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Literature / Ancestor

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Ancestor is a novel by Scott Sigler, revolving around a genetic engineering project by the Genada Corporation. A small circle of scientists is attempting to solve the problem of xenotransplantation; the viable transplantation of organs from animal to human, by trying to re-engineer an ancestor of modern mammals. A project with similar goals (albeit vastly different methods), goes haywire and has to be destroyed by elements of the U.S. Army. The G8 responds by attempting to shut down xenotransplantation research.

The heads of the Genada Corporation, the Paglione brothers, pack up their project to a secluded island called Black Manitou. However, as the project continues to unravel, one of them plans to tie up loose ends. If that wasn't enough, the "ancestors" are born... and they are hungry.

Like Sigler's other works, Ancestor was first a podcast before being committed to print.


This Novel Contains Examples Of:

  • Ax-Crazy: Magnus Paglione
  • Asshole Victim: Andy Crostwhaite, Magnus Paglione.
  • Genetic Engineering Is the New Nuke
  • Fetus Terrible: The embryonic ancestors were implanted in cows as twins or triplets before murdering their siblings in-utero. Some time later, they tear their way out of their mothers.
  • Fluffy the Terrible: Each cow has a cutesy name, and the ancestors are referred to as Baby "Insert Mother's Name".
  • Herr Doktor: Claus Rhumkorrf, the leader of the Genada Project.
  • It Can Think: The ancestors hunt in packs and progressively figure out new tactics as time goes on.
  • Knight Templar Big Brother: Zig-Zagged. Magnus is the younger of the siblings, but is described as a gigantic person. He's willing to go to murderous lengths to keep the company safe, in part because Dante's life depends upon its success.
  • Mad Scientist: Jian is a sympathetic version; she's the smartest person on the team and the "success" of the project is due to her, but she is seriously mentally ill. She suffers from hallucinations and nightmares, has disastrously low self-esteem and feels that every failure in the project is her ineptitude dooming thousands to die, Rhumkorrf deliberately aggravates her illness, and the lethality of the ancestors was because she wanted to kill herself but Genada was taking precautions against it; leading her to subconsciously make them as dangerous as possible so they'd do it.
  • The Mole: Erika Hoel backstabs Genada to get back at Rhumkorrf
  • Morally Ambiguous Doctorate: Multiple; Claus Rhumkorrf, Liu Jian Dan, Tim Feeley, and Erika Hoel.
  • Murder Is the Best Solution: Magnus's response to problems.
  • No Medication for Me: Jian's degrading mental health is because Doctor Rhumkorrf cut the dosage of her meds; specifically because he felt it blunted her creativity.
  • Oddly Overtrained Security: PJ Colding, the main protagonist, is in charge of a four-man security team consisting of himself (former US AMRIID) and Magnus's old war buddies (Former Canadian Special Forces), guarding a team of four scientists.
  • Only Known by Initials: PJ Colding.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Paglione Brothers. Dante's an intelligent businessman capable of making a tremendous sales pitch, planning on using the results of the project to score a PR victory despite Genada's less-than-ethical actions. Magnus Paglione handles the company security, a former Special Forces veteran, is absolutely ruthless and sadistic.
  • Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist: Colonel Fischer of US AMRIID, to an extent. He is trying to shut down Genada's research. Considering the intro has another company's research cause a lethal pathogen to wipe out the research team, he's not entirely unjustified in his actions. PJ Colding hates his guts because he blames him for his wife's death.
  • Working with the Ex: Of a sort; PJ and Sara had a one night stand a long while ago. Although initially less-than-thrilled to see each other again, they do reconnect.

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