Review: Happiness is Guaranteed; Other Feelings Not Allowed
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 29, 2012
Bianca lives in a society in which happiness is required and unhappiness is considered a flaw.  If the Rulers ever knew she experienced even the most fleeting feelings of unhappiness or the slightest doubt, they would scrap her and start over.  And they would probably scrap her husband, Derek as well, not believing she could hide such feelings from him, despite the fact that she takes great pains to do so.  After all, they're Epicurean Supremos.  They live in a penthouse with a stained-glass skylight and a balcony where they can bask in the sun and watch the cars whiz by on the accident-free highway.But her grandfather told her of a time when the sun shone on everyone, and people lived on the ground amongst trees, and had babies just because they wanted to, and not because the geneticists said they could have a child designed in a test-tube...  And she dreamed of a woman with a baby.  Could it be her?  Why would she want to live among trees and carry a baby on her back when she already has the ideal life?  Why can't she suppress these dreams?  And how can she keep Derek from finding out?Has Ms. Laharnar created a utopia or a dystopia?  I highly recommend this thought-provoking, yet very entertaining short story.