"A thrilling speculative tale about gene selection and what the near future might hold"
When a writer’s work is compared to Michael Crichton’s, there’s reason to sit up and pay attention whenever a new title from said author drops. Having proved her ability to spin a clever speculative tale with her debut The Waiting Rooms, which was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel and longlisted for the Not The Booker Prize, her second release will only consolidate her reputation further. In Off-Target she takes us to the near future and toys with ideas around fertility treatments and gene adaptation. The subject of Off-Target is Susan who, after a fling, gets pregnant after years of trying to conceive. Her attempts to conceal this from her partner lead her to take steps to tinker with the genetic makeup of her child. But there are dangers to playing God – also known as ‘off target’ effects – that could have devastating consequences. A cautionary tale that’s full of thrills, it will leave you considering our current science and the possibilities we may face.
| Primary Genre | Science Fiction |
| Other Genres: |
When a one-night stand leads to a long-desired pregnancy, Susan will do anything to ensure her husband won't find out ... including the unthinkable. But when something horrendous is unleashed around the globe, her secret isn't the only thing that is no longer safe...
A longed-for baby
An unthinkable decision
A deadly mistake
In an all-too-possible near future, when genetic engineering has become the norm for humans, not just crops, parents are prepared to take incalculable risks to ensure that their babies are perfect ... altering genes that may cause illness, and more...
Susan has been trying for a baby for years, and when an impulsive one-night stand makes her dream come true, she'll do anything to keep her daughter and ensure her husband doesn't find out ... including the unthinkable. She believes her secret is safe. For now.
But as governments embark on a perilous genetic arms race and children around the globe start experiencing a host of distressing symptoms - even taking their own lives - something truly horrendous is unleashed. Because those children have only one thing in common, and people are starting to ask questions... Bestselling author of The Waiting Rooms, Eve Smith returns with an authentic, startlingly thought-provoking, disturbing blockbuster of a thriller that provides a chilling glimpse of a future that's just one modification away...
Off-Target features in the following genres: Science Fiction, Crime and Mystery, Family Drama, Thriller and Suspense, Science fiction: near future, Narrative theme: Social issues, Narrative theme: Politics, Narrative theme: Environmental issues / the natural world, Alternative history fiction, Crime and mystery: hard-boiled crime, noir fiction, Psychological thriller, Fiction, Speculative fiction, Fiction: narrative themes
Off-Target is available in Paperback
Off-Target was written by Eve Smith and published by Orenda Books
Off-Target has 300 pages
£8.09
