Help with Research/Science Fiction

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by dask

Didn't "The Dragon Masters" by Jack Vance deal with gene altering DNA type stuff? Or H.G. Wells's THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU for that matter? (Or just about 97% of all sf in one way or another?)

Yes to the first two; I think the latter would be gravely overstating the matter. The Vance has enemies in a war (humans and an alien species) doing this to members of the other species, breeding various "servant" species. Wells' novel, on the other hand, is much more intensely concerned with the ideas of messing about with human (or an attempt to create a pseudo-human) evolution.

[Toby Frost]

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham includes gene-modified crops (one suspects that a fair quantity of wolverine and giant squid was in the mix). Similarly, The Midditch Cuckoos seems to involve enhanced humans, though the details of their creation are never given.

Onyx and Crake by Margaret Atwood is explicitly about gene modification and (unsurprisingly) the mayhem that results. It's SF, but don't tell Atwood that, as she doesn't like people thinking she's one of us dorks.

[rendo]

Thanks everyone, I'm pouring over these and hoping to find something. I appreciate all the help and anything else you can think of I'm more than willing to survey.

[dask]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Yes to the first two; I think the latter would be gravely overstating the matter.

Well, that's what my Ouija Board said.

[paradoxical]

Wow. Amazed.

Two narratives:

Richard Morgan Black Man published in the US as Thirteen I believe.
Michael Marshall Smith Spares

Both of these focus heavily upon genetic engineering and political agenda, especially the first and thus can easily be related to legal issues. You could also use Bruce Sterling's Holy Fire, though to be honest, I hated the book so much I can't recommend it.