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Jellyfish Have Eyes Trilogy #1
Jellyfish Have Eyes
He made a deathbed promise to research cancer cures. When a marvelous natural wonder calls, will ignoring his conscience lead to ruin?
2048. Ricardo Sztein craves knowledge. Cocooned in grief after the loss of his wife of four decades, the nationally recognized scientist is roused from his stupor by an incredible discovery. Fascinated by evolution and counterintuitive research, he ignores his promise to his dying spouse to find a cure for cancer in favor of learning more about jellyfish eyes.
Tormented by insecurity and doubts, Ricardo’s increasing jealousy of his closest friend pushes him further past the point of no return. So when he proudly publishes his findings to the world, he’s stunned to be facing with a criminal trial.
Will his endless thirst for understanding leave his career in ruins?
Jellyfish Have Eyes is the thought-provoking first book in the Jellyfish Have Eyes science fiction series. If you like inspirational characters, page-turning conflict, and serious discussions of important issues, then you’ll love Joram Piatigorsky’s provocative tale.
Buy Jellyfish Have Eyes to peer into unknown wonders today!
2048. Ricardo Sztein craves knowledge. Cocooned in grief after the loss of his wife of four decades, the nationally recognized scientist is roused from his stupor by an incredible discovery. Fascinated by evolution and counterintuitive research, he ignores his promise to his dying spouse to find a cure for cancer in favor of learning more about jellyfish eyes.
Tormented by insecurity and doubts, Ricardo’s increasing jealousy of his closest friend pushes him further past the point of no return. So when he proudly publishes his findings to the world, he’s stunned to be facing with a criminal trial.
Will his endless thirst for understanding leave his career in ruins?
Jellyfish Have Eyes is the thought-provoking first book in the Jellyfish Have Eyes science fiction series. If you like inspirational characters, page-turning conflict, and serious discussions of important issues, then you’ll love Joram Piatigorsky’s provocative tale.
Buy Jellyfish Have Eyes to peer into unknown wonders today!
- GenresFiction
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
8 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
About the author
Joram Piatigorsky
12 books26 followersScientists develop hypotheses—possibilities—to bridge gaps in the narrative between the known and the unknown. I spent close to 50 years in science as a molecular biologist and eye researcher, founding the Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology at the National Eye Institute in 1981.
In 2009, after a lifetime of publishing scientific articles on my research followed by a book on evolution and genetics, Gene Sharing and Evolution (Harvard University Press, 2007), I closed my lab and focused on writing fiction. My first publication was Jellyfish Have Eyes , a novel blending imagination with my past research experiences in jellyfish vision in the mangrove swamps of Puerto Rico, which I consider a highlight in my years of science.
Since then, writing has been my primary medium for exploring the world, including the ever-shifting border between reality and imagination.
Collecting Inuit art has deepened my understanding of the themes my writing explores. I am fascinated by its origins in the frozen Arctic, diverse artistic voices, tactile textures of the sculptures, and mythology, especially concerning the shamanic transformations. It took me a while to recognize the link between these transformation pieces with my interest in evolution, which impress me as artistic representations of the continuity within the animal kingdom, humbling the idea of our superiority, and reflecting a deep and unwavering equality and respect for all species.
They also raise more questions than they answer, as is so often the case with art, science and life. It is our work then to keep asking questions as we move into uncharted waters, forming and reforming the stories of our own evolution from the fragments of answers we find. Some dispatches from my journey are posted on my website, JoramP.com.
My wife, Lona, of 55 years at the time of writing, our two sons, Auran and Anton and their wives, and five grandchildren have been my greatest gifts and make my journey in life worthwhile.
In 2009, after a lifetime of publishing scientific articles on my research followed by a book on evolution and genetics, Gene Sharing and Evolution (Harvard University Press, 2007), I closed my lab and focused on writing fiction. My first publication was Jellyfish Have Eyes , a novel blending imagination with my past research experiences in jellyfish vision in the mangrove swamps of Puerto Rico, which I consider a highlight in my years of science.
Since then, writing has been my primary medium for exploring the world, including the ever-shifting border between reality and imagination.
Collecting Inuit art has deepened my understanding of the themes my writing explores. I am fascinated by its origins in the frozen Arctic, diverse artistic voices, tactile textures of the sculptures, and mythology, especially concerning the shamanic transformations. It took me a while to recognize the link between these transformation pieces with my interest in evolution, which impress me as artistic representations of the continuity within the animal kingdom, humbling the idea of our superiority, and reflecting a deep and unwavering equality and respect for all species.
They also raise more questions than they answer, as is so often the case with art, science and life. It is our work then to keep asking questions as we move into uncharted waters, forming and reforming the stories of our own evolution from the fragments of answers we find. Some dispatches from my journey are posted on my website, JoramP.com.
My wife, Lona, of 55 years at the time of writing, our two sons, Auran and Anton and their wives, and five grandchildren have been my greatest gifts and make my journey in life worthwhile.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 21, 2024
Piatigorsky é cientista, especializado em biologia molecular. Como tal, oferece uma perspetiva informada à narrativa, enriquecendo o texto com a sua experiência e conhecimento, no qual junta ciência, filosofia, política e questões profundas sobre a natureza.
Gostei especialmente da discussão sobre a necessidade de ciência básica, aquela que é motivada pela pura curiosidade e pela busca do conhecimento por si só, em vez de aplicada a práticas imediatas e/ou resultados pré definidos (ciência aplicada).
Há ideias muito interessantes e importantes. Apesar disso, no seu conjunto, trata-se de um livro que não realiza todo o potencial das suas premissas. Podia ser extraordinário, mas falta-lhe algum fôlego e, acho eu, talento literário.
Ainda assim, considero que vale a leitura.
Gostei especialmente da discussão sobre a necessidade de ciência básica, aquela que é motivada pela pura curiosidade e pela busca do conhecimento por si só, em vez de aplicada a práticas imediatas e/ou resultados pré definidos (ciência aplicada).
Há ideias muito interessantes e importantes. Apesar disso, no seu conjunto, trata-se de um livro que não realiza todo o potencial das suas premissas. Podia ser extraordinário, mas falta-lhe algum fôlego e, acho eu, talento literário.
Ainda assim, considero que vale a leitura.
June 15, 2025
Accomplished eye researcher Ricardo is rocked by his wife's death and haunted by her last request that he pursue a cure for cancer, from which she died. Unleashing his own curiosity, he instead finds himself launching into jellyfish eyes, leading to jellyfish vision, jellyfish brains, and jellyfish awareness. I found the descriptions of his experiments, crude and hurried to feed his eagerness (obsession?) to learn more, fascinating.
As Ricardo's new passion draws him further away from the mission of the government-funded institute that employs him and funds his research, Ricardo is horrified to find himself the poster child for researcher arrogance, self-indulgence and wasteful spending.
The trial that follows was difficult for me as a career research administrator to digest. I get that this is a reflection of where current events could lead, but really, where is the Office of Inspector General? How does the institute leadership avoid all scrutiny of its decision-making and internal controls? How is Ricardo, an eye researcher, on trial for federal funding not finding a cure for children's cancers? Even recognizing the future date, I found it hard to believe all governance of federal research funding has been abdicated to jury trials.
Ricardo's fate in the public square sets up the last chapters where he is confronted by both what he won't be - a research rock star, a husband who kept his word to his dying wife - and what he didn't expect to be but is (spoilers).
I appreciate the opportunity to receive a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I definitely would read more from this author, and I particular appreciated the vividness his own research experience brought to Ricardo's actions and thought process.
As Ricardo's new passion draws him further away from the mission of the government-funded institute that employs him and funds his research, Ricardo is horrified to find himself the poster child for researcher arrogance, self-indulgence and wasteful spending.
The trial that follows was difficult for me as a career research administrator to digest. I get that this is a reflection of where current events could lead, but really, where is the Office of Inspector General? How does the institute leadership avoid all scrutiny of its decision-making and internal controls? How is Ricardo, an eye researcher, on trial for federal funding not finding a cure for children's cancers? Even recognizing the future date, I found it hard to believe all governance of federal research funding has been abdicated to jury trials.
Ricardo's fate in the public square sets up the last chapters where he is confronted by both what he won't be - a research rock star, a husband who kept his word to his dying wife - and what he didn't expect to be but is (spoilers).
I appreciate the opportunity to receive a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I definitely would read more from this author, and I particular appreciated the vividness his own research experience brought to Ricardo's actions and thought process.
November 25, 2025
Jellyfish Have Eyes is a terrific novel that only a true scientist with an inquisitive mind and a talent for story telling could write. The technical details serve as background to a story that will convince the reader to trust the author and accept this parable which describes how bureaucrats in power can stifle the work of creative people. By contrasting well-worded arguments against well-worded arguments, Piatigorsky makes the case that scientific research is important in and of itself, being a narrative and a speculation, not just a barrel of facts, and can be significant without an immediate commercial benefit. Like art for art’s sake. The trial toward the end of the novel is engrossing and entertaining like a John Grisham thriller. In addition to the main theme, I found a lot to like in Piatigorsky’s prose: the way he describes his character’s passion, the feelings of friendship and envy, the love for his wife lasting a lifetime, and optimism.
June 26, 2018
This book is a must-read for anyone who has a fascination with good fiction, and anyone who loves to discover the mysteries of the sea as much as the curious and brilliant Ricardo Sztein, a government scientist who years to keep the creativity in basic science alive and well. Today there is so much more being discovered about jellyfish and so much right to creative scientific research that is at risk in these times, that this dystopian novel is growing in relevance every day. I love the contemplative nature of this book, and the surprise ending.
May 25, 2025
This is very interesting and fits with what's going on right now.
My only complaint is, it's a bit longwinded.
Some things just didn't need to be repeated.
My only complaint is, it's a bit longwinded.
Some things just didn't need to be repeated.
April 13, 2015
A wonderful book! The book's main character is a scientist, an expert on diseases affecting eyes, who becomes fascinated by jellyfish. (They do have eyes…very complex eyes!) The book is interesting on many levels: the value of basic scientific research; the pressure to link research to medical advances in order to obtain funding, and the politics of funding scientific research. I loved the descriptions linking scientific discovery and creativity.
The author, Joran Piatigorsky, is an internationally respected, award-winning scientist whose specialty is the molecular biology of the eye. This is his first novel. I look forward to reading more of his work.
The author, Joran Piatigorsky, is an internationally respected, award-winning scientist whose specialty is the molecular biology of the eye. This is his first novel. I look forward to reading more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews