Scientific advancements in the hands of humans will always be used for good as well as for profit. In The Perfection of Fish, governments desperate to curb violence turn to Testrial, a testosterone reducing supplement. As people’s testosterone levels reduce, so do their violent tendencies. Suppressing a misogynistic culture, women rise to power in government and industry leaving some men ‘fighting against female overlords.’ Some look to restore the natural order of things, some are only after monetary gain, and others are looking out for the greater good. One thing is for sure—the book is filled with surprises that you won’t see coming until they punch you in the face.
J.S. Morrison has concocted an eclectic mix of outrageous characters in a strange pulp-fiction jumble. This amusing example of exploitation fiction delves into many moral and ethical issues, all viewed from the extremely biased perspectives of the diverse cast. Readers with a keen sense of humor will enjoy the cleverly named Xanadu Lab, twins Nadia and Diana, and a cat named Schrodinger. The stereotypes may come across a bit heavy-handed (zealots, feminazi, etc.) but play well into the overall story. The writing style is well polished and easy to read. If you’re looking for a book that is unexpected, The Perfection of Fish is an unusual sci-fi with a surprisingly eloquent final page.
