From the brilliant mind of Philip K. Dick, author of the legendary science fiction stories that inspired blockbuster films like
Blade Runner
,
Total Recall,
and
Minority Report
, comes
Progeny
, a gripping sci-fi short story that masterfully blends speculative fiction, psychological depth, and dark humor to create a world where humans relinquish their parental roles to robots in the pursuit of the perfect society.
In a not-so-distant future, Ed Doyle, a colonist from Proxima, learns that he will not see his newborn son for nine long years after racing to Los Angeles Central Hospital to witness the birth. No stranger to life on the fringes of society, Ed questions the emotionally sterile path the world has chosen when he discovers that his son, Peter, will be exclusively raised by robotic nannies to protect him from the perceived imperfections of human caregivers. Under the watchful eyes of Doctor Bish, a robotic doctor, Peter embarks on a life meticulously planned by a society blinded by the allure of scientific progress. Haunted by the memory of his own rebellious youth, Ed struggles with the erosion of human connections in this dystopian world.
Unravel the twisted narrative of intentional chaos as a father's love for his son challenges the chilling vision of humanity's future where heart and instinct have been discarded for cold efficiency. Can love and humanity prevail in this world governed by machines?