Why does a healthy person’s body turn on itself like this? Evolutionary biologists have theorized that higher mutation rates are beneficial in some situations, because they enable organisms to adapt more quickly to their environments. For example, bacteria that is repeatedly exposed to antibiotics can have a much higher mutation rate than the original population, developing into a stronger strain. However, there doesn’t seem to be a logical explanation for FOP. It’s believed to be caused by a molecular misfire, a major system error in the human body. Something causes the body’s wound repair system to malfunction, gradually converting tendons, ligaments, and skeletal muscle into sheets of armor plating. The sufferer becomes a prisoner in his or her own body.
Stone man syndrome is one of the rarest conditions known to humankind, and one of the body’s enduring mysteries.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As a kid I believed in magic. Now as an adult, and seeing the way professional editors work their dark art, I believe in magic all over again. Thank you to Nicola and Tara – your work is a mix of good ideas, good judgement, and magic. Also, thank you to Pan Macmillan’s Momentum’s entire formidable team, and especially Joel and Mark, who turn my words into a book.
ABOUT GREIG BECK
Greig Beck grew up across the road from Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. His early days were spent surfing, sunbaking and reading science fiction on the sand. He then went on to study computer science, immerse himself in the financial software industry and later received an MBA. Today, Greig spends his days writing, but still finds time to surf at his beloved Bondi Beach. He lives in Sydney, with his wife, son and an enormous black German shepherd.
ALSO BY GREIG BECK
Beneath the Dark Ice: An Alex Hunter Novel 1
Dark Rising: An Alex Hunter Novel 2
This Green Hell: An Alex Hunter Novel 3
Black Mountain: An Alex Hunter Novel 4
Return of the Ancients: The Valkeryn Chronicles 1
Arcadian Genesis
The First Bird
First published by Momentum in 2014
This edition published in 2014 by Momentum
Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
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Copyright © Greig Beck 2014
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A CIP record for this book is available at the National Library of Australia
Gorgon
EPUB format: 9781743342800
Mobi format: 9781743342848
Print on Demand format: 9781760080488
Print format: 9781760081652
Cover design by XOU Creative
Edited by Nicola O’Shea
Proofread by Laura Cook
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