The Cutie by Greg Egan

ga-ga-goo-goo.

Greg Egan strikes again with another banger! While not as mind-blowingly awesome as "The Infinite Assassin", it still feels distinctly Egan-esque: a thought-provoking science-fiction tale full of cool ideas with a razor-sharp and concise writing style that makes for an immersive reading experience. In "The Cutie," Egan proposes an interesting question: what if technology existed that made it possible for all genders to have babies? No, this story is nothing like that terrible comedy Junior with Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

The male protagonist yearns for fatherhood and to embrace the joys of parenthood. Unfortunately, his wife feels differently, remaining steadfast in her decision to forgo having to give birth and raise children. This fundamental disagreement becomes the catalyst for their eventual separation. Feeling hopeless, he decides to purchase a Cutie--a sophisticated  software and computer kit that comes comes in the mail. The protagonist is apprehensive at first and struggles with the controversial decision to be impregnated with a clone baby. There are definitely some body horror elements present as well. 

Regardless of gender, the program allows the user to choose the baby's appearance down to the the smallest detail before the DNA is manipulated and fertilization occurs. The science behind this process is fascinating and feels totally plausible. Achieving such a seamless fusion of scientific speculation with narrative execution stands as a main objective for any exemplary hard science fiction narrative, and Greg Egan makes it look easy. 

However, these artificial babies come with a few caveats: Cuties have subhuman intelligence and are more like pets. They might look identical to babies and emulate various mannerisms such as smiling and babbling, but they will never learn to speak, walk or feed themselves without assistance. Does this make them any less human? Adding to the complexity, a poignant concern arises – their life expectancy is a mere four years before they quietly expire. Nurturing an emotional connection with them becomes a precarious endeavor, one that proves challenging to resist despite the inevitable heartache it may bring. 

Furthermore, the story examines the multifaceted landscape of gender politics and reproduction along with the extraordinary lengths individuals are willing to traverse to embark on the profound journey of parenthood. The exploration of these themes resonates with an unexpected poignancy that not only challenges societal norms but also draws upon the deeply human longing for connection with a child.