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Pocket, August 2003, 6.99, 374 pp.
ISBN: 0743412702
In the not too distant future, becoming pregnant is almost impossible as all female newborns are given a vaccine to prevent their eggs from fertilizing. Children are conceived in a natal laboratory with only some of the DNA coming from the parents. People who were born the old fashioned way are called Abnormals and treated like second class citizens by the Natals who believe they are genetically superior.
In the Catskills mountain town of Sandburg, Natalie Ross, an Abnormal passing for a Natal is six months pregnant and is using the underground to supply her with prenatal vitamins. The cleaning woman's high school daughter steals them and trades them to another high school girl. However, the vigilante group that polices the community to insure no Abnormals reside there, THE BABY SQUAD, catches the teen. The caught teen confronts the girl who gave her the prenatal vitamins and murder results. A state police officer from the CID division investigates and his queries set off a chain reaction that ends in another murder, exposure of corruption, and the revelation of other crimes.
Is THE BABY SQUAD science fiction or a glimpse of what lies in store for the human race in the not too distant future? Each reader will make that judgment for themselves but in the meantime the audience is treated to a very exciting futuristic police procedural. Readers' hearts will go out to Natalie who becomes a victim of the system and a symbol of hope for humanity. Andrew Neiderman has written another winner that his fans will want to put on their keeper shelves.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Andrew Neiderman Scholar
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Overall Review
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dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- finding a killer (criminal)
Repressive society story
Yes
Repressive because:
- controls your sex
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
