Pentapod reviewed Frameshift by Robert J. Sawyer
Review of 'Frameshift' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Although the book was written in 1997 it's startlingly relevant to 2017, since headlines this year include the US proposing legislation to allow insurance companies to demand genetic testing (and Canada blocking legislation to do the same), and references to Hillary Clinton losing a political fight (I believe he was referencing a fight for health care improvements, but obviously extra topical now). I enjoy Sawyer's writing because he's extremely science-savvy and isn't shy about tackling current-events technology, while still making the science approachable for the general audience. This book isn't an exception; it deals with several genetic issues including genetic testing, cloning, the ethics of requiring genetic testing for medical insurance; and theories about the purpose of introns (junk DNA).
There are multiple plots and stories interweaving through the book and initially it's not clear how they're going to all tie together, but by the end of the book they …
Although the book was written in 1997 it's startlingly relevant to 2017, since headlines this year include the US proposing legislation to allow insurance companies to demand genetic testing (and Canada blocking legislation to do the same), and references to Hillary Clinton losing a political fight (I believe he was referencing a fight for health care improvements, but obviously extra topical now). I enjoy Sawyer's writing because he's extremely science-savvy and isn't shy about tackling current-events technology, while still making the science approachable for the general audience. This book isn't an exception; it deals with several genetic issues including genetic testing, cloning, the ethics of requiring genetic testing for medical insurance; and theories about the purpose of introns (junk DNA).
There are multiple plots and stories interweaving through the book and initially it's not clear how they're going to all tie together, but by the end of the book they do all unite. On the whole I found all of them interesting, although the girlfriend's telepathy seemed unnecessary when all that was really needed was any genetic mutation that could be studied. As a Canadian who lived in the US for many years, I felt particularly sympathetic towards Pierre Tardivel as he negotiates the mysteries of US healthcare and politics.
