Darwin's Radio

By: Greg Bear

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 17 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Greg Bear's fiction ingeniously combines cutting-edge science and unforgettable characters. It has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and choruses of critical acclaim. Now, with Darwin's Radio, Bear creates a nonstop thriller swirling with provocative ideas about the next step of human evolution.

In a cave high in the Alps, a renegade anthropologist discovers a frozen Neanderthal couple with a Homo sapiens baby. Meanwhile, in southern Russia, the U.N. investigation of a mysterious mass grave is cut short. One of the investigators, molecular biologist Kaye Lang, returns home to the U.S. to learn that her theory on human retroviruses has been verified with the discovery of SHEVA, a virus that has slept in our DNA for millions of years and is now waking up. How are these seemingly disparate events connected? Kaye Lang and her colleagues must race against a genetic time bomb to find out.

Darwin's Radio pulses with intelligent speculation, international adventure, and political intrigue as it explores timeless human themes. George Guidall's masterful performance heightens the excitement and keeps you enthralled until the final fascinating word.

©2000 Greg Bear (P)2000 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

• Winner, 2000 Nebula Award - Best Novel

"Centered on well-developed, highly believable figures who are working scientists and full-fledged human beings, this fine novel is sure to please anyone who appreciates literate, state-of-the-art SF." (Publishers Weekly)

Shades of Today

The story is so reminiscent of what is happening today with the global pandemic and contrasting attitudes. I’m definitely going to listen to the next book because despite being very long, it ends abruptly. My only complaint is with the narrator whom I’ve loved in other books and he really did a great job of narrating. But his voice is so distinctive and it was pretty much the same for all characters, including women, that it was hard to differentiate between characters and hard to picture them as anything but elderly men with a strong accent.

it's an ok story

this is my first book with this author.
I liked the overall theme of the story but at times it got overwhelming with the science jargon but there was a nice insight into the government and the CDC. I just found out there is a sequel to this book that I may try out as well

for the sci fi type

Where does Darwin's Radio rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ask me later.

What did you like best about this story?

Greg Bear is methodical, this is my third of his books, and I can say that he is reliable in his logic, and his writing. My favorite thing about all of his fiction is his ability to use very real human characteristics to bring realism to his plots. His people act like people.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, sometimes plodding. Maybe one or two goofy edits out of 17 hours of recording.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not possible.

Any additional comments?

This is evolution in science fiction. The conflict stems from the human capacity for stubborn denial. If you are in actual denial about actual evolution stay away.

Dense as a dying star and dry as the Mojave

If not for George Guidall’s narration, I don’t think I would have suffered through this oatmeal-thick work of Bear’s doctoral dissertation fiction. Jesus Christ, Audible, this book should come with a warning: consume with highly caffeinated beverage; will cause drowsiness.

Reasonably enjoyable entertainment

I'd rate the story an average entertainment for those interested in the scientific and anthropological possibilities suggested by the book jacket. I would have preferred a much faster pacing of the story.

Not my favorite

The concepts presented are interesting, but the story drags in parts. It gets too caught up in political intrigues for my taste.

Liked the beginning

I liked the book until about the last 3rd after that it was not as believable or interesting. I did not like he end.

Very good story. Very original

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

Not disappointed

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.

Intriguing

Good book, kept me intrigued through to the end. I didn't want it to end and was glad there was a sequel.