Life

by Gwyneth Jones

Anna Senoz is a brilliant young scientist, working towards her PhD and a bright career when she makes a discovery that could change the world of genetics forever. The 'Transferred Y' chromosome, however, isn't as welcomed by her peers, or the wider society. Anna is forced to choose between her dedication to her discovery, the progress of her career, and her responsibilities to her family. Does scientific integrity mean speaking out against the naysayers?...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1473234670
• ISBN13: 9781473234673
• Release Date: July 2022
• Publisher: Gateway
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Life as it is

It is not easy to write reality, but Gwyneth Jones certainly has done just that, and aprorpriately named the work "Life." That is what this story is about. It is science fiction, certainly. Science ideas are presented here and the story revolves around those science ideas and the techniques of science. Admirably it is real science, not the fantasy that much of modern science fiction actually is. In the end, though, the story is about life as we live it in modern times. A difficult subject to tackle. A difficult subject to entertain with. But like modern day soap operas the book includes numerous characters, most of whom are not very heroic, and a few subplots to keep us interested. The importance of the book, however, lies in the way it illustrates just how it is we get through life. Sue Lange author, Tritcheon Hash

Life is dynamic

As someone who usually spends most of their time reading scientific literature instead of reading for fun...I truly enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and multidimensional. Jones truly cares for her characters and uses them to illustrate a series of fables, or in some cases folleys. It proposes a general theory that is plausible (though scifi), and encapsulates the variety of differences we see in everyday life from person to person. I highly recommend this to anyone who is currently or has endured graduate school in the sciences. If you enjoy the dynamics of life, not just in terms of evolution, but how people change toward difficult situations to cope and manage...you will enjoy this book as well.

One to make you think...

Life is a novel that presents the reader with the quandaries that arise from trying to balance the roles of a working professional and an active member of a family. Anna Senoz starts as an undergraduate student trying to find her place, not only in the scientific community, but also socially. As she progresses through her life she discovers that an obsessive researcher and gifted mind can be both a blessing and a curse... The progression of the book sometimes jumps around in time as you go from the present to long dialogues from sometime in the past. A well written novel - however, there are places that may have been a bit extreme in terms of content for my taste in some places in the book. As a current graduate student this book posed several questions that I often don't stop to think about and sometimes should consider. I don't know if I would call it a "must read" but there are several good lessons to be taken and considered from the book.

A really satisfying and rewarding read

Anna Senoz is a young idealist at a south coast British university. Afraid to fall in love she turns to her friend Spence, an American exchange student, and makes him an offer he can't refuse... "Life" is a science fiction novel with very little sci-fi, and a "big idea" that is a bit too subtle, and which takes rather a long time to become clear. But it's an incredibly satisfying read, and a wonderful, naked , painful picture of enduring love in an absolutely believable day-after-tomorrow world.

A novel that poses the quintessential question

Life is a novel that poses the quintessential question: what does it mean to be human in the twenty-first century? Sex, science, the limits of love, and the struggles of individuals seeking to find meaning in their own lives, in a future world so close to our own, set the stage for a dramatic play of human emotions and the crushing press of ruthless events. Highly recommended.