{"product_id":"the-family-experiment-9781335000361","title":"The Family Experiment","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the acclaimed author of \u003cem\u003eThe One \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eThe Marriage Act\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e The Family Experiment \u003c\/em\u003eis a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Some families are virtually perfect... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called \u003cem\u003eThe Substitute\u003c\/em\u003e. It will follow ten couples as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel \u003cem\u003eThe One\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Marriage Act\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e The Family Experiment \u003c\/em\u003eis a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi--a virtual baby.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Hanover Square Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50575769108754,"sku":"9781335000361","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_21280cea-8679-455c-9b84-cbb140548a1a.jpg?v=1731987808","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-family-experiment-9781335000361","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}