★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
(Cyberpunk) A prostitute with DNA modifications that let her change her body in real time gets a very special offer from an mysterious organization that’s willing to pay a lot just to interview her. (4,690 words; Time: 15m)
"Social Darwinism," by Priya Chand [bio] (edited by Neil Clarke), appeared in Clarkesworld issue 151, published on April 1, 2019.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.194 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: Ishtar has a terrible affliction: she has an unquenchable need for attention. Working as a prostitute helps—it was amusing in a sad sort of way that unplanned pregnancies in her school for kids with her modification dropped when they turned off the monitoring.
It makes perfect sense that she’d want to work with people who want to put an end to it. Especially if it got her more attention.
Con: I was never able to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy this story. I'll outline a few of the problems:
This genetic hacking technology is ridiculously powerful. Not only can it change your hair color, it can even change the color of the hair you’ve already got.
And yet, it can’t regrow Ishtar’s uterus. What?
Overall, the terminology is just technobabble; there doesn’t seem to be any coherent scheme to it. Worse, it was never clear a) why anyone would want to do it b) why anyone would do it to their kids and c) why you couldn’t just have it removed.
Finally, the ending is abrupt and senseless.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Priya Chand Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: Ishtar has a terrible affliction: she has an unquenchable need for attention. Working as a prostitute helps—it was amusing in a sad sort of way that unplanned pregnancies in her school for kids with her modification dropped when they turned off the monitoring.
It makes perfect sense that she’d want to work with people who want to put an end to it. Especially if it got her more attention.
Con: I was never able to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy this story. I'll outline a few of the problems:
This genetic hacking technology is ridiculously powerful. Not only can it change your hair color, it can even change the color of the hair you’ve already got.
And yet, it can’t regrow Ishtar’s uterus. What?
Overall, the terminology is just technobabble; there doesn’t seem to be any coherent scheme to it. Worse, it was never clear a) why anyone would want to do it b) why anyone would do it to their kids and c) why you couldn’t just have it removed.
Finally, the ending is abrupt and senseless.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Priya Chand Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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