Antediluvian

In this unusual collection based on the work of fringe archaeologist Graham Hancock, McCarthy (the Queendom of Sol series) speculates about the possibilities of prehistoric—“antediluvian,” before the Great Flood—civilizations and accessing their memories through our genetic code. Electrical engineering professor Harv Leonel believes the vast number of genes in human DNA contain multiple memory states, acting as a quantum memory chamber. With the help of his Y-chromosome specialist partner (and girlfriend), Tara Mukherjee, he runs an experiment unlocking and reliving ancestral memories such as a Great Flood, an Eden, and a late encounter with Neanderthals . The science fiction elements are solid but primarily provide a frame story for the deep historical pieces, which are the meat of the book. The first tale, a worldwide cataclysm, is the most gripping and most grounded in archaeology. The rest are made interesting with logical guesswork and detail but feel tame both in plot and style compared to the first. Readers who enjoy heavy doses of (pre)history in their SF will be drawn to McCarthy’s “remembrances.” (Oct.)