The Bourbaki Gambit

by Carl Djerassi

This novel, like Jurassic Park , hinges on the real-world technology incorporated in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), one of the most important breakthroughs in biomedical science. The 1993 Nobel Prize in chemistry recognized the immense significance of PCR, which is a process for quickly generating and then infinitely replicating fragments of genetic material. An impostor takes all of the credit in Carl Djerassi's fictionalized account of PCR's discovery and development. As the scientific community eventually discovers, Professor Diana Skordylis is not really one of their own, she is four of their own--three men and a woman--who publish their collaborative work under the Skordylis pseudonym. Two of them American, one Japanese, and one Austrian, they average around sixty-five years of age. Their archetype is a famous group of French mathematicians who actually have been publishing collectively for several decades under the nom de plume of Nicolas Bourbaki. Revenge is the Skordylis group's initial motivation. Victims of subtle age discrimination, they have all seen their research budgets and faculty privileges curtailed; two have been forcibly retired. Each Skordylis project they complete, each paper they publish under her name, is a satisfying poke at a scientific community that marginalized its senior members. But PCR is different. It is not only their best work, it is among the best work done by any scientist in recent memory. Professional jealousy soon threatens Diana Skordylis's life, as some group members struggle with the urge to claim their share of the fame and separately seek out PCR's most innovative applications. Djerassi writes engagingly--and from experience--about the collaborative nature at the heart of the scientific enterprise and the desire for personal recognition in the hearts of most scientists; about the graying of Western science; and about the human frailties and humanistic concerns of its practitioners.

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possibly the most bizarre wish-fulfillment fantasy I have ever come across. A 65-year-old widower professor of biochemistry has just been forcibly retired. He joins forces with three more elderly former professors, and they decide they'll get even with the damn scientific community and its ageist policies. Before we know what's happened, they've come up with a major breakthrough, which they first publish anonymously, just so as to be able to twist the knife even more effectively when they finally do reveal their identities. And having realized his wildest professional dreams, the cherry on the ice-cream is that our hero even gets the gorgeous, sexy but 70-ish girl.

I don't think it was meant ironically...

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the human side of science and scientists.

[Leo W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise to read something where the principals are scientists portrayed as humans. While a bit contrived (e.g., what group of scientists agrees to collaborate before deciding what they are collaborating on?), and the ancillary love story between the student and Sepp's son too telescopic, the conversation and the depiction on much of the conduct of science are spot on.

[Georgii Griaznov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that I really enjoyed the first few chapters (especially the opening of chapter 1), the book felt incredibly pretentious.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Djerassi, a professor of chemistry, draws this distinction about his forays into fiction: "I call my genre 'science-in-fiction' to distinguish it from science fiction." 'The Bourbaki Gambit' sets up a beautiful premise, based on what the title of the novel means, but the denouement is a bit of a let-down. Maybe I wanted a little more s-f in the f. Or maybe it was just that the science in the novel was way, way over my head.

[Audrey Ettinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully complex book about science written by a distinguished scientist. There is a lot of interesting discussion of human ego and of the perils of aging and sexism which are universal alongside the commentary on the practice of science. It was a very successful read in my science in fiction class (which was inspired by Dr. Djerassi).

[andreleyendo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, much to my surprise. I liked how Djerassi includes this really strong and feminist woman as one of the principal characters, making it so much interesting and less scientific. My fave, though, was the end. My romantic self wins this time, and the fact that Max ends up with the sexy seventy-something old woman, makes it even cuter!

[Ivan Sagesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

90% narrativa innecesaria (romanticismo).
10% Ciencia o divulgación de la ciencia o lenguajes (PCR, alemán, etc.)