Submitted by N Edwards (Oct 08, 2009)

A page turner sure enough, a bit Dan Brownish, but utter nonsense from a scientific point of view. Who ever heard of a single type of virus that could infect just about any form of life from an alga to a mammal? One of the novel's scientists tells us that BSE is caused by a virus. The novel's premise involves an unknown abyssal species of Manta ray acquiring spectacular adaptations by usage and within a generation, and then presumably being able to pass them on to offspring. The evolutionary progress over a few months is truly staggering - the depths of the oceans to dry land! It certainly owes more to Lamarck than to Darwin, but I think even Lamarck would have had a smile at this! How about swim bladders in cartilaginous fish? As for flight; well really - pull the other one! Mr Freedman should perhaps confine himself to ghosties and ghoulies and leave science alone, or at least get a bit closer to reality and close the credibility gap. Having said all that, it is fairly entertaining bunkum and I take my hat off to anyone who can write a novel of this length and get it published. Worth a read if you have nothing better to do and you forget what you ever learned at school.

Could not agree more with Arthur Bangs. Natural selection is poorly written and poorly researched. The idea of a species adapting to a completely new environment within a single generation shows a total lack of understanding of evolutionary processes. And this in a novel titled natural selection.

i loved this book!!! it was amazing!!! i also would love to see a movie out of it!!! and it was a cute love story!!!<3

This book is the basis for a great movie and a sequel. Not a "beach read" This is a great novel. One that a 'lover of the sea' will greatly respect and love. Divers and fisherman alike will find a fancy in this. We all know that the ocean is filled with "the unknown". so do well Mr. Freedman. I want to see a movie.