Gene (novel)
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Gene is a popular bestselling thriller novel by Stel Pavlou (born 1970), published in 2005 in England by Simon and Schuster. It is published in many languages with some significant title changes. The Italian edition has the title La Conspirazione del Minotauro (The Minotaur Conspiracy). The novel is about a fictional New York detective, James North, who in the process of hunting down a criminal, uncovers a genetics experiment to unlock past lives through genetic memory, therefore achieving a kind of immortality. In so doing North discovers his own origins, that of a soldier from the Trojan War who is reincarnated seven times through history, forced to confront his nemesis each time, all for the loss of his one true love.
[edit] Plot summary
3000 years. Two Men. One Secret.
Detective James North is called urgently to a hostage scene at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and is surprised by two unusual things. Firstly, the hostage taker - a young man called Gene - is wielding a bronze-age sword like an expert warrior, keeping the NYPD at bay. Secondly, though they've never met, Gene is asking for North by name. Each man knows has an instinctive need to kill the other, though neither know why. So begins North's search to discover his true history with Gene - a history that takes him far into the past and a secret that men will kill for; a secret that stretches from twenty-first century New York to the Trojan Wars, a thousand years before Christ. The secret of immortality.
[edit] Reviews
“Stel Pavlou is a genre-bender… Gene is a powerful read.” The Observer
"This must have been tough to write, but he certainly has delivered the goods again, it's terrific... Real edge-of-the-seat stuff." The Bookseller
“Grabs you by the lapels and drags you through the pages... A great idea... The world needs a Dan Brown who can write and we reckon Pavlou might just be that man.” SFX
“Highly successful and provocative… an intelligent, entertaining and damn exciting genre thriller… the natural heir to Michael Crichton.” SFRevu
"This really is something different... when so much crime fiction these days is thin, recycled material, this one is the catnip to those seeking the unusual." Crime Time
“Stunningly compelling… a superb story full of vivid characters and an intricate storyline.” The Eternal Night
“SF that Greg Bear might have written.” Emerald City
"For pure invention of plot and characters I cannot praise it enough. For page-turning power and suspense, it’s top rate. For all lovers of something unusual, it’s a must." Sarah Broadhurst, Ilovereading.co.uk
"'Gene' takes mythology, science, intrigue and action and creates a compelling and intricate tale... Anyone who likes their thrillers with brains, their intrigue with action or their mythology modern would probably find 'Gene' a most rewarding experience." SF Crowsnest
“Intense and very addictive... a tantalising storyline that will grab your attention to the end.” SHOTS: The Crime and Mystery Magazine
Gene has been listed in the Daily Mirror's Top 10 books to look out for in 2005. Gene has also been featured as one of the top picks of 2005 at Ilovereading.co.uk.
