Eugene by Greg Egan

Eugenics.

After the very disappointing The Way She Smiles, the Things She Says, I am happy to report that Greg Egan is officially back in my good graces. Hey, nobody’s perfect. Eugene is another thought-provoking, mind-bending science-fiction treat, the kind of story Egan can deliver with almost unfair consistency. The title itself is a clever bit of wordplay: “Eugene” nods toward eugenics and the story follows a couple who are offered the chance to become test subjects for a breakthrough genetic technology. One that can manipulate DNA to create a super-intelligent child. Nothing left to chance, no roll of the biological dice. As Dr. Cook points out, this engineered child might grow up to be the answer to saving the world from complete collapse into the dark ages. 

It’s a fascinating premise and would slot perfectly into an episode of Black Mirror.

What really makes the story work, though, is Egan’s storytelling technique. He has this uncanny ability to incorporate dense scientific ideas into the narrative without ever letting the pace drag. His trademark imagination is on full display here: wild, ambitious, and grounded enough to feel eerily plausible. The pseudo-hard sci-fi elements never overwhelm; instead, they serve as the sturdy framework for a narrative that flows smoothly and confidently. Even when the story detours into backstory and exposition, it never feels like homework. Egan knows exactly when to zoom in on the science and when to pull back so the emotional and thematic threads can breathe. There is also a conceptual twist involving time travel, culminating in the darkly cynical ending that is quite brilliant. I had to re-read it a few times just to wrap my head around it all. 

Eugene is a reminder of why Egan remains one of the most imaginative sci-fi writers out there. Always willing to push boundaries, but never at the expense of a good story.