Dark Inheritance

Awful!

To summarize the book tells the story of an English drug company's project to create genetically enhanced bonobos so that the species will have a better chance of survival and escape extinction. First off the book shows very little originality--at least a third of it, I'd estimate, was taken from Robin Cook's 'Chromosome 6.' Locations, events, and results were all borrowed. The principle difference between them is that Cook's book is much better written, and far more believable. More than half the characters in this story are either disgusting themselves or stupid beyond belief. We have a spoiled, obsessed with sex thirteen year-old girl, a mother who abandoned her daughter, profit driven 'hunters'/ poachers, and a colossal group of idiots pouring money, a good deal of which is obtained illegally, into an impractical, doomed-from-the-start endeavor. The book is a perfect example of unoriginality, filth, and a few other things wrapped into a single package. If you want to buy this book, get it as an exa

A page turner you can't put down.

This novel was hard to put down from the very beginning. You don't find that too often in a book. The characters and story line are very close to being real and possibly happening in our life time. I found Umber to be truly funny at times and then sad. Highly recommended from a long time reader.

Intelligent genetics tale

After thirteen years of living with Umber the bonobo ape, Jim Dutton feels the primate is part of his family, a sister to his human daughter Brett. Umber communicates with his family through computers and sign language. Over the years, Umber has developed a distinct personality with a sense of humor and a bit of flamboyance. <P>Two events shatter Jim¿s complacent world. He learns that Umber¿s owners Smyth-Archer Chemists somehow changed and enhanced his ¿child¿ and other bonobo apes into something more human than ape. Worse than accepting that revelation, SAC demands he return Umber to them. Rather than meekly handing Umber over, Jim, accompanied by his two children, travels to Africa where SAC has a facility allegedly helping endangered species. Once Jim realizes the true objective of this remote site, he knows he places himself and his charges in danger from a corporate group that will do anything for silence to prevail. <P>DARK INHERITANCE is an exciting genetic engineering tale that never eases up on the throttle. The story line is fast-paced and refreshing, especially the scientific and investigative aspects of the plot that is not just anther Moreau rehash. The Duttons are a warm, heroic family who readers will hope that SAC fails in their efforts to break them up. Though SAC¿s vision seems myopic, W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O¿Neal Gear provide a smart, spry splicing of the gene pool story. <P>Harriet Klausner

a page turner

I was totally caught up in this thrilling story of two very different children who face terror with ingenuity and intelligence. Umber, a genetically altered, bonobo, with her human 'sister' face a variety of challenges that carry them across two continents. Although this is a different sort of story by these two authors, I think it's one of their best. I was totally wrapped up in the story.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.