Darwin's RadioDarwin's Radio
Score Modern
What it's about
A mysterious disease strikes pregnant women around the world: they miscarry, then become pregnant again without sex, with babies who seem to be something new. Kaye Lang, a geneticist, believes it's an ancient virus hidden in human DNA triggering the next step in evolution. Mitch Rafelson, an anthropologist, has found ancient bodies in the Alps that suggest it has happened before.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It's a scientifically detailed thriller about evolution and panic.
You'll love it if you liked
The Forge of God
The Hot Zone
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human PandemicGood to know
It's heavy on genetics. It deals with miscarriages and government quarantines.
By the numbers
- Readers2 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #238 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #1282 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2355 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping
More by Greg Bear
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Promises in Death
Innocent in Death
The Blind Assassin
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Quick answers
Is Darwin's Radio worth reading?
Yes. It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #2,355 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 60.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Darwin's Radio about?
A mysterious disease strikes pregnant women around the world: they miscarry, then become pregnant again without sex, with babies who seem to be something new. Kaye Lang, a geneticist, believes it's an ancient virus hidden in human DNA triggering the next step in evolution. Mitch Rafelson, an anthropologist, has found ancient bodies in the Alps that suggest it has happened before.
How long does it take to read Darwin's Radio?
About 11 hours (452 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Darwin's Radio won?
Nebula Award winner (2000).
What should I read after Darwin's Radio?
If you liked it, try The Forge of God by Greg Bear, The Hot Zone by Richard Preston or Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen.