{"product_id":"the-family-experiment","title":"The Family Experiment","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'John Marrs is not to be missed' – Freida McFadden, bestselling author of The Housemaid'Few writers do domestic suspense meets dystopia better than John Marrs' – Lucy Foley, bestselling author of The Paris Apartment'The books of John Marrs have become a quiet phenomenon . . .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThoughtful, well written . . .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand alarming' – Daily MailSome families are virtually perfect . . .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe world’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them. But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor a monthly fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch, accessing them via the Metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind MetaChildren has created a reality TV show. It will follow its contestants as they raise a MetaChild from birth to the age of eighteen, in a condensed nine-month time period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe prize: the right to keep their virtual child – or risk it all for the chance of a real baby . . .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Goodreads Choice Award runner up, The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act. A dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate 'tamagotchi' – a virtual baby. 'Speculative fiction at its best – original, dark and wickedly clever' – C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eL. Taylor, author of Every Move You Make'His best yet. Frighteningly plausible, gripping, dark, and so clever' – Claire Douglas, author of The Woman Who Lied'Hurtles towards a chilling denouement – a truly thought-provoking, single-sitting thriller' – Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club'Chilling, inventive, horribly plausible and brilliantly addictive' – C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJ. Tudor, author of The Gathering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Dirty Librarian","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45297867653328,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0657\/9860\/2960\/files\/9781529071238.jpg?v=1792953280","url":"https:\/\/thedirtylibrarian.com\/products\/the-family-experiment","provider":"The Dirty Librarian","version":"1.0","type":"link"}