Lyle Taney, a 30-something historian, has her life changed forever when she's drawn into events by an ex-CIA spy, who has learned of a conspiracy among scientists to keep a fantastic discovery out of the hands of governments and corporations. Part science-fiction, part espionage thriller, and part paean to the liberal arts, this is a marvelous tale! It was written at the start of the Reagan years, and takes place just a couple years later. Having grown up during the Cold War, and witnessed its end with no small measure of relief, I was concerned at first that the "But what about the Russians?" aspects of the story would not be engaging, but that wasn't a problem - the characters' personal involvement in what's happening always stays front and center, with world politics a backdrop and a motivation, nothing more. And the characters' thoughts and choices are always moral ones, based largely on beliefs and emotions, rather than cold scientific calculations.

As for what the scientists have discovered, the quote on the cover of my edition comes out and tells you, but I won't. The science is kept pretty vague, though; rather than make up a bunch of implausible nonsense, the author just tells us that so-and-so figured out a crucial bit of the puzzle, and that someone else put the pieces together, and so on. That vagueness works here, leaving us with the same puzzlement and wonder that the main character experiences.

I read one of Wlhelm's other books a long time ago, and vaguely remember liking it. This has given me a reason to hunt down a bunch more. ( )

dark atmosphere. I don't remember very much of the story now in 2013. ( )

fascinating story, a tv show is coming out/is already out that sounds like it lifted this book's plot, a "Wolverine" vaccine that will either cure you or kill you and nations in a race to obtain it from its creators ( )

Love this book! A very well-written story, with beautiful descriptions of the Northwestern coast of the U.S. ( )

When I was sixteen and traveling cross country, I stopped into a rummage shop and came away with this book. It's been one of the most random finds I've ever read.

It's really a very interesting book with a plot that is more philosophical than scifi. I found the characterization to be particularly vivid, and certain passages have stuck with me for years.

I don't quite agree with the way it ended. Things are wrapped up too tidily but are simultaneously too ill planned. Even as a teen, I remember closing the book with an air of, "That was a pretty rash action. It's lucky that everything worked out."

Still, I'd recommend this book to other readers for the groundwork and wordsmithing of the plot alone. ( )