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LUCA
It is the high point of Daniel Rupert’s life. He has just accomplished his lifelong goal; perhaps the greatest scientific achievement in history. He has just created artificial life in his laboratory. The laws he broke and the bridges he burned in pursuit of the breakthrough may finally be in the past. The new synthetic lifeform, which Daniel deems “LUCA,” will surely earn him praise and require decades of further study. He steps down from the podium at the press conference announcing his discovery and is immediately pulled from the crowd by men in suits and rushed to a secret meeting. Face-to-face with the U.S. President and leaders of the International Space Agency, Daniel learns that he has been selected for Project Grandfather, mankind’s first practical attempt at time travel. Under the veil of the secret mission, Daniel is coerced into being one of six ambassadors to the future. Leaving behind is on-again, off-again A.I. girlfriend and research partner, Marcine, Daniel’s ship begins a high speed journey orbiting the sun. As he nears the speed of light, time dilation pulls him inexorably two-hundred years into the future. Now that the ship is slowing down for the return to Earth, Daniel is about to be reminded of a fundamental lesson in Biology: All life on Earth is descended from the Last Universal Common Ancestor.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2017
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Logan Russell
2 books2 followersThe moment I graduated college and teachers and professors stopped telling me what to read, I found a love for reading for the first time in my life. Titles like The Martian, Rendezvous with Rama, and Contact blew me away with their ability to tell the most incredible stories while remaining grounded to our reality. At some point in my quest to find the best hard science fiction I hatched ideas for a few stories of my own. The first to come to fruition was LUCA and I hope to use this first publishing experience to grow as a writer and find my niche in science fiction.
Now my sights are set on completing a series of sci-fi books called Project Elonia, which follows the long-term residents of a tourist colony on Mars.
I currently work in a clinical genomics laboratory. I love running, skateboarding, video games, Pittsburgh sports, and movies.
Now my sights are set on completing a series of sci-fi books called Project Elonia, which follows the long-term residents of a tourist colony on Mars.
I currently work in a clinical genomics laboratory. I love running, skateboarding, video games, Pittsburgh sports, and movies.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 29, 2018
Biologist Logan Russell joins hard science with imagination to create an engaging plot that takes the reader on an adventure to discover a new life form that evolves into a wonder of possibilities.
Readers who demand accuracy in their science fiction will be gratified with Russell’s familiarity with scientific research, experimentation, collaboration with other scientists, and the frustration of finding funding to carry on work.
In the 24th century, biologist Daniel Rupert struggles to research an interest he has had all his life: the creation of a new life form. Obtaining equipment and supplies for his experiments by any means available, Daniel is discovered by a colleague who agrees to help him with his research.
Marcine is an SAI (Self-derived Artificial Individual) whose human life was extended in a robot body. She and Daniel find themselves caring for each other just as their experiment begins to bear fruit.
At the same time, Daniel’s renown as the creator of a new life form maneuvers him into accepting a place in a time-traveling spaceship that will return in 300 years. With great reluctance, Daniel leaves Marcine and his new life form LUCA to an uncertain future.
When Daniel returns hundreds of years later, life on earth is much different. What has become of Marcine? Does she even exist anymore? And what of the life form Daniel left behind?
And what happens thousands of years later?
LUCA is adventure, romance, and science fiction, with SCIENCE written large.
Readers who demand accuracy in their science fiction will be gratified with Russell’s familiarity with scientific research, experimentation, collaboration with other scientists, and the frustration of finding funding to carry on work.
In the 24th century, biologist Daniel Rupert struggles to research an interest he has had all his life: the creation of a new life form. Obtaining equipment and supplies for his experiments by any means available, Daniel is discovered by a colleague who agrees to help him with his research.
Marcine is an SAI (Self-derived Artificial Individual) whose human life was extended in a robot body. She and Daniel find themselves caring for each other just as their experiment begins to bear fruit.
At the same time, Daniel’s renown as the creator of a new life form maneuvers him into accepting a place in a time-traveling spaceship that will return in 300 years. With great reluctance, Daniel leaves Marcine and his new life form LUCA to an uncertain future.
When Daniel returns hundreds of years later, life on earth is much different. What has become of Marcine? Does she even exist anymore? And what of the life form Daniel left behind?
And what happens thousands of years later?
LUCA is adventure, romance, and science fiction, with SCIENCE written large.
February 7, 2021
Wow, I feel like a minority here, judging by the other reviews.
Look, I wanted to like this book. I REALLY did. But here's what's keeping me from giving it a higher rating:
-parts of this story were rushed, like the story was in a hurry to tell itself just to get to the parts the author wanted to explore.
-characters were...one-note. They own their note well, but they don't have multiple facets.
-and WHY, oh WHY, does Daniel (the MC) keep getting rewarded? The only consequences he ever suffers are, "oh no, my SAI girlfriend left me AGAIN!" Even at the very end, with the LUCA reveal, he's still praised.
I give it 3 stars because the premise is intriguing, and the science IS cool. But man, the characters could have been worked on some more.
Look, I wanted to like this book. I REALLY did. But here's what's keeping me from giving it a higher rating:
-parts of this story were rushed, like the story was in a hurry to tell itself just to get to the parts the author wanted to explore.
-characters were...one-note. They own their note well, but they don't have multiple facets.
-and WHY, oh WHY, does Daniel (the MC) keep getting rewarded? The only consequences he ever suffers are, "oh no, my SAI girlfriend left me AGAIN!" Even at the very end, with the LUCA reveal, he's still praised.
I give it 3 stars because the premise is intriguing, and the science IS cool. But man, the characters could have been worked on some more.
March 11, 2019
A brilliant scientist risks his career to make an unprecedented discovery. Tension builds as a team of young experts attempt to survive a journey to the future. If the scientist survives, he must face the evolution of his rash experiments.
I really enjoyed the later suspense and surprises in the story. It was a well-planned novel with satisfying connections throughout, intensifying the conclusion.
I really enjoyed the later suspense and surprises in the story. It was a well-planned novel with satisfying connections throughout, intensifying the conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews