Second Genesis (novel)

''Second Genesis'' is a 1986

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

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 ow ...

. 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 (Th ...

'' (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 species possess "biological immortality" due to an apparent lack of the Hayflick limit. From at least the time of the Ancient Mesopotamian religion, ancient Mesopotamians, there has been a con ...

, 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 1 ...

using a

Dyson tree A Dyson tree is a 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 o ...

called ''Yggdrasil'', bound to a

Bussard ramjet The Bussard ramjet is a theoretical method of spacecraft propulsion for interstellar travel. A fast moving spacecraft scoops up hydrogen from the interstellar medium using an enormous funnel-shaped magnetic field (ranging from kilometers to man ...

, 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