Edge of the seat reading. Page turner, nightmare inducing.
The first part of the book deals with gene manipulation with regards to a contagious virus and a guy named Paul Fischer from USAMRID who pretty much disappears about half way thru the novel. Why? IDK. It seems like 2 separate novels actually, but instead of Paul's ending you get nada.
Then it switches to a story about a genius obese Chinese nutso scientist implanting cows with embryos and the embryos are monsters. When the first group of people try to escape in a huge plane there is no way to figure out who stayed and who went. It was handled very poorly. I had no clue for pages who was on the plane.
Also on the 'bizarre scale' at 10 was the size of the fetuses. I've seen Scottish Highlander cattle...they're pretty big and I've seen their offspring...smaller than an adult Great Dane but in this book no one wonders how a big cow carries a 200 lb fetus -it's really quite unbelievable. How (aside from eating the way out) is it supposed to be delivered? How do the scientists, who are NOT alarmed, think they are going to come out? How can the newborns run, jump, eat and whatever without ever having moved their limbs before? Most babies are quite helpless (no muscle tone) so you have to discard your brain here. Mostly cuz the scientists don't think of it. Also since implantation occured same day for all of the mommy cows, so must delivery occur same day or thereabouts but these are all over the map.
Before nutso Chinese scientist dies she does SOMETHING, not very clearly explained, to her own eggs. Never explained or dealt with again. So where/what is it? Where is it growing? Then a squirrel is eaten at the end by, which you are led to believe; 2 severely mangled monsters have a baby? They survived winter alone on an island on like Lake Superior? No deer or other food in sight? Now they don't need food anymore? Are these warm or cold blooded monsters?
Toss your common sense and intelligence far away and borrow this one at the library. It's very fast paced and you want to keep reading it. It does have a genetic and science-tampering-with-life reality that's intriguing. Apart from the illogic I liked it.
Thanks for your review and I'm glad you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteAs for your questions, they are not as "shut off your brain" as you think.
Scottish Highlander cattle weigh about 1,000 pounds. Holsteins weigh over 1,500. Holstein calves can weigh 125-150 pounds. Talking about "extremely pregnant" cows with 200-pound fetuses is perfectly reasonable.
The calves would be delivered by C-Section. The scientists know this going in. That is why they are surprised when the calves try to eat their way out -- there is no way for the cow to properly give birth.
Newborn calves stand and walk within minutes of being born. You do not have to discard your brain, this is easily confirmed with a YouTube or a Google search.
The Ancestors are all "born" at the same time. The only exception is the cow that fell during the C-5 flight. That cow's stomach ruptured, and the fetus reacted on instinct, trying to eat -- considering the story shows the fetuses eat anything, including their mother, and other fetuses in the womb, this is perfectly logical.
The full-term "birth" all happens at the same time, when the out of the cows when they are in Sven's barn, and Sven is sleeping. He only wakes up when his dog is barking at the cows howling in pain, fifty yards away, and over a windstorm. The births are in no way "all over the map." The fetuses are "born" at night, they get their legs under them while Sven sleeps, and they have plenty of time to get strong enough to kill the other cows.
The squirrel is eaten by the Chinese scientist's baby. That's what she did with her eggs. That clear it up for you?
Of course they need food. We'll see what happens in the sequel.
Cool & thanx for your notice.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember scientists mentioning all were going to be delivered by C section. And yes newborns can stand up but chase prey around speedily, kill, dodge bullets, etc IDK about that. Why didn't they eat each other (out of the womb) since they ate moms?
BTW I love how Mookie survives and your personal note to the dog. Very nice, I'm a big dog lover and was rooting for him all the time.
I needed your sentence about 'Chinese scientists baby eating the squirrels', it was ambiguous with the male/female ancestors finding each other there at the end. I was HUH? Chinese baby implanted in what and how long to gestate? Or new baby ancestor?