The Family Experiment

Author: John Marrs
Genre: Thriller, Speculative Fiction
384 pages
Publisher: Hanover Square Press, 2024

Synopsis
Some families are virtually perfect…

The world’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

My review
The Family Experiment is another fast-paced, thought-provoking thriller from John Marrs that blends speculative fiction with his signature twisty plotting. Set in the same near-future universe as The One and The Passengers, this story explores the dark edges of technological advancement, where AI appears to be improving lives, but beneath the surface, unsettling questions emerge.

In a future U.K. struggling with overpopulation and economic strain, starting a family has become a luxury few can afford. Enter The Family Experiment, a 24/7 interactive reality show where five couples and one single father compete to raise an AI-programmed virtual child. The prize? The winner can either keep the AI child or trade them for a cash prize to fund a real family.

Told through multiple POVs and creatively interspersed with chat logs, tabloid snippets, and Insta Polls, the novel keeps the pace brisk and the reading experience immersive. Marrs raises big ethical questions in an accessible and entertaining way – what rights should virtual beings have? Can something artificial still be real?

While Marrs’ thrillers are always a solid bet, this universe of AI-driven futures is where he truly shines. His speculative concepts are bold and chilling because they feel alarmingly plausible. The Family Experiment is addictive, inventive, and loaded with surprises, and I was entertained every minute. A huge thank you to John Marrs for delivering another gripping, original, and unsettling read. I can’t wait to see what part of this eerie universe he explores next!

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!