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Zhū
How far would you go to save a loved one's life? Tycoon Maxwell Sutherland knows how far he would, and he's not going to let anything in the world stop him.
Science advanced too slow for Maxwell to save his wife, and he's hellbent on stopping his daughter Abigail from suffering the same terrible fate. The young girl's prognosis is bad, and the disease she inherited, aggressive. It spreads through her body as though it has a single mission to snuff out her life, but Maxwell has a plan. He has an unimaginable plan.
Using his vast wealth as a fulcrum, he pries back the layers of a shadowy world operated by Chimera Collaborative, a research lab specializing in producing human organs in a not so human way.
With the help of private doctors, months turn into years, and the lines of morality begin to blur. Abigail undergoes operation after operation to keep her alive, but what is seen by her father as progress is viewed by others as a macabre fascination with medical science. Has Maxwell Sutherland gone too far? Is there not any length he will go to keep his daughter alive, even if it means murder?
J.R. Brienza, author of the Belt of Orion series, is back! This medical thriller, inspired by current research taking place, will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning page after page to learn what happens next. As you read, in your head, you will hear the burning question, But at what cost?
Science advanced too slow for Maxwell to save his wife, and he's hellbent on stopping his daughter Abigail from suffering the same terrible fate. The young girl's prognosis is bad, and the disease she inherited, aggressive. It spreads through her body as though it has a single mission to snuff out her life, but Maxwell has a plan. He has an unimaginable plan.
Using his vast wealth as a fulcrum, he pries back the layers of a shadowy world operated by Chimera Collaborative, a research lab specializing in producing human organs in a not so human way.
With the help of private doctors, months turn into years, and the lines of morality begin to blur. Abigail undergoes operation after operation to keep her alive, but what is seen by her father as progress is viewed by others as a macabre fascination with medical science. Has Maxwell Sutherland gone too far? Is there not any length he will go to keep his daughter alive, even if it means murder?
J.R. Brienza, author of the Belt of Orion series, is back! This medical thriller, inspired by current research taking place, will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning page after page to learn what happens next. As you read, in your head, you will hear the burning question, But at what cost?
158 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2019
About the author
J.R. Brienza
6 books4 followersJ. R. Brienza is an interior designer, and green Advantage certified general contractor. She resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with long time love, Jeff, and their pets.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 26, 2019
A haunting look at the ethics of growing organs in animals
Maxwell Sutherland holds his dying wife and promises to save the life of their baby. Being phenomenally wealthy, he invests in the latest experimental medical option - a chimera to grow the organs his beloved daughter will need. The consequences of his choice raise devastating ethical issues as time goes on.
What I enjoyed:
The ethical angle. This is a story that does the job of all good speculative fiction, it challenges people to think. In this case to consider the implications of the ethical issues of growing human organs in animals. Pigs, whose heart valves are already regularly plundered to replace failing human ones, are known to be as intelligent and self-aware as chimps and the author uses exaggeration to challenge our assumptions around exploiting animals as spare parts for humans.
The writing. This is really strong, fluent and easy to read. The author has a style that flows and the reader has little to break their reading immersion.
The character reactions. I really liked the way that different characters responded to the ethical question raised. We are given a spectrum of responses driven by both moral and emotional motivations. This is an incredibly multifaceted story for such a short read.
What I struggled with:
The mysterious illness. Abbey's mother was fully adult before her strange genetic condition killed her. So it made very little sense to me that it would affect Abbey that severely in early childhood. The progression of this never explained ‘illness' seemed very unlikely and very random to me, owing more to the needs of the plot than any notion of medical consistency.
The end. For me, it is incumbent on a short read to surprise me with its ending. But this was one I saw coming from near the start and I spent most of the book hoping I was wrong, that the author was going to twist things in a very unexpected way to make the point she wanted to make. That said, this is a fundamentally a parable with a powerful message so both my objections need to be seen in that context.
Overall thoughts:
A powerful short sci-fi read which will provoke strong reactions around the ethics of animal exploitation. Science fiction at its best challenges us to consider the future and this book does that superbly. For those who haven't given this particular ethical issue any thought before it offers a thorough work through for them to consider the issue in depth and hopefully go on to do their own research into the reality behind it.
Maxwell Sutherland holds his dying wife and promises to save the life of their baby. Being phenomenally wealthy, he invests in the latest experimental medical option - a chimera to grow the organs his beloved daughter will need. The consequences of his choice raise devastating ethical issues as time goes on.
What I enjoyed:
The ethical angle. This is a story that does the job of all good speculative fiction, it challenges people to think. In this case to consider the implications of the ethical issues of growing human organs in animals. Pigs, whose heart valves are already regularly plundered to replace failing human ones, are known to be as intelligent and self-aware as chimps and the author uses exaggeration to challenge our assumptions around exploiting animals as spare parts for humans.
The writing. This is really strong, fluent and easy to read. The author has a style that flows and the reader has little to break their reading immersion.
The character reactions. I really liked the way that different characters responded to the ethical question raised. We are given a spectrum of responses driven by both moral and emotional motivations. This is an incredibly multifaceted story for such a short read.
What I struggled with:
The mysterious illness. Abbey's mother was fully adult before her strange genetic condition killed her. So it made very little sense to me that it would affect Abbey that severely in early childhood. The progression of this never explained ‘illness' seemed very unlikely and very random to me, owing more to the needs of the plot than any notion of medical consistency.
The end. For me, it is incumbent on a short read to surprise me with its ending. But this was one I saw coming from near the start and I spent most of the book hoping I was wrong, that the author was going to twist things in a very unexpected way to make the point she wanted to make. That said, this is a fundamentally a parable with a powerful message so both my objections need to be seen in that context.
Overall thoughts:
A powerful short sci-fi read which will provoke strong reactions around the ethics of animal exploitation. Science fiction at its best challenges us to consider the future and this book does that superbly. For those who haven't given this particular ethical issue any thought before it offers a thorough work through for them to consider the issue in depth and hopefully go on to do their own research into the reality behind it.
December 7, 2019
It will be a classic.
This novella reminds me of the old twilight zone. Perfectly mastered, fine lovable characters, a deeper meaning.
I haven’t read this fast in a while. It embodies a part of what science fiction should be.
This novella reminds me of the old twilight zone. Perfectly mastered, fine lovable characters, a deeper meaning.
I haven’t read this fast in a while. It embodies a part of what science fiction should be.
November 4, 2021
I like to step out of my reading zone occasionally, and Zhu represents that for me. I did worry that the story might be filled with body horror, but while there is some, it is never a core element of the narrative, allowing me to enjoy the underlying story. Zhu is at times a challenging read, clearly intended to get the reader thinking. The author’s message is strong, and while I agree with it, I do wonder if the characters on the wrong side of the issue could have been painted a little greyer. There are amoral villains here, but they are a little easy to dismiss.
Zhu is a short read, that covers a long period of time. Brienza has tackled this by keeping chapters short, sometimes very short, giving moments of time in the years-long story. It makes it easy to read and keep turning the page, but I would have liked a little more room for some of the ideas to breathe. This isn’t a criticism; I’m just saying I’d like to have seen more.
The book particularly shines in the chapters we get from Abby’s point of view, as she grows up and gains an understanding of what is being done in her name. It sets up an ending which… you will have to read to discover!
Zhu is a short read, that covers a long period of time. Brienza has tackled this by keeping chapters short, sometimes very short, giving moments of time in the years-long story. It makes it easy to read and keep turning the page, but I would have liked a little more room for some of the ideas to breathe. This isn’t a criticism; I’m just saying I’d like to have seen more.
The book particularly shines in the chapters we get from Abby’s point of view, as she grows up and gains an understanding of what is being done in her name. It sets up an ending which… you will have to read to discover!
December 5, 2021
This short story is a bitter-sweet one about a sick child, Abby, and her utterly, indecently rich father. Zhu is a chimera, an experiment created in a Chinese lab to be used as medical equipment to cure Abby from her deadly disease.
It brings out interesting ethical issues about what would happen if some scientific techniques were open to all kinds of situations. It poses the kind of ethical questions presented by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein. Is the creature sentient? Does it have rights? And to what extent can it be used for the purpose it was created for? Is it right to let it suffer for the good of others?
This isn't a light reading, but a grimdark one, and it was right up my alley.
It brings out interesting ethical issues about what would happen if some scientific techniques were open to all kinds of situations. It poses the kind of ethical questions presented by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein. Is the creature sentient? Does it have rights? And to what extent can it be used for the purpose it was created for? Is it right to let it suffer for the good of others?
This isn't a light reading, but a grimdark one, and it was right up my alley.
October 30, 2020
Three and a half stars rounded up. The concept was interesting, and it introduced a very relevant moral dilemma that will only become more relevant as science progresses. The pacing was fast enough to keep me reading, and it was a thought-provoking read.
I did wish that some of the characters were given a little more dimension, as some of the characterization felt a bit flat—either all good or all bad—which made aspects of the plot feel predictable and detracted from the moral dilemma aspect. That being said, I sincerely hope this author keeps writing. This book shows a lot of promise, and I’d love to read more from her as she progresses.
I did wish that some of the characters were given a little more dimension, as some of the characterization felt a bit flat—either all good or all bad—which made aspects of the plot feel predictable and detracted from the moral dilemma aspect. That being said, I sincerely hope this author keeps writing. This book shows a lot of promise, and I’d love to read more from her as she progresses.
December 16, 2020
If you’re looking for something more from your scifi than lasers and scantily dressed warriors, perhaps a short read that will get you thinking about significant issues, then this is the book for you.
Brienza’s writing style is easy to follow, and the short chapters will help you speed through it. The ethical dilemmas in the primary plot will not. The exploitation of animals for medical use is quite the issue - Bravo Brienza for having the courage to take it on.
A very different read; four stars.
Brienza’s writing style is easy to follow, and the short chapters will help you speed through it. The ethical dilemmas in the primary plot will not. The exploitation of animals for medical use is quite the issue - Bravo Brienza for having the courage to take it on.
A very different read; four stars.
March 7, 2020
Brinza explores the near future of medical science in this thought provoking and mildly disturbing story of love, loss, and hope. As Maxwell loses a wife he gains a daughter born to suffer the same fate. Unless Maxwell and a team of highly skilled doctors can turn things around.
Where does medical technology end and humanity begin? In love when do the ends stop justifying the means. This books explores all this with heart and hope.
Where does medical technology end and humanity begin? In love when do the ends stop justifying the means. This books explores all this with heart and hope.
January 4, 2024
Read it and enjoyed it. !
Made me think
Made me think
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews