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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
reflective
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:
Yes
Listened via Audible over a couple runs. The story itself was pretty good, I liked the future-Daniels bit, but I am not sure what to make of the ending. I think audiobooks just aren't for me. My ADHD brain can't sustain listening to one continuous narrative for that long... I kept spacing out and then tuning back in only to realize I missed something and I'd have to "rewind." Back to conversational podcasts during runs, I think.
Custom children or roll the dice
If you could customize your child before it was born, would you? This story asks that question with interesting results.
If you could customize your child before it was born, would you? This story asks that question with interesting results.
The first half was interesting and the imagery was strong, however the ending felt diluted and unemotional. I am not sure that this is as successful as the good concept should have enabled.
Disappointing on a few counts.
First off; in a collection of short stories called Forward, dealing with near future technologies, climate change and evolution, the new-fangled gadget that is pushed centre-stage in this short story (and indeed gives it its name) is... wait for it... a self-driving car!
Wait really? Yes really; it's framed as if it should feel like a massive breakthrough, redefining the landscape of society. And maybe it is, maybe it does feel like that to some people. But in truth this is decade-old technology, which makes this story feel distinctly out of place in this collection.
The other technology, which to be fair is even more central to the plot, is genetic tailoring. Also; not new technology.
The first half of the story follows the main character visiting a high-end fertility clinic, to discuss possible futures for his as yet unconcieved child. Without his wife. Without his wife? Really? Yes really; apparently this isn't something noteworthy enough to bother getting together with your wife about. I really could not get over this seemingly simple oversight; are we really suggesting that the wife has no say in the child's life?
But anyway. We are given three possible glimpses of the child's future; based on statistical analysis of gene types and socie-economic situations of the parents. I have to admit, this is the cool idea of the novel; using similar actuarial predictions to life insurance companies right from the get-go absolutely feels plausible. But these predictions are presented as short films that have been created and acted out in bizarre detail that immediately drew me back out; I guess this expensive fertility clinic has to justify their costs somehow.
Once we've had these three possible futures; our protagonist finds himself confronted with the ideas of mortality and predestination, so does what any good protagonist in fiction would do; goes driving down a new road and stops at a random dive bar- proceeding to get very drunk and have deep, heartfelt conversations with the bartender about the meaning of life. It's all very twee and eye-roll-inducing; you will feel like you have seen this scene a dozen times before in sitcoms, films, you name it. And it lasts the entire second half of the novella! It tries to make some interesting points about preparedness for raising a child and the unpredictability of life, but never really managed to reach meaningful for me.
Perhaps an author writing outside of their comfort zone, but nevertheless a strangely stilted, unimaginative take on some fairly well-trodden ground.
First off; in a collection of short stories called Forward, dealing with near future technologies, climate change and evolution, the new-fangled gadget that is pushed centre-stage in this short story (and indeed gives it its name) is... wait for it... a self-driving car!
Wait really? Yes really; it's framed as if it should feel like a massive breakthrough, redefining the landscape of society. And maybe it is, maybe it does feel like that to some people. But in truth this is decade-old technology, which makes this story feel distinctly out of place in this collection.
The other technology, which to be fair is even more central to the plot, is genetic tailoring. Also; not new technology.
The first half of the story follows the main character visiting a high-end fertility clinic, to discuss possible futures for his as yet unconcieved child. Without his wife. Without his wife? Really? Yes really; apparently this isn't something noteworthy enough to bother getting together with your wife about. I really could not get over this seemingly simple oversight; are we really suggesting that the wife has no say in the child's life?
But anyway. We are given three possible glimpses of the child's future; based on statistical analysis of gene types and socie-economic situations of the parents. I have to admit, this is the cool idea of the novel; using similar actuarial predictions to life insurance companies right from the get-go absolutely feels plausible. But these predictions are presented as short films that have been created and acted out in bizarre detail that immediately drew me back out; I guess this expensive fertility clinic has to justify their costs somehow.
Once we've had these three possible futures; our protagonist finds himself confronted with the ideas of mortality and predestination, so does what any good protagonist in fiction would do; goes driving down a new road and stops at a random dive bar- proceeding to get very drunk and have deep, heartfelt conversations with the bartender about the meaning of life. It's all very twee and eye-roll-inducing; you will feel like you have seen this scene a dozen times before in sitcoms, films, you name it. And it lasts the entire second half of the novella! It tries to make some interesting points about preparedness for raising a child and the unpredictability of life, but never really managed to reach meaningful for me.
Perhaps an author writing outside of their comfort zone, but nevertheless a strangely stilted, unimaginative take on some fairly well-trodden ground.
3.3 stars
The stories in this series are so well written. But the contributing authors are simply not short story writers - as the endings consistently demonstrate. This installment was no exception: Another fascinating read ended abruptly and without the resounding satisfaction one craves from short fiction. Sad day.
The stories in this series are so well written. But the contributing authors are simply not short story writers - as the endings consistently demonstrate. This installment was no exception: Another fascinating read ended abruptly and without the resounding satisfaction one craves from short fiction. Sad day.
Is exposition still exposition if it's about a potential future child?
This novella is about a rich dude, who goes to this company that helps genetically engineer your children before birth to be really cool in a few ways.
He's presented with three possible children histories, but finds himself in a bar later and stuff happens.
The voice of this one was really hard for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot itself felt a little messy. I wanted a more fulfilling conclusion too. It ended so abruptly and didn't really make sense to me.
This is forgettable and didn't do anything different.
This novella is about a rich dude, who goes to this company that helps genetically engineer your children before birth to be really cool in a few ways.
He's presented with three possible children histories, but finds himself in a bar later and stuff happens.
The voice of this one was really hard for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot itself felt a little messy. I wanted a more fulfilling conclusion too. It ended so abruptly and didn't really make sense to me.
This is forgettable and didn't do anything different.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced