Germline

November 15, 2011

Set 100 years in the future, McCarthy's first novel is a brutal tale that follows Stars & Stripes reporter Oscar Wendell. Wars now are fought deep below the surface with genetically engineered quasihuman troops battling alongside heavily armored soldiers, all fighting with horribly destructive weapons. Wendell, the only reporter on the front line, is an unlikable drug-addicted character whose life will be darkened forever by his experiences. Donald Corren's first-person narration delivers a perfect interpretation of the atrocities occurring throughout the story. Gritty, realistic, and filled with the short- and long-term impacts of war, Germline drives home the notion that war wounds are not always visible. Recommended for collections where Harry Turtledove is popular. [See Major Audio Releases, LJ 6/15/11.--Ed.]--Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.