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SynBio
Stolen DNA, shadowy links to North Korea—a scientist is lured into a dangerous game of weaponized disease in this “gripping, twisting” thriller (Janet Gilsdorf, author of Ten Days ).
Seth Stringer is a biohacker. Young, brash, and ambitious, he works in Cambridge, Massachusetts, hacking into DNA the same way hackers infiltrate computer manipulating organisms by inserting new DNA or exploiting genetic mutations that can trigger fatal heart attacks or induce bipolar illness or Alzheimer’s.
Biohackers like Seth can perform their experiments in their kitchens using equipment purchased for next to nothing on eBay. Seth is obsessed with exploring the frontiers of genetic manipulation—but he can be a little naïve. When his former professor Marcus Adair dangles a job in London working for an international pharmaceutical company called Chimera, Seth jumps at the chance. He can make good money and cement his relationship with his girlfriend, who has misgivings about his future prospects as a breadwinner.
What Seth fails to realize, until it’s too late, is that the principal business of Chimera isn’t the manufacture of generic drugs, but the production of lethal genetic products for well-heeled clients. These are used to assassinate or debilitate presidents, prime ministers, and CEOs using their own DNA against them, a method that not only makes it difficult to identify the perpetrator—a cold virus can deliver the engineered DNA—but makes it almost impossible to determine a crime has been committed in the first place . . .
“A thought-provoking and electrifying thriller.” —Jeffrey Small, bestselling author of The Jericho Deception
Seth Stringer is a biohacker. Young, brash, and ambitious, he works in Cambridge, Massachusetts, hacking into DNA the same way hackers infiltrate computer manipulating organisms by inserting new DNA or exploiting genetic mutations that can trigger fatal heart attacks or induce bipolar illness or Alzheimer’s.
Biohackers like Seth can perform their experiments in their kitchens using equipment purchased for next to nothing on eBay. Seth is obsessed with exploring the frontiers of genetic manipulation—but he can be a little naïve. When his former professor Marcus Adair dangles a job in London working for an international pharmaceutical company called Chimera, Seth jumps at the chance. He can make good money and cement his relationship with his girlfriend, who has misgivings about his future prospects as a breadwinner.
What Seth fails to realize, until it’s too late, is that the principal business of Chimera isn’t the manufacture of generic drugs, but the production of lethal genetic products for well-heeled clients. These are used to assassinate or debilitate presidents, prime ministers, and CEOs using their own DNA against them, a method that not only makes it difficult to identify the perpetrator—a cold virus can deliver the engineered DNA—but makes it almost impossible to determine a crime has been committed in the first place . . .
“A thought-provoking and electrifying thriller.” —Jeffrey Small, bestselling author of The Jericho Deception
- GenresScience Fiction
334 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2013
7 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Alan Horvitz
32 books10 followersLeslie Alan Horvitz is a NY Times Best Selling author of over 31 novels and several works of non-fiction with editions of his books published around the world.
Leslie's most recent novel is medical thriller SynBio with his other books including The Memory Hole, The Donors, Double Blinded, The Dying and Causes Unknown.
Leslie is also the author of several works of nonfiction, most recently The Essential Book of Weather Folklore, The Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide, The Weather Tracker and Night Sky Tracker Eureka: Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed the World.
To help write his medical thriller books, Leslie has researched epidemics ranging from Ebola and HIV in Zaire to Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone and Hantan Fever in China.
Leslie lives in New York City.
Leslie's most recent novel is medical thriller SynBio with his other books including The Memory Hole, The Donors, Double Blinded, The Dying and Causes Unknown.
Leslie is also the author of several works of nonfiction, most recently The Essential Book of Weather Folklore, The Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide, The Weather Tracker and Night Sky Tracker Eureka: Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed the World.
To help write his medical thriller books, Leslie has researched epidemics ranging from Ebola and HIV in Zaire to Lassa Fever in Sierra Leone and Hantan Fever in China.
Leslie lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 10, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed Synbio. It is an intelligently written and well edited thriller/suspense novel.
The Hero is a scientist and biohacker who becomes employed by Chimera, a pharmaceutical and gene therapy company. The heroine (or anti heroine) is a gene harvester, stealing the genes of the rich, famous and powerful. Neither is concerned with the morality lacking in their professions until they are forced to by circumstances. They then work together to expose Chimera's actions and intent to the world.
The plot was fast paced and filled with surprises. I read until the early morning hours to finish Synbio.
The only drawback was the rather abrupt ending. The reader is left guessing about the outcome for the H and h. A second novel to continue the story would be nice or even an epilogue to tie up loose ends.
I highly recommend this novel. ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
The Hero is a scientist and biohacker who becomes employed by Chimera, a pharmaceutical and gene therapy company. The heroine (or anti heroine) is a gene harvester, stealing the genes of the rich, famous and powerful. Neither is concerned with the morality lacking in their professions until they are forced to by circumstances. They then work together to expose Chimera's actions and intent to the world.
The plot was fast paced and filled with surprises. I read until the early morning hours to finish Synbio.
The only drawback was the rather abrupt ending. The reader is left guessing about the outcome for the H and h. A second novel to continue the story would be nice or even an epilogue to tie up loose ends.
I highly recommend this novel. ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
July 29, 2014
I think I can safely say that after reading this book I now know a lot about DNA and genetics. Perhaps even more than I would like to know or imagine possible. The use of bio-genetics as a biological weapon of warfare.
If it ever becomes as simple as it seems in this story then I am afraid we have something to worry about. Kudos to the author for simplifying the process and explanations, so that a layman can understand all the science involved.
We see Eugenie find her moral compass and at the same time she is struck by the reality of not being able to do anything to change the plight of others or those in need. It is interesting to see that contradiction in someone who appears so completely ruthless and jaded.
I think Seth plays the key-role of the scientist confronted by the conundrum most scientists have to face or acknowledge eventually. To discover can also often men holding the key to a potential weapon. Each cure can become a recipe for death, and each new step forward could mean any steps backwards for humanity.
It could do with a little more structure and direction. The development of the main characters suffers a little from the sheer magnitude of the main plot and sub-plots.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
If it ever becomes as simple as it seems in this story then I am afraid we have something to worry about. Kudos to the author for simplifying the process and explanations, so that a layman can understand all the science involved.
We see Eugenie find her moral compass and at the same time she is struck by the reality of not being able to do anything to change the plight of others or those in need. It is interesting to see that contradiction in someone who appears so completely ruthless and jaded.
I think Seth plays the key-role of the scientist confronted by the conundrum most scientists have to face or acknowledge eventually. To discover can also often men holding the key to a potential weapon. Each cure can become a recipe for death, and each new step forward could mean any steps backwards for humanity.
It could do with a little more structure and direction. The development of the main characters suffers a little from the sheer magnitude of the main plot and sub-plots.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
June 5, 2014
While SynBio by Leslie Horvitz had a great premise, the hacking of DNA, the plot deteriorated into something other than a science fiction thriller. While the suspense was still there, it became a novel about a series of hook-ups to gather DNA from various men and lost much of the initial excitement. In the end it was so-so and a forgettable book for me.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the author for review purposes.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the author for review purposes.
July 14, 2014
3.25 Stars
A medical espionage thriller with a good plot and plenty of potential; but the MCs need more depth and the writing needs just a bit of polish. It's gritty and fast-paced and the ending left the storyline open for a sequel.
I loved the DJ's playlist at the club.
Net Galley Feedback
A medical espionage thriller with a good plot and plenty of potential; but the MCs need more depth and the writing needs just a bit of polish. It's gritty and fast-paced and the ending left the storyline open for a sequel.
I loved the DJ's playlist at the club.
Net Galley Feedback
September 11, 2014
The future is here....loved this book! I think Horvitz has his hand on the pulse of all that terrifies in reality. Thanks! Highly recommended!
February 10, 2015
Thought provoking
Seems the human race is in a RACE to destroy itself and if the manipulations described here are, or become, available, it will be one fast slide to extinction.
Seems the human race is in a RACE to destroy itself and if the manipulations described here are, or become, available, it will be one fast slide to extinction.
March 4, 2019
Bu kadar ilginç bir konu nasıl bu kadar kötü yazılabilmiş, hayret!
December 1, 2019
Bu alanda yapılan çalışmalara hakim olduğu belli yazarın.. Daha ilginç yazılaileceğini düşünüyorum.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews