Michael Cordy: The Miracle Strain

Michael Cordy

The Miracle Strain

Monika says:

Physician and genetic scientist Tom Carter just received the Nobel prize for his revolutionary research when his life suddenly falls apart. Right after the award ceremony somebody tries to kill him, but kills his wife instead. Not much later he learns that his 8 year old daughter Holly will develope a rare and hard to treat kind of brain tumor. A race against time begins to advance the research already begun for the successful genetic treatment of certain kinds of cancer. But it just doesn’t seem to go fast enough to save Holly. Desperate Carter has an outrageous idea. What about the most miraculous healer of all times? Carter supposes that the healing powers of Jesus of Nazareth are based in his special genes and searches for authentic relics and modern day people with the same abilities. He uses the Genescope in his search, a new machine that can reconstruct the entire genetic code of a human being from a single cell. The "Brotherhood of the Resurrection of Christ", a fanatic religious community based in Jordan, disapproves of his work and would like to see him dead.

Michael Cordy picked a controversial subject for his first novel: genetic engineering from a religious and ethical point of view. How far can a scientist go without making too many enemies? The alleged imcompatibility of church and science is even in our present day an explosive subject for a book.

The story takes place in a near future in the new millennium. Even if much of the action seems fantastic today the scientific methods described in the book are not as far away as we may think they are. Just think about the rush of new developements in the computer sector. New genes are decoded every day so that maybe soon illnesses that are incurable today can be treated with genetic therapy. Whether it is really desirable to be able to cure everything and give all people their full lifespan of 70 to 80 years is a different matter alltogether. The consequences for the entire population of the Earth would probably be disastrous. The resources of the planet are limitied and as long as mankind is bound to remain on Earth the growth of population certainly reaches natural boundaries.

The ending of the story was a pleasant surprise. Books on this subject often end in a way that ruins an overall positive impression. Here no extensive and radical solution is offered but a relatively simple way out that inspires reflection. THE MIRACLE STRAIN is no Nobel prize material, but a good read that makes you think and it’s very well drafted for a first try. Read it on a rainy weekend or take it to the beach.

Transworld Publishers Ltd, London, 1997

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Monika Hübner