In this masterpiece of techno-medical suspense from the “master of the medical thriller” (The New York Times), Robin Cook tells the explosive tale of a brilliant doctor who sought to create the son of his dreams—and invented a living nightmare...

When OB/GYN and biomolecular researcher Dr. Victor Frank learns of his wife’s infertility, he initiates a bold—and dangerous—experiment. Unbeknownst to everyone, including her, Dr. Frank has adapted the methods of animal husbandry and molecular genetics to human reproduction. Fusing his wife’s eggs and his own sperm, he sets in motion the production of a superior being, his child.

The result of this experiment, a son, VJ, is born to a surrogate mother and legally adopted by the Franks. To their delight, their son is physically perfect, and by the age of three, displays the complex problem-solving abilities of a prodigy.

Then, without warning, VJ’s intelligence level plunges to a point appropriate to his age, but stabilizes. For the moment, Dr. Frank can breathe a sigh of relief: even if VJ is no longer the genius he was, at least he will be normal.

But that relief is tragically short-lived, for all too soon VJ begins to change again. And this time, there is no cause for comfort—only terror.