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Cover of Proteus Rising

Proteus Rising

Peter Dingus (2006)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG-13
Pages (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age16
Goodreads4.26

Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentNone
LanguageMild

Hero archetypes

Scientist

Heroine archetypes

Scientist / Researcher

Synopsis

Read the first chapters at: http://www.speculativefictionreview.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38 It is the year 2331, and humans have increased their dominion and spread throughout the solar system in permanent settlements. On Mars, where survival has required genetic augmentation, a distinct Martian race has emerged, while on Earth, a vast technocracy has moved to radical genetic enhancements. This is the Mars that physicist George Mills returns to after being called to a disturbing meeting with his Earthly benefactors. George is starting to suspect that unknown forces are slowly peeling away the layers of a secret that he and molecular biologist Joanne Zhu initiated in a fertility clinic fifteen years earlier. In George's absence, a mysterious Earth scientist was brought to Mars on the giant military cruiser Saratoga to investigate a group of unimaginably gifted children living in a modest neighborhood of the Martian Domes. Despite George and Joanne's efforts, the authorities soon discover the emergence of a new nonhuman species, and the existence of the most powerful computer ever created. So starts a tense and paranoid chess game between a small group of scientists and the invincible security forces of a fleet admiral in a desperate gambit to save a group of synthetically bred children from imprisonment and medical experimentation.

Is Proteus Rising appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 16 and up.

Parents should know this book features genetically engineered children being hunted by military forces for medical experimentation, creating tense thriller scenarios. The violence is implied rather than graphic, focusing on the paranoid chase and ethical dilemmas of synthetic life.

What to know going in

This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include child harm, human trafficking, and captivity (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Teens will be gripped by the race to protect gifted children from capture and the big questions about what makes someone human.

Tags

Science FictionMilitary SFHard Science FictionBiopunkPolitical Thriller