The Breeders

In this tense, dystopian thriller, Beier inverts the social order to explore sexual politics on a global level. Several centuries from now, following the devastating Bio Wars, homosexuals have seized control of what's left of the world, turning heterosexuals into a heavily oppressed minority, good only for strictly regulated breeding purposes. And when Dex Wheelock and Grace Jarvis%E2%80%94both part of the ruling order's backup plan for reproduction%E2%80%94conceive a child during a one-night stand, they are forced to go underground to avoid prison%E2%80%94or worse. Meanwhile, the ruling New Rainbow Order sets plans in motion to enact a final solution for all heterosexuals. The end result is a bleak, terrifying world in which all hope seems lost. Unfortunately, Beier takes his material so seriously that the book's satirical elements may be lost on many readers. The author's solid prose and unforgettable story line are undone by heavy-handed allegories and an unsatisfying conclusion.