The Family Experiment

About the book

There are some families that are considered to be almost perfect. However, with the world's population rapidly increasing, it has led to overcrowded cities and a financial crisis. A growing number of individuals are finding it increasingly difficult to afford to start a family, let alone raise one. For those who desperately want to experience parenthood, there is now an alternative solution available.

For a monthly fee, individuals can now design and create a virtual child from scratch, allowing them to interact with their virtual offspring through the Metaverse using a VR headset. To promote this innovative concept, the company behind MetaChildren has launched a reality TV show. Contestants will be followed as they nurture and raise a MetaChild from infancy to eighteen years old, all within a condensed nine-month period. The ultimate prize at stake is the opportunity to keep their virtual child or take a risk for a chance at having a real baby.

The Family Experiment, which was the runner-up for the Goodreads Choice Award in 2024, is crafted within the same universe as John Marrs's popular novels The One and The Marriage Act. This dark and twisted thriller delves into the concept of the ultimate 'tamagotchi' - a virtual baby.