12/01/04

Cerulean Blue is an epic of a novel that weaves together present-day (well, recent past, anyway) science with a futuristic dystopia. With the 1995 discovery a new species of seaweed, commonly called Cerulean Blue, the world is rocked with the potential for eternal youth, and the rapid advances in cryogenics made possible by the new discovery. The United Nations Corporation quickly gains control of the world’s supply, and sets in motion a plan to save the human race from itself. The catch? All of humanity must submit to the plan, which places them in cryo-stasis for 30 years, allowing the Earth to heal itself. As the Earth’s governments are in the process of placing their citizens in stasis—and in the care of the United Nations Corporation—we discover the United Nation Corporation’s true agenda.

Some governments resist, as well as a small faction of citizens and former employees of United Nations Corp. The story follows Harold Womack and his family, who are trying to find their oldest daughter, Lynn. Womack chases rumors, liberates a former UN Corp employee from stasis, and reveals the United Nation Corporation’s plot to take over the world.

While the adventure is engaging, the reading is difficult. I found myself more annoyed by many of the characters because they weren’t as well developed as I’d like them to be. The tone of the novel reminds me of early cyberpunk fiction, but without the snappy, tight prose.

That said, the Wray Miller skillfully weaves together science, family dramas, politics, and even a love story into a thought-provoking read.