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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Would you want to design and build the perfect child? Or would you want that child to live it’s own life?
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
One of six Amazon Original Stories
About the Collection:
For some, it’s the end of the world. For others, it’s just the beginning. With brilliant imagination, today’s most visionary writers point to the future in a collection curated by bestselling author Blake Crouch. These stories range from darkly comic to deeply chilling, but they all look forward.
About the Collection:
For some, it’s the end of the world. For others, it’s just the beginning. With brilliant imagination, today’s most visionary writers point to the future in a collection curated by bestselling author Blake Crouch. These stories range from darkly comic to deeply chilling, but they all look forward.
Sort of an expansion on the Gattica concept where prospective parents can hand select sperm/egg based on genetic analysis- but this take it a step further applying a machine learning algorithm to project the child's prospective future.
The narrative follows a prospective father who is walked though the process and then shown a short list of 3 children that his wife had curated from their available genetic options. Spliced into this is a philosophical thread comparing human lives to three act plays.
Then the protagonist goes and gets drunk in a bar. The end.
[Spoiler: My reading of the final part of the book was that him visiting the bar was his reaction to being told that his wife was 'still in her second act'. i.e. That her current marriage/life situation was her obstacle to overcome before she could be truly happy. This wasn't terribly well explained in the narrative]
The narrative follows a prospective father who is walked though the process and then shown a short list of 3 children that his wife had curated from their available genetic options. Spliced into this is a philosophical thread comparing human lives to three act plays.
Then the protagonist goes and gets drunk in a bar. The end.
[Spoiler: My reading of the final part of the book was that him visiting the bar was his reaction to being told that his wife was 'still in her second act'. i.e. That her current marriage/life situation was her obstacle to overcome before she could be truly happy. This wasn't terribly well explained in the narrative]
This was and interesting premise and would’ve been better if it didn’t feel like 3 or 4 different stories mashed together.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Almost Amazing
A man goes to an advanced fertility clinic to pick his child’s future. It is difficult for him to choose his child’s future, without having to reflect on what is says about him.
The author develops a powerful and emotionally gripping concept, but does not seem to do anything with it. Instead of following any single motivation to a story conclusion, the author leaves things unfinished, in a poetically ambiguous moment.
Great for starting a conversation, but a resolutionless ending.
A man goes to an advanced fertility clinic to pick his child’s future. It is difficult for him to choose his child’s future, without having to reflect on what is says about him.
The author develops a powerful and emotionally gripping concept, but does not seem to do anything with it. Instead of following any single motivation to a story conclusion, the author leaves things unfinished, in a poetically ambiguous moment.
Great for starting a conversation, but a resolutionless ending.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A mix of short stories so varying styles
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didnt really understand the ending but I thought there was a lot of interesting thought provoking stuff in this story. Made me think about my relationship with my father and the possible future where you can pick all these traits for your children. Would you be grateful to your parents for making the choices they did or would you feel like you had some of your autonomy taken from you?
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes