The Secret of Life by Paul Mcauley
There is life on Mars. But could it end life on Earth? It’s 2025 and the Earth is damaged. Irreparably. The quest for scientific solutions is hampered by commercial greed, political infighting and a mass fear that whatever we do, we can only make things worse. Then a miracle. Scientists at the Chinese Martian base have discovered the `Chi’ – an active micro-organism several kilometres below the surface. Very active. Left undisturbed for 2 billion years, it has super evolved and is able to swap DNA at will, maximising its survival whatever the environment. Against all protocol the `Chi’ is brought secretly back to Earth. Where it is stolen, and accidentally plunged into the pacific Ocean. Only a few weeks later, a giant slick of plankton is found growing at an exponential rate. It is sucking the seas dry of life. And the question must be asked. Who is colonizing whom? The wonder of Arthur C. Clarke. The claustrophobic tension of Alien. The science of Richard Dawkins. All taken to the extreme…`Looks set to inject a welcome dose of sophistication into the sf genre and attract readers who normally wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole’
INDEPENDENT
`Better hard science fiction writing than any British author since Clarke’
GUARDIAN
Paul McAuley worked as a research scientist and lecturer in Britain and the United States for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer. His novels have won the Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clarke and John W. Campbell awards. He lives in North London.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780002259040 |
| ISBN 10 | 0002259044 |
| Title | The Secret of Life |
| Author | Paul Mcauley |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding type | Hardback |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Year published | 2001-01-02 |
| Number of pages | 400 |
| Prizes | Short-listed for Arthur C. Clarke Award 2002, Short-listed for Arthur C Clarke Award 2002 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |