What can I say...Sebastian Faulks delivers again.

With a back catalogue such as his, you go into a Faulks novel knowing you are likely to enjoy and The Seventh Son was not a letdown.

With his trademark prose and excellence in storytelling, this was a remarkably good read.

Recommended to all

Thought-provoking and enjoyable novel from Faulks, one that’s most unlike
previous novels I’ve read of his and is instead a piece of speculative fiction based in genetics, ‘ancient history’ and ultimately what it means to be human (or otherwise).

The central characters are as well developed as you’d expect, and as you follow them over the years you are able to become emotionally invested as well as intellectually. The main scientists and the “Elon Musk-esque” character are perhaps less well drawn, and the scientists in particular suffer early on from delivering a lot of expository dialogue that feels unrealistic - a minor quibble.

Overall, an intellectually engaging novel that also has real heart.

In 'The Seventh Son', Sebastian Faulks returns to a subject that clearly fascinates him - the human brain, and in particular how it can go wrong in the disease of schizophrenia. It's a subject he must have researched exhaustively over the years of writing about it, and his insights are always interesting - I can't comment on how scientifically accurate or not they might be. But he portrays people with the condition in a sympathetic way.

The novel starts in 2030, with a young American academic, Talissa, deciding to act as a surrogate mother in order to fund her career development. She travels to London to take part in a research programme into miscarriage as part of her surrogacy, and leaves happily after handing over baby Seth to his adoring biological parents. But little do any of them know, the unscrupulous academics behind the programme have tricked them. The baby is not the son of mild mannered teacher Alaric Pedersen. It isn't until many years later that the truth starts to come out, with shattering consequences for Talissa, Seth and his parents.

The link with mental illness and consciousness may seem tenuous from the description above, but all becomes clear when you read the book. It is a thought provoking story that raises some uncomfortable truths about human behaviour, and about whether humans are as 'special' as we like to think ourselves. The characters are likeable and sympathetic, and Seth is particularly interesting. It's science fiction, but only mildly so - in fact it would probably be theoretically possible to do the experiment at the centre of the story today. I sincerely hope no one does as this story demonstrates how unethical it is.

Faulks writes without melodrama despite the story having the potential for high stakes emoting - it's the better for keeping things restrained. The storyline is gripping, as much because of the emotional tie you build with the characters as the events - although the plot does get pretty hot towards the end. For me this is one of his best novels for some years - probably since my own favourite Faulks book, 'Engleby'. There's a strong plot and the underlying idea is a really good one.

If you enjoy speculative fiction that's not too far from reality, and/or thought provoking literary fiction, 'The Seventh Son' is a great choice. I'd love to see Faulks write more in this genre.

The Seventh Son by Sebastian Gaulle

When a young American academic Talissa Adam offers to carry another woman's child, she has no idea of the life-changing consequences.

Behind the doors of the Parn Institute, a billionaire entrepreneur plans to stretch the boundaries of ethics as never before. Through a series of IVF treatments, which they hope to keep secret, they propose an experiment that will upend the human race as we know it.

Seth, the baby, is delivered to hopeful parents Mary and Alaric, but when his differences start to mark him out from his peers, he begins to attract unwanted attention.I

This book is a frightening ( possible ) insight of what could be seen as a breakthrough to the future of IVF .As I read the book , I was conscious of almost holding my breath , I could almost feel a heartbeat in my throat , a slight feeling of rising panic , a feeling of being uncomfortable.

You can gauge a good book , not by the words you read , but by the feeling it leaves you with .

Rounding up to three stars

I just didn't really connect with this book.
It was an interesting subject, decent characters, good plot, but I just never rushed back to it.
Never wondered where it was going.
Faulks is an excellent writer, and I've enjoyed his other books, this one was just a bit flat for me.

A story set in the future where mistakes of the past have been corrected yet progress raises frightening decisions with terrifying repercussions that will affect individuals for decades ; the impact potentially ricocheting for centuries. A high achieving young woman struggles to fund her studies on history and anthropology at university. An opportunity to offer her services in a scientific research programme related to IVF that would ultimately pay continued studies for her doctorate appears the ultimate solution. The reader aware of scientific decisions unknown to all but a finite number, then travels through the lives of both the surrogate and child, both living on opposite sides of the world yet tied by a unique bond. What follows is a heartbreaking situation that ultimately impacts on everyone concerned. Three dimensional characters all struggling between right and wrong. The drive to take science forward for the good of mankind versus the age old do no wrong and nature versus nurture debate with an individuals right of choice removed for the greater good of mankind A book raising more questions than answers. A window into a near future with current potential political and geographical concerns for the future becoming the reality for civilisation. A five star read with a thought provoking storyline that will linger long after the last page. An author who has opened up a vision of an uncertain future yet produced a heartbreaking series of decisions ultimately giving the only possible conclusion. Many thanks to the author , first among equals, the publisher and Netgalley for the pure joy of reading and reviewing a copy of this brilliant book.