Eternal Sonata: A Thriller of the Near Future

By Jamie Metzl

A midwestern reporter uncovers a scientist’s quest to create the fountain of youth in this gripping exploration of genetics, philosophy, and human desire.
 
In the not-so-distant future, a renowned, elderly scientist dying of cancer disappears from a local hospice. When Kansas City Star reporter Rich Azadian digs into the story, he discovers that other elderly scientists around the world have also vanished recently—all terminally ill and receiving the same experimental treatment from a global health company. Azadian’s investigation leads him to the reclusive Noam Heller, a brilliant researcher exploring new technologies to reverse cell growth. Heller’s breakthrough promises the genetic equivalent of the fountain of youth.
 
But after Heller is found murdered and his lab destroyed, Azadian and his girlfriend realize they know too much. When authorities fail to see the danger they are in, Azadian takes matters into his own hands. His only hope is to mobilize his network of brilliant misfits and compete against the cutthroat corporations, national intelligence services, rogue scientists, and a mysterious international organization to win control of the new technologies that provide the secret to immortality.
 
“Social issues, cool not-so-far-in-the-future gadgets, and a well-paced plot add up to a good read.” —Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781628726824

Jamie Metzl

Jamie Metzl is a leading futurist, geopolitical expert, science fiction novelist, and media commentator and a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council who has served in the White House, State Department, and United Nations. In February 2019, Jamie was appointed to the World Health Organization expert advisory committee on developing global standards for the governance and oversight of human genome editing. In addition to Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity, he has written a history of the Cambodian genocide, the historical novel The Depths of the Sea, the genetics sci-fi thrillers Genesis Code and Eternal Sonata. www.jamiemetzl.com.

Reviews for Eternal Sonata

[richardderus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rating: 3.5* of fiveThe Publisher Says: A few dead bodies are a small price to pay in the quest for immortality.In 2025 America, it’s hardly news when a renowned octogenarian scientist dying of cancer disappears from a local hospice, but when Kansas City Star reporter Rich Azadian begins to dig, he discovers that other elderly scientists around the world have also vanished recently—all terminally ill and receiving the same experimental treatment from a global health company. His investigation leads him to the reclusive Noam Heller, a brilliant researcher exploring new technologies to reverse-age cancer and other cells. Using revolutionary stem cell treatments and snippets of DNA from rare, immortal Arctic jellyfish, his breakthrough promises the genetic equivalent of the fountain of youth.But when Heller is murdered and his lab destroyed, Rich and his girlfriend Antonia become targets themselves. With the local police and federal authorities failing to see the big picture, he realizes he must take matters into his own hands to survive and stop the killing. His only hope is to mobilize his network of brilliant misfits and infiltrate the vast and lethal race—among cutthroat corporations, national intelligence services, rogue scientists, and a mysterious international organization—to control the new technologies and perhaps the secret of life itself.I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.My Review: Plausible-enough technothriller set in 2025, only ten years after it was written. Events have, um, overtaken the planned shocking stuff...I've had multiple mRNA vaccines developed in a matter of months to help me fight off a lethal plague, so this posited accelerated medical-research stuff isn't as impressive as it would've been just a short time ago.The thriller parts, featuring intrepid reporter Rich Azadian and his gal-pal Antonia Hewitt, are solidly paced. Alzheimer's research shading into immortality research worked well as a spine for the thrillery bits. Fast paced, Pattersonesque chapters plus dialogue and descriptions that are very focused and taut lead me to wonder why y'all haven't bought millions of 'em. The author's voice works, the plot speeds, and the stakes are convincing. Don't wait, thriller readers.