Michael Crichton has a knack for blending reality with what could be or might have been. In Eaters of the Dead, one of my eighth grade world history reads, Crichton tackled the Neanderthal/Cro-Magnon man connection and offered a new, somewhat plausible, take on the fantastical Beowulf saga. His newest novel, NEXT, manages the same scientific sleight of hand in today’s shrouded world of biotech.
One puts the book down wondering whether a mathematically-inclined African Grey parrot or advertising campaigns embedded genomically into sea turtle shells aren’t so far out of the current realm of possibility. After all, I had a biotech exec/investor suggest to me on Monday night that semi-profitable pig farms in the south could be turned into transgenic human/pig protein incubators. <pause, thinking I really need to study up on this stuff> Candidly, my BS radar isn’t finely honed in the life science sector, but my hunch is that we’re going to see some punctuative developments in the near term. And, of course, institutional investors will be chasing them.
One of NEXT’s central (and illusory) figures is a venture capitalist, though not one I think any of us would hope to emulate. Here’s a tidbit from page 2:
The man at the podium was one of the most famous venture capitalists in California, a legend in high-tech investment, Jack B. Watson. Watson’s face was blown up large on the screen behind him, his trademark suntan and striking good looks magnified to fill the room. Watson was a young-looking fifty-two, and assiduously cultivated his reputation as a capitalist with a conscience. That appellation had carried him through a succession of ruthless business deals: all the media ever showed were his appearances at charter schools, or handing out scholarships for underprivileged kids.
But in this room, Vasco knew, Watson’s reputation for tough deal making would be foremost in everyone’s mind. He wondered if Watson was ruthless enough to aquire a dozen transgenic embryos by illicit means. He probably was.
Regardless of your interest in biotech (or potentially underhanded VCs), do yourself a favor and go read this book as an entertaining entree into the topic. Then pick up some non-fiction as I’m about to do and form an opinion on both the science and the ethics involved. The issue’s going to be unavoidable in the medium-term. Kudos to Crichton, too, for laying out his prescription for industry reform in an appendix:
1) Stop patenting genes…
2) Establish clear guidelines for the use of human tissues…
3) Pass laws to ensure that data about gene testing is made public…
4) Avoid bans on research…
5) Rescind the Bayh-Dole Act.
The grounded footnote nicely bookends his classic intro: “This novel is fiction, except for the parts that aren’t.”
I concur with your thoughts on Crichton’s ability to expertly weave cutting-edge science and fiction into a gripping story. While it would be a challenge to surpass Jurassic Park, I’m looking forward to finding Next in my stocking.
Santa…please take note.
Crichton’s got a knack for writing for the big screen. NEXT is no exception. Unlike Jurassic Park, the “animals” in his latest piece are rather likeable - makes for more of a drama and less of a thriller.