preview: genesis by bernard beckett

8/14/2019 Preview: Genesis by Bernard Beckett

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Genesisa novel B B c

A c c c p f -c c .

Kirkus Reviews

H , c , f c p . I

f f c -p v pp v .Jonathan Stroud, author ofthe Bartimaeus Trilogy

Houghton Mif in Harcourt

Get ready tothink long and

hard about what it really means

to be human.


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F I R S T H O U R


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Ana moved down he long corridor. T y s u s ss f . T s , s by u s. S -

b b ys, bu sp k f . I s f G M s k s, k f b ss s qu y f

p s .A x f u . S

k . T y u b pp , s s u . T s p , qu s , k y-

T A y z .A x ?A x .T p s up f Ex s, jus s u-s p s . I s f. D s f x -

k p s , s u s s .I s b s f , u-

P s k s y, ys I yb


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A x u . S u . T s b .

T Ex s s b sk, p k s b f

p s b .M k y u s f f b . T Ex sp k . H s s f , s b s y A x s . By p s k

k, bu s f y s up , k s p. T -y s u ssu . T sp b f s .

A x k s b .

e aminer: F u u s b t f y u x -. Y u y s k , s u y u ub u -s y f u qu s s, bu s

b k s ju s .D y u u s s?

ana imander : Ys.e aminer: Is y y u u k sk, b f

b ?ana imander : I u k sk y u s s .e aminer: I s y. I qu u s . . .ana imander : I s j k .

e aminer: O . I s .

A b . N s u s k f k fy f . A x s s u p z , bu p s qu k y .

e aminer: A x , y u b s . F u u s y u s subj . T f s f A F ,

2058 2077 A F s b s s f


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P s R pub . C y u p s xp us pu s s T R pub s f ?

W s s k? A xs p y s f xp s y s f A s f y. T p p s b -p by t u . S k - f p b k u f u s , y b y , bu

s f xp s . A s u s ss, f y s u . T s s y s .

S u s ? W y xp ? S k f s f u s, bu y s p ss s

s , .

e aminer : A x , y u u s qu s ?ana imander: Of u s I . I s y. I jus . . .

s t . . .

A x f s. F u u s. P y f s u s k .

ana imander : T s y b s f - f u . As y , s

s f s y s. E y t p s - f s s f u y. T - y s s b s , -

s sus s s p s .W s k s M E s p -

y ub , U S s I us s s f f s s y s s by y b s f u ,

W


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s s f y, s -sy , f p xp .

Fu s s s b s s f s -

, s s f W s T s S u A b 2032 s by y s sp k f u b us . Eu p s us f

s s p ss p s f 2047 s s fu f s u y. C s s

p , p -y, y f b s z . E xp s b -

. B s y s k u p s, s pp s f A C C M

us by us s s f 2041. Is , f y s, by f

f u u y, pub s u s s

by f p ss s .I s, f u s , sy b s b f -

s , bu f u p s y p pu f s f s f. T u -

u y f u s p s s k f s sp .

e aminer: D sp .

T Ex s s fu y u , s f u b p s f s. O y s

y A x ; s , pu s p .E y p us , y k f u y: Ex s

bs . T s, su y, s y . A x fsu y s u p ss . S u s P ss s T s sp


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. D s . T k y u y u s . Tus s. A b k s u s s p . N

f u s k y s, s -

f y s s f f , p y.

ana imander: By sp I s y s b u p f . Hu sp s b y f u y f fu u u s y p -s . I s b f p b s b s , ss . I s yp f . A s f . I b

b k by f , sup s . By y 2050, b , f up f fu , sup -

s us s.e aminer : T us b u s sup s s.ana imander : Sup s s

s f s p us . As I y s , -us fu s s s , bu s yp

f sup s I f . T sup s s y s b f s p us s.

E p s f s s by k f p u p ss b y, bu u s u s

su p x y. I s f ub , b f s p s b ks , u f sp y s s. S s b k . U b t b u sf u , u -b p u s s , p p k f s s s .

T p f , p ps b y b . F y b f , xp , p s f T p p


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f s s b s. A f - u , u y, , p p s u s sf s s; y y k , y

f u , f s s k s.T s s u p p f s f .T f us . A y f s f

s . T s s I , I s y y f s k f sp .

e aminer: T k y u f y u . N p s -u y u s y f s. H T R pub b s b s ?

Jus s P s p , A x s bu y by s u f . T s s su . Hu s f s, s xp . E yb y

s , s s y u sk . S u s y s s

s s , , x , A x f u s f pp s, y y .

ana imander: T s s f L s W s su s . I pp Au us 7, 2050. T J p -

s C s sp s y p s su fu - s p j-, p - pp s f spb u b u . T s u b s u y s us I .

T U.S. b k , b s p f p s b s , C

u b U.S. s b y s C s I p


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s s s f A , , s p s f u s , b k s s s - f u s f. By s x

b s s p k up, Ju f 2053, s y b - T R pub s s p s sb b .

T fu s xp , f u s , y y sp . App s u y t p u , y ys p p ps sp - f s s ps xp z s y u z . O , xp s s b

ss f qu , s u s f bs. I s p p u P sk

k f , b t s.e aminer: A f su y, A x . A s s

T R pub y u subj f sp s , A F , s b . B f s x y

f , y u p s us t b u R pub Ps u ?

ana imander: H s s s y T R pub s b su s by s t F p s . P ,

p ps s u s y P s s s, f s bH b k y f T R pub s s - , p s y f s s . P p p D f b u b us p -

p s y f u s . T y b u y, f t s fu f

s , s y. P p p f T R pub y u u y f


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z s y by s y b s up s b y .

P s -

: I pu y f B , I pu y f T u , I uf I u , C , T Ou s . H s s u-s , bu p p f u

s y p s s. T s s s y u, P , y u us s s .T p p f u s ss s, b s

up s: L b s, S s, T s, P s p s. C s p f p s b , s f p u . A

f s y s s , - ss .

A subj us u , bp ys u . W s y s s -

pu s y, s s. I sus k , s s s u ss

s f u y.T b s s b f L b

S ss s, f s p , s y b s k s pp u y

s T ss, bu y fu . T ssf P s p s s s f f .M s p y, s p k u s. R s ,

up s f D p f G - V y u y. Bu y , y k , s - s.


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T I k s f su y f j sp s f y R pub s y.

A x z u b s s f pp f p , bu ss s u p k up , y s k f s k s u -

. If f u , s k . Bus s s . T s s T A y.

e aminer: W s y u u , A x ?ana imander: P s. M s y. I p s ,

f u s , I f y s , bu e aminer: P s.

T Ex s s f sp p . A x u f s s b . S f

x qu s , p s y u s s s , k b f

s f A F .

e aminer: I y u ju , s P su ssfu s s?

ana imander: T u p up y u k ss b . If s u s s p sp s u , I k s f s f s -

s, s f s s , s b x s b u . If, , y u sk

s su ssfu p u s , p p s y b s b z

p , s k . P ps s y


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u f u s ju P f A F b b .

Jus s y x . F y s, A b f f . A u b fs s b , A x f s k s s s k y-

. S s u s y s p s, s y s, bu p y, s P s

f f . If s u p ss Ex s , s u p ss Ex s. A , s u k b u . S p s P s s u

k b u .

e aminer : Y s, A .

A x s y y u s y u

p us s s . T k s s sp . T b spb u s , s t , s s s . Bu y p us y s s .

e aminer : A x , s I s - b u A s b k u . W s p s, s y y s k ? E y k s b u u u y, y y u us s y f

, bu A s f b . T us , y u , .

ana imander: A s b y 2058. H ss T u s y f s y . L s


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s s f k b by s f sf s u s y s s u u , bu s s y jus

s y. T y f us . F s s u s s A y s, s y , f s s sy.

W k s A s b P s-p ss. A f s s y , u - p ys s s . H s - s us s bu s p s .

A s k s p ss b u p b -y s b . I f , y C k u

su s b s . I u -s s u b sub t s

s . Bu 2059 s f s p u s , C k p ss ss s

s y s p u , s s s pu . By s k s s , A

p ss s s b z s s s s . I fus su u A -s , k s k , f -

s p ss s b s.

e aminer: S s P s p s s ?ana imander: Y s. T s us s p s p ss y, p u y s

. H s x s , f ,p s s y u u . I s s sp y f u y s -b y s s .

A u R b k , f s f s b f s


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T y s y ss . O s f u ,

A s f R b k s s u . H -

s u k s s u f s z , R b k s p, f ys b f k s y-f s f R b k s u .

A s u b k k s , b s , p t b s . H ss f b b , pu s , u f f su , f p y. N y su s s-

s u s sf u y b - ss s bu s sp p A s b -f, s s s s p . As ss

s sf s y f R pub - Gu s. A s su f s , p ps

s y s y f .e aminer : If b s p us s.

A A x s f b us su s p s k . S u s

su s. Bu s y u s. T s s

f k su s. S s f b y by s y. P s s pp .S s p s.

ana imander: A f u s . S y.

N f Ex s k p y. A x - u k s s f sp s fW k s s?


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e aminer: T us b u u s s f A s s .ana imander: A s by s s y s .

T y s 2075. H u s f

S y, s f p ys y u .Y u sk s , s I y

p ss by u u u f u b k ks s , s f s s

s s p s s s us f s . By s , y

f s s f s s ps, s u s y f t p fu s.T x s y b u s s f yp f -

s p. S s p b p k bj b z su s , u T R pub s

y , u s sp qu k y. As p u p S s , s - u s k -p s . M

S s k A , f s f s p -s , s sp -

k s u s .

A b s j b f x y s s -u . A s p b p y b by xp , s k y s s x .

T s s k p s u s s y p s b . E -s s f s bs b x p p f , su u by f ss by s .

T b s s s s b


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f s s u b u . T j b s s -p , u b k f G SF , u s f s y s u p s

- k. T f b y s b . I s pp z u by s s. S u y y b s b p-

p f f u s , s s u y s u b u us.

If ss f s s z , s u k y ss f s by s - us f u f s s, s s s . W u s, s - p s u b

, y s s u b p .

F s , ss s f f , usu y

s u s b s ssk s . T y s u fy

s f s , f u f p p s . T , s - s s , z

by s y, u b us b

.T s s y u s k p s u b k f s -

s ys . T s u s u p s .S u s s y s y s f s yu s u s, s b s y, u -u s s . I s y s s k y spu b s s s s -

f s p


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e aminer: A s u f s p b - A s s y p ?

ana imander: A s s b s s

, s s f y- b A s p , J s p . Is u , , s s p u -k y f pu -p p u s u

, k p s s . F s , y pu s s

s f , z p b -pu - p p s s u s. I y u s, b -us y u p ss I u k p u -

s b J s p A , y b f .

e aminer: If y u k ps s qu s .

A x p us . P s ssu s , u su z s s p k y f x-

u s s s s . W y y ? B s . S u k P -s . S u p u .

ana imander: T s s 18.40, u s - u s .

: Y u s y ?a: Y .

: W ?a: [Voice raised] A s p, b u , k

s y f . A , s s s f upf G


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u s s y s p, s u s, y u s, y G , !

: Ok y, jus sk . Yu k y s -

s s, ?a: N b y s s .: H y u k ?

a: Yu k, f y b p I sp k,s u s s by ?

: H y , y u s .a: I k .

: Yu y , .a: Y , I .

: N , b f s p b .a: O b u , , , f ,

s. I k I p .: [ Agitated] P ss , .

a: Y u p ss .: I . T y y u but s.

a: W s k ?: I .

a: G .: I b !

[ A buzzing sound can be heard.]: T s -s ! A , s s f . W b pu s . Y u k ks.

a: W pu s .: H s.

a: Ok y, k y. [ Slow, teasing ] I t s. Y , , b u , , , , , y , s , s , y u s ?I s I


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a: R .[The buzzing stops.]

a: S , y b u .

: W y y u ys ?a: I b . I ps s y .[ A long silence. Tapping at keyboards can be heard.]

: Yu k s y u y ?a: H y u b s?: F y s.

a: H y y u s ?: T f u . Bu y jus s. I , y u

k . . .a : T y s y y s s ps y, up .

: I u s jus s y.a: E y s jus s y.

: W y u k b u , s b s

p u ? T s u y, ?S y u b bu . I k s s s .

a: O y jus k .: T s s I s , y s s k.

a: Y u k y s s s, ?: [Worried] Y u s y s .

a: U ss s pp s.: W s f s ?a: I u s y u.

: T k s , s .

a : S y b u .: Y u k y bu , ?

a: Y u p p ss s b k? I k


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ana imander : S p .e aminer: W y s y t ? T b

p ss .

ana imander: I s p s y.e aminer : Exp .ana imander: A s ju u . J s p s y s

s s s xp , y , s s , y u u ssu pp s s u . A , I

k, ssu s sup y y s u . I s p s. I s p f ub .

e aminer: T us pp x .ana imander: N x s y f s . A

s, J s p A b s 15.30. Ty s . T s s . T

s bu b f , s ss s s u s . T x

f u s. O y k s, s p ss bf s x u

f . A , J s p s A qu p , u s A s s .

a: W , , b k .: W y u b u ?a: Ey s , t p . S ?: S ?

a: T y s y u y s b f y pu y u s ?: My y s .

a : Mus b b p b , .: Ok y, I s . [ Voice rising ] I s !


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a: Ok y, s t .: S u .

a: I s y.

: I k .a: C k y u s , y u .: Yu k I bu s s, ?

a: Yu k f S s s ?: T y f .

a : N , s y. B u ky f . Lu ky y u s s bu s

.: I s y u u . C k s .

a: E b t .

T s y s k f sus s f f b k . T -

s . I s s b , jus s s . A u f s u s

k u .

w: Yu b ys t ?: Su , Ru , s s u s.

w: G .a: I s jus .: B fu f . T b s .

a : W y u f y f ?: I u pp . T s I s y . Yu

? A y y u . I y u b k.a: W s .

: Yu .


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: W ?a: I s b f .

: Bu I s y u .

a: I .: H ?a: I s b s y u k .

: Ok y, s s s y u s . D y. I s . I s jus k . O y u k , y u .

a : I k I .: I k y u .

a : S s jus .: I s y u f I .

a : L .: W y u k b u ?

a: Y u . I . I xp , I jus k b

s y. If I s I b b x . I k I . C , y u k s b s s .

J s p . E s s s , f- y- y p ss b y y p u , s s -

u b t . A s y p . A k s. H u k s s u pp . Mu s , , f s - b u s.

e aminer: Is y u k? D y u k s b ?

A s , qu s A x u s fu y. T s s f p s


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Y s, S .Y u s s, A .I k , S .

R p b k s . W s subs u .C u s, A . T R pub ks y u.T k y u, S .A k s s . T y u b

f s s .H p s s f u s b

k . H u s s b , f bu p s . A s t . H f s u

f y sp k s u .C y u s ? . C y u s ?S k , bu s . S s s

f k u xp ss f .

H . Y u u f b . S y. S ! H p . I y u,

f . T s p I y u u . A s . W . W y u , u bu ys. C y u u s ? I s y y u b .P s , f y u u s .

H , sp y f sp s . N .H . S b k, s , b u us s u .H p s p s , A - b b k s s . T s s s .H pus J s p s k s . H u

s . H s u s s s u s, s p y s u p f x us ? T s y f

. H , ss f s bubbf s s s p


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A . T u ss b ; s s s k . T s s A , 6 N. T sk p . V ss s y .

C u s, A . T subs u b u s. S y y u . W b y.T k y u, S .Bu A s y s. A s f s s s. T y k

k y u y b p s u us y s: f s -

s , f f squ s.A k sys u b , u

s s s s s p y s f fu .T s b u sy b u s -f , bu s b A s u -

us , I u b p k up f u s u y f S .O s A s p pu y ,

s y s ps b u -y, s y p ss b by s f

s y. M s f fu y, s s s R b k , s f f s , b xp s u y. S sp u y s y u , u f s .W , A s b p s

. H ky s , s u f .T s s by s s p sk. E u s s


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u usu y y, s p sss b s s f f - .A s s u s . T

s s f f , bu s su k s . H us b u s k up, y s u s .

H s b u s b k s . S sp k, bu s su f b b k s u s.

H k s b s f , su b s f y . H b f s b p s u . S b k s s s, b f s s y s, s s ks .

O s , s s .T subs u f u s s , s k

sk , s u p s f , . T sub-s u , s s N , s

f s s y s. H ssu y uu b k u s f y u s -s, k p s s f. Ak u s .

T u , s ,f , b k s. O x y u s b k s f s u s up, f -

E s , s y f p s .e aminer: Y u s b f s s f s

s y. T us b u s .ana imander: F u s , s s susp -

us f A s s y: s u k f


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s u y b f , p us b y f s y p s subs u , y pu J s p . T s su s

s p f b p . I s k f - u s u y p -y b b , s p x p s

.e aminer: Bu y u s u ?ana imander : I .e aminer : W y?ana imander : H s y s s us fu y f -

sp y y. C p x y s s , u p ju .

e aminer: Y u s u k P s.ana imander : T s y b s, bu s s

y . I A s s , I k s b t b pp s . A s p u u -

f s u . C sp y y u us b u pp y y. T

s p . Bu ss s s b t s s . H s y jus

jus ? A s f f s f y ? Ns b s b su s . A u -

f s y p -u , s u f . T b y f subs u s s k f . I k

u s, bu u jus s s y b -u s, u . If p , A u


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f supp s f f , bu k s, p , s u

pu s f s qu p x y sus-

p s. N , I b pp s A us. H k y s, f .e aminer : A ?ana imander: D ?e aminer : D ?ana imander: I k s s y -

u s f p .e aminer: A s s f k

b xp s s s p u us y. T s s u s p -u . A , A s s k sf sk s f y f s u y. C

fy, p s , y u b s y f

ju s s?

A x s . S s p p f s f qu s -. H sp s subj s s y, s. S u x-

p p ss by b p s k y pu s A s s y, bu s u p p s

by s y s u b ju . S p s,f u s . E yb y . W s s uss , s, s s, s? Bu s

s p p f , . S s qu f . P s s qu s s fu y u fu y s s u . H

y u y u s t . T y u su p s s y k. S p s .


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ana imander: I k s k s f sy p s ss u y. A I k ss u su p s us, p p A s

u s y. I k s u s b , s u -p s s s . I k s u us s.

e aminer: A y u u ?ana imander: I s y u . Y u qu s-

, I k, s I s u b b b . A f s s f p y

f p ss . H b s u pu p y s , s s f s u

s u . W y b f p u p ss , s u s b f k up s f k su s b f f . H s x-

p y. N ss, I b s f

u u s A s s s y u s p f p y. F s y fu su ss-

fu y p ps s b f p y b up .

F s Ex s s p p-

b . T y s . T , y s bu s y.

e aminer: A y u s y s y k by p u s p f-b k by ?

ana imander : T s y f f qu s .e aminer: A y u s ?ana imander: I k, u s s, s p ss b


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jus fy s f A s s, u , u s y, us b kfu f .

S . T y s y , bu A x k s bu s qu y b f p , s p b k s p .

e aminer : A s s .ana imander: I s s qu s .e aminer: Y u b f fu y, I

su . T s u f x s p .F , sk y u s p u s , s p fu p f .

ana imander: A y u u k ?e aminer : If y u .

ana imander: A s f ?e aminer : T ks b s pp .


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About the Author:

BernardBeckett

In His

Own Words

I was born in 1967 in a New Zealand owncalled Fea hers on (popula ion: 3,000 on a goodday). Te f h o seven children, I duly grew old

enough o ro o o Sain eresas, he local Ca holicprimary school. My a her was a grocer, as had beenhis a her be ore him. My mo her was plen y busy wi h he seven o us.

When I was seven we moved a ew miles ouo own. Te res o my childhood was spen in hecoun ryside, kicking my rugby ball around amongshe cows in he neighboring paddocks, ca ching eelsrom he creek ha ran along he back o he prop-er y, biking down dir roads o he nearby lake heclich coun ry upbringing.

A hir een i was o o he neares Ca holichigh school, or y-fve minu es by bus. Mine was anadolescence domina ed by spor , lis ening o music,arguing wi h anybody prepared o engage, and rying(endlessly, ediously) o impress he girls. School waseasy or me, and I par icularly excelled a ma hema -ics. Never heless, I had he small- own belie ha I wasn really smar , no in he way ha he ci y olk surely were. I began o specialize in economics andaccoun ing, my in eres wheted by my a hers expe-


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rience as a small business owner and a burgeoningascina ion in poli ics (which I never ou grewmy

wi e and I never ire o Wes Wing reruns).I moved o Welling on, our capi al ci y,

or universi y, and here he habi s o adolescence were ur her en renched: deba ing club, economicsdegree, Ca holic girls. I wasn un il he end o hedegree, when I opped he year in economics, ha I began o hink I migh be properly smar . A careerin commerce beckoned. Bu I am a hear a con rar-ian and wen ins ead in o eacher raining.

I was a or una e choice, or eachingquickly became an all-consuming love. I adoredhe energy o schools, he varie y and sheer powero he day- o-day experience, and ha wonder ulsense, a he end o i all, ha youve made a con ri- bu ion. I s an addic ion Im ye o shake. Troughmy frs eaching job, in a small own no so di er-

en o he one I was raised in, I was in roduced ohe win pleasures o hea er and he grea ou -doors.

My ime ou side he classroom was spli be ween hiking, cycling, and running he improvi-sa ion group. Trough improv, I go my frs lessonsin he cons ruc ion o s ory. Abou his ime my a her had re ired rom he grocery and was wri ingor a small- own weekly newspaper. Trough ha Igo my frs wri ing gig, an economics column.

My frs serious atemp a wri ing came in

1993, when I moved o okyo or six mon hs andgo an evening job eaching conversa ional Englisho bored housewives. Tis le me ra her a lo o ime ree during he days, and or reasons I can

well explain, I ook i upon mysel o wri e a novel.Id always liked wri ing, bu had never seen mysel becoming a wri er. Never heless I was bored, wi hime on my hands, and so . . .

Te frs hree novels I wro e were ruly aw ul hings. I knew no hing o he cra , and as a young ool in his mid wen ies had precious litle osay o he world ha was new or in eres ing. Nev-er heless he process o crea ing s ories was hugely sa is ying, and I ook he rejec ion leters piling uponly as a spur o wri e beter s ories.

Te break hrough came he frs ime I a -emp ed o wri e or eenagers, wi h a novel called

Another Cup o Soup. Suddenly he voice relaxed,

age experience o atemp a knowing commen ary.Te book was never published, bu one edi or, PaulaBoock (whom Hough on Mi in la er published)gave me posi ive and encouraging eedback, exac ly he spur I needed. In 1997, Longacre Press accep edhe frs o my novels ( Lester ) or publica ion, andhave proved loyal suppor ers ever since.

Abou his ime I had moved in o eachingdrama alongside ma hema ics, and so began wri -ing plays or my s uden s. Tis provided a wonder-ul oppor uni y o ry ou ideas which would la er

become novels ( rue or Lester, No Alarms, Malcolmand Juliet andGenesis , which frs appeared as heshor play Aferli e). Te wri ing and direc ing o plays, hanks o he immediacy and magic o hea er,quickly became a new passion.

I spen 1999 in Europe, cycle ouring abou ,always wi h journal and pen well wa erproo ed

inside my panniers. Ta was perhaps he fnes wri -ing experience I have had, lazing by French riversand lakes a er a solid mornings pedaling, scribblingaway be ween swims. In his luxurious environmenI wro e Jolt and Malcolm and Juliet , wo books haremain dear o my hear mos ly or he memoriesassocia ed wi h heir crea ion.

eaching has a way o sucking he hours ouo he week, and so wri ing relies upon an abili y o manu ac ure he odd escape. Te mos receno hese came in 2005, when I received a eaching

ellowship o do some research a he Allan WilsonCen re, a world leader in molecular evolu ion. Tey specialize in sequencing DNA and using he pa -erns ound herein o piece oge her he ales o he pas , rom dinosaur ex inc ions o he humancoloniza ion o he Pacifc.

I was a remendously s imula ing environ-men o work in, surrounded as I was by so many well-in ormed, curious, and comba ive minds. My in eres in he world o science, and in par icular hephilosophy o science, was well and ruly piqued,and during he year I began hree wri ing projec s:he sci-fGenesis; a work o non-fc ion,Falling or Science; and a novel called Acid Song .

All hree projec s have since been published,and now I fnd mysel back in he normal patern o eaching, wri ing and direc ing plays, and quie ly plugging away a he nex novel, a companion piece

preview: genesis by bernard beckett

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