Darwin's Dreams: A Novel

In 1831, when Charles Darwin joins Robert FitzRoy's HMS Beagle for a five-year voyage, the budding naturalist is a 22-year-old unknown, while the Captain is at 26 one of the brightest stars of the Royal Navy, a descendant of Charles II. By 1865, Darwin is world famous, and FitzRoy is a bitter footnote of history, known only for his role in aiding Darwin's earth-shaking observations. This is the story of these two men as their faith, ideas, and reputations clash, meld, and fight for supremacy. Told through their decades-long friendship and rivalry, each step in their journey is interlaced with powerful visions Darwin dreams of the many ways life might evolve, as well as with his nightmares just before waking, in the antemeridian of early morning. With Darwin's Dreams, author Sean Hoade explores the poetry of science; the nonlinear dance of imagination; and the cruelty that life can bring to even the noblest of men. ---From the novel"Robert, I have no plans to publish this work during my lifetime. I have developed it over the years, it is true, refined it, even shared it with a like mind or two." Darwin sat up again. "But it will go with me to the grave. It would hurt too many friends-like you, but you are not the only one-and I believe my poor Emma would never survive the shame that the accusations of heresy would bring.""So still you arrogantly hold to your own delusions on this subject. You believe that God had no hand in the Creation of Man.""I have not said that, and do not say it.""But the twitch of your hand at your traitorous belly tells me you long to do exactly that.""I refuse to answer accusations made on the basis of twitches and farts.""But you create this theory of transmutation on the basis of sickbed dreams!"Darwin looked incredulously at his former Captain. "That I have shared with no man. You make a lucky guess, or else you are a demon." "Fair enough," FitzRoy said, and took to his feet. "But I warn you, my old friend-this world and the people in it have shown me they care not what a noble man does in service to his Country. So let any man beware what I will do in service to the next world, and to my Lord.""Robert, what are you saying?""I am saying, dear Charles, that if you unleash this idea on the world, then the Lord God will strike you down, and as much as I love you, I will be His hammer."