The Life and Times of Phil D'Amato discussion

"As a genre-bending blend of police procedural and science fiction, The Silk Code delivers on its promises." -- Gerald Jonas, The New York Times Book Review

"As twisted as a double helix. " -- Wired

"D'Amato is an appealingly savvy character, and Levinson brings a great deal of invention to the endeavor." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"It is hard to put down, easy to pick up again, and an interesting read. " -- San Diego Union-Tribune

"Mixes up-to-the-minute biotechnology with ancient myth, science fiction with police procedure, and prehistory with the near future. It's an impressive debut." -- Joe Haldeman

"Forensic detective Phil D'Amato is one of my favorite characters, and the puzzles he solves are always imaginative, ingenious, and addictive, but Paul Levinson really outdoes himself this time in a mystery involving murders, moths, mummies, the Silk Road, poisons, fireflies, and forensics, all woven into a mystery only D'Amato could solve! A marvelous book!" -- Connie Willis

"This damn book has everything: interesting science, suspense, characters that live on the page - and that we like! -- and it debuts a new series hero, Dr. Phil D'Amato, forensic detective. I couldn't put The Silk Code down. I'll wager you won't be able to either. Oh, and this is the kicker: The Silk Code is Paul Levinson's first novel. " -- Jack Dann

"At last we get Paul Levinson's superb forensic sleuth, Phil D'Amato, in a full-length novel. If you know Phil from his previous appearances, I need say no more. If you don't, kick back and enjoy a mystery that spans the ages." --Jack McDevitt

"The Silk Code is an intriguing story refreshingly rich not only in action but in ideas. Seldom have I seen a story so engagingly weave together so many seemingly disparate (dare I say it?) threads." --Stanley Schmidt, editor of Analog

"Paul Levinson is an exceptional new writer, behind whose work stands an impressive body of knowledge and a great deal of human understanding. His first novel signals a writer to watch for the provocation and pleasure that he will bring to thoughtful readers. The Silk Code is smoothly written, evocative, and spicy! Highly recommended." -- George Zebrowski

"The Silk Code is a splendidly imaginative novel that explores worlds of ideas both scientific and philosophical, while carrying the reader effortlessly across countries, times, and cultures." -- Charles Sheffield

"The Silk Code is science fiction in the classic style, with an innovative mystery that breaks new ground. Acclaimed for his short fiction and insightful writing on the computer age, Paul Levinson now brings his many talents to a complex novel that will keep you guessing until the last page. " -- Catherine Asaro

"... sheer conceptual verve" -- Robert K. J. Killheffer, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

"...cerebral but gripping" -- Booklist

"Combining Neanderthals and mechanical looms, cantaloupes and coded butterflies, Levinson's debut novel...offers a flurry of amazing prehistoric technologies, demonstrating that the mysteries of our past can be just as fruitful as those of our future... Levinson creatively explain gaps in both ancient history and biology... providing more wonders than many a futuristic epic." -- Publishers Weekly

"...well-informed and imaginative" -- Kirkus Reviews

"...spins an ingenious web of genetic manipulation and anthropological evidence" --Library Journal

"A rare thriller that actually achieves its goals as a detective tale and a work of boldly speculative sf." -- Gary K. Wolfe, Locus Magazine

Joe Haldeman was kind enough to write one of the above reviews for the initial Silk Code publication back in 1999. I was especially honored, because he's one of the master writers in the science fiction genre.

You can partake of some of his wisdom in a special webinar he'll soon be giving - a webinar you can take from your armchair. If you're interested in being a science fiction writer, this is a webinar you'd don't want to miss. Details at http://joehaldeman-estw.eventbrite.co...

And here two new Amazon customer review of The Silk Coed ebook Kindle edition, 2012 -

"finally on e-book" http://www.amazon.com/review/R1WYJOV7...

"though provoking"
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BK5HI3...

The Silk Coed? Now, that's a book I would love to read! (Or write: a book group of which I am a member was supposed to read The Dragons of Babel one month, but it was mistyped as The Dragons of Bagel. I loved the concept so much I wrote a novelette with that title.) :-)

Ha - now that's what I call a felicitous typo :)

I like it so much, I think I'll leave it, rather than edit it.

Thanks for the catch, Ira!

New review of The Silk Code - not completely favorable, but "The story is about a genetic virus on a DNA level and it discusses DNA based technology used by the Amish. I found the concept fascinating."

http://silkscreenviews.wordpress.com/...

critic Ian Beardsley says of this video, "When he plays the instrument at 3 minutes 20 seconds it makes me think of the singers that come out of the ancient cave walls in ancient basque iberia in Paul Levinson's Silk Code."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCVaEw...