 "Toooooooo loooooooooooooong" | 2009-11-18 |
| - Reviewed By jptournefort |
| Way too long. The story Bear tells is just not worth telling at such great length. It starts out as a scientific mystery and devolves into a soap opera. I never liked any of the characters enough to want to spend so much time with them. I only finished the book because I wanted to learn the answer to the evolutionary mystery, but the payoff was disappointing. |
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 "For wont of a charcter the story was lost..." | 2009-10-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2CZBVEP6MGAK5 |
| Overall, I enjoyed this book. I'm a physicist, not a biologist, but I found the discussion of the biology to be rather interesting and worth reading. I'm not sure about the biological plausibility of viruses stimulating punctuated evolution, but the notion of viruses influencing behavior was fascinating. To me, the idea was worth the price of reading the book. The story moves--the problem is that the characters, such as they are, are not very believable. I wouldn't go so far as to call many of them two-dimensional. In terms of the plot, was anyone else reminded of the 1992 the book behind "Children of Men" (and before that, I think an Outer Limits episode) or childhood's end? So, I'd suggest that if you are technically minded, the book is worth a quick skim, just don't expect much from the story/character development.... |
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| "Darwin would turn over in his grave" | 2009-08-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2WA3WFJS6EQJU |
I'm a biology grad student and I was intrigued and excited to read this book after reading the back cover. However, partway into the book, I became disappointed and even more so after finishing the book. The biology in this book can be very technical for non-science people, but the story line and characterization goes downhill once the reader goes past the first couple of chapters. The last half of the book seems to be written by another author because there was no character consistency! The main characters, Mitch and Kaye, gave up their "brilliant scientific minds" which was established in the first half of the book to completely detaching themselves from the scientific world in which they were the leading pioneers! The author's justification for such abandonment is not sufficient enough for two leading scientists to leave NIH, CDC, etc.
I have to say that I was excited in certain parts of the book where the author goes into detail about the science behind the SHEVA evolution, but I realize that it can be very technical for others. The glossary in the back of the book does not do the science behind the book justice.
I give it two stars for the good but very technical biology research behind the book, but take 3 stars away for the poor execution in the story. |
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 "Would we be ready for the next evolutionary leap?" | 2009-06-18 |
| - Reviewed By resqgeek |
What if all the "junk DNA" in our chromosomes, which appear to be discarded remnants of our evolutionary past, really have a purpose? What if they were to become active agents of the next evolutionary leap forward. How would our scientific community react? What about the general public? This thriller extrapolates from the edges of scientific knowledge in much the same way Michael Crichton does in many of his novels.
However, the tension here isn't primarily built around the scientific inquiry into the genetics or the changes occurring because of the ativation of these DNA segments. Instead, this novel focuses on the interplay of the scientific and political arenas, and especially on the panic of the masses that can't understand the nature of what is happening. The story reminds us just how willing we can be to sacrifice our liberties and freedom in the face of fear. An interesting look at the social and political impact the appearance of a sudden genetic shift might have on our society. While the extrapolated science might be of questionable merit, it makes for an interesting and compelling story. |
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 "I can't even finish it..." | 2009-06-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: AVXY75LRGX34N |
I rarely abandon a book. No matter how much I dislike it, I can usually justify sticking with it to the end just based on the time already invested. I'm now 350 pages into this one and am calling it quits.
Why? It's just become unbearable (hmm, no pun on the author's name intended)! I slogged through chapter after chapter of over-dramatic scientists worrying about stating out loud the only logical conclusion we can draw. I fumbled through the biology lessons (I admit that was always my weakest science). But then the mid-book romance started, and I just can't stomach it.
The dialog is so clumsy, unbelievable, and repetitious ("can you smell me?"), that I think if I ever met these two characters in real life I would run the other direction just to avoid overhearing them talk.
Maybe there's some big twist at the end, or some great conclusion, but it will be a long time before I can force myself to find out. What a waste of time.
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 "Fascinating ideas, good story" | 2009-05-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1DETCPBV8LIL2 |
| Fascinating exploration of "junk" DNA and what it might mean that has the ring of truth to it. As usual with Bear, a bit longer and more diffuse story than necessary, but still engrossing for all that. Good characterization, good science, thought provoking, good story..what more do you need? |
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