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  • Frameshift

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Robert J. Sawyer
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Frameshift Kindle Edition

by Robert J. Sawyer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars (111)
3.8 on Goodreads
1,529 ratings
Frameshift won Japan's Seiun Award and was a finalist for the Hugo Award.

Pierre Tardivel is a scientist collaborating on the Human Genome Project with Nobel Prize winner Dr. Burian Klimus. A driven man, Pierre may not have long to live: he has a fifty-fifty chance of dying from Huntington's disease, an incurable hereditary disorder of the central nervous system.

While he still has his health, Pierre and his wife decide to have a child, and they search for a sperm donor. Dr. Klimus makes an odd but generous offer: to be the donor as well as to pay for the expensive in vitro fertilization. But Klimus might be hiding a grim past: he may be Ivan Marchenko, the notorious Treblinka death-camp guard known as Ivan the Terrible. While digging into Klimus's past with the help of Nazi hunter Avi Meyer, Pierre and his wife discover that Pierre's insurance company has been illegally screening clients for genetic defects. The two lines of investigation begin to converge in a sinister manner, while they worry about the possibility of bearing the child of an evil, sadistic killer ...

This edition includes a reading group guide.

ROBERT J. SAWYER , a member of The Order of Canada, has won the Hugo, Nebula, John W. Campbell Memorial, Seiun, and Aurora Awards, all for best science fiction novel of the year. His novels include Hominids, Rollback, Wake, The Oppenheimer Alternative, and FlashForward (basis for the ABC TV series).
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  1. Print length
    363 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    Feb. 26 2017
  5. File size
    4.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

From Amazon

There is a 50 percent chance that geneticist Pierre Tardivel is carrying the gene for Huntington's Disease, a fatal disorder. That knowledge drives Pierre in his work on the Human Genome Project, an attempt by scientists to map human genes. But a strange set of circumstances--including a knife attack, the in vitro fertilization of his wife, and an insurance company plot to use DNA samples to weed out clients predisposed to early deaths--draw Tardivel into a story that will ultimately involve the hunt for a Nazi death camp doctor. Frameshift shows why the New York Times calls Robert J. Sawyer "a writer of boundless confidence."

Review

“Filled to bursting with ideas, characters, and incidents.” ―The New York Times

“You hardly need me to tell you to buy his latest, Frameshift. You know it's good, you know he gets the techy bits right, and you know he's interesting and thought-provoking.” ―Analog

“Robert Sawyer's science fiction is always ambitious, well-written, and imaginative. With each novel he keeps getting better.” ―Kevin J. Anderson

“Sawyer has created a gripping medical sf thriller...Highly recommended.” ―Library Journal

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XBLLKDT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ SFWRITER.COM Inc.
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Feb. 26 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 363 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1988415055
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #252,146 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars (111)

About the author

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Robert J. Sawyer

Robert J. Sawyer

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Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers ever to win all three of the world’s top awards for best science-fiction novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He has also won the Robert A. Heinlein Award, the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award, and the Hal Clement Memorial Award; the top SF awards in China, Japan, France, and Spain; and a record-setting sixteen Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (“Auroras”).

Rob’s novel FlashForward was the basis for the ABC TV series of the same name, and he was a scriptwriter for that program. He also scripted the two-part finale for the popular web series Star Trek Continues.

He is a Member of the Order of Canada, the highest honor bestowed by the Canadian government, as well as the Order of Ontario, the highest honor given by his home province; he was also one of the initial inductees into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

Rob lives just outside Toronto.His website and blog are at sfwriter.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon he’s RobertJSawyer.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
111 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

  • Donal T. Tighe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sawyer's earlier Neanderthal book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2003
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    When you think of Robert J. Sawyer and Neanderthals, you think of his Hugo Award-winning HOMINIDS and its sequels, HUMANS and HYBRIDS. But it turns out that he was writing about Neanderthals and characters who were geneticists long before those books, as this earlier Hugo Award-finalist by Sawyer demonstrates. The settings are Montreal, Canada, and Berkeley, California, and the template is that of a Robin Cook-style medical thriller (but with richer characterization than Cook ever provides). Interestingly for a science-fiction book, it's not set at all in the future. Rather, the setting is the Human Genome Project in 1997, where all is not what it seems, and people have dark secrets in their pasts. Wonderful stuff, would make a great movie.
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  • Ariane
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another Robert Sawyer winner
    Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Robert Sawyer is without a doubt an amazing "hard" science fiction writer. His well researched topics (in this case, genetic diseases) are always of interest and very informative. The plot is well written with excellent characters. More, more!
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  • Stephen A. Haines
    4.0 out of 5 stars A gene for telepathy!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2000
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    There's no doubt that Robert Sawyer can merge the most recent scientific concepts with fictional narrative flawlessly. Frameshift brings the latest revelations in genetic research to a story of murder and conspiracy. To that, he's added a strong historical element, rarely found in speculative fiction. The combination makes an overwhelming tale of perseverance in the quest for justice. This story is astonishingly relevant to today's circumstances.
    Sawyer's characters are always excellent images. His Canadians are a wonderfully disparate group [Illegal Alien provides another good example]. Pierre's character is well drawn, although probably the most 'heroic' of all Sawyer's characters. It was surprising that he remains silent on the issue of Quebec independence. That Molly loves Pierre him because he thinks in French, which doesn't intrude on her 'space', was a charming idea.
    At first, Molly's telepathic abilities seemed to suggest Sawyer had finally exceeded credibility. Telepathy, mysticism and inspiration from some divinity have too often been brought together to inspire religion with all its hurtful dogmas. That reaction was quelled after reading a fellow Canadian, Sharon Butala. Her non-fiction book, Wild Stone Heart, depicts a perfectly rational person subjected to 'experiences' she can't explain. Why do some people have these 'visions' while others don't? Perhaps, as Sawyer suggests here, there really is a genetic base for telepathy. It's an intriguing notion.
    As usual, Sawyer's science is up to the minute. The current attempts to restore extinct species include the quagga, the thylacine [Tasmanian Devil] and even the Neanderthals Sawyer depicts here. He recognizes the need for a proper environment to make the restorations succeed, in this case, Molly herself. If it can happen, this is exactly the mechanism that will be required. He has detailed the process to perfection. This is a highly readable book, stretching the reader's mind just enough to maintain interest and some suspense.
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  • frumiousb
    4.0 out of 5 stars Patchwork Effort
    Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2003
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    I struggled with what rating to give Frameshift.
    On the one hand, there were a number of things that felt hackneyed. I thought the nazi war criminal/eugenics thread was way too neat-- too much of a point being made. It bored me. 2-3 stars then.
    On the other hand, there were a number of really excellent aspects. Sawyer has a really plausible hand with the paintbrush when it comes to depicting characters. I liked very much how he handled Molly's telepathy and Pierre as a French-Canadian. I also liked the respect for science that the book seems to have. 4 or even 5 stars taken altogether.
    In the end, I'm giving it 4 stars because there are an awful lot of good elements, but if I really had to go with my gut, it would be more like a 3.
    Anyhow, still a good read if you like scientific thrillers.
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  • Judy Byd
    3.0 out of 5 stars Frameshift
    Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2001
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    I thought Frameshift was a ver exciting book. It got kind of confusing at times but if you really get into it and think about what your reading it can be a very fun and exciting book to read.
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  • Robert Knetsch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sawyer's Best Work
    Reviewed in Canada on August 28, 2002
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    I have been recently reading as many Sawyer books as I can get my hand on and have not yet been disappointed. I love the ideas he comes up with - some of them are remarkably plausible and his knowledge of scientific principles is clearly expansive.

    Frameshift has several strands of plot that are neatly weaved together that make for a very entertaining and captivating read. The mix of genetics, Nazi war criminals and big-business conspiracy theories kept me up late into the night wondering what was going to happen. What is particularly fascinating is Sawyers idea that there may be something to the "junk" DNA that all humans have and what they could mean.

    My only complaints are that Sawyers characterization of women does not seem quite accurate and that there are times where the plot takes some unbelievable twists. On the other hand, there is a great scene of a helicopter crashing that rivaled by description anything that I have seen in images in a movie.

    Read and enjoy!
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  • R.Wright
    2.0 out of 5 stars Too many interesting ideas
    Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2000
    Format: Mass Market Paperback
    The ideas around which "Frameshift" revolves are intriguing. Unfortunately, there appear to be a few too many of them to cover in this rather short book: A scientist wrestles with a deadly genetic disease; discovers a telepathy gene in his wife; uncovers a secret Nazi death camp guard; his wife gives birth to a Neanderthal clone (although she is a PhD herself, neither notices anything "wrong" for a long time!); finds a secret code in "junk" DNA. The plot twists left me feeling abused rather than amused or intellectually challenged. A much stronger book would have taken just ONE of these story lines and developed it in greater depth. The ideas are interesting - I liked reading about Berkeley, where I was a postdoc. The writing style is spare and doesn't get in the way of the plot. Unfortunately, as it is, I felt like I was reading the script of a made for TV movie - probably the FOX channel.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Robert B. Gordon
    5.0 out of 5 stars WHY SAWYER KEEPS WINNING PRIZES!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a retired college biology teacher, ninety years old and got hooked on SF stories when I was in high school. Three years ago I happened upon my first Sawyer book and was immediately aware that I had to read all of his books. He plots tight stories, writes excellent English, and develops believable characters who have very real human problems the reader can relate to, even though they are from another time or galaxy.
    Robert B. Gordon
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  • Cliente Amazon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Muy interesante, me enganchó la historia
    Reviewed in Spain on January 3, 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Me ha gustado el que haya varias tramas entrelazadas. Incita a pensar en las posibilidades de ingeniería genética. No le pongo cinco estrellas porque en algunos pasajes se excede en términos de biología que en mi opinión se podría simplificar.
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  • Somhat Lanod
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intense ride
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is my first Robert J. Sawyer book and he certainly did not disappoint.

    What do we have here?

    A romance between a terminally I'll foreign researcher and a psychology professor.

    Intrigue surrounding human cloning.

    A famous and (mostly) true to life case of the manhunt for a famous Nazi death camp guard.

    Sure to thrill science fiction and history buffs.
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  • K T Ratcliffe
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I have read other Robert Sawyer books and (apart from his dinosaur series) they have been good. This one really isn't
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  • Kd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another hit by Robert J. Sawyer
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This book was terrific and unpredictable. While one aspect of it was not truly surprising, it was well crafted and left me as fiercely protective as Molly and Pierre of their daughter. As a mother and grandmother, I could definitely relate to the story.
    Racism, Nazis, suspense, a bit of romance, it's all here, as well as the science that explains DNA and it's place in genetics. It was just well enough explained to add to the story, not distract from it. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to suspense readers everywhere.
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