Fertility in the Future: what will humans in the future--near and far--make of child-rearing, of genetic screening, of paired or solo conception? In 2034, 2084-2085, 2120: several individuals and their descendants make those irrevocable decisions and live with the consequences, good, bad, or ugly. The author's clarity of insight and forthtelling create a gem. DREAMS BEFORE THE START OF TIME won the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Dreams Before the Start of Time is the follow-up to Charnock’s 2015 novel, Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind, which I also reviewed here. Although both can be read independently, they serve to enhance each other in unexpected and meaningful ways. While Sleeping Embers was filled with exciting new concepts, Dreams expands Charnock’s earlier ideas into the fully realized world she has created here.

Dreams speculates on the progress of human fertility, taking the scientific advances of today to their extreme conclusions – although it all feels very possible and real. In a near-future London, two friends find themselves pregnant – one by choice using a sperm donor, and the other by chance with her casual boyfriend. Both women decide to raise their babies in non-traditional families – Millie co-parents with her sister, while Toni (one of the protagonists from Sleeping Embers) decides to forge a relationship with her child’s father while determinedly living apart. The novel follows the progress of fertility forward through time, as Toni and Millie’s descendants embrace ever new technological advances in the creation of babies.

In this possible-future world, infertility is no longer an issue – both men and women can create a child by themselves, using their own stem cells. Laboratories filled with artificial wombs are home to designer, genetically modified fetuses. Traditional pregnancy is now seen as shameful and irresponsible, when safer alternatives are readily available. Charnock does not seem to imply that these advances are negative or positive, but simply issues that we will be forced to consider objectively as human progress marches forward.

In the five generations that follow from Toni and Millie’s pregnancies, readers are forced to consider the ethics of reproduction – and what it truly means to be a parent, when biology is no longer a prerequisite. There are moral questions about altering the genetic structure of fetuses, as well as the emotional implications of reproduction without responsibility. However, other than the more advanced scientific issues, these concerns are really not all that different than what we face now. Situations that seem shocking are actually closer than we think.

The interconnected stories feature recurring characters from the two families, with distinct voices and personalities. Despite this book being labelled as science fiction, and being filled with fascinating, original ideas, it is above all a complex character study. Although men and women no longer need each other biologically to reproduce, this is still a story about relationships and their many complications. These are unique people in unusual situations that may soon be commonplace. This is speculative fiction with a feminist slant, and the world needs more of it. I can’t wait to read whatever Charnock writes next.

I received this book from 47North and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting something spectacular. This book did not develop. I actually found the technological aspects to be really cool but that was the only positive thing about this novel. Based on the premise, I was expecting a very character-driven story that explores complex relationships and emotions between the different people involved in this story as they go from one generation to another. However, that did not happen. It felt like I was reading an interesting textbook rather than a fiction story. None of the characters were expressive enough and there was no emotional connection for me. I didn't feel anything for anyone in the book and I couldn't believe in the relationships that were established in the novel, either. In that sense, this novel made me really upset. I wanted it to be so interesting and different and there was so much potential for that to happen. Instead, I got a dry book with no feelings or emotion, except for a huge wave of disappointment from my end. In the end, this was not a good novel for me.

Dreams Before the Start of Time, by Anne Charnock, April 2017
Charnock takes the reader into the future with the intertwined stories of close friends, Millie and Toni, and several generations of their families. Spun snippets inform the narrative of what it means to be a family. Parenting, of course, seems as challenging in the future as it has always been, but Charnock adds a complex layer of futuristic parental options that demand consideration. Society advances to the point where women who choose to conceive and carry their babies to term are considered abusive because they haven’t chosen the expensive artificial womb to nurture their embryos. There are many interesting medical science scenarios to ponder in Dreams Before the Start of Time, such as a fathers ability to choose only his own DNA to create a child, genetic enhancements, and the elimination of infertility altogether. Sci-fi fans will find a great deal to contemplate within these pages. (mv)

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley.

This story called to me. It is labeled as sci-fi. But mostly it seems a good excuse to do character development stories. It was for that that I kept reading and actually finished the book. In fact, as I was listening and suddenly it was the Acknowledgements. I don't know what the ending was.

The other thing about the book was it was presenting the idea that shows results of natural pregnancy versus choosing a child gestated out of the womb. Then the story follows the parents and children and grandchildren of these differing beginnings.

But I never got to know anyone enough to care. After just having read something similar and not finishing it, I found myself trying not to give in and toss the book. But I got through it and I am left feeling I wasted time. I know I won't remember this book. I am only giving 3 stars because I finished. So I guess the stars are for me. Not the book. I am so sorry to feel this way about it. I hope others love the book and maybe I will go back someday and find it wonderful.

<i>Dreams Before the Start of Time</i> had my head spinning. It is quite an epic book, spanning five generations. It is not a particularly easy read as it goes back and forth in time and switches characters quite often.

I don't even know what to say about its content cause there is just so much going on and at the same time not much. We are shown snippets of several characters' lives, at different points in their life. We meet them as babies and adults and as the narrative advances we get the view them differently but they still have their voices.

Sadly I was unable to connect with the characters. Also, the writing made me uncomfortable, as each chapter or even subchapter ended very abruptly.

However, I did enjoy the sci-fi elements. I especially enjoyed that everything felt like it could happen soon. It is not distant sci-fi as most of the stuff out there. And crazy as it may seem the stuff that comes up during the narrative made me wonder why I hadn't thought of that before because it could totally happen.

It is a special book indeed. I just wish I could have connected more with the characters and that the narrative didn't feel so disjointed all the time. Rounding it up because there is so much food for thought and for the originality of the concept, but it is a solid 3.5 for me.

<i>Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i>

I could not get into this book. It just didn't connect, DNF. Not a fan of this concept, or writing.