts very quickly indeed. Buried within the introns of the genome are alternate genesets for species design to cope with rapidly changing conditions. All it takes is the right type of viral infection to trigger this shift, and within a generation of children speciation will have occurred. Naturally such changes are quickly noticed in modern society, and upon skilled bio-tech investigation, prior hints at the possibilities are un-earthed. But for those involved, there is no cure. Only the option to face the future un-guided by the past.

Our heroes are Mitch a disgraced archaeologist who has fond some unusual remains in an alpine cave, and Kaye, and eminent biologist who has spotted the first possibilities of the viral transmissions. Neither of them are well versed in the politics of science, communicating complex ideas to the public, nor the role of policy and public opinion. But when they discover some facts that seem to oppose the general wisdom, they soon find out why these matters are vital.

The initial third is somewhat dense in biology. It isn't that complicated, but even the basic primer at the back doesn't really explain it that well either. This may be enough to put off some readers who don't understand what DNA is and it's role in human life. The rest is surprisingly good characterisation, and complex politics, centered in the US. Ignorance and fear remain the prime motivators, and in these times no-one has the patience while science finds the right answers. Originally written over ten years ago, it has aged well, with little of the biology being directly overturned (apart from the total number of genes). The technology is also well predicted.

There are a few quibbles, especially the US centric matter, of a worldwide issue. Likewise many of the political issues and decisions get glossed over and the characters given little background. But it works well enough. Thoroughly readable and enjoyable by anyone with even a slight amount of biological background. The key points are possibly not so much the speculation over human evolution, but the attitudes towards science, politics and the other, in society today. ( )