Prophet of Bones

Gripping, dark, and well written, this alternate history thriller gets the highest possible BFD ranking: freaking awesome! Brilliant and introverted Paul Carlsson has known since his youth that earth is 5800 years old—scientists proved it in 1932, repudiating Darwinism and banning authors like Asa Gray and Nietzsche. Paul becomes a 'bone guy,' expert at paleometagenomics, a cross between genetics and anthropology. After an expedition to analyze a trove of mutated humanoid bones ends in disaster, Paul suspects there is more going on behind the scenes, something that would challenge the religious belief of three quarters of the world. He secretes a lozenge of DNA evidence for later analyzing (his hiding spot verifies Kosmatka's mischievous genius), but his clumsy efforts to recruit help are discovered, and the shit hits the fan in a big way. He goes to ground, girlfriend in tow, hunted by the same dark force behind the expedition. But some of the pursuers are … wrong: "Huge and prognathic, thin lips peeled back from teeth like no human ever had—enormous canines, clenched down with insane intensity." The story's chilling dénouement sees the two captured and brought to a powerful, sinister old cytologist named Johansson, whose compound is "…the other side of the pay wall. Things beyond your wildest dreams. Things not exactly ethical." Refreshingly merciless with his characters, Kosmatka paints in broad strokes yet still nails the details. Though the pace slows in the middle third, this is a compelling juggernaut of a read reminiscent of Kim Stanley Robinson and The Island of Dr. Moreau.