The Human Son

by Adrian J Walker

Overview

Five hundred years in the future, Earth is a paradise... without us.

The Earth was dying, and only the Erta could save it. Created by humans to be genetically superior, hyper-intelligent and unburdened by the full range of human emotions, they succeeded by removing the cause: the human race.

Years later, the Erta are faced with a dilemma - should they reintroduce the rebellious and violent Homo Sapiens to the Earth? And if they do, will all their work be undone?

To find their answers, they decide to raise just one child: a sole human to determine if they should once more inherit the Earth.

But Ima, the quiet and clinical Erta selected for the task, finds that there is more to raising a human than she expected. As she grows to love the child in her care, only one question remains: is humanity truly a lost cause, or is there hope for them yet?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781837863402
Publisher:	Rebellion Publishing
Publication date:	05/22/2024
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	729,436
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x 1.07(d)

About the Author

Adrian J Walker was born in the bush suburbs of Sydney, Australia in the mid-'70s. After his father found a camper van in a ditch, he moved his family back to the UK, where Adrian was raised. The End of the World Running Club is an international bestseller and was featured on Simon Mayo's Radio 2 Book Club. He lives in Aberdeen with his wife and two children.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/24/2020

This frank, deeply philosophical work of science fiction expertly tackles the idea that the solution to the climate crisis is to remove humans from the equation altogether. Five hundred years after the final human’s death, humanity’s replacements—logical, unflappable humanoids called erta, who were artificially bred to save the planet by one of the last human scientists—are almost done stabilizing Earth’s environment. Ima, an erta atmosphere engineer, is chosen to foster one human child as a test case for the possible restoration of the species as a whole, but the experiment is not without critics and saboteurs who seek to complicate Ima’s “simple” task of becoming a parent. Walker (The End of the World Survivor’s Club) depicts the tasks of child rearing (and the attendant sleep deprivation) with understated comedic glee as Ima morphs from dispassionate clinician to caring mother, learning to love her son and, through him, to understand the beauty in humanity. Walker’s argument is decidedly stacked in favor of human nature, but the novel does not shy away from depicting the greed, cruelty, and lack of forethought that led to the devastated Earth. This impressive, surprisingly hopeful take is as rigorous as a thought experiment as it is delightful as pure entertainment. Agent: Sam Copeland, Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd. Literary (UK).(May)

Publishers Weekly

Adrian Walker breaks your heart in unexpected ways.” — Anne Corlett, author of The Space Between the Stars

Anne Corlett

The Human Son is a novel of emotional depth and maturity, handled by a writer at the top of his game, tackling philosophical topics with page turning effortlessness.” — Storgy Magazine

Storgy Magazine

Enthralling from the opening line, The Human Son is grounded and heart-rending, a human and hopeful entry to the library of post-apocalyptic literature.” — Aurealis

Aurealis

"Adrian Walker's books always have big ideas that make me think, I wish I'd thought of that! But like any great writer it's the more intimate aspects to his writing, the humour and humanity, that really makes his work shine. The Human Son is another winner." — Tim Lebbon, author of Eden

“A real find.” —Stephen King on The End of the World Running Club

From the Publisher

The Human Son delivers a story that fosters a curious mind and an open heart, questioning and inspiring both without judgement.” — SciFiNow

SciFiNow

There's a dark note of comedy... but things soon take a turn for the profound." — SFX

SFX Magazine

"A prevailing mood of ironic charm." — The Times

The Times

"A real find." — Stephen King

Stephen King

"Adrian Walker's books always have big ideas that make me think, I wish I'd thought of that! But like any great writer it's the more intimate aspects to his writing, the humour and humanity, that really makes his work shine. The Human Son is another winner."

Tim Lebbon

The Human Son delivers a story that fosters a curious mind and an open heart, questioning and inspiring both without judgement.

SciFiNow 4 Star Review

There's a dark note of comedy...but things soon take a turn for the profound."

SFX