Ancestor

Scott Sigler

Hodder & Stoughton 2010

There is a large following of science fiction that deals with the scientific advances of the present day. Although it is still popular the Star Trek type of SF is losing ground to more current issues like overpopulation and genetics.

Sigler’s new novel takes us into the race to produce a genetically crafted animal whose parts are compatible with human physiology and can be used as a source of body organs for transplants. Rather than modify an existing animal the Paglione brothers’ Genada company has gone back to the source. They are reverse engineering a mammalian “ancestor” creature. Because of its biological and genetic simplicity it should be simpler to reconstruct and should be free of the tissue rejection problems of the later more complex animals. Other companies have had serious accidents with gene alteration techniques. The world’s advanced countries do not take these accidents lightly. The book opens at the scene of one such accident in an isolated spot in Greenland.. The entire research facility is destroyed by a fuel-air bomb – labs, test animals, and the infected scientists. Genada is the last surviving company, and now they are after it too. The Pagliones move their research to an isolated island in the Great Lakes. For speed of evacuation the host animals (cows), and the labs are kept on board a giant C5 aircraft.

The project is under the charge of Dr Rhumkorff, an obsessed man who can see a Nobel Prize coming his way if the work succeeds. The genetic code design is being done by Jian, a geneticist loaned to the project by the Chinese Government. The Chinese are also supporting Genada with funding. She is mentally unstable but her work is successful provided her drugs are kept up. Unfortunately Dr Rhumkorff has discovered that Jian does her best work when the drugs are cut back. Jian has produced a genetic string that can be incubated inside a cow and it looks like the project may be a success. Unfortunately Jian in her unstable state has made a major mistake. The creatures growing inside the cows are not a harmless herbivore but a savage carnivorous dinosaur with a stupendous growth rate and a corresponding appetite. These voracious monsters eat their way out of their hosts and they begin decimating life on the island.

This is not a lecture on scientists playing God. Time and again the motivation of the scientists is given as the saving of lives by organ transplant.

The motives of the Paglione brothers, however, is purely financial. They will not allow the project to be stopped under any circumstances. Their company is deep in the red. Magnus Paglione goes to the island to keep order. He is a murderous thug who will stop at nothing to save the company.

The book is well-written with constant action and well-developed characters. Although it is futuristic, the future that Sigler depicts is so close it just could just be happening now.

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 3 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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