Darwin's Radio/Darwin's Children

Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear is a sci-fi novel about evolution of humans getting a jump start because of activation of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). It is a truly bizarre book that uses a lot of references to actual modern molecular biology, paleontology, and anthropology but throws in a whacky sci-fi twist. In essence it is about the emergence of a new species of Homo sapiens called SHEVITEs via punctuated evolution caused by HERVs. Maybe the most interesting thing about the book is how it addresses the theoretical response that the government and the scientific community would make to such an event and is eerily reminiscent of the post 911 clamp down on civil rights that is currently underway. He really gets the bloated ego's and posturing of a lot of top academics down perfectly...he must have been in my institute doing his research but I missed him Darwin's Children follows the main characters years later as they are on the run from the government and the SHEVITES are being put into concentration camps worldwide. The second book in my opinion is much weaker than the first as it goes off on bizarre tangents about spirituality that does not really fit with the rest of the story. It leaves a lot of questions open at the end though suggesting a third book could be a possibility.All in all, it is interesting to see a Sci-Fi/Thriller that is based on endogenous retroviruses.

I'm sort of a Bear fan myself. Something tied into evolution but a little more far fetched is Blood Music. White blood cells are given intelligence and madness ensues.For the physicists on this site, you might also like Bear's Eon and the sequel Infinity (I think thats the right sequel anyway). Has to do with alternate universes and the warping of space time, something I see talked about quite often around here. There is a conservative faction in the story who call themselves Naderites, after the great Ralph Nader of all things. Got a chuckle out of that one.

The _Eon_ sequel is _Eternity_ and there's a "prequel" of sorts, _Legacy_ (not as good, IMHO). _Moving Mars_ is another good one, and I enjoyed _Queen of Angels_ and (even more) the sequel, _Slant_. _Darwin's Radio_ wasn't bad, but I don't plan on picking up the sequels.

always prefered Moving Mars my self, as I'm a sucker for big science and politics... that I and I believe unlike his eirlier works he finally nailed hes caracherisations in this book.