The Immortality Factor

Two brothers, Arthur and Jesse, are doctors on opposites sides of the operating table, each with his own views on stem-cell research and its use in cases of life and death. One is for it, one against it, and each voices his opinion while fighting for the life of a beautiful woman. With a large cast of characters voicing their opinions on the issue, it only seems natural to recruit a small cast of narrators to bring the debate to life. Led by the bass tones of Paul Boehmer, the production includes emotional performances from all the members of the cast. The result is lifelike drama that fully engages listeners in the debate. L.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

February 9, 2009
Bova's cautionary medical thriller, the uncut version of his 1996 novel Brothers
, explores the political, social and religious ramifications of what could be humankind's greatest medical breakthrough—organ regeneration. When biotech lab director Arthur Marshak discovers a way to grow replacement organs and limbs within a patient's own body, the uproar from religious extremists, conservative politicians and sensationalized media coverage threatens to derail the project. When Marshak decides to let a “science court” in Washington, D.C., rule on the validity of human organ regeneration, the subsequent travesty of a tribunal not only imperils his career but also his tempestuous relationship with his estranged brother, who happens to be married to Arthur's ex-fiancée. Even an implausible love triangle and a cast of two-dimensional characters can't dim the forcefulness of Bova's message: the singular significance of science in modern-day society.