A web site devoted to novels and films that confront the social, ethical, and cultural implications of genetics.
Beaker’s Dozen (1998)
By Nancy Kress
The thirteen short stories in this collection address the impact of technological innovations – such as genetic engineering or cloning – on both individuals and wider social structures. Each story ultimately questions whether or not technological developments in fields like genetics should be applied simply because they exist.
The following stories are discussed elsewhere on this web site:
• “Beggars in Spain” – This Hugo Award-winning novella became the opening section of Kress’s novel by that name. The compact presentation of the ethical issues surrounding prenatal genetic modification of children makes this story even more powerful than the novel version...