An Extraordinary Boy

by Senior Lecturer in Politics Vernon Hewitt

In 1993, 24 children are abducted by aliens from hospitals across the UK. They are discovered later dispersed at random and in pairs, cured of cancer with their genomes modified to contain an extra ten chromosomes. The last two Max Lennox and Jonathan Price are found in a wood in Leicestershire and later the aliens return to leave a device of some kind buried in the ground. Who or what is behind these events and why have the children been altered?

478 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2011

Reviews

[Samantha]

The story starts off confusingly like we've just walked into the middle of a conversation and we're just trying to pick up the threads. 24 terminally ill children have been abducted individually from different hospitals and have subsequently been returned in pairs. An investigation begins and we see the story unfold from the perspective of Professor Julian Grey, a geneticist, who is part of team trying to understand the reasons, the purpose and the consequences for us (Earth). The story explores the reactions in the overexcited and manipulative press, the scientists consumed by curiosity and fear, the Government wary and controlling, the parents protective and concerned.

I found at times the story got a little bogged down with the science and understanding DNA and genetics and I did find my interest dipping as I struggled but roughly half way the tension ratches up and absorbed me again. Also the perspective then switches to and from the narrative of Jamie, the best friend of Max, one of the boys abducted and considered a little more special to the other children and Prof Grey. This helps add to the tension. We are constantly fascinated as a species is there life out there and if there is why would they want to contact us and what would happen if they did. I thought this was really good take on the alien abduction story it explores it through the eyes of just a few of those caught up in the events rather than attempting to do a global overarching storyline keeping it more intimate and personal which I think works well.

I would highly recommend this to those who are enjoy a good sci fi story.

[Lorna Holland]

Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...

This book was very slow to get started. Despite the fact that the author throws you in at the deep end, with little to no initial explanation of what is going on, the majority of the first half of the book is complicated scientific explanation and reasoning. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was strongly tempted to dnf the book on multiple occasions.

Despite that, I persevered - and I'm glad I did. The story switches perspective midway through the book, swapping from Professor Julian Grey's narrative to Jamie Relph's POV. I felt substituting the science for a younger, more naive voice was a real breath of fresh air - not to mention the fact that it helped to add a real element of emotion and humanity to the story.

I'm in two minds about An Extraordinary Boy. But after that ending, I have my fingers crossed for a sequel; so many questions have been left unanswered!

[Sid]

Starting with Alien Abduction of young cancer patients, then the return of all, cured of cancer.
The machinations of science and politics.
Then the slow path to the denouement and a slightly unexpected end.

A good story , sometimes slow and slightly technical in the genetic science component, but worth reading.