Darwin's Radio

I found this book to be a fascinating science-fiction pandemic thriller that covers an epic time scale and some really crazy ideas. The writing captured my attention quickly, and I found this story to be an intense read. The plot surfaced moments in my imagination where I couldn’t help but question the likelihood of these events happening in our modern-day world.

I also relate to Christopher Dicken (the protagonist), a virus hunter who makes an unbelievable discovery. His attempts to uncover the truth about human evolution and save his family against what seems like every power on earth felt very… show more.

I guess this book is officially qualified as ‘science fiction’ but I think of it instead as great fiction that appreciates and then grabs the very edges of our current knowledge and extends them like a wild rubber band in ways that captivate. Bear takes some of the guesses and hints about what lies within the 95% of our DNA that at first seems to have no clear ‘purpose’ and imagines it is part of a sensor that is able to catalyze the creation of new versions of life in response to the kinds of dramatic stressors— climate change, etc—… show more.

This book appealed to me because it reversed the trope of looking backward at human evolution. To me, what humans might become is even more uncomfortable than thinking about what we were. Darwin’s Radio brings some interesting setup. A mysterious disease impacting newborns. The red herring of a search for a cure. The realization that the “Sheva” virus is the herald for a new version of humanity.

This story has plenty of room for government conspiracies, medical drama, and a family on the run. Its sequel Darwin's Children, takes the premise to the next level, showing us how humanity… show more.