Adaptive Significance

Adaptive Significance is a science fiction novel reflecting the debates of modern evolutionists. The story traces the main character, Cole Grace, from adolescence to manhood as he has to cope with his genetic ability of multi-consciousness, the ability to cogitate multiple thoughts simultaneously. On this journey, Cole makes friends and enemies of many powerful people--all of whom try to manipulate his "mental mutation" for their purposes. As the story develops, Cole and Emily Mahoney, the female protagonist, approach Cole's genetic mutation decidedly differently. While Cole just wants to experience a normal life, Emily wants to perpetuate and protect his genotype. The forces of evolution cannot be held ant bay; Emily's paranoia is realized when Cole's differences are made public by an overly ambitious presidential candidate who manipulates the media to disseminate hate and fear through his new politically correct form of bigotry: mutant bashing. Cole's extended family's attempt to flee from their predators is futile. Even application of gravity manipulation to colonize Mars is not sufficient to distance them from a world bent on eliminating people who are different. Competition for the next rung on the evolutionary ladder eventually erupts into world war, with countries taking sides to enhance their own position. The military might of the United States is launched against a small but technically advanced defensive force. Adaptive Significance is an exciting novel presenting numerous complex characters and cultural paradigms.