Children of the Fifth Sun

Scientist Worthington’s understanding of the complexities and possibilities of marine biology and endocrinology are evident in this otherwise lackluster work of “science faction.” Underwater photographer Kelly Graham; his brother-in-law, Christopher D’Souza; and rival scientist Victoria McKenzie (who is, of course, Kelly’s former flame) are semi-involuntarily recruited by Freya Nilsson and her top-secret team for their free diving skills. Their assignment: retrieve a mysterious orb that may allow scientists to communicate with a cloned amphibious life form, Ambystoma sapiens—believed to be one of the “knowledge bringers” of world mythology, and to have evolved in parallel with Homo sapiens until a great flood gave the latter an advantage—that the U.S. government has been concealing in Area 51 for 65 years. A conflict with China, a public revelation of the existence of Ambystoma sapiens, and other dramatic events are unlikely to compel readers to overcome the challenges of inconsistent narration, too many points of view, and florid prose. (Aug.)