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A review by harrison_murphy
Off Target by Eve Smith
5.0
Off Target is a brilliant speculative novel centred around the premise of a near future where genetic engineering can make designer babies. Susan, the main characters, gets herself into a seemingly impossible situation where changing some crucial characteristics of her baby in order not to derail her whole life.
I love the way that the writer through Susan, and her friend Carmel, makes these adaptations seem totally sensible and ethical. And I was completely on board with everything she was doing for the first half of the book.
In the second half, part of the story is relayed through Zurel (Susan's daughter now of school age). Everything has been going fine up until this point, but this is when it all starts to unravel. And suddenly I found myself completely disgusted with what Susan said in part one, before sort of changing my mind again nearer the end.
A compelling portrayal of the lies we tell ourselves and others sometimes because the truth is often too difficult or awkward to broach. And at a macro level, a chilling insight into a world and society where the ability to change the characteristics of a child whilst still in the womb is fast becoming common practice.
I love the way that the writer through Susan, and her friend Carmel, makes these adaptations seem totally sensible and ethical. And I was completely on board with everything she was doing for the first half of the book.
In the second half, part of the story is relayed through Zurel (Susan's daughter now of school age). Everything has been going fine up until this point, but this is when it all starts to unravel. And suddenly I found myself completely disgusted with what Susan said in part one, before sort of changing my mind again nearer the end.
A compelling portrayal of the lies we tell ourselves and others sometimes because the truth is often too difficult or awkward to broach. And at a macro level, a chilling insight into a world and society where the ability to change the characteristics of a child whilst still in the womb is fast becoming common practice.