Greg Bear’s Nebula Award-winning novel, Darwin’s Radio, painted a chilling portrait
of humankind on the threshold of a radical leap in evolution-one that would alter
our species forever. Now Bear continues his provocative tale of the human race confronted
by an uncertain future, where survival of the fittest takes on astonishing and
controversial new dimensions.

Eleven years have passed since
SHEVA, an ancient retrovirus, was discovered in human DNA-a retrovirus that caused
mutations in the human genome and heralded the arrival of a new wave of genetically
enhanced humans. Now these changed children have reached adolescence … and face
a world that is outraged about their very existence. For these special youths, possessed
of remarkable, advanced traits that mark a major turning point in human development,
are also ticking time bombs harboring hosts of viruses that could exterminate the

old human race.

Fear and hatred of the virus children have made them a persecuted
underclass, quarantined by the government in special schools, targeted by federally
sanctioned bounty hunters, and demonized by hysterical segments of the population.
But pockets of resistance have sprung up among those opposed to treating the children
like dangerous diseases-and who fear the worst if the government’s draconian measures
are carried to their extreme.

Scientists Kaye Lang and Mitch Rafelson are part of
this small but determined minority. Once at the forefront of the discovery and study
of the SHEVA outbreak, they now live as virtual exiles in the Virginia suburbs with
their daughter, Stella-a bright, inquisitive virus child who is quickly maturing,
straining to break free of the protective world her parents have built around her,
and eager to seek out others of her kind.

But for all their precautions, Kaye, Mitch,
and Stella have not slipped below the government’s radar. The agencies fanatically
devoted to segregating and controlling the new-breed children monitor their every
move-watching and waiting for the opportunity to strike the next blow in their escalating
war to preserve humankind at any cost.