Ninth Day of Creation

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Ninth Day of Creation, a first novel by Leonard Crane which blends high-octane political misadventure with cutting-edge genomic science, was published on June 26, 2000--the same day, coincidentally, of the announcement that the human genome had officially been sequenced. The latter event foreshadows the theme of this ambitious cautionary tale of science gone wrong in the near future. The story follows a young biochemist named Richard Kirby who soon discovers that the private top-tier biotechnology company he works for has been doing more than just plain science to pay the bills.

Related Topics:
Leonard Crane - June 26 - 2000 - Human genome - Cautionary tale - Biochemist - Biotechnology

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The story follows several intertwined threads that gradually reveal their connections as the plot proceeds toward its thought-provoking conclusion. Ninth Day of Creation is undeniably and firmly positioned in the category of the techno-thriller. The level of technical and operational detail about military and scientific endeavors evokes comparison to spy thrillers like The Hunt for Red October as well as the all-passive science of Jurassic Park. While the mindset of the author seems closer to Michael Crichton than Tom Clancy, the naval scenes steal the show in the latter part of the book. Wrote one reviewer after reading the narrative of a sea battle between an American aircraft carrier task force and a Chinese submarine: "When I got out of my chair, I had to wait for my land legs to come back."

Related Topics:
Techno-thriller - The Hunt for Red October - Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton - Tom Clancy - Aircraft carrier - Submarine

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There is plenty of action in the book as international powers clash, but it is what has happened in the laboratory that provides for the core sense of suspense which drives Ninth Day of Creation forward. Central to the story, and paralleling real world events in recent years, is the recreation of a very nasty form of influenza last seen in 1918 and now known as the Spanish Flu. It is the merging of naturally-produced genomic material, albeit of sometimes deadly forms, with the artificial genes of modern day technology that produces the chilling potential explored by the book.

Related Topics:
Laboratory - Influenza - Spanish Flu

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