Escape from Extinction
An Eco-Genetic Novel
by Frederic C. Rich
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Pub Date 1 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 14 Dec 2020
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Description
Frederic C. Rich is the author of the dystopian political novel, Christian Nation (W. W. Norton, 2013), called "brilliant" by Richard Dawkins, "well written and persuasive" by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "required reading" by the New York Post, and "riveting, provocative reading" by Booklist. His second book, Getting to Green, Saving Nature: A Bipartisan Solution (W. W. Norton, 2016) was called one of the most important environmental books of the year by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. The book attracted widespread coverage, including being featured on PBS Newshour. Now, the digital revolution is about to be overtaken by a genetic one. Scientists wielding new tools for editing DNA have the power to change the blueprint for humanity, hack evolution, re-engineer nature, resurrect extinct species, and even create entirely new forms of life. We are in what Siddhartha Mukherjee in his bestseller, The Gene, calls “a headlong sprint into an abyss.” Escape from Extinction uses storytelling to explore this abyss. In Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, the intersection of avarice and scientific hubris gave us man-eating velociraptors. Here, the “monster” is an empathetic and charming de-extincted Neanderthal teenager, who many nevertheless believe presents the same threat to humanity as Crichton’s dinosaurs.
Advance Praise
“Rich’s prose is smooth and measured . . . With its mix of cutting-edge science and moral quandaries, readers will find that the book reminds them at times of the work of the late bestselling author Michael Crichton. However, the thriller element of this novel is relatively muted to allow for a deeper examination of the characters and their relationships . . . a highly readable and timely riff on the Frankenstein theme. A thought-provoking and satisfying story about modern man’s powers and limitations.”
- Kirkus Reviews
"Rich has let his imagination run wild over the outer limits of today's science. Life extension, cloning, resurrection of extinct species -- it's all there in a world both threatening and promising. And a great read for fans of our Neanderthal cousins."
–John Darnton, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of Neanderthal
“While scientists and scholars debate the use of new biotechnologies, such as gene editing, the public remains largely unengaged. Fred Rich’s Escape from Extinction uses story telling to immerse the reader in the moral dilemmas arising from our new powers to shape life. This book could play an important role in launching a much-needed public conversation about the ethics of genetic modification.”
—Mildred Z. Solomon, ED.D., President, The Hastings Center, and Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
“What might happen if the course of life on earth were determined not by evolution, but by human choice? Humanity is acquiring the tools to control nature, but do we have a moral and ethical framework to assure we will use them wisely? The novel Escape from Extinction brings these questions vividly to life, while forbearing from asserting a particular answer. The characters struggle with the promise and peril of new technologies, forcing readers to look to their own most profound values and assumptions.”
—Gregory E. Kaebnick, PH.D., editor of The Ideal of Nature: Debates about Biotechnology and the Environment (Johns Hopkins, 2011), and author, Humans in Nature: The World As We Find It and the World As We Create It (Oxford, 2013)
Marketing Plan
- Major review attention
- National media interviews
- Print and online features and profiles
- OpEds and guest blogs
- Social media campaign
- Major review attention
- National media interviews
- Print and online features and profiles
- OpEds and guest blogs
- Social media campaign
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781734665505 |
| PRICE | US$29.00 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Dawn L, Reviewer
I absolutely loved this book. There are characters to love, and some to hate, also. It's very well-written. The story, though... the story! It takes you from "what if" to "uh oh" to "oh, no... no, no, no" to "now you have to give me a sequel". I was entranced by the unfolding of a potential future, by the hopes, challenges, possibilities. "Escape from Extinction" has left me wondering where I would stand on the question of "how far should we go?". I definitely need a follow-up book!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
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