The Unselfish Gene of the novel is a nod to Richard Dawkins' 1976 book, "The Selfish Gene". Among the concepts developed in Dawkins' book is a theory of how natural selection may favor self-sacrifice and other forms of altruism. The themes of altruism and small gene sets play an important role in plot and character development in The Unselfish Gene. The Unselfish Gene is what might be termed "semi-hard" science fiction. The technology described in the book is well within the limits of early 21st century technology. Some of it, such as "The Anita", an atomic-bomb powered heavy lifter space ship, was actually
The Major Transitions in Evolution published a presentation of their ideas for a general readership under the title "The Origins of Life — From the Birth of Life to the Origins of Language". The Major Transitions in Evolution The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry (Oxford University Press, 1995). At the time of its publication, Egbert Giles Leigh, Jr reviewing for "Evolution" commented that it "may be the most important book on evolution since [R.A.] Fisher's (1930) "The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection"". Maynard Smith and Szathmary authored a review article in "Nature". Maynard Smith and