Review: The Andromeda Evolution

The Andromeda Evolution by Daniel H. Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The film of The Andromeda Strain was the most memorable sci-fi/terrifying epidemic film of my childhood. I remember begging to get a copy of the book at the public library where the librarian thought it was "too scary and adult" and my mom thankfully begged to differ, since I already spent a lot of time looking at my dad's medical textbooks. I loved the book and film. So I was a little hesitant about the idea of a sequel. The thing that had me thinking it might be a good one was the fact that Daniel H. Wilson, whose sweeping epic The Clockwork Dynasty convinced me he could do a handsome job. Though I did wonder how much the novel might be limited by the mold of Crichton's original. It turns out that with enough imagination, you can take this story and build an interesting new path. It also turns out that it's hard for me to describe that new path without giving away major plot points. Suffice it to say that The Andromeda Evolution is a clever take on what a pathogen can be. For instance, those current in molecular science may be familiar with the concept of DNA machines. Wilson, whose interest has long been in the area of robotics, artificial intelligence, and sentience, comes up with a pretty interesting plot as the "Andromeda" strain evolves beyond where it did when it started dissolving all the seals on its containment way back in Piedmont, Arizona. We come to care about some of the central characters on the Wildfire time and a young indigenous boy caught in the crossfires of a stunning incident in the Amazon. If you love epidemic or pandemic stories, or unexplained alien phenomenon stories, this one's a fun, fast read.

Edited to add: I have also listened to the excellent audiobook, narrated in cool and clinical tone by Julia Whelan.

I received a paper review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews