The Arrival of the Fittest

“The Arrival of the Fittest offers a novel account of the way in which the sciences of genetics and evolution at the turn of the century fueled a body of literature and stirred the imagination. The book is clever, bold, and makes for lively reading.” -- Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, author of “Unifying Biology: The Evolutionary Synthesis and Evolutionary Biology” “A superb book that recovers the moment in the history of Darwinism around 1900 when ‘mutation theory’ emerged to explain sudden biological change. This promised a future of bio-engineering new plants, animals, humans and superhumans. Endersby deftly illustrates how the idea of the ‘mutant’ was a product of the interaction of scientific papers, the popular press, the hero-worship of the inventor, and the emergence of the genre of science fiction. From Darwin to Haldane, and from Wells to the X-Men, this is an interdisciplinary project that impresses with its range, readability and its potential to transform our understanding of a crucial phase in evolutionary theory.” -- Roger Luckhurst, author of “Gothic: An Illustrated History” “Arrival of the Fittest tells the story of the version of ‘Darwinism’ that wouldn’t die: an account of evolution focused not on selection, but on the appearance of novelty amongst plants and animals. Situated at the intersection of history of science and science communication, this book reveals a cast of scientists and writers who wrestled with the possibilities of mutation, some little-known today but all influential in the early twentieth century. With clarity and wit, Endersby reveals how their utopian hopes for biology resonate in the present.” -- Charlotte Sleigh, author of “The Paper Zoo: 500 Years of Animals in Art”