I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but once I started, I couldn't stop! This book will make you think about a lot of issues when you finished it.

The book sounded promising but I started this book and just could not get interested. . Since I didn't get very far I will not be reviewing the book.

Since the discovery of the human genome, advances have already been made in gene therapy in treating certainly hereditary diseases.
Now suppose that it might be possible not just to correct faulty genes that lead to hereditary malaise such as Huntington's Chorea, or Cystic Fibrosis, both of which are incurable and fatal, but to eradicate them altogether from future generations?

Surely these are things that can only be dreamed of. Surely the children of future generations deserve not to have to succumb to these scourges in the future. The scientists at universities and hospitals AL around the world are ready to steam on ahead with this developing medical technology, christened in this novel as Germline. And wait. Dwarfism will also, soon be assigned to the history books as well.

Therein lies the problem. Those who remember the history books will remember that the philosophy of eugenics is what lay behind the ethos of the Nazis. One scientist in this novel was interested in eradicating dwarfism. Now, a master race of perfect humans could be a reality.

ALDO is the pseudonym of an activist who seeks to put stop to this research via an underground Facebook group dedicated to the task. After his demands that this research project should be abandoned are ignored, he kidnaps an important figure from the universty. Things however then spin out of control in ways he could ever have imagined.

One moral of the story is that any revolutionary movement can develop in ways to original thinkers had never conceived. Revolutiions themseves may grow into a Frankenstein's monster. Another is that it is never possible to know what other consequences may arise from tampering with nature. Then there are questions on whether there should ever control of scientific inquiry and research can ever be justified.

This is a dialectical novel in which the opinions of each camp are debated by the characters used here, though no definite conclusion is reached about which side has the soundest arguments. The plot of the novel actually centres around one of the scientists., pregnant Isabel Cantor and her tribulations with her distant partner.

As a dialectical novel I must say that it does tend to remain rather stuck at academic argument and discussion and that sometimes characters and events remain secondary to this. ALDO was an enjoyable read insofar that the debate it covers is topical enough, but sometimes this did make friends a rather dry story and a ess-well thought out actual story.
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I am a bit sad after reading this book. I was initially drawn to it by its great description. The story seemed really intriguing, and the subject was right up my alley. However, the technical weaknesses in the book are too large to fully ignore. The dialogue between the characters is quite flat, the mystery is almost nonexistent, and the story lacks a lot of tension. I'm usually not one to say how an author should write their book, but this one seems to need a lot more work. I think that the version I read should be considered a draft to work from. The ideas are interesting, but they need more polish. I sincerely hope these issues are addressed, because the book could be really good!

An apropo topic of whether scientists have the right to study or perform gene modification and what it may mean for the future, Aldo kidnapped the president of the institute that had a lab that performed gene modification, run by Linus and his assistant Isabel. .He sent threatening letters to Linus and Isabel stating that he had the president of the Institution and that she would die if they didn't resign and stop the research. They refused, Linus stating that free thinking and teaching must continue for the good of society. One of the major donors threatened to withdraw their financial support if they did not stop. The conflict escalated, Aldo could not have predicted the consequences that resulted resulting from the kidnapping. Interesting to read the pros and cons of gene modification as the mystery of who 'Aldo" is and how he disguises his actions. Very well written, although I thought the communication addresses were rather long and unnecessary. I recommend reading the book.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story, and it took me a little to to catch on. The anonymous-type group is pretty interesting, but surprisingly inept in several ways.

The subtext to the whole story was the most engaging to me- the existential argument about the hubris of human intervention in genetics and manipulating genes of future generations for good or for ????? or the helpless acceptance of the horror defective genes can produce.

The parallel issue of academic freedom and the heavy handedness of funders is also critical. The abuse of funds to advance the narrow and often self serving goals of rich guys is one that rankles me and is addressed well here.
The comment that the big rich guy who pulled his financial commitment so he could go suppress intelligent thought and research was a highlight for me.

The chase part, the escape and eventual ending were ok and vaguely satisfying.

Check it out, food for thought.