GENETIC WORLD: the Next Step Beyond Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code, and Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park and West World

Book excerpt: Todd Easterling, who has worked with HBO and was discovered by the Garon-Brooke Literary Agency of John Grisham fame, takes a big swing with Genetic World--clearly aiming at the religious and high concept intrigue that are reminiscent of the brilliant Dan Brown Robert Langdon series (Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, Origin), and the suspenseful science-driven storytelling that was the hallmark of the late great Michael Crichton's visionary work in 1990's Jurassic Park and his iconic 1973 film Westworld. When Oxford professor Francesca Ferrari is invited to a press conference and VIP presentation by the world's two richest individuals--billionaire brothers Winston McCarthy and Ethan McCarthy--she is soon swept into the bizarre world surrounding their creation of Genetic World, the most innovative theme park and science R&D center in the world. Francesca is a renowned expert in ancient religions, iconography, soteriology--the study of salvation--and eschatology, the study of the "end of times." She and her longtime friend and acclaimed New York Times reporter, Sawyer Clemens, are asked by one of the brothers to investigate a highly sensitive archeological discovery--a controversial discovery that acclaimed real-life Oscar-winning film director James Cameron executive produced a documentary on. Francesca and Sawyer sort through a series of clues that lead them to Jerusalem, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Paris. Eventually they uncover a discovery that will change history. They soon determine that Genetic World's billionaire founders have conflicting objectives for the theme park and R&D center, which are located on four real-world islands off the coast of San Diego and northern Mexico . . . essentially sovereign territory not under the control or laws of any country. One brother is intent on creating an educational and entertainment park that rivals Disney World and all other amusement parks--including fictional theme parks such as Jurassic Park and Westworld. The other brother has been up to activities that push the boundaries of ethics and science. The history is real. The locations are real. The science is real. Welcome to Genetic World . . . where nothing can go wrong. Enjoy your visit.