Swimming Upstream, Slowly

Ambitious Sasha Salter, whose master's thesis was turned into a hit children's television show, isn't ready for kids of her own. So when her gynecologist tells her she's pregnant, Sasha is incredulous; she hasn't had sex in two years. Sasha's next appointment is with unorthodox researcher Dr. Rusmeuth, who hypothesizes that "lazy sperm" can rest in a "very hospitable environment" until ready to fertilize an egg. But whose sperm are so lazy that they hang out for two years? As Sasha searches for the father of her babe-to-be, her best buddies Erika (pregnant via the usual speedy method) and Jordan (who seems too snarky to be straight, but is) lend moral support and light comic relief. The novel's convoluted plot affords Sasha the opportunity to catch up with former boyfriends and the odd one-night-stand, all the while trying to decide whether she wants to abort. Dr. Rusmeuth, meanwhile, abuses the doctor-patient relationship to further his career. Television writer Clark tries gallantly to express the precariousness of her heroine's predicament, but the unflaggingly strong and willful Sasha is never out of control, which strips dramatic potential from the novel as it swims toward a happy conclusion. (Sept.)