“What is consciousness, Mary? Is it a gift or a curse? Is it a blessing or a burden? Is it a spark of divinity or a flicker of madness? Is it what makes us human or what separates us from the rest of creation?”
The Seventh Son is a high-concept novel that explores the theme of human consciousness and the consequences of genetic engineering. The story begins in the near future, when a financially constrained professor, Talissa Adam, agrees to be a surrogate mother for a childless couple, Mary and Alaric. However, unbeknownst to her, the IVF procedure involves a ‘slight of hand’ by a tech billionaire, Lukas Parn, who runs a secretive institute that aims to create a ‘disruptor’ in human evolution.
“The world is full of mysteries, Talissa. Some of them are beautiful, some of them are terrifying, and some of them are beyond our comprehension. But they are all part of the wonder of existence. And we should never stop trying to understand them.”
The result is Seth, a child who is genetically unlike any other human being, and who exhibits extraordinary abilities and insights that challenge the established order of society.
“He was not a monster. He was a human being, with a human mind and a human heart. He was just different. And difference, he knew, was the source of all human misery.”
Faulks combines scientific and philosophical elements with a gripping plot that spans across continents and decades. He writes with sophistication and clarity, giving vivid details and life to his characters and settings. He also raises moral and ethical questions about the role of money, power, and love in shaping human destiny, and the implications of playing God with nature.
“You can’t create a new life without destroying an old one. That’s the law of nature. Every birth is a death, every death is a birth. The cycle of life and death is eternal and unbreakable. And we are all part of it, whether we like it or not.”
The novel is a remarkable investigation of what it means to be human, and how far we are willing to go to achieve our goals.
“There is no such thing as fate, Alaric. There is only choice. And choice is the most powerful force in the universe. It can shape our destiny, for good or for evil. It can make us heroes or villains. It can set us free or enslave us. And it can change the world.”
The Seventh Son is a novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy near-future scenarios, scientific experiments, and moral reflections. It is also a novel that will polarise opinions, depending on one’s personal view and interest in the topics discussed.
“He knew that he was different, that he was special, that he was powerful. But he also knew that he was lonely, that he was vulnerable, that he was human. He knew that he had a gift, but he also knew that he had a curse. He knew that he had a destiny, but he also knew that he had a choice.”
Some may find the novel fascinating and thought-provoking, while others may find it disturbing and unrealistic. However, one thing is certain: The Seventh Son is a novel that will not leave anyone indifferent.
Thank you to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
About this book:
The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks
