Unto The Last Generation

by Juanita Coulson

Wholesale application of population control technology has rendered man infertile. A team of doctors and scientists is trying everything imaginable in their frantic efforts to produce life artificially, when into their midst walks an 8-year-old girl. But mankind has been sterile for more than 15 years.

Genres: Science Fiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Juanita Ruth Coulson (née Wellons) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer most well known for her Children of the Stars books, published from 1981 to 1989. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juanita...)

Reviews

[Jon Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a scanned paperback copy on the Internet Archive. Well here is another in the infamous Laser Books series, this one from 1975. This book predates PD James' 1992 book "Children of Men" by 25 years but tells a very similar story, although the PD James book is far, far superior. "Unto The Last Generation" is set in the early 21st century. Mankind has been beset by a combination of disasters: climate change, industrial pollution, and the final insult: universal sterility. Due to overuse of birth control drugs, the birthrate has plummeted to zero and as far as is officially known, no human baby has been born in 15 years. American is collapsing and widespread food and power shortages have led to rioting, looting, and general mayhem. Society has fractured into hostile sects based on age - the old, the middle-aged, and the "youngers." The military has taken over the governing of the country, which exists largely as a police state. States no longer exist; rather the country is divided into 4 or 5 military control zones. In a city in one of these zones a group of scientists, led by husband-and-wife team Richard and Therese Parnell, are trying to reverse the mechanism of human sterility. A rival group located outside the city is also working on the human reproduction problem from another angle - they are trying to perfect cloning of humans. While on a trip through the riot-torn city streets, Richard Parnell is startled to see an 8-year-old girl and he rescues her from a violent mob. Arriving at the scientists' lab, he learns that the girl's parents, who must have been immune to the sterility, are dead. Could there be others, similarly immune, hiding out from the violence? He also learns that the military can no longer guarantee their safety and they must evacuate. A large part of the book deals with their peril as the scientists make their way out of the city under military escort. The entire book takes place over one or two days. I found the book moderately interesting and not too badly written, but as I read it I was always comparing it to "Children of Men" and it suffered badly in the comparison. Three out of five stars.

[Janet Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book it is well written, originally published some time back but now available for e.readers. It who's George Orwell's! 1984, people said then, never happen, well folks we are living it. Here is another book that maybe could become the living truth.

Unto the Last Generation’ by Juanita Coulson is a gripping technothriller set in a dystopian future America. The book tells a tale of world wide infertility, that breaks society's structure and people's hopes to pieces. A trusty group of scientists and geneticists are however trying to find a way for a new generation of humans to be born. Will they succeed when those who don't know or understand try to burn their lab down and they have to evacuate, will all their experiments fail.

I would highly recommend you read this book. The majority of us wish and hope for children really makes you think, what if....

[Kimberly Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

In fairness, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ so here goes! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Despite being originally published over 40 years ago (1975 I believe), it still felt so relevant. The story takes place after natural and man-made disasters have resulted in the human race being on the verge of extinction. Women are no longer fertile and the current group of "Youngers" is feared to be the last generation ever to be born. Food and other necessities are in short supply and the 3 remaining generations are engaged in a war against each other for survival. That is when a discovery, the appearance of an 8 year old girl, could hold the chance to save the human race. I would definitely recommend reading this book. It illustrates the importance of diverse groups working as one for the good of all!

[Adam Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Top-tier (amongst Laser Books) largely on its brilliant premise that pre-dates Children of Men by a couple of decades and also came along during a time when every sci-fi writer was obsessed with overpopulation; making a story about the dying off of humans due to infertility particularly acute. The bulk of the actual prose is just okay, though it does paint a solid portrait of a hopeless society in deep decline.

[James Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tight, powerful, scientifically-informed tale of a fertility crisis in the near future, Unto the Last Generation marks the first story told by a woman in the Laser Books lineup, and it sets a high bar for those that follow. Crackling with tension, sprinkled with poignant commentary, this is a very powerful tale of hope in a hopeless future. Easy recommend if you can find a copy!

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although impressive that the idea and technology was written in 1975, I found it hard to read because I got bored. I found it slow paced and not very interesting for such a great idea.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a bit getting into, I'm not really sure on the time line either. Probably not something I would read twice.

[Miss Elizabeth Ann Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

A good, well constructed story. One of the best I have read recently. Loved it!

Five stars for plot, narrative and characterisation. It is well formatted and worked well on my kindle with no flow problems. Read it through in one sitting. Author added to my list for future reads.

[Venture Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is published by Venture Press.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sci Fi rerelease.