The Icelandic Cure

Moyer’s novelette, winner of the 2016 Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Prize, is a curious blend of ethical thought exercise and medical jargon couched in introspection. Jane Tokugawa is a representative of the U.S. Center for Disease Control, part of a delegation sent to Iceland to learn about a new gene-altering technology that promises to revolutionize health care and potentially eradicate physical and mental illnesses. As Jane contemplates how the protocols can be used for betterment of humankind, other members of the delegation have more questionable motives. Information is tightly packed within the pages of this story, allowing readers insight into the complex world of medical ethics. The work is also a love letter to the people and government of Iceland. Its brevity detracts from the message’s impact: characters are shallowly developed, with little to no backstory, and interactions feel forced, especially among members of the delegation. Nonetheless, this is a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future, curiosity about medical progress, and sheer terror at what might be done in its name. (Apr.)