Black Milk

By Robert Reed

From Hugo Award-winning author Robert Reed.

With a perfect memory and hyper-acute senses, Ryder is the leader of a group of five children, all highly specialized thanks to the genetic engineering pioneered by Dr. Aaron Florida—scientist, philanthropist, and genius.

These friends represent a new generation of genetically tailored individuals, created to help build a brighter future. But some effects of Dr. Florida's work were unforeseen, and Ryder and his friends will soon discover the shocking truth about the new world they stand to inherit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diversion Books
• Release date: Nov 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781626814653

Robert Reed

Robert Reed has been nominated for the Hugo Award twice for novellas, and was the first Grand Prize Winner of the Writers of the Future. He's had dozens of short fictions published in the major SF magazines, and more than ten novels published. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Reviews for Black Milk

[gregstevens_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fantastic and unusual exploration of a world where the first "genetically engineered" generation has just entered childhood. Contrary to the common prediction that genetic engineering will lead to a homogenous race of "super-people" where everyone is the same (think: Gattaca), this story goes in the opposite direction. Every parent has a DIFFERENT idea of what traits are desirable, so each kid has been "gifted" with different abilities. (For example, one girl who is so beautiful and symmetrical that she looks like a doll, another girl who can beat all the boys in sports.) And because everyone has something that makes them different, being "different" ends up having less of a stigma. Add to that the very real economic reality that not everyone can afford the same level of "tailoring" -- and the psychological effect it has on the child of rich parents who have tailored every aspect of his genes the way some parents try to tailor their children's careers. And then add to the plot the tortured genius who tried to bring so much good to the world -- but knows also the magnitude of possible mistakes.This story is very personal, very human, and at the same time a deep exploration of the topic of genetic engineering. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the topic... and anyone who is just interested in science fiction in general. I'm surprised more people haven't heard of this book. It is an undiscovered gem.