Chasing Life
Chasing Life by Brandt Legg 2020 Science fiction thriller
I don’t usually read science fiction but this one caught my attention because of the gene therapy. I interviewed a young man who had a genetic disease that would kill him in his twenties. In the past, genetic diseases could not be cured, but as part of my story, I interviewed a doctor who was researching gene therapy where a virus carries the missing protein to the body and targets a specific gene sequence. The protein acts like a dominant trait that masks the mutated or diseased trait and the symptoms of the disease disappear.
In Legg’s story, the Chinese are way ahead of the USA in gene therapy research and are experimenting on humans, not to cure genetic diseases, but to create a super human race. Former MSS agent Wen Sung and billionaire technology nerd Chase Malone enter China to find proof of the experiments and force world pressure to stop the Chinese.
Legg provides rollercoaster action from start to finish so buckle up when you read this book. The body count is high, but Legg balances the violence with the personal stories of his lead characters. He also brings in an interesting supporting cast of characters who may or may not be able to help them. Nobody knows who can be trusted or who will turn on them if tortured. No one expects Wen and Chase to make it out of China alive.
I liked all the characters, even the bad guys, who agonized over the ethics of the program they were involved with and whether to raise concerns to the all-powerful government. The theme of rewriting life and manipulating human traits is on the edge of technology. Legg introduces some other scary topics. He mentions the Chinese hacking into DNA databanks and diluting the gene pool of enemies by introducing defective genes that would make them less intelligent, prone to diseases, and cause early death. This is weaponizing gene therapy with all its horrible implications.
Legg uses the term “Sky Net” from the “Terminator” to connect this technology to the destruction of the human race. The Chinese have cameras everywhere, satellite surveillance, facial recognition software, and artificial intelligence data. The goal of ruling the world is not far-fetched, especially when Legg says wars aren’t between countries but corporations who want control of goods and products and can dictate prices and distribution to consumers. Fewer and fewer corporations own more and more companies.
Wen and Chase are independent spies trying to keep technology from being used for harm. They have a lot of people trying to stop them and there are eight books in this series. If you’re curious about Chinese government and espionage, you need to read this book. If you want to read about the “good guys” battling evil in the world, you should read the series. But you may have to remind yourself it is fiction or you may not be able to sleep at night.
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