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Virus Clans: A Story of Evolution
The story of a research scientist's discovery that certain viruses are intelligently planning where and how to multiply is intertwined with the tale of the virus clans, who realize that the human race must be changed in order to serve as the perfect host. Original.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
dnf
December 29, 2020I'm going to do what I should really learn to do more often, considering my complete lack of free bookshelf space, and DNF this. I'm 34 pages in, and completely uninterested in continuing. I don't think it's my current mood, either - I don't know that I'll want to finish this even a few months or a year from now. I bought it on a whim from a bookstore bargain bin many years ago, so it isn't even like a have a compelling reason to give it another chance.
It's very science-focused science fiction - taking protein exchange between viruses as its jumping off point, it then has what appears to be a sentient virus group mind, which I assume will travel from its original planet to Earth and then begin to take over and become a part of humans. I was very put off by the alien POV bit - a politically powerful male alien who, multiple times, paused to think about his newest mate, a much younger female he enjoyed having sex with. It was gross and tiresome. I have no idea if other male POV sections in this book would end up being similarly awful, and I don't have the willpower to find out.
It's very science-focused science fiction - taking protein exchange between viruses as its jumping off point, it then has what appears to be a sentient virus group mind, which I assume will travel from its original planet to Earth and then begin to take over and become a part of humans. I was very put off by the alien POV bit - a politically powerful male alien who, multiple times, paused to think about his newest mate, a much younger female he enjoyed having sex with. It was gross and tiresome. I have no idea if other male POV sections in this book would end up being similarly awful, and I don't have the willpower to find out.
August 25, 2017
Wow! Just....wow! I can't believe how good this book was! I idly plucked this book from the shelf, having no expectations...I saw the words "virus" and "research scientist" and that was enough.
Not only was this very skillfully written but the concept absolutely stunned me. I did a fair bit of googling while reading that confirmed the background. Most impressive was that this was written in 1998 and just last year, it was discovered that viruses do, indeed, communicate via protein codes! And that protein computers are currently being developed, with implications exactly as large as stated in here.
It's funny...my experience is that books with amazing ideas and concepts are usually written poorly; the authors being scientists and thinkers rather than wordsmiths but this guy has both. The virus clan chapters beautifully illustrated the sheer logicality of the progressive evolution of the most ubiquitous yet unexplainable organism on the planet. The human/social side chapters were equally compelling.
This book just set my mind on fire and, I suspect, has just started me down a research path of no little import.
I will, of course, be immediately acquiring everything else Mr Kanaly has written.
Not only was this very skillfully written but the concept absolutely stunned me. I did a fair bit of googling while reading that confirmed the background. Most impressive was that this was written in 1998 and just last year, it was discovered that viruses do, indeed, communicate via protein codes! And that protein computers are currently being developed, with implications exactly as large as stated in here.
It's funny...my experience is that books with amazing ideas and concepts are usually written poorly; the authors being scientists and thinkers rather than wordsmiths but this guy has both. The virus clan chapters beautifully illustrated the sheer logicality of the progressive evolution of the most ubiquitous yet unexplainable organism on the planet. The human/social side chapters were equally compelling.
This book just set my mind on fire and, I suspect, has just started me down a research path of no little import.
I will, of course, be immediately acquiring everything else Mr Kanaly has written.
August 23, 2025
What a fuckin ride!
Mix Tchaikovsky’s evolutionary sci-fi with a little X-files, some Arthur Clarke, a gallon of Plague Inc, and glaze that over with a bowl of Black Mirror, and you’d have this book.
It swaps perspectives between present day and billions of years ago, while slowly working towards a convergence point, which ends in a multi-layered mind fuck.
Why is this book in obscurity??
Mix Tchaikovsky’s evolutionary sci-fi with a little X-files, some Arthur Clarke, a gallon of Plague Inc, and glaze that over with a bowl of Black Mirror, and you’d have this book.
It swaps perspectives between present day and billions of years ago, while slowly working towards a convergence point, which ends in a multi-layered mind fuck.
Why is this book in obscurity??
December 25, 2014
Most excellent sci-fi from wonderful author Michael Kanaly. I recommend reading "Thoughts of God" first, which is one of the best sci-fi books ever, in my opinion. "Thoughts of God" is so creative and metaphysical. We get a glimpse into God's actual thoughts to see how his thoughts affect things on earth. Personally, I'm a confirmed atheist, but this is still great stuff. Virus Clans is the story of a research scientist who notices that certain viruses seem to be acting in ways that don't seem commensurate with their typical random behavior. They seem to be intelligent, to be planning their actions. We also get to hear the story from the viewpoint of the virus clans themselves over millions of years. It reminded me a bit of the story by Robert L. Forward called "Dragon's Egg (Cheela #1)".
June 2, 2016
An interesting explanation for viruses, in a story with a wonderfully large scope. Clearly not to everyone's tastes, based on some of the low-starred reviews I've seen online, but I liked this quite a bit.
January 8, 2008
Infection causes the next evolution in humankind. With a backstory. Awesome. Builds upon the existential worries expressed in THOUGHTS OF GOD.
July 25, 2011
To be re-reviewed.
July 26, 2012
This is pretty good for science fiction. I'm usually not a science fiction reader, but this was suspenseful and kept me thinking!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews