In the next century, an underground chemist becomes obsessed with Milena, a child genius who is the ultimate product of gene-splicing technology. Milena is an advocate of the dolls: artificial constructs that have replaced extinct companion animals. A magnificent novel of near future science fiction, this may establish McAuley as one of the hottest Sci Fi writers of our ti In the next century, an underground chemist becomes obsessed with Milena, a child genius who is the ultimate product of gene-splicing technology. Milena is an advocate of the dolls: artificial constructs that have replaced extinct companion animals. A magnificent novel of near future science fiction, this may establish McAuley as one of the hottest Sci Fi writers of our time.