It's my first turn on the Series Blog Tour for Tomorrow's Ancestors: The Museum of Second Chances by A.E. Warren and will be blogging about the second book, The Base of Reflections, in a few days.
AE Warren lives in the UK. A not-so-covert nerd with mildly obsessive tendencies, she has happily wiled away an inordinate amount of time reading and watching sci-fi/ fantasy and gaming. She is interested in the ‘what ifs’.
The Museum of Second Chances is her first novel and she is currently writing the third book in the 'Tomorrow's Ancestors' series.
Follow @amauthoring on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit aewarren.com, Buy The Museum of Second Chances
About the book
What happens when the future recaptures the past?
In a post-apocalyptic world the human race has evolved beyond us through genetic engineering – and we’ve been left behind to make amends for the damage inflicted on the earth.
The reversal of the extinction of long lost animals is key to our reparations and all of these are housed in the Museum of Evolution – along with another species of human that hasn’t existed for 30,000 years.
Elise belongs to the lowest order of humans, the Sapiens. She lives in an ostracised community of ecological houses, built to blend with an idyllic landscape. Deciding to widen her stagnating life in the manufacturing base, she takes a chance opportunity to become a Companion to a previously extinct species of human.
And while living in the museum, Elise realises that little separates her from the other exhibits…
Now and again you find an unexpected gem of a read and this is one of those reads. The worldbuilding, research and thought that has gone into this makes it an extraordinary and interesting experience.
Hierarchy and sub-levels of humans isn't a new idea per se, doing it from the Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens onwards perhaps more so. This is set in a future after the Homo Sapiens has self-imploded their own civilisation, and because of that they are considered less superior than other groupings of humans.
In fact any group above them is genetically superior. Stronger, smarter, taller - every possible advantage can be bought or is yours by birthright. If you're really lucky you might even win the opportunity to rise up in the ranks by adding genetic advantages.
Elise is Sapiens, which means she is treated either like dirt or as non-existent in the grand scheme of the hierarchy laws. She isn't satisfied with being confined to a specific job just because she was born in a certain area. She applies to be a Companion to a museum exhibit, which displeases her own family and other Sapiens.
Now imagine the exhibit living in a bubbled replica of their native environment. Caged like an animal, studied like a lab rat, but an ancestor to all the other human species.
It's very much a case of you don't belong to the higher social group if you come from below and those below no longer accept you as one of their own when you rise above your own social status. No difference there really - it's the same in present day society.
It's a dystopian novel with post-apocalyptic and futuristic elements. Warren combines anthropology, natural science, genetics and eugenics to create a fascinating read. I'm looking forward to the next part in the series.
Buy The Museum of Second Chances at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Locutions Press; pub date 17 Feb. 2018. Buy at Amazon com.
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