Darwin's Radio

The plot is clever, the science (although an invention) seems almost close to feasible, the reactions of human beings really accurate. The best science fiction story I've read for many years.

I enjoyed this novel very much. Living near Fort Detrick, MD, I think about viral epidemics from time to time. My one complaint about the book is that Neanderthal Man and Cro-Magnon Man may have been able to interbreed. Also, to the best of my knowledge, Neanderthal Man left no evidence of funeral customs. I would have liked to have had those two issues discussed in the story since it was as much about pre-historic man as modern virology. As always, the narrator was excellent.

I ask 3 things of every novel I read: that it capture and excite me, that it entertain me and that it educate me. "Darwin's Radio" gets 4 stars in every catagory. Should you ask yourself during the course of your read, "is this feasible?" Think of this - if in 1980 you asked could there be a world wide network that connected every computer, or a cellphone with a 100 gig hard drive that was part of that network, or that the Soviet Union would collapse within a decade....none of these things would have seemed feasible either

Loved the book! At first, I almost gave up listening, but then decided to put my faith in the author - I was sure he wouldn't tell a story that required the reader to know all about genes, DNA, chromosomes, etc. So I decided to just listen to the story, and pick up the few facts that I could remember or that might be relevant to the story. Then I realized that was exactly what I needed to just enjoy the story - which is great! Don't let the technical jargon and explanations about genes, DNA, or chromosomes scare you off this book - you don't have to remember everything they tell you about them (but it's very interesting to learn a little about how they work). It's a great read - I would highly recommend it!

I really liked this story. Very original and well performed. I would highly recommend it.

I thought this was worth a credit. I listened to it a month or so back, and don't actually remember that much about it. The fact that I've forgotten most of it means that there was nothing outstanding about it either positive or negative. I would buy another title from this author if I didn't have anything else on my wish list to try. My overall impression is positive, but not thrilled or inspired. I don't have a critique of the science, which to this laywoman seemed plausible enough. I have to comment that the audio sample offered is from the beginning of the book and represents a section where the author - in the voice of a somewhat cynical character - describes a woman's qualities primarily in terms of her attractiveness and sexual performance. I remember finding that particular passage irritating and almost stopping the program when I heard it. I am glad I stuck with it though, because the point of view of the story isn't solely from that character's point of view, and the author did not seem to share his character's cynicism.

Well, I did like the story concept but for me the "big reveal" just did not satisfy me. Also, it seemed to drag on the last fourth of the book. Having said that, I have no plans to read he second one.

This was pretty well paced and decently written for pop fiction; narration was good and I will probably listen to the next one to hear the story wrapped up.

Slow and repetitive.... The concept had potential but I nearly abandoned the book multiple times--something I never do. The author seems to be trying to build character, allow introspection, etc., but the writing is just too weak to pull off the strategy.

This was my first Greg Bear book and it will not be my last. The science was engaging and plausibly presented. The dreams described by the characters and woven into the story are so clear that I became invested in the characters and their lives and welfare. I identified with the two main characters so closely at the end that it surprised me how my emotions paralled theirs ??? the joys, fears, anguish. I enjoyed the science immensely and the pace was good. Greg Bear brought the story lines together throughout the book and the narration was engaged and reflective of the action and mood. I highly recommend the book.