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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
This is the first thing I've read (listened to) by Amor Towles. I didn't find the ending satisfying, but I enjoyed everything up until then. I will definitely check out something else he has written in the future.
If you could pick your future child based on predictive analysis, would you? Interesting concept for a short story.
Book 4 of the Forward Collection, four stars.
Book 4 of the Forward Collection, four stars.
Read the Kindle version. Woah. What was that? I started this knowing nothing and was totally gripped. I was in that world. So many questions of morality, of what was to come. And then it ended. Just like that. Why couldn't it be longer? That's it? GAH! Docked a star because I literally thought "wait that's it?" at the end. Maybe it deserves 5 but right now I'm a little mad.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That did not go the direction I expected, but I enjoyed the story. I'll definitely check out more by this author in the future.
A great first and second act with a disappointing third act.
This short story brought up many controversial and thought provoking topics. How DNA makes us who we are, and how science can change who we are before conception via IVF.
The short story ended weaker than I anticipated with such a deep topic at the center.
This short story brought up many controversial and thought provoking topics. How DNA makes us who we are, and how science can change who we are before conception via IVF.
The short story ended weaker than I anticipated with such a deep topic at the center.
Reading 'You Have Arrived At Your Destination' by Amor Towles intrigued and depressed me. It brought to my mind the book [b:Brave New World|5129|Brave New World|Aldous Huxley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575509280l/5129._SY75_.jpg|3204877] by Aldous Huxley.
The cover blurb describing the plot makes it seem the book is about how in vitro fertilization combined with gene editing could be manipulated to make the nature/nurture process in the formation of a person's personality traits almost obsolete or not applicable. Ignore the blurb. I think the author's plot is more subtle and multilayered than that. The word eugenics is never used, and perhaps discussing the more toxic byways of eugenics was not the author's intention at all. However, what the author does posit in these pages is an intriguing look at how a sophisticated urban married couple might end up picking the best personality for their child.
What would parents want for, or from, their child? That is the decision the couple, Sam and Annie, need to decide. Do they want an Artist? Or business entrepreneur? Scientist? Psychiatrist? Soldier? All of the above? The agency, Vitek, has scientifically extrapolated possible outcomes for lives of people with specific personality traits from massive datasets obtained by statistic analysis of the past lives of people with those traits. Of course, it must be a generalized guess, but since the majority of folks having specific personality traits seem to be fated for specific outcomes in our modern society, accurate predictions can be made. This is indicated by the extrapolations from actual life outcomes, predictions CAN be made! Or so Vitek has learned. People are similar to car models, right? With gene editing, futures are utterly predictable as the chosen features of a car. At least, Vitek's in vitro techniques make it so.
But what about the accompanying 'side effects' of a personality type? Rogue? Uninspired and dull-witted? Bourgeois? Shallow or hollow? Brilliant? Innovative? Vitek predicts these traits will be managed by maturity. The person eventually will find their successful niche in navigating jobs and relationships and errors of judgement - all of which is utterly predictable based on statistics and datasets.
Sam, the narrator, has a decision to make about engaging Vitek's services. However, he is unexpectedly upset about Vitek's presentation. He himself was born naturally to his parents, worked his way upwards into the urban upperclass. He made certain choices. His choices in his marriage has, maybe, caused his wife to make unpleasant accommodations or sacrifices. Is Sam's life 'wrong' in some ways? What IS 'wrong' in life? Blue-collar classes certainly think of his life as elitist and 'wrong' in many ways. Does that matter?
If, gentle reader, you thought the future of being able to select your babies' exact eye color and height and maybe other features which are generally thought of as beautiful and strong or intelligent was only what the controversies surrounding IVF is about today, I think you should check out 'You Have Arrived At Your Destination." Having blue eyes might not be as big a deal in how a life plays out as we tend to believe. Is personality truly destiny? What things actually comprise equal opportunity?
Perhaps, gentle reader, you are unfamiliar with invitro fertilization and CRISPR. I have included a link to Wikipedia about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilisation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editing
The cover blurb describing the plot makes it seem the book is about how in vitro fertilization combined with gene editing could be manipulated to make the nature/nurture process in the formation of a person's personality traits almost obsolete or not applicable. Ignore the blurb. I think the author's plot is more subtle and multilayered than that. The word eugenics is never used, and perhaps discussing the more toxic byways of eugenics was not the author's intention at all. However, what the author does posit in these pages is an intriguing look at how a sophisticated urban married couple might end up picking the best personality for their child.
What would parents want for, or from, their child? That is the decision the couple, Sam and Annie, need to decide. Do they want an Artist? Or business entrepreneur? Scientist? Psychiatrist? Soldier? All of the above? The agency, Vitek, has scientifically extrapolated possible outcomes for lives of people with specific personality traits from massive datasets obtained by statistic analysis of the past lives of people with those traits. Of course, it must be a generalized guess, but since the majority of folks having specific personality traits seem to be fated for specific outcomes in our modern society, accurate predictions can be made. This is indicated by the extrapolations from actual life outcomes, predictions CAN be made! Or so Vitek has learned. People are similar to car models, right? With gene editing, futures are utterly predictable as the chosen features of a car. At least, Vitek's in vitro techniques make it so.
But what about the accompanying 'side effects' of a personality type? Rogue? Uninspired and dull-witted? Bourgeois? Shallow or hollow? Brilliant? Innovative? Vitek predicts these traits will be managed by maturity. The person eventually will find their successful niche in navigating jobs and relationships and errors of judgement - all of which is utterly predictable based on statistics and datasets.
Sam, the narrator, has a decision to make about engaging Vitek's services. However, he is unexpectedly upset about Vitek's presentation. He himself was born naturally to his parents, worked his way upwards into the urban upperclass. He made certain choices. His choices in his marriage has, maybe, caused his wife to make unpleasant accommodations or sacrifices. Is Sam's life 'wrong' in some ways? What IS 'wrong' in life? Blue-collar classes certainly think of his life as elitist and 'wrong' in many ways. Does that matter?
If, gentle reader, you thought the future of being able to select your babies' exact eye color and height and maybe other features which are generally thought of as beautiful and strong or intelligent was only what the controversies surrounding IVF is about today, I think you should check out 'You Have Arrived At Your Destination." Having blue eyes might not be as big a deal in how a life plays out as we tend to believe. Is personality truly destiny? What things actually comprise equal opportunity?
Perhaps, gentle reader, you are unfamiliar with invitro fertilization and CRISPR. I have included a link to Wikipedia about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilisation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editing
Spoiler
What makes me sad is I think most people ARE archetypes. (This is why we are in a sixth extinction - the anthropocene extinction, caused by humanity.) Personality IS often destiny, generally speaking. Nurture can make a huge difference in my opinion, though, in what personality traits are encouraged, giving people a more positive version of themselves....or negative. Nurture AND environment matters. As does luck, since we do not operate on a level playing field. Sigh.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No