Darwin's Radio is the novel most firmly-based on modern science that I've ever read which puts forth a theory on how evolution to man may have occurred. Greg Bear's acknowledgements in the back credit conversations with numerous scientists. I was in molecular biology in grad school, and I was amazed at the advanced level of knowledge shown in this book. How can an author gain such an informed knowledge of such a difficult subject without becoming a molecular biologist himself? But Greg Bear did it, to write this book.
The theory Greg Bear puts forth is not supported as "the truth" by the scientists he talked to, he says; but it is a fascinating supposition, and the scientific details are valid and the theory consistent with knowledge at the time of publication.
Besides having my mind opened to a remarkable interpretation of biological science to explain how evolution may occur in leaps and bounds rather than in one tiny incremental change in some one individual at a time, I was amazed at the skill with which the author wove the science into the text so as to allow the characters who live the story to live and breath as very real and sympathetic people. There is no subverting of characterization in the interest of scientific or technological exposition, which is something that commonly turns me off in science fiction. A good book has to be about people under stress with serious problems to solve, and Darwin's Radio is certainly this! I found most of the characters to be written with great imagination and understanding of human nature.
This SF novel is unique in my reading experience in its treatment of current progress in biotechnology as the means to understand the evolution of mankind rather than a poorly understood excuse for all sorts of imagined future physical enhancements. If the book has a drawback - which I have to admit it does - it is that the science is so truly a part of the book that people without any college courses in biology or genetics would probably find it difficult. My brother, an engineer but without the biology background, did. The author added a glossary to the back of the book, but it's probably not enough to make it easy to read. But there's nothing wrong in learning some actual facts while you lose yourself in this fascinating book!
The novel was awarded the Nebula Award for Best Novel after it came out. I found it mind-blowing, and in my opinion this book should be recognized as one of the best ten works of science fiction of all time. ( )

Similar in some respects to Blood Music, this is Bear's take on the next step in human evolution. What if something could trigger evolution to happen in a generation, and not over a long period of time, how would we react to the next generation of humans, and how would they react to us? An excellent exploration of society and how something so extreme could change it. ( )

A little disappointing. For a Nebula winner I was expecting more. The first half sets up some drama as the race to find out what this new virus is all about occurs. The clash between the government bureaucrats and their opposition particularly adds tension to the plot.

Unfortunately the second half of the book just drags on. I kept expecting something interesting or new to happen, but nothing does.

The book has some interesting ideas, but I think the author could have developed them more. The hackneyed tropes (big bad government, intelligent scientists vs ignorant masses, etc.) were a turn off to me. ( )

A very interesting look at what would happen if humans evolved.
The science was plausible, and while I'd hope for cooler heads, the public reactions were plausible too. I found the characters to be realistic – even the ‘evil’ guys had good motivations.
I enjoyed the mystery at the beginning over the individual reactions at the end. The ending was a bit disappointing – clearly this was written with a sequel in mind. ( )

engrossing story, well put together, and i'll look for the sequel too. i had a lot of trouble buying the central figure as a character, though, and inasmuch as i did she pissed me off. i think maybe she got dented while being shoehorned into the plot at various points, and sustained too much permanent damage.*g* cause she too often acted and thought like the complete idjit she clearly wasn't supposed to be. which impacted on other characters in her vicinity, and on the believability of the whole story. ( )