Tomes of Miscellany

Welcome to the land of danger and intrigue, where individuals are legion and non-conformity is the norm. Join me as I explore the many facets of humanity and meet the scum of the earth and its angels incarnate.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Embryo
Author: Charles Wilson
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1999

I don't normally read "mainstream" fiction: my tastes naturally run towards fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. The last medical thriller I remember reading was ages ago. However, when author Charles Wilson contacted me about reviewing the webpage for his forthcoming novel, he hooked my interest with the sample chapters available. Knowing from my experience with Extinct how excellent a writer Wilson is, I jumped at the chance to read an advanced reading copy of Embryo. I was NOT disappointed!

Here's a riddle for you: how can a woman who needs a shapely figure for her career become a mother short of adopting or arranging for a surrogate? A revolutionary technique offers Bailey Williams that chance, allowing her to provide the genetic material while continuing her extremely lucrative work as a model. First, she needs Ross Channing--former investigator and soon-to-be lawyer--to find the doctor who invented the procedure. However, will success be everything she's ever dreamed?

Considering the advances made in science and medicine over the decades--test-tube babies, artificial insemination, surrogate mothers--Embryo presents a chillingly plausible story about the next logical step in high-tech reproduction. It also addresses the requisite social and psychological problems that must inevitably arise from such a controversial method of reproducing, such as the age-old "nature versus nuture" debate. Then there are the questions about ethics: just because it can be done, does that mean it should be done? How about "how far should a scientist pursue an experiment if the majority of results are disheartening"?

Embryo is vastly different from Extinct, the other Charles Wilson novel I reviewed, but I practically guarantee you'll enjoy reading it. Wilson doesn't club you over the head with terminology and lingo as some authors might do. The writing flows smoothly and carries you along to the end. Watch the bookstores in January 1999 for Embryo!

Rating: Thumbs up! Get ready for a chilling glimpse of a possible near-future!

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