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isabellastocka's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a great mix of the show and real facts. I can recommend it to everyone who wants to get more behind the scenes and reality.
vanessa_issa's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Challenge 2017: a book with multiple authors
Thanks to ECW Press for the ARC via Edelweiss!
Wonderful book! I love reading about our girls and understanding a bit more of all the science behind the story. The research for this project is pretty impressive. I'm gonna miss Orphan Black! ♥
Thanks to ECW Press for the ARC via Edelweiss!
Wonderful book! I love reading about our girls and understanding a bit more of all the science behind the story. The research for this project is pretty impressive. I'm gonna miss Orphan Black! ♥
tashalou's review against another edition
5.0
This. was. fascinating. Orphan Black is one of my favourite shows, so naturally I had to read all about the science behind it. For example, did you know that the reason Kendall Malone had the DNA for both Leda and Castor is because she's a chimera, which means she absorbed her twin in the womb and thus carries both sets of DNA? The show explains that. BUT did you know that such a person can give birth to children that may genetically be considered her absorbed sibling's children? Like I said, fascinating. Join Clone Club and read all about the science. Cosima would be proud!
jessuponatime's review against another edition
5.0
Whew, this book. There is a lot of science talk in this book (DUH) and the way that it is written and explained makes it easy to understand and comprehend. I enjoyed it very much and I loved the parts of the book with Clone Club questions as well as Case Studies on specific clones. The case studies do not talk about the clone as much as they talk about something scientific relating to the clone. For example Alison’s Case Study talks about dopamine, Cosima’s about marijuana, Beth’s about prescription drugs, Tony’s about hormonal injections, etc.
There is also a handy glossary in the back that was nice. Also the paper itself is really nice. It’s a nice paperweight and bright white, plus the photos are printed in color too!
I thought I would enjoy the interview between Real Cosima and Graeme Manson but I found it a little boring tbh. Real Cosima doesn’t seem as cool as My Cosima, lol.
There is also a handy glossary in the back that was nice. Also the paper itself is really nice. It’s a nice paperweight and bright white, plus the photos are printed in color too!
I thought I would enjoy the interview between Real Cosima and Graeme Manson but I found it a little boring tbh. Real Cosima doesn’t seem as cool as My Cosima, lol.
zoeyzebra's review against another edition
5.0
Must-read for any Clone Clubber with an interest in the science (but also the ethics, the politics, the social dynamics, etc.) that are explored within the the show!
belladonnashrike's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
cosima niehaus would’ve loooved this
“My story is an embroidery, with many beginnings and no end. But I will start with the thread of my sestra Sarah, who stepped off a train one day and met herself…”
“My story is an embroidery, with many beginnings and no end. But I will start with the thread of my sestra Sarah, who stepped off a train one day and met herself…”
hadas's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommended to any "Orphan Black" fan who's interested in the science of the show.
As a neurobiologist, many of the basic scientific facts detailed in the book were known to me. However, I discovered many new things, and broaden by knowledge regarding many subjects touched in the book. Moreover, the original and detailed though the writers dedicated to many scientific subjects in "Orphan Black" was mesmerizing and made me think about aspects I didn't consider before.
I am not sure how well understood all of the concepts in the book will be to those without scientific knowledge - mainly because they are explained very rapidly. However, partly due to other comments about the book, I believe it will be a fun and interesting read even for non-scientists.
My main problem with the book is that it spent as much time discussing cloning, the main concept in the show, as stuff much less crucial to the show - like Rachel's brain injury.
Similarly, most of the "Case studies" of different clones, found in each of the chapters, were highly unrelated to the core of the science in the series. They were interesting, but I don't understand why to include them instead of devoting more space to discuss cloning or genetic engineering.
Moreover, I feel like talking about Marijuana in Cosima's case study is a weird choice, with her having so many interesting aspects.
Apart from that, I was bothered by two main points:
* I felt the part about Marijuana and it's medical use was biased. Although I agree Marijuana is a great medicine for pain and nausea relief, as well as anxiety, as far as I know most studies so far have indicated Marijuana does not have other medical benefits in many diseases.
* When talking about Kira's "psychics" abilities, they mention they will not try to scientifically explain them, because they can't. That's true, and I respect it. However, they go on saying Kira represent how you can't explain everything with science, which is a message I definitely don't agree with. Of course current scientific theories and finding can't explain every phenomena in the world. However, the reason for this is not because it can't, but because it can't yet.
P.S. one point about the clone disease which was not mentioned in the book but bothered me - if the clone disease is prion based, how can you cure it with gene therapy? you can silence the expression of the misfolded protein, but the "old" prions will change the new healthy proteins into disease inducing proteins.
As a neurobiologist, many of the basic scientific facts detailed in the book were known to me. However, I discovered many new things, and broaden by knowledge regarding many subjects touched in the book. Moreover, the original and detailed though the writers dedicated to many scientific subjects in "Orphan Black" was mesmerizing and made me think about aspects I didn't consider before.
I am not sure how well understood all of the concepts in the book will be to those without scientific knowledge - mainly because they are explained very rapidly. However, partly due to other comments about the book, I believe it will be a fun and interesting read even for non-scientists.
My main problem with the book is that it spent as much time discussing cloning, the main concept in the show, as stuff much less crucial to the show - like Rachel's brain injury.
Similarly, most of the "Case studies" of different clones, found in each of the chapters, were highly unrelated to the core of the science in the series. They were interesting, but I don't understand why to include them instead of devoting more space to discuss cloning or genetic engineering.
Moreover, I feel like talking about Marijuana in Cosima's case study is a weird choice, with her having so many interesting aspects.
Apart from that, I was bothered by two main points:
* I felt the part about Marijuana and it's medical use was biased. Although I agree Marijuana is a great medicine for pain and nausea relief, as well as anxiety, as far as I know most studies so far have indicated Marijuana does not have other medical benefits in many diseases.
* When talking about Kira's "psychics" abilities, they mention they will not try to scientifically explain them, because they can't. That's true, and I respect it. However, they go on saying Kira represent how you can't explain everything with science, which is a message I definitely don't agree with. Of course current scientific theories and finding can't explain every phenomena in the world. However, the reason for this is not because it can't, but because it can't yet.
P.S. one point about the clone disease which was not mentioned in the book but bothered me - if the clone disease is prion based, how can you cure it with gene therapy? you can silence the expression of the misfolded protein, but the "old" prions will change the new healthy proteins into disease inducing proteins.
ktisdale's review against another edition
5.0
The perfect book for fans of Orphan Black left with the question "HOW?"
The science of the show is laid out in a readable, easy to follow format. The book may be scientific, but like the TV show, doesn't shy away from humour and interesting asides. Whether or not you want to read the entire book, or just want a quick-reference companion while watching (or re-watching) the show, the book is a necessity for fans to appreciate all the hidden details of OB. I enjoyed reading it FAR more than I did any science textbook!
The science of the show is laid out in a readable, easy to follow format. The book may be scientific, but like the TV show, doesn't shy away from humour and interesting asides. Whether or not you want to read the entire book, or just want a quick-reference companion while watching (or re-watching) the show, the book is a necessity for fans to appreciate all the hidden details of OB. I enjoyed reading it FAR more than I did any science textbook!