In dystopian science fiction, we often encounter worlds where technology has advanced, but human connections have withered. Such stories paint a stark picture depicting isolation, thus highlighting the fundamental need for building genuine human relationships, giving rise to a nurturing family.

Dystopian Sci-Fi excels at transforming depressive themes into compelling social realism. By setting stories with resonating themes and in alternative worlds, the science fiction genre leaves readers with an emotional impact that is more immediate and relatable. Readers find themselves living in isolation, in fictional societies where community networks have crumbled and been replaced by virtual interactions that fail to satisfy humans' need for forging meaningful and long-lasting connections.

This erosion of traditional family structures is frequently portrayed as a consequence of technological progress. As intelligent machines take over, the nucleus of the family begins to disintegrate. Yet, paradoxically, these stories often reveal how, even in such bleak circumstances, the desire to build a family gets even stronger.

Eric Valdespino's Raising Edwin offers a unique perspective on dystopian fiction. The novel introduces us to Margaret Stewart, a successful businesswoman whose life feels incomplete without the experience of motherhood. Despite her professional achievements, Margaret yearns for the joy that comes with raising a child.

Her path crosses with Amber Winston, a woman willing to give her child, 0903, to Margaret. However, the following events take an unexpected turn when it's revealed that the 0903's father is not human but an extraterrestrial being known as a "hydrate."

This twist in Raising Edwin beautifully illustrates how the craving for family can transcend not just societal norms but even species and boundaries. It explores how individuals might fashion unconventional families in a world where traditional structures have broken down.

Valdespino's narrative deftly combines themes of loneliness, the desire for connection, and the unpredictable ways in which technology might shape our future relationships. Through Margaret's journey, readers are invited to consider what truly constitutes a family and how far one might go to fulfill the need to have a selfless connection.

Learn more about Margaret and Amber's ambitious yet unlikely journey of self-realization in Raising Edwin by Eric Valdespino. The novel is available on Amazon. Get your copy now.