Darwin's Radio: Bear, Greg: 9780345459817: Amazon.com: Books

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$9.99

Paperback
$6.66

Buy used: $6.66

$7.58 delivery May 1 - 23. Details

Deliver to Canada

Used: Acceptable | Details

Sold by ThriftBooks-Chicago

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Follow the author

Darwin's Radio Paperback – March 4, 2003

by Greg Bear (Author)

1,025

Book 1 of 2: Darwin's Radio

See all formats and editions

A 2000 HUGO AWARD NOMINEE

Greg Bear's powerfully written, brilliantly inventive novels combine cutting-edge science and unforgettable characters, illuminating dazzling new technologies--and their dangers. Now, in Darwin's Radio, Bear draws on state-of-the-art biological and anthropological research to give us an ingeniously plotted thriller that questions everything we believe about human origins and destiny--as civilization confronts the next terrifying step in evolution.

A mass grave in Russia that conceals the mummified remains of two women, both with child--and the conspiracy to keep it secret . . . a major discovery high in the Alps: the preserved bodies of a prehistoric family--the newborn infant possessing disturbing characteristics . . . a mysterious disease that strikes only pregnant women, resulting in miscarriage. Three disparate facts that will converge into one science-shattering truth.

Molecular biologist Kaye Lang, a specialist in retroviruses, believes that ancient diseases encoded in the DNA of humans can again come to life. But her theory soon becomes chilling reality. For Christopher Dicken--a "virus hunter" at the Epidemic Intelligence Service--has pursued an elusive flu-like disease that strikes down expectant mothers and their offspring. The shocking link: something that has slept in our genes for millions of years is waking up.

Now, as the outbreak of this terrifying disease threatens to become a deadly epidemic, Dicken and Lang, along with anthropologist Mitch Rafelson, must race against time to assemble the pieces of a puzzle only they are equipped to solve. An evolutionary puzzle that will determine the future of the human race . . . if a future exists at all.

A fiercely intelligent, utterly enthralling novel of adventure and ideas, genetics and evolution, a fast-paced thriller that is grounded in the timeless human themes of struggle, loss, and redemption, Darwin's Radio is sure to become one of the most talked-about books of the year.

From the Hardcover edition.

Report an issue with this product or seller

Book 1 of 2

Darwin's Radio
Print length

448 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ballantine Books
Publication date

March 4, 2003
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0345459814
ISBN-13

978-0345459817
See all details

Products related to this item
Sponsored

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

1,025 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Great concept made plausible by good science

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2006

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this clever novel very much and unlike some reviewers think that the hard science is not at all tiresome. On the contrary, the careful explanations of genetics, bacteriophages, evolution and viruses are extremely helpful, even essential, for fully appreciating the story line. For readers who are not scientists, but who are smart and curious, this is a highly satisfying book.

One of the main reasons that I seek out great science fiction like Darwin's Radio is that I believe writers like Gregg Bear are creating a plausible cosmology for the 21st Century. The old religions certainly aren't believable any longer, so for a person who is educated and also spiritual there is not much out there in the way of a reasonant belief system. Religion and science seem to me to be two facets of the same thing. Just different aspects to examine the cosmos and imbue it with meaning. Writers like Bear, Baxter and, as ever, Arthur C. Clarke help us make sense of our high-tech environment and envision a future that is hopeful.

If you are one of those people who wonders "what if?" and believes that there are powers unseen and benign, you should read this novel. It is highly imaginative and highly recommended.

7 people found this helpful

Great Story Based on Well Researched Science

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

Darwin's Radio is a great story with a solid plot fed by a couple of intriguing subplots that come together and tie up very nicely. The prose is wonderful throughout with colorful though concise descriptions that put the reader front and center in each scene. The characters are deep and fleshed out very well with distinct voices. The science behind the fiction is well researched and clearly explained. The only things that took me out of the story were a couple of points in a couple of the main characters arcs where they strayed dramatically out of character without any real setup for the changes. They came back after a time, but these deviations were notable. Finally, the climax was fine, but expected. It also was a bit subdued.

There are a couple bonuses included after the story which really do add quite a bit to the overall experience. There is a short biological primer and a glossary of scientific terms which, when taken together, add context to many of the themes explored throughout the story.

I am looking forward to reading the follow up to this one, Darwin's Children.

One person found this helpful

Randy C. Bissell

excellent value

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024

Verified Purchase

Delivered earlier than expected, in good shape.

Interesting Topic Impaired By Odd Pacing and Characters

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2012

Verified Purchase

Modern biologists have long taken the view that evolution happens in small steps over many generations. That notion is challenged with the appearance of SHEVA, a retrovirus so sinister it appears to be killing children in the womb. As more research happens however, it appears that SHEVA may not be a virulent disease after all and that humanity is about to take a large evolutionary step forward in very short order. The government, worried that the children and parents of SHEVA carriers may represent a vector of new diseases, orders that they be quarantined for the good of humanity. A few scientists outside the mainstream think that SHEVA children are not to be feared, but are the next step in human evolution. Can they avoid the government long enough to find out?

The premise of Darwin's Radio really is a good one, but for me, the execution was somewhat flawed. First, the reader knows too much about the SHEVA virus before the primary point-of-view character's in the novel, leaving very little "thrill" to a book that is essentially a biological techno-thriller. For me, the first half of the book was a very technical look at the microbiology of diseases, retroviruses and phages...very clinical and dry. It isn't until 250 pages or so into the book before the brilliant scientists, biologists and virologists begin to catch on to the fact that SHEVA may not be a disease after all, and my general feeling at that point was "thanks for catching up, can we move along now?"

The second half of the book reads a bit fast, as a handful of scientists being to realize that SHEVA may not be just a terrible disease. The government task force assigned to deal with SHEVA takes a hard line toward authoritarianism, insisting that SHEVA carriers, especially expectant mothers and their children should be quarantined while a few former task force members quite or flee in an attempt to understand SHEVA outside the "party line." The 2nd half of the book is more readable and less like a biology textbook but I found the handful of point-of-view characters still being followed at this point over-emotional to the point of becoming annoying. Point-of-view characters ride a nearly non-stop roller coaster between giddy joy and boiling rage and I found myself thinking "these are not the people who would survive in a crisis."

In the end, Darwin's Radio almost reads like two books. The first delving deep in to modern biology and virology, the second an emotional (sometimes overly so) race-against-the-clock style thriller. The premise is good enough to make me want to read the follow up, Darwin's Children, with the hope that it will be a stronger execution of a good idea.

23 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Kevin Fifield

The best kind of fiction, engrossing read that makes you think

Reviewed in Canada on November 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

Bear's ability to draw you into the story and make you care about the characters is never overshadowed by the science aspects of the story. His characters feel like real people. There are no paragons of virtue, not any blatantly evil. Just people trying to figure out their new world.

Client d'Amazon

Greg Bear's best book

Reviewed in France on November 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

In my humble opinion, this is Bear's best novel. Much of the science he describes, e.g. the role of HERVs in our genome, or the interbreeding of Neanderthals with Homo Sapiens, was either state-of-the-art at the time he wrote it, or has been proven true (or at least plausible) subsequently.
The intrigue is sufficiently complex to keep you wondering to the last page, and the characters have genuine substance. Contrary to some other Sci-Fi novels, Bear's included, the plot and settings have the kind of adequate balance between actuality and anticipation of a plausible future that makes you think that something like it could really happen tomorrow, or next year, or in a not so distant future. The story continues in a second novel, Darwin's Children, that is quite good too, though not as good as this one. But you will want to read it because it's a damned good story.

Translate review to English

sf_hound

Disease or Evolutionary Sea Change

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

If, as some believe, evolution occurs in rapid bursts, how would humans know when it's happening to them and what would it look like. Bear does a superb job of telling this tale from the top down (i.e. from the point of view of those responsible for the decisions such changes would invoke). The story is tight, compelling, thought-provoking and told with his customary care for the biological science involved. It also strikes me as a far more mature re-examination of many of the themes raised in Blood Dance. If you're a Greg Bear fan, this is a must.

sf_hound

ながぴい

みんなの評価は低いが、俺は好き

Reviewed in Japan on December 23, 2011

Verified Purchase

今時珍しいミュータントもの。
不気味な新人類は迫害される、というのが定番。
スランを思い出す。
ただ、この本の新人類は超能力は使えない。
地味なので、あまり売れてないのでは？
でも、わしゃ好き。

この本はおそらく「ウィルス進化説」を取り入れているので、
そういう意味ではトンデモ理論を肯定していることになる（？）

たしか、続編も読んだ。
ん〜、Darwin's Childrenはいらなかったかな。
Stella Novaの運命は未知のままで終わらせておいたほうがよかったな。
"Did we make it again, Mitch?"

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

scifiharlekin

ein sozialkritischer Wissenschaftskrimi

Reviewed in Germany on April 12, 2002

Verified Purchase

Lassen wir mal beiseite, dass der Schreibstil in Ordnung ist und der Author auch in angenehmer Weise fachliche Kompetenz zeigt.
In der ersten Haelfte entwickelt sich das Buch wie ein Krimi mit mehreren parallelen Handlungsstraengen. Allerdings recht konventionell im Muster aehnlicher Romane: sensationelle Funde werden gemacht und Wissenschaftler wittern Ruhm und Ehre. Selbst der 'boese Reiche' der den Ruhm an sich reissen will scheint nicht zu fehlen.
In der zweiten Haelfte tritt das Thriller-Element jedoch leicht in den Hintergrund. Der Roman beginnt ganz nebenbei die Auswirkungen der Entdeckung fuer die Menschheit zu diskutieren indem er die Gesellschaft in zwei Lager spaltet: konservative Ablehnung und nahezu blinde Begeisterung - ohne jedoch in Schwarzweiss-Malerei zu verfallen...
Der Leser kommt auf jeden Fall auf seine Kosten - ohne in den Zwang zu geraten persoenlich Stellung zu beziehen. Das Buch ist spannend bis zum Schluss - der Ausgang ist keineswegs vorherzusehen und die zugrundeliegende Idee faszinierend und gut ausgearbeitet. Fazit: empfehlenswerte kurzweilige Unterhaltung mit Tiefgang als Bonus.

3 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Get to Know Us

Make Money with Us

Amazon Payment Products

Let Us Help You

English $USD - U.S. Dollar United States

© 1996-2024, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates