Genetically Privileged: Redux by A.W. Daniels is a science fiction novel presenting a scenario that raises questions about the effects of technology on the human race. Joe and Mary Christiansen have been trying to have a baby and when they finally succeeded in having one, there is a price to pay. The couple goes to a fertility clinic where Dr. Gabriel, an old friend of Joe’s, works and by using in-vitro fertilization, Mary finally delivers a healthy baby boy. Justice Christiansen is a son any parent would like to have, showing extraordinary abilities at a very young age. And as the story unfolds, they find themselves embroiled in a secret program that involves the government and the controversial subject of genetic engineering.

A.W. Daniels' Genetically Privileged: Redux is an absorbing and fascinating story that zeroes in on the subject of genetic manipulation. The first installment in a series, the novel unravels with the enthralling tale of a couple trying to start their own family. It is easy to relate to Joe and Mary Christiansen’s plight because what is happening to them could happen to a friend, a neighbor or a family member, and this makes their characters real and sympathetic. Fast paced and informative, the narrative continues to unfold and, at the same time, a lot of questions are subtly being raised on the far reaching effects of genetic engineering on the human race. Using mostly layman’s terms and writing in a way that is easy to understand, Daniels gets his message across. I highly recommend this novel!

Mary is a violinist at the Philadelphia Philharmonic. Joe is a national football star. Unlikely as it may seem that these two would ever fall in love, nonetheless they marry. Mary and Joe Christianson have the perfect gene traits but have unsuccessfully been trying to have a baby for years. Driven by desperation, the Christiansons move from Philadelphia to Bethlehem in order to consult a fertility specialist and Joe's long-time friend, Dr. Benjamin Gabriel. Unbeknownst to them, however, Mary and Joe's genetic strain has been chosen by the government to create a whole host of genetically-advanced children. While the couple has their first child, Justice, Dr. Gabriel and his genetically-privileged assistant work under the government's supervision to rear and train these children. While some are used to innovate technology for beneficial purposes, others are sent to be spies or weapon-wielding soldiers for the war against terrorism. As Justice grows older, his parents are alarmed by his uncommonly developed physical, mental, and intellectual aptitude, and must face the tribulations and dangers awaiting them from those who want to harness their son's gifted powers for harmful purposes.

A.W. Daniels commands our attention in the first of the Genetically Privileged series, Redux, with the intriguing concept of genetic engineering now pioneering the forefront of the sciences. Daniels approaches this controversial topic with laudable impartiality and delicate finesse when delineating the potential negative and positive outcomes in fictional scenarios. These scenarios may possess an uncomfortably close resemblance to current issues, such as the war on terrorism in Syria, but Daniels is able to circumvent these anxieties into a lively narrative that positively engages readers, proving his panache for storytelling. In his sequel, Genetically Conflicted, the battle between the genetically-gifted and those who want to exploit their preternatural powers explodes into violence as planet Earth turns into a dangerous combat zone.