Human Error (Paperback or Softback)

"[W]onderful, enlightened, and convincing beyond any reasonable expectations of what a science fiction novel should be." —Greg Bear

Compugen has become a giant player in the tech field overnight by making genetically altered viruses into "biochips" that are replacing silicon chips as the brains of computers.

Toby Bridgeman and Adrian Storey are an odd-couple of scientists—Toby, the programmer, and Adrian, the sloppy genius and genetic artist, have formed an enduring friendship and produced Epicell, a biochip so powerful that it will make all others on the market obsolete and save Compugen from financial disaster—if it can be rushed out fast enough.

But Epicell, elemental living virus, is so awesome in its capabilities that tests have not yet established any limits to its multiplication or its computing sophistication. Adrian wants more testing—he believes that Epicell is potentially dangerous. Instead, it is rushed to market to save the failing company.

Then those in contact with Epicell begin to come down with bad colds—the virus has spread outside computers, living and growing in the human body. Adrian, and perhaps the human race, are doomed unless Toby can reprogram the Epicell inside Adrian—and inside himself.

The possibilities of cross-fertilization between biological and computer sciences increasingly interest SF writers. Greg Bear's nightmarish, if visionary, Blood Music saw such "biochips" running amok, infecting and transforming the human race. Preuss treats the same premise, of brilliant but myopic scientists who allow their "intelligent virus" out of the lab without considering the consequences. Computer designers Toby Bridgeman and Adrian Storey have just completed a radically new machine whose cellular circuits will grow to the requirements of the user. Soon, however, those molecules begin growing in the users and while some die, most are actually changed for the better. Although this utopian concept brings up more intriguing ideas than he pursues, Preuss has written a swift, entertaining scientific thriller that should win a wide audience. November 18
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.