Beginning my Ph.D. in biology, I never expected to write a murder mystery set in a lab in space. Yet, the scientific and storytelling inspiration flooded in as I arrived on campus, providing me exceptional resources to answer practically any question imaginable. Measuring the electrical signals in jellyfish-like animals’ stinging cells, building enclosures to measure bumblebee colonies’ behavior upon pesticide exposure, or using an electron beam to image the connections between mosquito neurons? I tried them all, and ultimately chose the latter.
Aryl and Ver, the two apprentice scientists from foreign moons in my new novel, Pangu’s Shadow, are accused of murdering their brilliant but difficult boss, Cal. While Ver, who is battling a life-threatening disease, had an unwavering but conflicting attachment to Cal, Aryl differed with him due to her value for things besides research. Their quest across the star system and the revelations they unearth shape the intriguing plot. The story follows their mission to find the real killer and determine their desired future.
Enthusiasm sparked as I wrote the book, molded by my daily responsibilities and experiences in the lab and by night, a futuristic research institute filled with young scientists eager to unravel the universe’s mysteries. The Institute for Natural Exploration, serving as the backdrop for Pangu’s Shadow, was inspired by my frustrations with complex protocols and modern-day instruments. Miraculous scientific equipment at the institute, complete with A.I. assistants and underground vacuum trains, eventually came to life in my book.
Deciding to pursue science in a graduate program, I turned to my Chinese immigrant parents for guidance, drawing on their journey through U.S. chemistry Ph.D. programs to find stability and a better life. Their shared experiences in academic science laid the foundation for the backstories of the two protagonists, who both pursued lab opportunities far from home.
Relying on my friends and inner strength, I confronted stereotypes, assumptions, and power structures during my graduate school years, which became a key component in the fictional disability of Ver. The physical and emotional struggles I faced as an Asian woman are mirrored in Aryl and Ver’s personas and the challenges they encountered. Still, their resilience, cooperation, and adaptation of the scientific method facilitate navigating these challenges, eventually leading them to resolve the case and prove their belonging and qualifications.
Pangu’s Shadow embodies the power of science, revealing that anyone and everyone should wield this power. The key is diverse perspectives to investigate the truth from various angles. I hope readers understand that curiosity can guide them into becoming a scientist or writer, and the belief that they belong wherever it takes them.
Karen Jialu Bao, a Ph.D. graduate in neuroscience from Harvard University, indulges in scientific research while being an author. Her diverse activities include cooking, singing, playing the violin, and nurturing her plants. The book, Pangu’s Shadow, provides a gripping tale of intricacies among Ver and Aryl amidst the wonders of science.
About Pangu’s Shadow:
The story of Ver and Aryl puts a spotlight on their futures, trapped in the Pangu Star System, as apprentices in the most prestigious biology lab among the system’s moons. Their seemingly promising future deviates drastically upon discovering their boss, Cal, dead in the lab, making them the primary suspects. To absolve themselves, Ver and Aryl assemble to investigate Cal’s death, unveiling secrets that have shaped all of Pangu’s moons and force them to reconsider their future.
