Description:

Nobody knows your DNA like your government.

Routine DNA scans flag individuals with genetic mutations. To systematically purge humanity of corrupt genetics, authorities pluck them from society, never to be seen or heard from again. This is done on a global scale.

Kyla Thomas, a nurse technician who already lost her husband to these removals, does everything in her power to protect Sam, her cancer-ridden son. Using illegal methods to scrub his DNA samples, she manages to hide him in plain sight until an accident at school reveals his secret. Although temporarily able to fight off capture, the government’s relentless pursuit of the fugitives rips Sam from Kyla’s grasp and jails her.

But few things can prevent a desperate mother’s search for her son, and in the process, Kyla begins to uncover government secrets only a select few were ever meant to know.

My Take:

This dystopian masterpiece has a disturbing quality given our recent shared human experience with battling the ravages of disease. It is significant that it was written well before any of that, though. And if that doesn’t give you an Orwellian chill, it may already be too late to warn you of the excesses to which an unbridled government may go in their desire to ensure public safety, even to the sacrifice of personal liberty and basic human rights. It is an important topic for thought and discussion, and this novel does a fantastic job of shining a light on the darker aspects of government control without being preachy or political.

What is most disturbing of all is that there is nothing far-fetched about this story. That’s the value of great science fiction, that it doesn’t get too caught up in the gee-whiz aspects of the future. Humanity: Devolved is told from a personal perspective, the human tragedy of someone caught up in the bureaucratic mess borne of good intentions. We struggle alongside the well-developed characters and feel for their situation because it is all so very plausible. And I promise you, when you reach the finale, you’ll be as surprised as I was.

About The Author:

Greyson Ferguson was born and raised in East Lansing, Michigan. A lover of all things creative, he eventually went on to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. After graduating with a degree in film and television he worked as a video producer for the New York Times before moving to Tucson, Arizona, where he turned his sights to writing. Focusing on relationships and travel, Greyson often intertwines personal own experiences into his own work. When not writing, Greyson is often traveling with his two dogs, one of which has been to 48 states and four countries.