Darwin's Radio
Author: Greg Bear
Year: 1999
Abstract:
Times they are a changin'. As the human genome is mapped and our understanding of diseases and the potential of genetics
expands things suddenly shift into high gear with the appearance of a virus that appears to come straight from our DNA.
Will it kill the human species off or is it perhaps nature's way of forcing us to step forward?
| Advanced Mind |  |
| Exploration/Quest | |
| Military/Fighting | |
| Horror | |
| Magic | |
| Advanced Technology | |
| Time Travel/Alternate History | |
| Science | |
| Aliens/Beasties | |
| Contemporality | |
Other books in this series:
None
tyranist's Review
Darwin's Radio is based on a marvellously complex and challenging core idea that actually compelled me through
the novel to explore the possibities as Mr. Bear saw them. For that reason and that reason alone, I would recommend the
novel. Otherwise, you'll likely not even try to finish. The writing is tepid and slow at best and sometimes downright
infuriating. But that idea! Fantastic.
The particular postulated future was well-researched and is fascinating in the possiblities it lays out. The point of
science fiction is to point out where we are going and what might be waiting for us when we get there. Well, this has it.
On pure theoretical genius, the concept that this novel is wrapped around is both scary and real enough to make this
vision of the future one that must be seen.
Unfortunately, the wrapping is poor. Information is unneccessarily withheld from the reader until the last moment even
though the veil is translucent. Extended explorations of characters that don't matter so much as the idea just distract.
I would say that this should have been written purely as an idea novel and skip the characterization, but in our modern
sensibilities, we no longer ignore character. Too bad. This would have been a perfect golden age novel.