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“DNA" is the thirteenth book in a series of near future SciFi/Thrillers. Their heroine Ell Donsaii has a nerve mutation that makes her a genius and provides her some astonishing athletic abilities.
In “DNA,” Ell’s five-year-old son Zage has become interested in the effects of certain genes on obesity. He’s obtained permission to do research in a university lab where he hopes to test some of his ideas.
Work is being done to evaluate the possibility of terraforming the planet Mars by using Ell’s port technology to bring in water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen from various other worlds in the solar system.
Ell’s robotic probes have found intelligent aliens on the third planet of 61 Virginis. Although these aliens appeared to be completely non-technological, it turns out that they are far ahead of Earth in the manipulation of DNA. Can we safely trade technology for some of their DNA know how?
Finally, some of Ell’s old enemies have decided to have one more try at kidnapping her in order to obtain some of her secrets…
In “DNA,” Ell’s five-year-old son Zage has become interested in the effects of certain genes on obesity. He’s obtained permission to do research in a university lab where he hopes to test some of his ideas.
Work is being done to evaluate the possibility of terraforming the planet Mars by using Ell’s port technology to bring in water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen from various other worlds in the solar system.
Ell’s robotic probes have found intelligent aliens on the third planet of 61 Virginis. Although these aliens appeared to be completely non-technological, it turns out that they are far ahead of Earth in the manipulation of DNA. Can we safely trade technology for some of their DNA know how?
Finally, some of Ell’s old enemies have decided to have one more try at kidnapping her in order to obtain some of her secrets…
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2016
424 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Laurence E. Dahners
60 books668 followersI was born on the island of Cyprus where my dad was employed as a mining engineer. We moved to the Philippines (more mining) when I was three and then to Arizona when I was 9. I went to med school at the University of Arizona and did a residency in Orthopaedics at the University of Kansas. I taught Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill until I retired in 2017.
I've always loved science fiction and it's been great fun getting to write some. I also like music and have a little home recording studio. You can read more, listen to some music and look at some of my art, at http://laury.dahners.com/ if you like.
If you want to contact me, or be put on my email list to be notified when new books come out, just email me at ldahners@gmail.com
Laury Dahners
I've always loved science fiction and it's been great fun getting to write some. I also like music and have a little home recording studio. You can read more, listen to some music and look at some of my art, at http://laury.dahners.com/ if you like.
If you want to contact me, or be put on my email list to be notified when new books come out, just email me at ldahners@gmail.com
Laury Dahners
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 2, 2021
I haven’t come up with a better term so I will call these books “competency porn” (think Sherlock Holmes and James Bond). I LOVE competency porn so I blew through all the Ell Donsaii books in about two weeks. As a result I’m giving books 1-16 the same review. While these books largely hit my sweet spot, I recognized several imperfection but, before listing those, I want to first say I greatly enjoyed these books and so I encourage anyone who enjoys “competency porn” (I really hate that term) to give them a try.
The first problem is actually kind of a small, yet somewhat annoying: I had read the author’s Vaz series (alos recommended competency porn) immediately before this one. In fact the Ell Donsaii blurb did not make the book sound appealing to me and so I only gave them a try because I liked the Vaz series so much. Unfortunately this resulted in realizing the author re-used story lines. While this is disappointing it only slightly diminished my enjoyment and the Ell series, with its 16 books to Vaz’s 4, quickly moves beyond this issue.
The second problem is the author writes by recipe and that recipe is: Have multiple secondary story lines that remain unresolved at the end of the book to make the reader buy the next book. An example would be a main story line about terraforming Mars accompanied by a side story line about a vaccine. The Mars story will be resolved by the end of the book but the author will also have spent pages setting up a will he/won’t he for a character to secretly try the vaccine. While the author almost universally handles multiple story lines well, in the end I found this approach truly unfortunate as this author is good enough to keep readers coming back without this manipulation. In short, this author’s books would have been much better if treated as stand alones rather than installments.
Finally, from my point of view, the books are short. The three samples I took from the series were: 217, 210 and 210 pages. I view anything under 300 pages as short and prefer books 350 pages or longer. I must admit, however, that I got all of these books for $4 off Amazon so I don’t really feel shorted. Had I seen these books on a shelf in a book store I likely wouldn’t even have picked them up based on how thin they are.
Bottom line: While not perfect, these books are pretty easily worth the read for any lovers of competency porn.
The first problem is actually kind of a small, yet somewhat annoying: I had read the author’s Vaz series (alos recommended competency porn) immediately before this one. In fact the Ell Donsaii blurb did not make the book sound appealing to me and so I only gave them a try because I liked the Vaz series so much. Unfortunately this resulted in realizing the author re-used story lines. While this is disappointing it only slightly diminished my enjoyment and the Ell series, with its 16 books to Vaz’s 4, quickly moves beyond this issue.
The second problem is the author writes by recipe and that recipe is: Have multiple secondary story lines that remain unresolved at the end of the book to make the reader buy the next book. An example would be a main story line about terraforming Mars accompanied by a side story line about a vaccine. The Mars story will be resolved by the end of the book but the author will also have spent pages setting up a will he/won’t he for a character to secretly try the vaccine. While the author almost universally handles multiple story lines well, in the end I found this approach truly unfortunate as this author is good enough to keep readers coming back without this manipulation. In short, this author’s books would have been much better if treated as stand alones rather than installments.
Finally, from my point of view, the books are short. The three samples I took from the series were: 217, 210 and 210 pages. I view anything under 300 pages as short and prefer books 350 pages or longer. I must admit, however, that I got all of these books for $4 off Amazon so I don’t really feel shorted. Had I seen these books on a shelf in a book store I likely wouldn’t even have picked them up based on how thin they are.
Bottom line: While not perfect, these books are pretty easily worth the read for any lovers of competency porn.
March 4, 2024
Very good!
June 5, 2016
Two and a half stars. Somewhere between tired plot device and 'beating a dead horse' sits Laurence Dahners. I like this series a lot, and I even enjoyed this installment. Dahners has a way of taking real science just one step further and then poking around at it. This is fun, it is interesting and it keeps me coming back to the the series (or the "Vaz" series for that matter). All this despite 'kidnapped by Asians' again...
Can it be spoiler if its been recycled more than once?
The science in this book is a bit more questionable then in the earlier series (my dog might be able to smell the difference between roses but she will never smell like one herself...) Still; it's fiction, it's fun, don't expect too much and you will be happy.
Can it be spoiler if its been recycled more than once?
The science in this book is a bit more questionable then in the earlier series (my dog might be able to smell the difference between roses but she will never smell like one herself...) Still; it's fiction, it's fun, don't expect too much and you will be happy.
August 1, 2016
Enjoyable and learning
I have always enjoyed reading this series and have learned something each time I have read a new book. I will admit the books do have a the same general pattern but it does work and makes a good read. I will continue reading this series.
I have always enjoyed reading this series and have learned something each time I have read a new book. I will admit the books do have a the same general pattern but it does work and makes a good read. I will continue reading this series.
December 18, 2024
This is one interesting story after the long series of drab, and routine, everyday happening stories. For once, it revolves around the characters I'm really invested in and not in slightly interesting alians. The escallation is built well and executed nicely in the end.
But with all these praise, what I rated this book 2 stars? It's simple. Science quality of Dahner's has reduced over the time, his research has reduced over years. Originally his books were based on one new scientific discovery in the otherwise normal world. Now he writes whatever comes to his mind without giving any thought to the reality. Physics has become joke to him. Just because his protagonist is brilliant, everything she (or her coleagues) do, works. Even when it defy laws of physics. They all make one after other numerous discoveries and go on winning Nobel prizes. They accomplish things in few months (even weeks) what otherwise will take years. On earth where best linguists will take few months years to establish few words for communication, and ever a large set of language with monkies, our closest species, in Donsaii's world, they learn language with an alian species and establish good communication. It's easy to like the stories when you are hipnotised by it, but if you want to read sicence fiction, putting your entire brain out of your skull, beats the entire purpose and render it entirely as fantasy.
Apart from that, I dont like the author. He has insulted me and my fellow men in books after books. Also, there is question of his morality. His protagonists can do illegal things and it's okay. For example what Ell does with this villain at the end; transplanting port in his skull. I know he's a villain but he is already being punished for his crime, and she does this. How's that moral. She uses the technology to prevent it's criminal use, only use it criminally herself. And that is treated as if it's fine.
No matter what, Laurence Dahners has lost his way.
But with all these praise, what I rated this book 2 stars? It's simple. Science quality of Dahner's has reduced over the time, his research has reduced over years. Originally his books were based on one new scientific discovery in the otherwise normal world. Now he writes whatever comes to his mind without giving any thought to the reality. Physics has become joke to him. Just because his protagonist is brilliant, everything she (or her coleagues) do, works. Even when it defy laws of physics. They all make one after other numerous discoveries and go on winning Nobel prizes. They accomplish things in few months (even weeks) what otherwise will take years. On earth where best linguists will take few months years to establish few words for communication, and ever a large set of language with monkies, our closest species, in Donsaii's world, they learn language with an alian species and establish good communication. It's easy to like the stories when you are hipnotised by it, but if you want to read sicence fiction, putting your entire brain out of your skull, beats the entire purpose and render it entirely as fantasy.
Apart from that, I dont like the author. He has insulted me and my fellow men in books after books. Also, there is question of his morality. His protagonists can do illegal things and it's okay. For example what Ell does with this villain at the end; transplanting port in his skull. I know he's a villain but he is already being punished for his crime, and she does this. How's that moral. She uses the technology to prevent it's criminal use, only use it criminally herself. And that is treated as if it's fine.
No matter what, Laurence Dahners has lost his way.
March 9, 2022
Dahners, Laurence E. DNA. Ell Donsaii No. 13. Kindle, 2016.
Ell Donsaii is still remotely exploring exoplanets using her wormhole technology that has revolutionized space travel and several other technologies. She has passed her genius (the result of a neurotransmission mutation) on to her five-year-old son, Zage. Zage has an intuitive grasp of how proteins fold and is working on a gene therapy to correct obesity. Ell and her husband maintain a double identity to shield Zage from the dangers and distraction of their fame. But kindergarten is not the right place for him. The challenge for him will be to get adults to take him seriously as their intellectual superior. It looks as if Zage is going to become the central character of the series, which should be fun. Dahners continues to write entertaining hard science fiction with a clear “what if” premise. 4 stars.
Ell Donsaii is still remotely exploring exoplanets using her wormhole technology that has revolutionized space travel and several other technologies. She has passed her genius (the result of a neurotransmission mutation) on to her five-year-old son, Zage. Zage has an intuitive grasp of how proteins fold and is working on a gene therapy to correct obesity. Ell and her husband maintain a double identity to shield Zage from the dangers and distraction of their fame. But kindergarten is not the right place for him. The challenge for him will be to get adults to take him seriously as their intellectual superior. It looks as if Zage is going to become the central character of the series, which should be fun. Dahners continues to write entertaining hard science fiction with a clear “what if” premise. 4 stars.
May 16, 2019
Book 13 - still loving these!
Zage-O-Rama!!!! Yay! Okay, finally an opportunity worthy of nitpicking has become available. One of my least favorite RH tropes is the obligatory kidnappings where the team of able protectors fails to prevent the event. Here it happens over and over and over and over ... again. You'd think Ell and associates would have something that would trigger when assaulted, tazered, drugged, rendered unconscious, etc. At least there's magic underwear and armor. But how about something that all at risk personnel would have?
I'm really going to miss this series when it's completed. Interesting how quite a few musicians have impressive writing talent. Anyone spotted "Bard" on a resume'? 😽
Zage-O-Rama!!!! Yay! Okay, finally an opportunity worthy of nitpicking has become available. One of my least favorite RH tropes is the obligatory kidnappings where the team of able protectors fails to prevent the event. Here it happens over and over and over and over ... again. You'd think Ell and associates would have something that would trigger when assaulted, tazered, drugged, rendered unconscious, etc. At least there's magic underwear and armor. But how about something that all at risk personnel would have?
I'm really going to miss this series when it's completed. Interesting how quite a few musicians have impressive writing talent. Anyone spotted "Bard" on a resume'? 😽
May 12, 2020
Book thirteen
Mistakes: I found only two, but one I feel was bad enough to take away a star. Halfway down a page, right in the middle you find a list of notes that the author has left himself about the aliens.
Plot: There is a lot going on. You have a five year old trying to cure obesity, you have another attempt by the Chinese to kidnap the Mc, you have a second alien species discovered, and some sports. You also get a small peek at what is going on with mars.
Characters: I enjoy the characters and found it easy to keep reading after having been away from book twelve for a few years.
6/10
Mistakes: I found only two, but one I feel was bad enough to take away a star. Halfway down a page, right in the middle you find a list of notes that the author has left himself about the aliens.
Plot: There is a lot going on. You have a five year old trying to cure obesity, you have another attempt by the Chinese to kidnap the Mc, you have a second alien species discovered, and some sports. You also get a small peek at what is going on with mars.
Characters: I enjoy the characters and found it easy to keep reading after having been away from book twelve for a few years.
6/10
June 26, 2017
Once again, a surefire winner!!
Yes, this series has hard science. Do I care? No, some is a little stretch so I pass it over. Done... Easy to read a really good book this way. It's the same way I read an extremely good author with too explicit sex scenes. Different strokes. Some people like explicity, I prefer a good story first.
I read many, many books thanks to Prime Unlimited. Ten bucks a month gives me thousands of choices free. But Lawrence Dahner's books are so good that I've paid for each one and I'd read twenty or so. AND I'll keep doing so!
Yes, this series has hard science. Do I care? No, some is a little stretch so I pass it over. Done... Easy to read a really good book this way. It's the same way I read an extremely good author with too explicit sex scenes. Different strokes. Some people like explicity, I prefer a good story first.
I read many, many books thanks to Prime Unlimited. Ten bucks a month gives me thousands of choices free. But Lawrence Dahner's books are so good that I've paid for each one and I'd read twenty or so. AND I'll keep doing so!
February 22, 2022
Great Fun
Another really awesome addition to the series with a fantastically cool addition of an alien species. Her son also continues to impress and shows himself to be just as much of a prodigy as his mother, just a different specialization. My only complaint, and it’s not really much of one, is that I rather wish she was more vicious in dealing with some of the enemies to her family.
Another really awesome addition to the series with a fantastically cool addition of an alien species. Her son also continues to impress and shows himself to be just as much of a prodigy as his mother, just a different specialization. My only complaint, and it’s not really much of one, is that I rather wish she was more vicious in dealing with some of the enemies to her family.
January 20, 2021
Excellent, again!
Wow! The concept that being fat is caused by a gene instead of sloth and over eating is really a good idea. But people do try to excuse their faults anyway they can, so who knows? I do know that it is a lot easier to gain weight than to lose it. Remember rule one, you're never going to make everyone happy.
Wow! The concept that being fat is caused by a gene instead of sloth and over eating is really a good idea. But people do try to excuse their faults anyway they can, so who knows? I do know that it is a lot easier to gain weight than to lose it. Remember rule one, you're never going to make everyone happy.
March 28, 2024
An absolutely enjoyable series!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to Lawrence Dahners for this amazing series. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
Congratulations to Lawrence Dahners for this amazing series. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
February 17, 2017
This serie is an interesting project. It starts with a question "what would happen if ..." and the books try to answer it.
It is a light, quick and easily readable set of books. Well written and enjoyable.
It is a light, quick and easily readable set of books. Well written and enjoyable.
August 28, 2017
This is the best yet and I didn't think he could top the last one. I enjoyed the incorporation of Zage's field of study as a new plot , most importantly will his serum work? I really can't wait for the next one!
July 31, 2018
Loved it .
As always, I loved this Laurence Dahners book. At this point, what more can I say. If you like Mr Dahners work you know you can trust that it will be mind stretching. I've even found myself wishing I could live in his world.
As always, I loved this Laurence Dahners book. At this point, what more can I say. If you like Mr Dahners work you know you can trust that it will be mind stretching. I've even found myself wishing I could live in his world.
June 30, 2018
DNF super kid was just super too much
May 15, 2020
Good read
If you like science fiction with action and science, you'll like this book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
If you like science fiction with action and science, you'll like this book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
June 6, 2020
Good, Bad, and Odd
There's good, bad, and odd about DNA control mentioned in this book. Also good, bad, and odd about being rich and famous. Good story.
There's good, bad, and odd about DNA control mentioned in this book. Also good, bad, and odd about being rich and famous. Good story.
July 7, 2025
A new species teaches about DNA. Kidnappers create chaos.
December 19, 2025
A high point of the series.
May 8, 2016
SPOILERS Getting very bored of perfection and too similar plots...
Dahners doesn't seem able to break out of his rut, as yet again, we have a kidnapping plot. As Ell says in the story, she's been kidnapped 4 times already (in 12 books), and here's another try. And yet another alien encounter, as well as Zage looking to be just as perfectly lucky, intelligent, intuitive and empathetic as his mom.... Can this series get any more ridiculous and boring? If some of the science weren't interesting, you couldn't pay me to read these, and given how poorly written this one was, it's the last piece of Dahner's I will read.
Dahners doesn't seem able to break out of his rut, as yet again, we have a kidnapping plot. As Ell says in the story, she's been kidnapped 4 times already (in 12 books), and here's another try. And yet another alien encounter, as well as Zage looking to be just as perfectly lucky, intelligent, intuitive and empathetic as his mom.... Can this series get any more ridiculous and boring? If some of the science weren't interesting, you couldn't pay me to read these, and given how poorly written this one was, it's the last piece of Dahner's I will read.
June 4, 2016
Good but could be better
This series have been fun and interesting stories great for all age groups. The problemve with this story is the fact that the parents of Zage are really terrible parents. They are so much more interested in there scientific and academic lives, they have neglected there son. They need to bring him into there world fully, tell him the truth and back him up in his interests. Honestly child services would take this kid away because of there almost non existence involvement. Grow these stupid parents up and wrap this series up. It is now wasting time and really has no where else to go.
This series have been fun and interesting stories great for all age groups. The problemve with this story is the fact that the parents of Zage are really terrible parents. They are so much more interested in there scientific and academic lives, they have neglected there son. They need to bring him into there world fully, tell him the truth and back him up in his interests. Honestly child services would take this kid away because of there almost non existence involvement. Grow these stupid parents up and wrap this series up. It is now wasting time and really has no where else to go.
May 9, 2016
I have read all this series, they are addictive and once I start I have to finish. This story involves several different story strands and we learn more about Zage as well as new life forms on another planet that could be helpful and/or dangerous.
May 10, 2016
I love the Ell Donsaii books. I also really enjoy all of Dahners book's. I have
All of her Book's. I reread them .The storylines keep you wanting to continue reading until you finish. Can't wait for the next book.
All of her Book's. I reread them .The storylines keep you wanting to continue reading until you finish. Can't wait for the next book.
May 13, 2016
Another fascinating story from Doctor Dahners!
This is another totally engrossing page turner, however, in my opinion the best part is the author's
explanation of the science behind the fiction!
This is another totally engrossing page turner, however, in my opinion the best part is the author's
explanation of the science behind the fiction!
May 17, 2016
Another great well Donsaii tale
The writing and character development deserve 5 stars. The science is great too. However this book was pretty short. Almost a novelette. I don't feel it was worth the price.
The writing and character development deserve 5 stars. The science is great too. However this book was pretty short. Almost a novelette. I don't feel it was worth the price.
June 11, 2016
Another great Ell Donsaii Story
Mr. Daphne has done it again, a compelling story with imaginative plots, characters and cutting edge science fiction ideas. I hope the stories continue.
Mr. Daphne has done it again, a compelling story with imaginative plots, characters and cutting edge science fiction ideas. I hope the stories continue.
October 23, 2016
All the ell donations books were absolutely brilliant I read them all one after the other and I don't normally do that for any series
All the ell donations books were absolutely brilliant I read them all one after the other and I don't normally do that for any series
All the ell donations books were absolutely brilliant I read them all one after the other and I don't normally do that for any series
December 21, 2016
Fun and Quick
This series has been a lot of fun reading. It doesn't pretend to be high literature. It is a well made club. Quick and easy with just enough complexity to make you appreciate without putting you off.
This series has been a lot of fun reading. It doesn't pretend to be high literature. It is a well made club. Quick and easy with just enough complexity to make you appreciate without putting you off.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews