Foundling Fathers by Meg Elison

TL;DR: An interesting thought experiment
Source: NetGalley, thank you so much!

Plot: A goverment faction clones our founding fathers, what could go wrong?
Characters: These weren’t really the important part, it was more the idea.
Setting: Again, not important.
SciFi: We didn’t get much of that either?

Summary:

The trouble starts when a curious young man finds a smartphone in his privy. The problem is, it’s supposed to be the year 1750.

The Antediluvian Society—a shadowy cabal of right-wing billionaires—is fed up with a country they cannot fully control or understand. So they have done what any reasonable American patriots would do: Clone the Founding Fathers and raise them in secrecy. The plan, unbeknownst to the boys, is for them to restore America to its “original glory.”

Ben takes his technological discovery to his brothers, Thomas, John, and George. The boys have been raised on an isolated island plantation by Mary Libertas, a firm but kind woman, and Jeff Hancock, their de facto father. But the idyllic life is far too dull for young men. The boys have been chafing at the restrictions upon them (especially Tom, who has impregnated yet another of the servants).  Hancock is complaining to the Society that it’s well past the time to tell the boys where they come from and what they must do.

Unfortunately for their keepers, the young men now have a phone…and many other notions.

Thoughts:

I’m not sure what to feel about this one besides “It’s something I read”. The thought experiment is interesting, and I feel like perhaps with a bit more exploration this could have been very fascinating. But as it was we got a very surface level look at the type of people who might/would do this. The disregard for selfhood, for being ones own person. The idea that just the genetics decides the person.

It’s a very simple idea with a simple execution. It’s short and to the point, so there isn’t a whole lot I can say about it. I will also add, the misogyny is strong and deeply built in. I full understand that it’s part of the villianizing of the people doing this that we’re supposed to buy into but it was uncomfortable. There was also some clear violence against immigrants so if you don’t want to read that, continue on.

Overall it was just… something I read? I can’t give you much more. If you’re a history buff I can see this being a fun experiment to explore but I’m not sure if it really served me in any way.