Blood Music (Paperback, New Ed)

Expanding one of his splendid short stories (a standout in The Year's Best Science Fiction, 1984), Bear has fashioned a woefully ragged and aimless novel - despite some arresting ideas and images. Genius researcher Vergil Ulam, developing organic microcomputers, hits upon the notion of putting the cell's own DNA to work as a computer; his technique is so successful that computing bacteria become as intelligent as mice. But then Vergil's self-serving boss orders his research shut down - so, to save the experiment, Vergil injects himself with his own computerized blood cells. The cells spread; soon his body's other cells, working in concert, become more intelligent than Vergil himself - beginning to redirect his metabolism to their own ends. And meanwhile Vergil unwittingly infects others with the computing cells, causing them to undergo weird physical transformations and eventually dissolve. . . as they become linked in a vividly described super-organism encompassing plants, animals, even buildings. Unfortunately, however, while some of the original story's concepts remain striking, Bear's additions - uninvolving subplots, vague and unsatisfying explanations - only manage to dilute and obscure. Very disappointing work from a strong talent. (Kirkus Reviews)

In the tradition of the greatest cyberpunk novels, Blood Music explores the imminent destruction of mankind and the fear of mass destruction by technological advancements. Blood Music follows present-day events in which the fears concerning the nuclear annihilation of the world subsided after the Cold War and the fear of chemical warfare spilled over into the empty void of nuclear fear. An amazing breakthrough in genetic engineering made by Vergil Ulam is considered too dangerous for further research, but rather than destroy his work, he injects himself with his creation and walks out of his lab, unaware of just quite how his actions will change the world. Author Greg Bear's treatment of the traditional tale of scientific hubris is both suspenseful and a compelling portrait of a new intelligence emerging amongst us, irrevocably changing our world.

General

Imprint:	Gollancz
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	SF Masterworks
Release date:	April 2001
Authors:	Greg Bear
Dimensions:	197 x 129 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - B-format
Pages:	262
Edition:	New Ed
ISBN-13:	978-1-85798-762-1
Categories:	Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Science fiction
LSN:	1-85798-762-4
Barcode:	9781857987621

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