Publisher Description

Vergil Ulam's breakthrough in genetic engineering is considered too dangerous for further research. Rather than destroy his work, he injects himself with his creation and walks out of his lab, unaware of just quite how his actions will change the world. Bear's treatment of the traditional tale of scientific hubris is suspenseful and a compelling portrait of a new intelligence emerging amongst us and changing our world irrevocably.

Notes

Number forty in Millennium's SF Masterworks series. A genetic scientist injects himself with his own dangerous creation and changes the world for good.

Author Biography

SALES POINTS* #40 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written.* Blood Music won the Nebula and Hugo Awards in its original shorter form.* One of the few SF writers capable of following where Olaf Stapledon led, beyond the limits of human ambition and geological time Locus * Arthur C. Clarke has his most formidable rival yet The Times

Promotional

* No.40 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written. * Blood Music won the Nebula and Hugo Awards in its original shorter form. * 'One of the few SF writers capable of following where Olaf Stapledon led, beyond the limits of human ambition and geological time' Locus * 'Arthur C. Clarke has his most formidable rival yet' The Times

Kirkus US Review

Expanding one of his splendid short stories (a standout in The Year's Best Science Fiction, 1984), Bear has fashioned a woefully ragged and aimless novel - despite some arresting ideas and images. Genius researcher Vergil Ulam, developing organic microcomputers, hits upon the notion of putting the cell's own DNA to work as a computer; his technique is so successful that computing bacteria become as intelligent as mice. But then Vergil's self-serving boss orders his research shut down - so, to save the experiment, Vergil injects himself with his own computerized blood cells. The cells spread; soon his body's other cells, working in concert, become more intelligent than Vergil himself - beginning to redirect his metabolism to their own ends. And meanwhile Vergil unwittingly infects others with the computing cells, causing them to undergo weird physical transformations and eventually dissolve. . . as they become linked in a vividly described super-organism encompassing plants, animals, even buildings. Unfortunately, however, while some of the original story's concepts remain striking, Bear's additions - uninvolving subplots, vague and unsatisfying explanations - only manage to dilute and obscure. Very disappointing work from a strong talent. (Kirkus Reviews)

Prizes

Short-listed for John W Campbell Award 1986 (UK)
Short-listed for British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel 1987 (UK)

Long Description

Vergil Ulam's breakthrough in genetic engineering is considered too dangerous for further research. Rather than destroy his work, he injects himself with his creation and walks out of his lab, unaware of just quite how his actions will change the world. Bear's treatment of the traditional tale of scientific hubris is suspenseful and a compelling portrait of a new intelligence emerging amongst us and changing our world irrevocably.

Promotional "Headline"

The award winning tale of the inevitable take-over of our society by a benign, intelligent scientific experiment gone awry.

Description for Sales People

#40 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written

Details