Kincaid, S. J. The Diabolic.

Kincaid, S. J. The Diabolic.  Simon & Schuster  2016  416p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-4814-7267-8  hs/adult  Science fiction  VG

In an interstellar world far in the future, mankind has created genetically engineered humans, called diabolics, to serve as protection for the elite families in a prominent galactic court. Nemesis is one such diabolic and is to serve as protection for Sidonia, the heir of a prominent family. To protect her now teenage charge, Nemesis is sent to Court masquerading as Sidonia, just as the empire starts to fracture.
I was instantly hooked on the book by the concept of diabolics, and then on the relationship of Nemesis with everyone around her, and found the book to be a fun read. The book is very well written if somewhat predictable in the end, and lends itself to a sequel. Highly recommended for inclusion in high school and public library collections.

                       

Summary: Romance and court intrigue play with good and evil in this novel about a diabolic (genetically engineered human) who finds her own humanity.

Genetic engineering-Fiction                                                                                                    --Lynn Fisher  

Grant, Michael. Eve and Adam.

Grant, Michael.   Eve and Adam.     Macmillan/ Feiwel & Friends   291p  $17.99 978-0-312-58351-4      2012  hs    VG-BN       Science Fiction

Eve Spiker is severely injured in a car crash and is in a hospital when her mother sweeps in and takes her almost immediately to her private lab facility.  Here, Eve rapidly recovers (unnaturally so) and with the aid of her mother’s ward (and would-be genius lab assistant) Solo learns more about herself and the work being conducted at Spiker Biopharmaceuticals.

In this very interesting novel that brings genetics and biotechnology to the fore, Eve and Solo work together to uncover the heinous genetic research that has been conducted at Spiker Pharmaceuticals; research that makes the eugenics of WWII pale by comparison.  Ethics and family dynamics seriously come into play in the story, in which intrigue and romance play a role in Eve and Solo’s relationship, as well as in that of Eve’s friend Aislin and the genetically perfect Adam, who Eve created when she was playing with newly developed software.  References to sex, drugs, and alcohol, as well as some violence, make this a YA book for high school students and possibly adults.  Questions of ethics and morals presented in the novel will also ring true for adult readers of YA novels.       

Genetic Engineering–Fiction                                --Lynn Fisher