Virus Clans: Amazon.ca: Michael Kanaly: Books

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Book Description

Release Date: Dec 12 2012

In his first novel, Thoughts of God, Michael Kanaly created a metaphysical saga of murder that moved from the mean streets of modern-day America to the very notebook of God - in which earthly justice meets cosmic vengeance. Now this stunningly original writer once again probes the farthest reaches of the universe-and the human experience. It is the story of a research scientist on the verge of an extraordinary discovery: certain viruses are no longer acting in a random way. In fact, they seem to be intelligently planning where and how to multiply. And intertwined in this powerful drama is the story of the virus clans themselves, spanning millions of years as they evolve and make their own extraordinary discovery: to be the perfect hosts, human beings will have to be changed.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } In his first novel, Thoughts of God, Michael Kanaly created a metaphysical saga of murder that moved from the mean streets of modern-day America to the very notebook of God - in which earthly justice meets cosmic vengeance. Now this stunningly original writer once again probes the farthest reaches of the universe-and the human experience. It is the story of a research scientist on the verge of an extraordinary discovery: certain viruses are no longer acting in a random way. In fact, they seem to be intelligently planning where and how to multiply. And intertwined in this powerful drama is the story of the virus clans themselves, spanning millions of years as they evolve and make their own extraordinary discovery: to be the perfect hosts, human beings will have to be changed.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 1 pages
Publisher: Ace (MM); First THUS edition (Dec 12 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0441006671
ISBN-13: 978-0441006670
Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.7 x 2 cm
Shipping Weight: 113 g

Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Though its premise of evolved, intentional viruses is promising, Kanaly's second novel (after Thoughts of God) pans out as uneven, episodic and, ultimately, predictable. Michael Bracken, maverick researcher, is the viewpoint character for this multi-voiced narrative that follows Bracken's professional and personal disintegration as he loses his status as a respected scientist and devoted husband and devolves into unwashed madness, brought to the brink of disaster by the mysterious workings of the "virus clans" and his own desperate need for understanding and enlightenment. The novel flits between Bracken's story and those of more alien personalities, whose lives span the fabric of time and space. Throughout, ineffectual governments hatch conspiracies, co-opt research and make war in a futile effort to try and slow the spread of the "plagues of madness." Humanity flirts with extinction as hive-like intelligences move toward their own goals of "The One, becoming the Many, seeking to become ONE." As in his first novel, Kanaly here displays a flair for the bright idea, but workmanlike prose and flat characterizations render his inspirations dense and rather dull.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Sort of an X Files meets Star Trek's Borg Collective, this entertaining science-fiction novel poses the question: What if the driving force behind the evolution of man were the impetus of virus to become ONE, a thinking collective being? Entomologist Gary Bracken, working in an obscure facility funded by government grants, learns that a group of viruses cultured in his lab are communicating with one another, much like termites or ants. When he tries to investigate this phenomenon further, a group of government "suits" quickly fire him and discredit his work. Nevertheless, Bracken continues his research to the point of madness, losing his wife and eventually his sanity. Known as biological enigmas, falling outside the normal course of evolution, viruses are neither living nor dead. They cannot reproduce, move, or respire-any of the qualities that define life-until they hijack the nuclear material of a host cell. What if viruses are able to incorporate themselves into the host DNA and follow a plan, billions of years old, to change the host organisms of Earth to a form that can share the eons of memory held by the virus collective? What motivated the flights of genius in humans that brought about the use of the stick as a club, improvised the first bow and arrow, or enabled man to plan a space shuttle? Could it be the viruses? The book ends rather abruptly but will linger in readers' minds. The questions it poses cannot be answered except with, "It's possible."-Carol DeAngelo, Garcia Consulting Inc., EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The "Truth" Behind Evolution July 14 2004

By Joshua Koppel

Format:Mass Market Paperback

What is human evolution? What is evolution in general? These are some of the questions addressed in VIRUS CLANS by Michael Kanaly. This novel takes on the very scary concept of intent within viruses.

In this contemporary novel we meet a research scientist working at the ground floor on a project to create a protein-reading computer. The project has great potential for fame once successes are made. But during an early experiment a startling discovery is made; viruses pass small proteins back and forth. What is the purpose of these proteins? Is it some primitive form of communication? Some lateral thinking on the part of the researcher prompts more tests while early news of the protein passing gets squashed by the government. It seems that the CDC feels this is a National Security Issue. But great minds are not known for giving up.

With a small, basement setup, the researcher continues his work. After weeks and major erosion on the marriage front, a small portion of a passed protein is read. What does it mean? He needs the resources of the full lab to find out. When the check is made it is discovered to be the same as a sequence found in the human frontal lobe. More questions are asked and more conclusions reached. Viruses are changing people. What is being changed? Unknown, at this point. But then another cover-up is leaked. Segments of the medical community have noticed growing numbers of a strange madness that seems to have no physical cause.

How may proteins exchanged by viruses and a new form of madness related? The answer is revealed in a manner that is both hopeful and horrifying at the same time. In VIRUS CLANS, Michael Kenaly utilizes the uncertainties in the science of evolution to spin a yarn that is gripping horrifyingly cohesive. The concepts put forth in this novel, and their consequences, are both scary and comforting. Some readers will probably disagree on the comfort angle but in my own personal feelings I do find some of the book comforting. If you like fairly hard science fiction cast more in shadow than in light, then you will probably enjoy this book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars TRULY GOOD Jun 6 2000

By "merrysallahbar"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

i Think this iS a REAL GOOD BOOK. the book itself is the recording of evolution. and the point is IT IS possible. even now, when i think about it, it is Highly possible that viruses are the ones responsible for the evolution of all the species on earth.

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