Set in a near future that is all too believable and not very comforting, this story tackles big issues and provokes all the feelings. Talissa agrees to be a surrogate mother so that she can fund her studies but she takes on so much more than she expected when a switch in the lab means that the child she carries is not all he was intended to be.

When many years later people discover what has happened and who Seth really is, the fallout is extreme and disturbing, affecting many lives.

The story is profound in its nature and told with great skill, as you would expect from such a masterful storyteller. Very enjoyable and also disturbing to read.

Brilliant first half but disappointing second half. I loved the first half of the book as the story flowed due to the great writing style but once Thalissa tested the DNA of Seth the plot seemed to be rushed and just fizzled out. I probably misjudged the idea if the story thinking it was primarily about Seth when in fact it was all about Thalissa.
I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it but the latter half spoiled it for me.

A very thought provoking read and vastly different to previous Faulks novels I have read. Although on the whole I enjoyed the premise of the story, it didn’t fully hold my attention and found myself drifting at times, to me the end felt a little rushed.

The Seventh Son takes readers on a journey that starts with an ambitious IVF experiment, pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding and challenging the ethics of research funding. It is a thought-provoking tale.

Meet Talissa Adam, a young woman seeking funding for her post-doctoral research in the USA. She believes she's found the solution when the Parn Institute offers to pay her to act as a surrogate for a couple in England. However, she soon realises that the unscrupulous billionaire owner, Parn, has something far more life-changing in mind. Enter Seth, the baby resulting from this experiment. As he grows into adulthood, it becomes apparent that he is different from other children.

I personally found it a bit difficult to fully engage with the narrative. Set in a lightly built future world, it grazes upon darker themes that could have been made more unsettling. Nonetheless, it shines a light on love, kindness, and the importance of responsibility. Faulks occasionally throws in a dig at Brexit, and the legacy of the current British government. I enjoyed Ms Gopal’s character, even though she gets censored by the writer himself, I wish there was more of her. It all feels a little too serious, too intelligent. I just found it hard to connect to the main characters and their journeys.

The narrative captures the root of the challenges individual face throughout their lives—challenges that none of us would ideally want to encounter. The story includes a considerable amount of technical dialogue that supports the rationale behind the "experiment." And I admired all the research that went into it.

While I genuinely wanted to appreciate this book, I found it lacked the dynamism and unexpected twists I was hoping for. The anticipation and tension failed to build up, leading to a somewhat disappointing conclusion devoid of surprises. It was just underwhelming.

The Seventh Son certainly has its merits despite falling short of fully captivating me.

Thanks Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Hutchinson Heinemann for the advance reader copy.

What a thought provoking dystopian novel. Set in the UK and USA in 2030 and 2056 the fact that it’s not so far into the future made it even more believable and even more shocking. Unsurprisingly it’s beautifully written and an easy read despite the shocking storyline. There are some brilliant characters in this but I particularly enjoyed Seth and Talissa as they were so well fleshed I could see them clearly in my minds eye. Parn however was a despicable character who thought himself above the law both legally and morally.

Briefly, American Talissa Adam needs $70k for her first year post doctoral studies. She chooses to go to the UK to take part in a surrogate programme with respectable Parn Institution. The parents to be are Mary and Alaric who call their son Seth and want Talissa to remain in contact with them. Unbeknownst to them Parn, a billionaire who is obsessed with science, persuaded the head of the Institute to tamper with one IVF specimen. I can’t say more for fear of spoilers but this is the stuff of nightmares apart from being ethically immoral.

I have to admit to finding some of the scientific stuff in the book going over my head, but it’s easy to skip if so inclined. Other changes from today that were mentioned all seemed feasible - eating far less meat, self driven cars, limited air travel… The main premise of this book however is a human desire that has no consideration for right and wrong, just a need for answers. I was completely engrossed in this story which is both scary and sad as it’s feasible that what takes place here could one day be reality. As for the climax, just heartbreaking. A brilliant book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this eCopy to review

Having read a lot of Sebastian Faulks' novels I was really looking forward to this one, but found it a bit odd

I felt there was far too much focus on Tallissa instead of Mary, Al and Seth. There is a lot of science and moral discourse which detract from the story

Set in the future from 2030 to 2056 it offered a glimpse into what life could be like and whether science should be allowed to play God. Like other reviewers have said this is very different to Faulk's previous novels and I just did not think it was to the same standard and the ending was a complete let down on so many levels

We start reading in the year 2030. Talissa, a young American student studying for a post- doctorate in genomics applies to The Helen Lingard Institute for a position but is advised that, though they are willing to offer her a post, she will need to fund herself until fully qualified - an impossibility for her. However, whilst reading through literature that she regularly received from the Parn Institute in London - a renowned organisation in genomes - she discovers that they are looking for surrogate mothers and instantly realises that this could be the answer to her problems..

She travels to London and is accepted and subsequently impregnated unexpectedly, by the senior consultant. She is allowed to meet the parents, Mary and Alaric Peterson - Mary being infertile. After getting to know them she is happy that she is bearing their child and nine months later Seth arrives and is rapidly handed to his new mother and father, and Talissa returns to America to complete her studies.

She keeps in touch with the family and when Seth reaches the age of 12 she is allowed to meet him - an interesting experience that leads her to suspect that Alaric’s sperm was not used but was substituted for another specimen, possibly from an ancient civilisation. With her own knowledge, in 2047, she eventually confronts Lukas Parn and is invited to his luxurious home in Connecticut. Though she is told that Seth’s existence will be kept secret it is obvious that Lukas wants publicity and that he will pay the parents vast sums of money to keep them quiet - not what is wanted by them at all.

Eventually Seth seeks solace with Talissa - but can he survive or not?

A genetic experiment and its effect. It’s a near-future world where your car talks to you and Airtubes take you somewhere at 550 miles per hour. A woman volunteers to be a surrogate mother for a couple unable to have their own child. The academics who arrange this have their own agenda. A good read if you view it as a science fiction novel.

⭐ ⭐
The Seventh Son
by Sebastian Faulks

The premise of this near future speculative novel appealed to me, stretching the boundaries of ethics as never before, a baby born through IVF in a series of secret experiments funded by a billionaire entrepreneur and hints about the differences this child displays and his eventual othering.

I like the way the author drops in just enough details about the world in 2030 through to 2056 for the reader to recognise where technology, politics, ethics and trends have evolved.

I find the morality questions interesting, but ultimately the storytelling didn't work for me for several reasons. There is not much attempt to flesh these characters out. I wanted to feel engaged in their dilemmas. Isn't that where moral and ethical queries come from? It is all tell and not much show. I am particularly irritated by the basicness of the scientific talk. It has an oversimplified cartoon comic quality, as though either written for an eight year old, or by an eight year old.

The final section was where I hoped to encounter some hypotheses that would offer food for thought, but instead it ventures into territory I wish I could unread.

Publication date: 7th September 2023
Thanks to #NetGalley and #cornerstone for the eGalley

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found this story set in the future very disturbing. At times I was worried for Tallissa, at others I despaired at her detachment from reality. Then again, the kindness and understanding shown by other characters was encouraging. The conclusion was unexpected in some ways but perhaps to be expected.
The story was well written, but different in style to other books by Sebastian Faulks. Although interesting I found it not as good as his previous works..I'm not sure that I would recommend this book to many.

I finished this book last night and was appalled at how bad it was compared to say Birdsong. The characterisation is poor and while some of the passages are well-written, e.g. Seth's sojourn in Maine, others are awful and in need of a good editor.

I don't have a problem with the science - no doubt the author did his research - but the explanations were utterly superficial and the explanation of e.g. spandrel was ludicrous.

There are at least 2 scenes that will be strong contenders for the bad sex writing awards, especially the one where the first Neanderthal Sapiens coupling was described as the fall. The latter with Talissa was absurd.

The completely imagined idea that Neanderthals were some perfect species living in natural harmony in a pre-lapsarian paradise with no climate change, cohabiting with cave bears, sabre-toothed tigers and other predators is simply laughable, as is the idea that it was all destroyed by the solipsistic Homo Sapiens expansion.

It just seems another chapter in the woke delusion that everything was once perfect and that we white, colonial technologists are the problem.

This dystopian novel is set in the near future located in both the UK and USA. Talissa is a post graduate student who needs money to continue her education and agrees to become a surrogate mother as a means of funding herself. The procedure goes well but not before something happens which changes the course of everyone's lives.
It's difficult to say too much without giving away spoilers. I liked all the characters especially Talissa and Seth and his parents. There is a fair bit of technical/genetic information which was over my head but easily bypassed and didn't detract from the story. I found relationship at the end between Talissa and Seth very strange and the actual ending a little abrupt and up in the air. Generally though a good read and I would recommend. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

A horribly plausible ‘speculative’ near future. Fascinating, though writing occasionally clunky 3.5

Sebastian Faulks has written many novels looking at the last century, exploring European history, and our species propensity for widespread destruction. He is often, also, raising philosophical questions about identity and the nature of the human mind.

In The Seventh Son, he takes a fairly small step into the future. The novel begins in 2030, and ends in 2056. Though there are some technological changes, these are not outside what might be pretty predictable, so the new world isn’t really much of a future speculation.

Where Faulks is really placing his attention is the specific nature of our species, what that nature has created, individually, collectively, and therefore, what it is likely to do, going forward.

Think our basest crowd mentality, think our tendency to tribalism and to castigate the ‘other’ . How we have, over centuries, abused other races. Think how it is that suspicious and rapacious populism comes to be. Look at our addiction to tabloid journalism, debasing, degrading reality television. Look at the sense of entitlement, and being above the law that some of our richest and most powerful demonstrate.

And look also at the inventiveness of our species, our quest for knowledge, and how that drives science and scientists to explore areas that we are maybe not morally and ethically developed enough to be exploring. Particularly in the biological sciences, with gene editing, cloning, and the like. We are almost there, already, where this book will start.

A powerful man entrepreneurial, fascinated by the possibilities of science. An institute offering the enhanced possibilities we might expect to have happened by 2030 for a much more successful way of couples with fertility problems to have children. And, perhaps, audacious scientific experimentation, kept under wraps. And maybe, a way to move evolution in a slightly different direction

Though this was a fascinating and immersive I dropped a star as at times the writing was clunky : at the beginning of the novel, there seemed to be a focus on unnecessary detail , the first chapter did not have the seamless writing I would have expected of Faulks. I also had certain question marks around the inexplicable desire which every woman appeared to feel for the male central character, and could also see this leading to an obvious coupling which occurred towards the novel’s end, where the chasey chasey activities of various bad actors turned this into more of a kind of thriller. Not particularly successfully. It almost seemed as if different genres were being bolted on to a more interesting middle

The ’what is the book about’ the thought provoking ideas are mostly, but not completely, satisfied by the telling of it.

The Seventh Son - Sebastian Faulks

A novel set in the near future 2030 and spanning 25 years with thought provoking themes that could all too easily be true. Travel by unmanned car, restrictions on flights, meat rarely eaten as examples. At the heart of the novel is the thought provoking idea of genetic experimentation.

Talissa a young American acting as a surrogate (which provides her with money to continue her post doctoral studies) gives Mary & Alaric a much wanted son (Seth) in the UK. The institute where the IVF takes place appears to be a thoroughly professional outfit but it quickly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems. The Parn institute uses genetic experimentation on this particular IVF specimen blending homo sapien and Neanderthal genes. For what end is sort of left to the reader, is it for the good of mankind in trying to help prevent future disease or for more individual financial gain. Once the deception comes to light it has a profound affect on all the parties involved.

The novel looks at a variety of ethical, moral and cultural issues. IVF, and surrogacy as well as the attitude of people to anyone who is considered ‘different’. It touches on the right to privacy and interference from the media and the consequences of pushing to far.

This was for me very different to Sebastian's earlier novels which I thoroughly loved and at times it was quite hard getting my head around the science. I did find half way through the novel started to meander a little. However it was worth persevering as it was a ultimately a good read although I was disappointed with the ending which felt a bit rushed.

The quality of the writing is superb and the images of the near future quite scary although thoroughly believable considering what historically has led to the thoughts put forward in the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced proof copy.

This book feels quite different to Faulkner’s others. Whilst his previous novels linger and carve out their characters in great detail, this one is fast with a driving narrative. Faulk’s approach here does not allow for in-depth studies of character but takes on some of today’s big topics in massive sweeps. He tackles the ethics of gene-editing, financial greed based on ruthless exploitation of others -all in the name of scientific progress, the fascination with and fear of otherness, the rise of conspiracists going hand in hand with the demise of proper journalism, the threat of a state that knows much more about an individual than it ever should, artificial intelligence, the human longing for immortality … - you name it.

All this plays out in the not all-too-distant future, with the story starting in 2030, things that had been technically feasible for some time but prevented by law and protected by an ethics code are now happening ‘for the good of humankind’.

At the heart of the story is Seth, the biblical seventh son, born by a surrogate mother through the process of artificial insemination. The surrogate mother as well as Seth’s actual parents are being deceived by a research organisation where advancing science has become the non plus ultra, where an individual life can be sacrificed in the interest of research. Seth was born as a hybrid human and carries the genes of a Neanderthal. The idea behind it is that bringing extinct species back to life will allow for comparisons with the human species and the discovery of a genetic code that will guarantee human survival in the future.
Seth never really had a chance. Pursued and objectivised in the name of science and haunted and scandalised by the media there is no place left for him to hide.

It is a book that makes you think not only about what the future might hold but even more so about the here and now where all the signals are set to green for us to end up in this Frankensteinian dystopian world.
A good read.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Hutchinson Heinemann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first novel I've read by Sebastian Faulks that is set in the future, rather than the past, and although a good read, I don't think it is quite up there with his all-time classic Birdsong.
The story centres around a maverick billionaire entrepreneur (elements of Elon Musk, perhaps) who wants to create a human/Neanderthal hybrid. He does this through his private fertility clinic and a surrogate mother. The parents, surrogate and most of the clinicians are unaware of what is happening.
The child is born, and we are led through his childhood, development and relationships. The story of the surrogate mother is also continued.
Some parts of the book were compelling, but I did not feel it all hung together as well as Faulks' other novels.
Perhaps a final edit might tighten it up.

I love Sebastian Faulks’ writing, and I really enjoyed a lot about this book, just not all of it. On the plus side, the ideas and issues it explores are thought provoking and challenging, the near future setting is brilliantly conveyed with subtle and very believable differences, and the writing is of course excellent. There are some great characters and the plot mostly moves along at a good pace.
However, I found the fairly large chunks of science quite hard to follow, I’m not sure if we’re supposed to really understand any of this, I certainly didn’t, but either way it slowed the book down for me.
I would have loved to have spent more time getting to know more about Seth and how he saw the world.
I also found the relationship between Seth and Talissa hard to understand and, towards the end, both unbelievable and jarring.
Overall though, there’s much to enjoy in this book and I would recommend it for a book group as I’m sure it will promote plenty of debate.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

At 27% in I made a decision to stop reading. I am a fan of Sebastian Faulks, with Birdsong being one of my top reads ever, but this felt so so different in many ways. Set in the near future, The Seventh Son asks questions about humanity, morality and ethics and how far science is willing to go. Unfortunately, the characters did nothing for me and I was frustrated with the style of writing within a very short timeframe. I do not read Sci-Fi fiction so perhaps I am just the wrong reader, but not for me I'm afraid.

I really enjoyed this novel by Sebastian Faulks - until the end. It was thought provoking and emotional and very well written.
The story is set in the near future with several nods to advances in a transport including self driving cars and a hyperlink that whizzes people between major cities. However, some problems cannot be got over - the problem of people who cannot conceive naturally and this is where the Parn Institute comes in, providing IVF services for couples who need it. Mary is unable to carry a child and an American, Talissa,is chosen the institute as a surrogate for her. Talissa appears a perfect match, being more interested in the monetary reward which will allow her to pursue her post doctoral studies.
Talissa begins by being quite remote from Mary and husband Alaric, but she gradually warms to them and they to her. She gives birth to Seth normally and hands him over to Mary and Alaric, expecting to have nothing more to do with them. Seth grows up in a loving home environment but he is a little odd and encounters some bullying at school. He has a natural affinity with animals and appears to have another sense which allows him to anticipate certain happenings before they happen. He is monitored regularly by the Parn Institute and nobody considers this out of the ordinary until Talissa makes a startling discovery and Seth's world begins to unravel.
I loved the world building that Faulks creates and the characters are well drawn and totally believable. I was drawn to Talissa and with her all the way, as her moods change through the novel and her relationship with Mary and Alaric grows.
The novel touches some deep issues of morality and the difference between right and wrong when it might be for the better of society, as well as press intrusion and personal privacy. It is a thought provoking read all the way to the end which I found a little disappointing.
Recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

A rather strange book, this, compelling but uncomfortable. Beginning in a future not too far off, it shows us what might happen if science and 'progress' dominate humanity and ethics.

A young man learns of his controversial parentage and falls for the woman who bore him. But when life becomes impossible, what avenues are open for survival?

A sad story with few, if any, glimmers of hope, The Seventh Son reminds us that experiments aren't always to the benefit of the human race and change is not always for the better.