Paul had two goals. Become a leader, although he lacked the "leadership gene," and impress Vivian, a pretty young Chinese biologist, although Paul suffered from acute social anxiety. To achieve both ends, Paul built Napoleon, the charismatic robot, to understand more deeply what leadership DNA is all about. Napoleon would be Paul's proxy, and his gift to Vivian, to win her heart. Then, dark political forces conspired to take away everything Paul had worked so hard to achieve. Napoleon in Shanghai is a novel about technology, love, and betrayal. It explores the political and moral implications of genetic technology, in an age when authoritarian regimes, capitalists, and traditional political institutions all pose a threat to individual liberty and freedom of choice.
