The Genome

A science fiction thriller by the author of Night Watch, the hit novel that inspired two major motion pictures

Five months after the horrific accident that left him near death and worried that he’d never fly again, master-pilot Alex Romanov lands a new job: captaining the sleek passenger vessel Mirror. Alex is a spesh—a human who has been genetically modified to perform particular tasks. As a captain and pilot, Alex has a genetic imperative to care for passengers and crew—no matter what the cost.

His first mission aboard Mirror is to ferry two representatives of the alien race Zzygou on a tour of human worlds. His task will not be an easy one, for aboard the craft are several speshes who have reason to hate the Others. Dark pasts, deadly secrets, and a stolen gel-crystal worth more than Alex’s entire ship combine to challenge him at every turn. And as the tension escalates, it becomes apparent that greater forces are at work to bring the captain’s world crashing down.

“There are two things Lukyanenko does exceedingly well—building an intricate, believable world and then forcing characters to make hard choices within that world—and he brings both strengths to the fore in The Genome, a multi-layered mystery with some impressive sci-fi ornamentation.” —San Francisco Book Review
 
“Lukyanenko uses his questing hero to explore the mind, the heart, and many genres . . . allowing even jaded readers to see their fields of interest anew, gain a deeper understanding—and be thoroughly entertained.” —Faren Miller, Locus“The narrative moves briskly and often mysteriously, with a curiously boyish enthusiasm. Add in splashes of humor, quirky references to Western cultural tropes and a true-to-life conclusion. . . . refreshingly different and something of a page-turner: well worth investigating.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[An] excellent 1999 novel by the noted Russian SF author, finally available in an English translation . . . Lukyanenko is at the forefront of contemporary Russian SF, and his English-speaking fans should be thrilled to finally have a chance to read this fine novel.” —Booklist

“The Genome is complex, witty, ambitious, amusing and entertaining.” —SF Site

“Night Watch is an epic of extraordinary power.” —Quentin Tarantino

“Like Tolkien getting mugged in a Moscow back alley by John le Carré.” —Bleeding Cool on New Watch

“[A] sceptical, intelligent thriller.” —The Daily Telegraph on Night Watch

“[As] potent as a shot of vodka . . . [a] compelling urban fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review of Night Watch