The Last Conception
Gabriel Constans
Melange Books, Jun 21 2014, $12.95
www.melange-books.com
ISBN: 9781612358765
Davidia and Mira Sikand pressure their single daughter Savarna to
have a child because the spiritual progeny from their late founding cult leader
must not die out and she is the last survivor able to conceive. Savarna has no male prospects to sire a baby
with her since unknown by her parents she is gay and thus has romantic relationships
with females only.
As the embryologist looks into the instinct for the strong need to
belong to a family including procreating and what a family connotes, Savarna
realizes she wants a monogamous relationship with Charley who reciprocates her
love; they agree on raising a child that Savarna will birth. Thus she tells her family she is gay and
plans a life with a woman. Her India-American
parents accept Charley, but remain adamant that they need a biological grandchild. Desperate, her grandmother arrives from India
to persuade Savarna that she must give birth or thousands of years of heritage
will expire with her. When artificial
insemination fails, the female couple decides to adopt, which alienates Savarna
with her family who demand she keep trying.
This is a fascinating look at what a family is and why people need
to belong and feel accepted by caring social
groups (Maslow’s Hierarchy’s third tier).
Though why the intelligent Savarna knows so little about her family’s
cult lineage until the demands begin is unsatisfactory explained, she drives
the intriguing storyline as she tries to please her extended family (including
the cult members), her mate and ultimately herself.
Harriet Klausner
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