What do you think?
Rate this book
CRISPR Evolution
"This superb science fiction novel ... is rousing, moving, and rewarding." - BookLife Reviews (Editor's Pick)
"A tale that provides readers with a penetrating and thought-provoking glimpse into a possible not-so-distant future." - Kirkus Reviews
"Sci fi that promises to reshape its genre. Wildly original and intelligently drawn." - Reader Views
"This thoroughly engaging work of speculative fiction rejuvenated my love for science fiction ... The characters are spellbinding, each shining in their own light and demanding center stage." - Readers' Favorite
"A beautifully moving book centered around humanity’s relationship with genetic engineering." - IndieReader
Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award Finalist, 2023
Eric Hoffer Awards Grand Prize Shortlister, 2023
Eric Hoffer Awards Honorable Mention, 2023
BookLife Prize Semifinalist, 2023
American Book Fest Best Book Awards Finalist, 2023
17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
Readers' Favorite Awards Finalist, 2023
Foreword INDIES Finalist, 2022
Indies Today Awards Finalist, 2022
Page Turner Awards Finalist, 2021
PNWA Literary Contest First-Place Winner, 2020
Chanticleer International Book Awards Semifinalist, 2020
From an award-winning writer and biomedical researcher comes a science fiction thriller about a man who braves the ruins of our genetic past—and awakens humanity’s sleeping destiny.
Brilliant geneticist Howard Wake has one life-defining dream: to advance human evolution, starting with his own kids. Under the radar of agencies that have outlawed all but the tamest science, he builds a tool designed to probe the darkest crypts in the human genome for buried treasure. But rousing ancient DNA from its age-old slumber is a risky undertaking. To create his children safely, Howard needs to enlist Jacqueline Witt, who has engineered a secret of her own. Before he can convince his friend and colleague to help him, Howard is forced to disappear into the science underground. Deciding that it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, he takes everything he needs with him.
Eight years later, Howard’s kids are helping him run a garage lab in Massachusetts—but federal agents are only a step behind, the twins’ sleeping DNA is beginning to stir, and Jacqueline has tracked down the man who stole what she values most ... and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it back.
Fans of Michael Crichton, Paolo Bacigalupi, and Octavia Butler will love this tale of genetic roguery in a world where free inquiry has become a rare and dangerous commodity.
"A tale that provides readers with a penetrating and thought-provoking glimpse into a possible not-so-distant future." - Kirkus Reviews
"Sci fi that promises to reshape its genre. Wildly original and intelligently drawn." - Reader Views
"This thoroughly engaging work of speculative fiction rejuvenated my love for science fiction ... The characters are spellbinding, each shining in their own light and demanding center stage." - Readers' Favorite
"A beautifully moving book centered around humanity’s relationship with genetic engineering." - IndieReader
Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award Finalist, 2023
Eric Hoffer Awards Grand Prize Shortlister, 2023
Eric Hoffer Awards Honorable Mention, 2023
BookLife Prize Semifinalist, 2023
American Book Fest Best Book Awards Finalist, 2023
17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
Readers' Favorite Awards Finalist, 2023
Foreword INDIES Finalist, 2022
Indies Today Awards Finalist, 2022
Page Turner Awards Finalist, 2021
PNWA Literary Contest First-Place Winner, 2020
Chanticleer International Book Awards Semifinalist, 2020
From an award-winning writer and biomedical researcher comes a science fiction thriller about a man who braves the ruins of our genetic past—and awakens humanity’s sleeping destiny.
Brilliant geneticist Howard Wake has one life-defining dream: to advance human evolution, starting with his own kids. Under the radar of agencies that have outlawed all but the tamest science, he builds a tool designed to probe the darkest crypts in the human genome for buried treasure. But rousing ancient DNA from its age-old slumber is a risky undertaking. To create his children safely, Howard needs to enlist Jacqueline Witt, who has engineered a secret of her own. Before he can convince his friend and colleague to help him, Howard is forced to disappear into the science underground. Deciding that it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, he takes everything he needs with him.
Eight years later, Howard’s kids are helping him run a garage lab in Massachusetts—but federal agents are only a step behind, the twins’ sleeping DNA is beginning to stir, and Jacqueline has tracked down the man who stole what she values most ... and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it back.
Fans of Michael Crichton, Paolo Bacigalupi, and Octavia Butler will love this tale of genetic roguery in a world where free inquiry has become a rare and dangerous commodity.
- GenresScience Fiction
365 pages, ebook
Published October 24, 2022
85 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Charis Jones
4 books14 followersCharis Jones (aka Charis Himeda, PhD) is an award-winning author and biomedical researcher. She is a research professor and co-founder of Renogenyx, a company dedicated to developing treatments for Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. She won the FSHD Society's inaugural Young Investigator award, and has been interviewed by The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and The Boston Business Journal for engineering FSHD therapeutics using CRISPR gene modifying technology. At night, Dr. Himeda doffs her lab gloves to pen speculative fiction about renegade scientists who do things she would never dream of doing. She is a three-time winner in the PNWA literary contest, a semifinalist for the BookLife Prize, and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and Grand Prize, the American Book Fest Best Book Awards, the Foreword INDIES Awards, the Indies Today Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, the Readers' Favorite Awards, and the Page Turner Awards. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of literary magazines and in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Dr. Himeda is a member of PNWA and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and she lives in Reno, Nevada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 22, 2023
Very interesting story and characters. Genius scientists and their engineered kids try to evade a bureaucracy that wants to hobble and control them. With an allusion to panspermia and maybe some alien intelligence out there looking for a home? Compelling reading.
May 3, 2024
I read this book to learn more about CRISPR. Yes, I knew it was a novel, but thought it’d be a good way to get a better feel for it. I did.
CRISPR Evolution was a very different novel. It was a blend of sci-fi and cutting-edge futuristic CRISPR technology.
Two children, twins more or less, have been given unlimited potential by allowing an illegal internal CRISPR manager to change them in any way it chooses to make them a higher evolution of themselves. Their father hides them and keeps experimenting.
To help the reader follow this, there is a cartoon-type character in the children that talks to them. When I first ran into this in the book, I thought it was not going to be good, too cartoony. But it made it easy to follow and did not detract at all from the story.
The story explores the expanded boundaries of human potential through genetic engineering, weaving detailed descriptions that immerse the reader in a morally complex world. The two children are eight years old in the story, but I kept forgetting that as they speak as if they were adults. I guess their speech developed quicker, too, but that was unusual for me.
The author does give us a vivid, imaginative journey that explores the I do not think anyone, would experiment without any ideas of the results on two children.
This novel not only entertains but also prompts deep reflection on the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancement.
I will say it seemed terribly irresponsible for the father/scientist to experiment with the embryos and, thus, two lives that have no input. Still, it made for a very interesting read.
Between reading the book and watching a few YouTube videos, I have a much better understanding. I encourage the reader to look at some short YouTube videos. Crisper will first be used to help cure diseases, then maybe designer babies/children; that would be like the book, only with controls and maybe only for one trial, and who knows where it would go. It could also eliminate aging.
Very interesting!!!!
What is CRISPER? CRISPR is a powerful tool for editing genomes, meaning it allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. It has many potential applications, including correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the spread of diseases, and improving the growth and resilience of crops. However, despite its promise, the technology also raises ethical concerns.
CRISPR Evolution was a very different novel. It was a blend of sci-fi and cutting-edge futuristic CRISPR technology.
Two children, twins more or less, have been given unlimited potential by allowing an illegal internal CRISPR manager to change them in any way it chooses to make them a higher evolution of themselves. Their father hides them and keeps experimenting.
To help the reader follow this, there is a cartoon-type character in the children that talks to them. When I first ran into this in the book, I thought it was not going to be good, too cartoony. But it made it easy to follow and did not detract at all from the story.
The story explores the expanded boundaries of human potential through genetic engineering, weaving detailed descriptions that immerse the reader in a morally complex world. The two children are eight years old in the story, but I kept forgetting that as they speak as if they were adults. I guess their speech developed quicker, too, but that was unusual for me.
The author does give us a vivid, imaginative journey that explores the I do not think anyone, would experiment without any ideas of the results on two children.
This novel not only entertains but also prompts deep reflection on the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancement.
I will say it seemed terribly irresponsible for the father/scientist to experiment with the embryos and, thus, two lives that have no input. Still, it made for a very interesting read.
Between reading the book and watching a few YouTube videos, I have a much better understanding. I encourage the reader to look at some short YouTube videos. Crisper will first be used to help cure diseases, then maybe designer babies/children; that would be like the book, only with controls and maybe only for one trial, and who knows where it would go. It could also eliminate aging.
Very interesting!!!!
What is CRISPER? CRISPR is a powerful tool for editing genomes, meaning it allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. It has many potential applications, including correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the spread of diseases, and improving the growth and resilience of crops. However, despite its promise, the technology also raises ethical concerns.
December 15, 2022
“CRISPR Evolution” is a heart-in-your-throat page-turner in the Sci-Fi genre by award-winning author Charis Jones. The narrative follows Howard Wake, a virtuoso in heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics in a futuristic world, who is determined to defy the government regulations and laws that have been put in place to tame genetic engineering that goes beyond the usual research scope.
Howard and his family of garage biologists hope to change the world for the better with their discoveries and inventions in modern science. He manages to build a molecular machine, also known as CRISPR that was based on old turn-of-the-century technology, but this time more powerful and autonomous. However, awakening genetic chemicals from a dormant state is a dangerous endeavor as he is well aware and chooses to recruit the help of Jacqueline Witt, an idea he suddenly aborts.
Eight years later, Howard has new worries. His children’s genetic formation which he infused with the CRISPR machine is beginning to fuss up, especially his son’s, Py, the federal officials are catching up with him, and Jacqueline, determined to get back what Howard took from him, has an old score to settle with him.
There is something simultaneously fresh and traditional in the novel’s comfort with omniscient narration, and its relaxed style manages to beguile new readers to speculative fiction. It conveys the spinning sense of a future that out stripes a single existence and feels synchronously optimistic, poignant, and even celebratory. With a stirring preface, Jones employs her years of experience as a research professor in this narrative, perhaps using it as a medium of choice to pass on an explosive panorama of what makes up our genetic formation.
“CRISPR Evolution” is a five-star read that provides conjectural ideation on genetic enhancement technologies, including their moral and civil implications through richly imagined characters and settings. The author is strong on atmosphere, illuminating vast tracts of imagery, and her uniquely supple and powerful style is even more clear-cut. It’s enamoring ending and epilogue are decent and fulfilling, giving special send-offs to its characters. Wildly original and intelligently drawn, “CRISPR Evolution” will enthrall sci-fi fans.
Howard and his family of garage biologists hope to change the world for the better with their discoveries and inventions in modern science. He manages to build a molecular machine, also known as CRISPR that was based on old turn-of-the-century technology, but this time more powerful and autonomous. However, awakening genetic chemicals from a dormant state is a dangerous endeavor as he is well aware and chooses to recruit the help of Jacqueline Witt, an idea he suddenly aborts.
Eight years later, Howard has new worries. His children’s genetic formation which he infused with the CRISPR machine is beginning to fuss up, especially his son’s, Py, the federal officials are catching up with him, and Jacqueline, determined to get back what Howard took from him, has an old score to settle with him.
There is something simultaneously fresh and traditional in the novel’s comfort with omniscient narration, and its relaxed style manages to beguile new readers to speculative fiction. It conveys the spinning sense of a future that out stripes a single existence and feels synchronously optimistic, poignant, and even celebratory. With a stirring preface, Jones employs her years of experience as a research professor in this narrative, perhaps using it as a medium of choice to pass on an explosive panorama of what makes up our genetic formation.
“CRISPR Evolution” is a five-star read that provides conjectural ideation on genetic enhancement technologies, including their moral and civil implications through richly imagined characters and settings. The author is strong on atmosphere, illuminating vast tracts of imagery, and her uniquely supple and powerful style is even more clear-cut. It’s enamoring ending and epilogue are decent and fulfilling, giving special send-offs to its characters. Wildly original and intelligently drawn, “CRISPR Evolution” will enthrall sci-fi fans.
May 24, 2023
“CRISPR Evolution” by Charis Jones is an absolute triumph that seamlessly blends the cutting-edge power of CRISPR technology with a thrilling and imaginative sciFi narrative. Jones showcases her exceptional storytelling abilities as she guides readers on a captivating journey through a future where CRISPR advancements have reshaped the boundaries of human potential. Her vivid descriptions and meticulous attention to detail bring the world to life, immersing readers in a thought-provoking exploration of the ethical and societal implications of genetic engineering.
The world of the Wakes creatively weaves scientific accuracy and speculative fiction, creating a compelling story that is as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining. The dynamic characters, unpredictable twists, and electrifying plot make it accessible and captivating for readers of all backgrounds. From the prologue to the final page, the wit and humor-imbued story leave readers craving more. A more hopefully seen next in the life of Py? Truly a must-read!
The world of the Wakes creatively weaves scientific accuracy and speculative fiction, creating a compelling story that is as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining. The dynamic characters, unpredictable twists, and electrifying plot make it accessible and captivating for readers of all backgrounds. From the prologue to the final page, the wit and humor-imbued story leave readers craving more. A more hopefully seen next in the life of Py? Truly a must-read!
February 24, 2023
I've been an avid reader for 66 years and this is one of the very best books I have ever read. The story is based on the incredibly powerful gene editing CRISPR technology, but the narrative is so infused with dynamic plots full of unexpected twists and turns that the technical foundation of the book slides into the background while at the same time completely enhancing the plot. As a scientist, I appreciate the attention to detail and vivid descriptions of molecular biology and how those dynamics are woven into a powerful compelling story that captivated my imagination and left me inspired. This is such a good read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good plot, imaginative ideas that stimulate your creativity, and a deep dive into awesome writing skills and narrative. Highly recommended, 100%!!
May 12, 2023
Three-and-a-half stars. This a very well written book, a page-turner really. If it weren't for the sometimes smug libertarian elitism, I would easily have given it four stars. This idea that if our scientists were unfettered and free of petty government regulation and bureaucratic inferiors, there would be great leaps in human progress, so permeates hard sci-fi, that I at times wanted to throw my kindle across the room.
Having gotten that off my chest, I loved some of the characters, particularly the kids and Uncle Abel. Not so much the "parents" of these genetically-engineered children, who I never really got to like, because they have their heads so firmly stuck up their superior asses. (Did I say I'd gotten that off my chest? Apparently not.)
Anyway, this book is totally worth reading. Hey, Heinlein and Card are worth reading, too, despite their messed up politics.
Having gotten that off my chest, I loved some of the characters, particularly the kids and Uncle Abel. Not so much the "parents" of these genetically-engineered children, who I never really got to like, because they have their heads so firmly stuck up their superior asses. (Did I say I'd gotten that off my chest? Apparently not.)
Anyway, this book is totally worth reading. Hey, Heinlein and Card are worth reading, too, despite their messed up politics.
May 12, 2023
I couldn't put this book down! The characters are real, with faults and endearing traits that make even their mistakes forgivable. The science is awesome, and coming from a scientist who is renowned for the work she's done in her field, will appeal to scientists and laymen alike. I particularly love the descriptions of the travels within the human body. The use of the tiny, irascible professor to describe this to us is pure genius and makes for an entertaining and exciting read. Highly recommend!
February 15, 2023
Couldn’t Put It Down…
…Except when I had to go to sleep after already reading two-thirds!
Charis Jones shows us a quite-possible future where genetic engineering (and those who control it) takes on a whole new meaning. The science is understandable for the layman and the story is fast-paced for the reader. I truly enjoyed reading this novel!
…Except when I had to go to sleep after already reading two-thirds!
Charis Jones shows us a quite-possible future where genetic engineering (and those who control it) takes on a whole new meaning. The science is understandable for the layman and the story is fast-paced for the reader. I truly enjoyed reading this novel!
February 20, 2023
Crispr fantasy
I couldn't put the book down, even though I sometimes worried it was verging on Scientology. It's a time 30 plus years in the future and there is very little left of privacy without going completely off grid. There seems to be no room for research except under government control.
I couldn't put the book down, even though I sometimes worried it was verging on Scientology. It's a time 30 plus years in the future and there is very little left of privacy without going completely off grid. There seems to be no room for research except under government control.
June 11, 2023
This book was very difficult to put down. I love sci-fi and the added dynamic of the family relationships adds to the story. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the cell's inner workings; these really drew me into the world. Hoping for a follow-up so I can see what happened after the end!
February 6, 2024
CRISPR evolution
This was a very neat story to read. Very disturbing that some scientist sthink they know best without full knowledge of what’s going on. I do not know if I will read the next in the series.
This was a very neat story to read. Very disturbing that some scientist sthink they know best without full knowledge of what’s going on. I do not know if I will read the next in the series.
January 8, 2023
I can see why this novel has won so many awards. Fascinating character. Intriguing plot. Look forward to (hopefully) the sequel.
May 12, 2024
I've got nothing for this one. It did nothing for me. Totally forgettable.
Read
July 30, 2024Amazing story!
Human characters, fast moving, and the science was NOT boring!
The children were human and yet not.
Can't wait to read more from Chairs Jones.
Human characters, fast moving, and the science was NOT boring!
The children were human and yet not.
Can't wait to read more from Chairs Jones.
October 27, 2024
Meh
I was expecting, hoping more from the premise of the book. But it quickly fell into the predictable plot lines of other books of this type.
I was expecting, hoping more from the premise of the book. But it quickly fell into the predictable plot lines of other books of this type.
Currently reading
March 19, 2023EDITOR'S PICK: This gripping and accomplished debut novel imagines a near future where, after the initial jolts of a revolution in gene editing, the federal government centralizes biomedical research and development, and independent geneticists like Howard Wake go underground.
Jones spins this heady story in smart, engaging prose, attuned to her casts’ individual perspectives, alive to the surprising details of an increasingly automated American future. The science is clear and persuasive—Jones is a biomedical researcher—but presented with an emphasis on its application. For all its family drama and on-the-run suspense, this is a novel about where we’re headed—and how we might not be able to control what changes. It’s a thriller but anchored in the literary wing of science fiction, driven by character, given to colloquies, and often evocative in its descriptions of diners and the mushrooms that, in a well-plotted jolt, prove essential to both the development of the story and our species.
Through it all, Jones is committed to capturing what this future feels like—and to dramatizing the evolutionary imperative with both exciting scenes and grand revelations of the sort readers of serious science fiction will find thrilling.
Takeaway: This superb science fiction novel finds a family on the run—and on the cusp of an evolutionary leap.
Great for fans of: Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife, Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl.
- BookLife Reviews
This thoroughly engaging work of speculative fiction rejuvenated my love for science fiction. Set in the near future, it has a dystopian theme. FIBR closely monitors most of the ongoing biological research projects. The independently working scientists must flee underground, keeping themselves off FIBR’s radar. The beauty of the storyline is that, although imaginary, this scenario never seems far-fetched. Based on the issues the research community faces today, such a future seems all too plausible. Charis Jones shows how a combination of funding crunches, government intervention, and misinterpretation of results by the media could ultimately hinder scientific progress. At the same time, this thought-provoking story raises questions about the interplay of science and ethics. The characters are spellbinding, each shining in their own light and demanding center stage. As a brilliant and dedicated rogue scientist with a questionable sense of ethics, Dr. Howard Wake changed my outlook on a hero.
While hardcore scientific facts form the book's foundation, Jones’ literary tweaks help it soar to unprecedented heights. I especially loved the visuals of a cell, with chromosome rafts and glittering hubs of gene transcription, the busy proteins, and enzymes having distinct personalities. In CRISPR Evolution, Jones recounts the beauty of life and imagines the unleashing of one’s full potential. I recommend it to those who appreciate science fiction. This story would be perfect for the fans of Michael Crichton’s Next.
- Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite
CRISPR EVOLUTION by Charis Jones is a beautifully moving book centered around humanity’s relationship with genetic engineering. With a headstrong and intelligent protagonist in Howard, the book follows the lives of a family of garage biologists in a future world where genetic engineering is severely limited and monitored by the government. Understandable scientific terminology is adroitly interwoven with an engaging plot as one unlikely family battles against tough odds for survival.
- IndieReader
Jones spins this heady story in smart, engaging prose, attuned to her casts’ individual perspectives, alive to the surprising details of an increasingly automated American future. The science is clear and persuasive—Jones is a biomedical researcher—but presented with an emphasis on its application. For all its family drama and on-the-run suspense, this is a novel about where we’re headed—and how we might not be able to control what changes. It’s a thriller but anchored in the literary wing of science fiction, driven by character, given to colloquies, and often evocative in its descriptions of diners and the mushrooms that, in a well-plotted jolt, prove essential to both the development of the story and our species.
Through it all, Jones is committed to capturing what this future feels like—and to dramatizing the evolutionary imperative with both exciting scenes and grand revelations of the sort readers of serious science fiction will find thrilling.
Takeaway: This superb science fiction novel finds a family on the run—and on the cusp of an evolutionary leap.
Great for fans of: Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife, Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl.
- BookLife Reviews
This thoroughly engaging work of speculative fiction rejuvenated my love for science fiction. Set in the near future, it has a dystopian theme. FIBR closely monitors most of the ongoing biological research projects. The independently working scientists must flee underground, keeping themselves off FIBR’s radar. The beauty of the storyline is that, although imaginary, this scenario never seems far-fetched. Based on the issues the research community faces today, such a future seems all too plausible. Charis Jones shows how a combination of funding crunches, government intervention, and misinterpretation of results by the media could ultimately hinder scientific progress. At the same time, this thought-provoking story raises questions about the interplay of science and ethics. The characters are spellbinding, each shining in their own light and demanding center stage. As a brilliant and dedicated rogue scientist with a questionable sense of ethics, Dr. Howard Wake changed my outlook on a hero.
While hardcore scientific facts form the book's foundation, Jones’ literary tweaks help it soar to unprecedented heights. I especially loved the visuals of a cell, with chromosome rafts and glittering hubs of gene transcription, the busy proteins, and enzymes having distinct personalities. In CRISPR Evolution, Jones recounts the beauty of life and imagines the unleashing of one’s full potential. I recommend it to those who appreciate science fiction. This story would be perfect for the fans of Michael Crichton’s Next.
- Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite
CRISPR EVOLUTION by Charis Jones is a beautifully moving book centered around humanity’s relationship with genetic engineering. With a headstrong and intelligent protagonist in Howard, the book follows the lives of a family of garage biologists in a future world where genetic engineering is severely limited and monitored by the government. Understandable scientific terminology is adroitly interwoven with an engaging plot as one unlikely family battles against tough odds for survival.
- IndieReader
January 17, 2023
The premise and reviews of the book drew me to it. I really tried to get through the book but I couldn't. I got to 51% (on Kindle) and gave up. I am a huge scifi fan and love when science is the bigger part of the story (think Andy Weir). But this book was not good. The characters were flat, the science was overwhelmingly boring, the writing needed more editing. I wish the author well but she could use guidance.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews