Change Agent

New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez delivers an exhilarating sci-fi thriller exploring a potential future where CRISPR genetic editing allows the human species to control evolution itself. On a crowded train platform, Interpol agent Kenneth Durand feels the sting of a needle--and his transformation begins... In 2045 Kenneth Durand leads Interpol’s most effective team against genetic crime, hunting down black market labs that perform "vanity edits" on human embryos for a price. These illegal procedures augment embryos in ways that are rapidly accelerating human evolution--preying on human-trafficking victims to experiment and advance their technology. With the worlds of genetic crime and human trafficking converging, Durand and his fellow Interpol agents discover that one figure looms behind it all: Marcus Demang Wyckes, leader of a powerful and sophisticated cartel known as the Huli jing. But the Huli jing have identified Durand, too. After being forcibly dosed with a radical new change agent, Durand wakes from a coma weeks later to find he’s been genetically transformed into someone else--his most wanted suspect: Wyckes. Now a fugitive, pursued through the genetic underworld by his former colleagues and the police, Durand is determined to restore his original DNA by locating the source of the mysterious--and highly valuable--change agent. But Durand hasn’t anticipated just how difficult locating his enemy will be. With the technology to genetically edit the living, Wyckes and his Huli jing could be anyone and everyone--and they have plans to undermine identity itself.

**Praise for *Change Agent
*
“Biopunk has been waiting for its William Gibson, to bring a whole new vision of the future as Mr. Gibson did for cyberpunk, and Daniel Suarez has done it...Exhilarating, alarming—Daniel Suarez plays the two great thrills of sci-fi against each other, and not just for fun. He thinks this is coming, and he means it. Read it and wonder.”—Wall Street Journal 

“Terrifyingly plausible.”—Time

“Besides being a rockin’ thriller, Change Agent is a vivid depiction of where ubiquitous gene editing might take us. I came away believing I'll be less surprised by the future.”—Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick for Wired and New York Times bestselling author of *The Inevitable

“The depth and sophistication of Suarez’s dystopian world—not to mention his facility at making complex science intelligible to the nonexpert—rivals anything Michael Crichton ever did.”—Publishers Weekly *(starred review)

“The action scenes are plenty lively, [but] the best thing about the book is its depiction of a troublesome future in which people can change physical identities the way they change clothes...A natural at making future shocks seem perfectly believable, Suarez delivers his most entertaining high-tech thriller yet.”—*Kirkus Reviews

“The ultimate form of identity theft is just a genetic edit away in Suarez’s newest fast-paced, speculative thriller...Offer this to Michael Crichton and science fiction-suspense fans.”—Booklist*

Auteur

Daniel Suarez

Résumé
**New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez delivers an exhilarating sci-fi thriller exploring a potential future where CRISPR genetic editing allows the human species to control evolution itself.

**On a crowded train platform, Interpol agent Kenneth Durand feels the sting of a needle—and his transformation begins...
 
In 2045 Kenneth Durand leads Interpol’s most effective team against genetic crime, hunting down black market labs that perform "vanity edits" on human embryos for a price. These illegal procedures augment embryos in ways that are rapidly accelerating human evolution—preying on human-trafficking victims to experiment and advance their technology.
 
With the worlds of genetic crime and human trafficking converging, Durand and his fellow Interpol agents discover that one figure looms behind it all: Marcus Demang Wyckes, leader of a powerful and sophisticated cartel known as the Huli jing.
 
But the Huli jing have identified Durand, too. After being forcibly dosed with a radical new change agent, Durand wakes from a coma weeks later to find he’s been genetically transformed into someone else—his most wanted suspect: Wyckes.
 
Now a fugitive, pursued through the genetic underworld by his former colleagues and the police, Durand is determined to restore his original DNA by locating the source of the mysterious—and highly valuable—change agent. But Durand hasn’t anticipated just how difficult locating his enemy will be. With the technology to genetically edit the living, Wyckes and his Huli jing could be anyone and everyone—and they have plans to undermine identity itself.

Échantillon de lecture
Chapter 1

Before we begin, have you any questions about genetic editing, Mr. and Mrs. Cherian? The counselor took a whopping bite from a vadapav sandwich as he clicked through their file.

The young Mumbai couple exchanged uncertain looks. In their late twenties, well-groomed, and dressed in crisp business casual clothes, they appeared a step above the cramped, dingy, and windowless office around them. Nonetheless here they were. The wife appeared especially ill at ease.

The husband shook his head. No questions at the moment, no. He looked to his wife reassuringly. Patted her on the knee.

She spoke up. How does the procedure work?

The counselor answered with his mouth full. Ah, an inquiring mind. She narrowed her eyes at him.

The husband cut in. My wife and I are both attorneys. Given the legal status of this enterprise, we were understandably reluctant to research the topic on our own devices.

Well then . . . The counselor finished chewing and wiped his fingers on a crumpled napkin. I have something that should address your questions. He noisily rooted around in his desk drawer and in a moment produced a device the size and shape of a paperback book, which he placed on the cluttered desktop between them. When he pressed down on the device it unfolded into a pylon shape sporting several lenses facing forward and back. It booted up, white light glowing within.

The wife drew stylish mirror glasses from her purse and donned them to shield her eyes. A glim? You think we d allow you access to our retinas? This is out

No retinal scanning, I assure you, Mrs. Cherian. Merely a brief in eye presentation.

The husband looked to his wife. They have our DNA, love. Retinas are the least of it.

Neelo, I want our embryo transferred back to the clinic. My love, we

This place is a rat hole. A defunct export office by the look of it. All part of the disguise, Mrs. Cherian. We must not attract undue attention from the authorities. But rest assured, our labs are well funded run by the largest genediting syndicate in the world, Trefoil. None are more sophisticated.

My love, remember: they came highly recommended.

She grabbed her bag as if to go. Neelo, we are law-abiding people.

We ve discussed this, cherub. Principled positions are admirable, but other parents are doing this. We as well must do everything we can to prepare our son for the world in which he will live. He gestured to the glim on the table. Why don t we watch the presentation and see how we feel afterward?

She sighed and reluctantly removed her mirror glasses.

The counselor beamed. Very good. Please look forward. It will find your retinas in a jiffy.

In a moment, from their perspective, the air above the desk filled with a highly detailed 3D model of the double helix of DNA. It rotate…