** spoiler alert ** Wow, I'm kind of amazed at how much I didn't like this book. It sounds right up my alley, all bleak dystopia and careful, realistic details about how an epidemic of infertility would change the social and cultural landscape. And don't get me wrong; those details were enthralling, and I enjoyed those bits; they were very well-considered and well-constructed.

However, the main character is your typical intellectual over-privileged older white guy who somehow manages to become the hero for apparently no reason other than he's an intellectual over-privileged white guy. I felt no sympathy at all for Theo; I didn't really understand why dissidents would approach him for help when it would be fairly clear to anyone observing him that he's completely passive,passionless,and inert.

I certainly didn't understand why Julian would in any way, shape, or form feel like Theo was her hero/saviour, or why she would put her faith, and the safety of her child [the only child on earth], in him. There's nothing about Theo that inspired any feelings of security or confidence that he would be competent enough to make a cup of tea, much less take care of the only pregnant woman on the planet.

Frankly I had no idea that the author was female until I Googled; the book came across so strongly like a weird fantasy-fulfillment that I thought it had to be written by an intellectual over-privileged white older English guy.