Second Genesis (novel)

''Second Genesis'' is a 1986

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by American author

Donald Moffitt Donald Moffitt (July 20, 1931December 10, 2014) was an American author who wrote a number of science fiction novels. Most famous among these are ''The Genesis Quest'' and '' Second Genesis''. While he was the author of many titles under his own ...

. In the previous novel, ''

The Genesis Quest ''The Genesis Quest'' is a 1986 science fiction novel by American writer Donald Moffitt. It is part of a two-part series, the conclusion of the story being offered in ''Second Genesis (novel), Second Genesis''. Plot summary

An alien race (The ...

'' (1986), the alien Nar species discovered radio transmissions containing the genetic codes and cultural records of a species called Humanity, transmitted from a distant galaxy. Now the humans created with this information have discovered the biochemical key to

immortality Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some modern species may possess biological immortality. Some scientists, futurists, and philosophers have theorized about the immortality of the human body, with some suggesting that human immorta ...

, and have decided to dedicate their now-long lives to discovering their origins in the distant Milky Way. They create a

starship A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems. The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 188 ...

using a

Dyson tree A Dyson tree is an hypothetical genetically engineered plant (perhaps resembling a tree) capable of growing inside a comet, suggested by the physicist Freeman Dyson. Plants may be able to produce a breathable atmosphere within the hollow spaces ...

called ''Yggdrasil'', bound to a

Bussard ramjet The Bussard ramjet is a theoretical method of spacecraft propulsion proposed in 1960 by the physicist Robert W. Bussard, popularized by Poul Anderson's novel ''Tau Zero'', Larry Niven in his ''Known Space'' series of books, Vernor Vinge in his ...

, to search for the world of their ancestors, and wind up discovering both ancient wonders and a disturbing new threat; a predatory species that cannot share the universe with anyone. 1986 American novels 1986 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Novels by Donald Moffitt {{1980s-sf-novel-stub