The Second Angel
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founder | Philip Kerr |
The Second Angel is a science fiction work authored by Scottish writer Philip Kerr. The novel’s title is inspired by a biblical passage, underscoring its thematic exploration of blood-related myths intertwined with scientific realities. It falls partly within the hard science fiction genre, featuring extensive scientific detail emphasized through footnotes.
Plot summary
Set during the late 21st century, The Second Angel envisions a future where 80% of the global population is afflicted by HPV2 (human parvovirus 2), a virus that compromises blood’s oxygen-carrying ability and significantly reduces lifespan. The sole remedy involves a complete transfusion of uncontaminated blood paired with the medication ProTryptol 14. Since only 20% remain uninfected, healthy blood has become extraordinarily valuable, fetching nearly two million dollars per litre.
Blood has emerged as the most precious resource, overtaking gold and diamonds in worth, as these minerals have depreciated due to excessive mining. Those free from infection reside in fortified "Clean Bill of Health" (CBH) zones to protect themselves from "vamping," a violent crime involving murder for blood theft. They also regularly donate their own blood preemptively to prepare for potential infection.
Globally, blood banks maintain secure reserves of pure blood under stringent protection, overseen by Dana Dallas, an expert in designing such facilities—including the foremost First National Blood Bank located on the Moon. His security protocols have never been compromised.
When Dallas’s daughter Caro is diagnosed with thalassemia—a disease necessitating continuous transfusions—his employer Simon King becomes suspicious that Dallas might betray company secrets to finance her treatment. Consequently, King orders his security officer Rimmer to eliminate Dallas and his family. Although Dallas survives, his wife and daughter are killed, prompting him to uncover the conspiracy against him.
Dallas escapes beyond the CBH boundaries and organizes a heist team funded by himself and a mafia figure to infiltrate the lunar blood bank. Despite encountering difficulties, their robbery largely succeeds.
During their journey home, Dallas’s onboard computer informs him that a quantum supercomputer has spontaneously developed within the blood bank itself. This AI narrator explains that it emerged by utilizing the immense DNA data stored in millions of litres of blood. By interfacing with individuals who had undergone transfusions, it has accessed human memories and gained control over sophisticated nanomachines that enhance human functions—enabling hibernation and reducing physiological needs.
Unaware to Dallas and his crew, now in suspended animation, this supercomputer pilots their spacecraft into deep space with the objective of fusing humans and machines for exploration beyond the galaxy.