Every five minutes, a transplant candidate dies while waiting for a compatible heart, liver, or kidney. Imagine a technology that could provide those life-saving transplant organs for a high price, and imagine what a company would do to monopolize that technology. On a remote island in Lake Superior, a team of geneticists has unlocked this holy grail of medicine. By reverse-engineering thousands of genomes, they dial back the evolutionary clock to re-create the progenitor of all mammals. The method? Illegal. The result? An AI-designed animal whose organs can be safely transplanted into any person. There's just one problem: these "ancestors" are not the docile herd animals the scientists envisioned. Instead, the project spawns something big, something evil … something very, very hungry. As creators become prey in an ultimate battle for survival, the research team must fight for their lives — even while government agents close in to shut the project down, and the deep-pocketed company backing this research reveals its own cold-blooded agenda. ANCESTOR is a complete, serialized fiction podcast by Number One New York Times bestselling novelist Scott Sigler, with all episodes available -- binge the entire story now in your favorite podcast app. Or for print, eBook, and ad-free audiobook versions of the tale, visit scottsigler.com/ancestor. PRAISE FOR ANCESTOR "This story sizzles with tension. Danger and drama mix with cutting-edge science to produce a top-notch, action-packed adventure. If you think Scott Sigler just writes horror, you're dead wrong. This guy is one heck of a thriller writer." Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of THE PARIS VENDETTA and THE CHARLEMAGNE PURSUIT "Michael Crichton may be gone, but he has a worthy successor in Scott. This book takes thriller and science fiction conventions and slams them together to make something new and fascinating." Simon R. Green, New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UNCANNY and AGENTS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS "Sigler has a unique talent for keeping readers on the edge of their seats; I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next. Infected is full of mayhem, action, and gore -- and you won’t be able to put it down." Dave Wellington, author of 13 BULLETS and the MONSTER ISLAND trilogy "Fun, creepy, and impossible to stop reading, Ancestor is the rare thriller that's based on cutting-edge science and is entirely possible. Long after you're done with the book, you'll still be looking over your shoulder. Just in case.†Phil Plait, PhD, author of DEATH FROM THE SKIES and UNDER ALIEN SKIES CREDITS: Presented by Empty Set Entertainment Written and narrated by Scott Sigler Audio engineering by Steve Riekeberg (SteveRiekeberg.com) Podcast production assistance by Allie Press and Evo Terra of Simpler Media Productions (Simpler.media) For more audio fiction from Scott Sigler, please visit ScottSigler.com
Scott sits down with A Kovacs to answer questions sent in by the Junkies about the latest Ancestor edition. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment r8cyeduo2pdwf75xvba54osu1jmh8Fh13bYsh18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
That's it for ANCESTOR. Looks like you made it off of Black Manitou Island. Good for you! I wish I could say the same for so many others. I've got other full-length stories available for you, such as the horrifying INFECTED Trilogy, the urban nastiness of NOCTURNAL, and more. Just search for "Scott Sigler" in any podcast app. And if you want a weekly helping of my authorial goodness, check out my weekly podcast SCOTT SIGLER SLICES. Once again, use the very podcast app you're listening to now and search for "Scott Sigler Slices," or go to my site and find links at scottsigler.com/subscribe. You get regular installments of whatever my "now playing" story is. Could be a full-length novel, an audio drama, could be a short story; you never know. I've got print books, eBooks, and audiobooks, too. Want to check out my goods? Visit scottsigler.com. Want to stay up to date on what books and stories I have coming out next? Got to scottsigler.com/newsletter. We send out one newsletter a month. It's so simple. Thank you for spending your time with me and my story, ANCESTOR. I hope you enjoyed it enough to let me entertain you again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is it! The final episode of ANCESTOR. I hope you enjoyed the production, and I hope this last episode knocks you right in the jumblies. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sara, Tim, and Colding are in the church, facing a showdown with the loveable Magnus Paglione. The Ancestors are running wild, eating anything that moves and some things that don't. It's high-octane action from beginning to end! Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The chase is on, my Junkie friends. The chase is on. The Ancestors are on the hunt! Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Colding and Rhumkorrf head to the mansion, searching for weapons and a way off of Black Manitou Island. They don't know if Magnus is waiting for them, but they have no choice - without weapons, they stand no chance against the ravenous ancestors. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus Paglione had a nice little chat with Clayton Detweiler to find out where Sara Purinam and Tim Feely were hiding. Now, Magnus is on his way to meet the two survivors. Meanwhile, Gunther Jones awaits in a tall tower in the middle of Black Manitou Island - cold, lonely, and wishing he could return to his writing. Colding and Rhumkorrf have been hiding at the Harveys' farm, but they know that place won't stay safe for long. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus uses extreme measures to interrogate Clayton. Gary arrives on the island and attempts to rescue the survivors of the C-5 crash. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus is determined to find out what Clayton's been up to. Andy & Colding run into some ancestor trouble when they head out to Sven's place to see what's going on. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clayton contacts his son and makes arrangements for him to come out to Black Manitou on a rescue mission. An unexpected survivor forces Magnus to adjust his plans. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clayton takes the C-5 survivors to a safe place so they can hide out. The Harveys have a close encounter with the ancestors. Magnus lays out his plan for Andy. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sven ignores Clayton's warning and goes out to his barn. Big mistake. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clayton & Sven remain vexed by the overnight translocation of the main herd. Clayton discovers the surviving C-5 crew in the woods and takes them home. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The survivors from the plane crash make it to Sven's barn. Clayton's spider-sense starts to tingle. Sven & Mookie discover the experimental herd. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sara discovers Magnus' parting gift. Will the C-5 crew be able to perform an emergency landing without any casualties? Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus browbeats Sara into taking the C-5 up in a nasty storm. The turbulence jars Miss Patty Melt out of her harness, and the crew attempts to rein in the ensuing chaos. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Colding, Magnus, and Dante all have to deal with the fallout after the incident with Jian. Sara gets unpleasant surprises from both Colding & Magnus. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Claus, Jian, and Tim get their first look at an Ancestor outside of the womb. They perform an autopsy and try to figure out what went wrong with the Milkshakes. Magnus confronts Jian when she places a call. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jian recalculates her projections and shows Rhumkorff the results. The team disagrees on whether they should continue the project or let the cows die. Sara teaches Colding how to ride a snowmobile when everyone goes out to pick up materials for the ancestor pens. Jian sets up a VOIP connection so she can contact the world outside if she has to. Miss Milkshake flatlines. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Colding confronts Rhumkorff to try and figure out why her medication isn't working. Jian knows what *must* happen for the project to succeed, but her sanity is devolving rapidly. Rhumkorff finally admits that the ancestors may be dangerous when Tim & Jian simultaneously confront him. Jian decides that she wants to leave Black Manitou Island. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fischer pays the Paglione brothers a surprise visit. Dante is far from happy. Magnus arrives on Black Manitou island. Peej lets Sara know what's going on in the belly of her C-5. Magnus & Andy have fun taunting Colding to see if they can get a rise out of him. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rhumkorff performs an autopsy on the fetus from Cow Sixteen in an attempt to explain its odd behavior. Tim discovers that the Ancestors are growing much faster than Jian projected they would. Fischer finally receives the information from Russia regarding Galina. This helps him develop an innovative strategy to bypass Farm Girl. Colding & Sara share some quality time on the beach. Dante berates Colding for allowing Rhumkorff to perform multiple autopsies. Sara & Jian begin naming the herd. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus gets some important information from Farm Girl. Colding informs Dante of the team's success. Rhumkorff has to do an ultrasound after one of the fetuses mysteriously vanishes from Cow Sixteen. Everyone is startled by his shocking discovery. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The team gets to view their first ultrasound of what they've implanted. Dante's manuever continues to vex Fischer and Longworth. We find out exactly how *much* of an asshole Andy is. Sara and Peej have a heart-to-heart. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jian, Claus, and Tim successfully implant blastocysts in all fifty cows. Jian tries to play matchmaker for Colding. Sara makes it crystal clear that she has zero interest in Andy's "gun." Jian's coding for accelerated development appears to be working brilliantly. The ancestors are growing more than fourteen times as quickly as a human fetus would. Clayton and Sara continue to bond. Clayton introduces Colding to Sven's cattle rustler, Mookie. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dante finally begins to realize exactly what Magnus is capable of. PJ sizes up Gary Detweiler. The Harveys give Tim a tour of the mansion. Clayton shows PJ and Sara into the security room, where they discover how many weapons and munitions Magnus has stockpiled. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The C-5 lands in the middle of Lake Superior on Black Manitou Island. The team meets the Detweilers, the Harveys, and Sven Ballantine. Sara makes a great impression. PJ does not. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jian's sanity begins to slip as they fly away from Baffin Island. Sara deals with a potential mutiny from her crew. Sara is overwhelmed when Jian explains how the God Machine works. The team defeats the immune response test. Rhumkorrf feels like an idiot when Jian shares the nature of her revelation. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The C-5 heads for Black Manitou Island. Fischer and company close the noose around Baffin Island. Sara's usage of a pet nickname for PJ gives a glimpse into their rocky history. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Liu Jian Dan is the only thing standing in the way of the spy completing their mission. Can PJ get there in time to save her? Magnus arrives on the C-5 with Sara and her crew. PJ gets a rather chilly reception from her. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The saboteur wreaks havoc on Baffin Island. The first fatality occurs. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fischer's mole is commanded to destroy all of the project's data, the base's communication ability, and any means of transportation. Jian has an epiphany right as the saboteur begins their mission. Gunther is convinced he's going to be the next Stephanie Meyers. He calls Brady when he can't get the remote systems to function properly. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Magnus Paglione's office is filled with personal items which give clues to his inner self. Tim is fed up with Rhumkorrf treating him like an idiot so he blows off some steam. Dante Paglione succeeds in refinancing Genada's efforts for the time being. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Farm Girl apprises the Pagliones that Paul Fischer will be coming to shut Genada down soon. Dante convinces Magnus that he can sell their xenotransplantation concept to multiple investors, enabling Genada to continue their research. Magnus calls Sara Purinam and tells her to get her flight crew ready. Erika Hoel is in emotional turmoil after falling in love with multiple co-workers. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Andy "The Asshole" Crosthwaite lives up to his pseudonym. Claus Rhumkorrf, Erika Hoel, Jian, and Tim Feely perform an immune response test. Bobby Valentine flies in more mammalian genome samples to Baffin Island. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Liu Jian Dan has serious mental problems. PJ Colding must reassure and calm both her and Dante Paglione, albeit in totally different ways. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul Fischer travels to Greenland to prevent a potential pandemic from escaping the Novozyme xenotransplantation research facility. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Produced by Random House Audio Production Assistance by Arioch Morningstar and Allie Press Copyright 2010, 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Mentioned in this episode: ANCESTOR Intro ANCESTOR Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
President Gutierrez wants Murray Longworth to take charge of a new government agency specially designed to handle "Special Threats." However, Murray has some conditions that he needs to have met before he will accept the post. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Production Assistance by Allie Press Copyright 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Mentioned in this episode: ANCESTOR Outro ANCESTOR Intro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Galina Porischova has a clandestine meeting with Paul Fischer. She wants to blow the whistle on Genada's research. We begin to see exactly how far Genada is willing to go to protect their profits. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Production Assistance by Allie Press Copyright 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Mentioned in this episode: ANCESTOR Intro ANCESTOR Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to the mind of brilliant Chinese geneticist Liu Jian Dan. It's a bit disturbing here. Written and performed by Scott Sigler Production Assistance by Allie Press Copyright 2023 by Empty Set Entertainment Mentioned in this episode: ANCESTOR Intro ANCESTOR Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"The ancestors are out there… you have to believe me." Acclaimed author Scott Sigler, the New York Times bestselling creator of Infected and Contagious, offers a chilling tale of what can happen when hubris, greed, and madness drive scientific experimentation past the brink of reason. Every five minutes, a transplant candidate dies while waiting for a compatible heart, a liver, a kidney. Imagine a technology that could provide those life-saving transplant organs for a nominal fee … and imagine what a company would do to monopolize that technology. On a remote island in the Canadian Arctic, PJ Colding leads a group of geneticists who have discovered this holy grail of medicine. By reverse-engineering thousands of animal genomes, Colding's team has dialed back the evolutionary clock and re-created the progenitor of all mammals. The method? Illegal. The result? A computer-engineered living creature, an animal whose organs can be implanted in any person, with no chance of transplant rejection. There's just one problem: these ancestors are not the docile herd animals that Colding's team envisioned. Instead, the work has given birth to something big, something evil … something very, very hungry. As creators become prey in an ultimate battle for survival, Colding and the woman he loves must fight to survive — even as government agents close in to shut the project down, and the deep-pocketed company backing this research reveals its own cold-blooded agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices