“It is impossible to look away from Mary Thompson.” —Carolyn Ives Gilman, author of Dark Orbit
A wealthy family trying to cheat death is overmatched—by a stubborn teenager hiding in a body that looks just like their son. In this taut tale of genetics and entitlement, nature vs. nurture yields no clear winner.
A wealthy family trying to cheat death is overmatched—by a stubborn teenager hiding in a body that looks just like their son. In this taut tale of genetics and entitlement, nature vs. nurture goes horrifically wrong.
Dina Blake’s fourteen-year-old son, Geoff, has just died for the second time. But everything will be okay. The Blake family’s wealth has bought them thousands of clones of each of their children. These children are farmed out to loving families, but with the caveat that the bodies are always available to the Blakes.
After Geoff dies, the Blakes upload their son’s memories into Nathan, who is unwilling but unable to stay with the family who loved him.
Dina’s younger daughter, Di, is terrified because she knows something her parents don’t—the memory transfer doesn’t always go as planned. The Geoff who’s been living with them since his first death isn’t the person her mother thinks he is, and the families of the bodies the Blakes steal aren’t all innocent.
When Geoff returns to life in Nathan’s body, he has to contend with Nathan’s frustrating desire to live and his unexpected ability to fight for his life. For some children to live, others must die. Dina must decide how far she’ll go to protect her children, and Geoff must find out if, and who, he’s willing to kill.
Praise for One Level Down
“Brilliant and beautiful. One Level Down is a perfectly executed gem of a book.”
—Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop
“A simulation scenario that digs deeper than the Matrix movies ever did.”
—Peter Watts, author of The Freeze Frame Revolution
“It is impossible to look away from Mary Thompson’s provocative story of simulations, power imbalance, and whether kindness can overcome cruelty in the end.”
—Carolyn Ives Gilman, author of Dark Orbit
“A captivating read that you’ll be tempted to tear through in one long sitting.”
—David Ebenbach, author of How to Mars
“Riveting.”
—James Patrick Kelly, author of Burn
“A brilliantly told mind-bender you won’t soon forget.”
—Elly Bangs, author of Unity
Mary G. Thompson is the author of the sci-fi novella One Level Down (Tachyon, 2025), as well as The Word, Flicker and Mist, and other novels for children and young adults. Her contemporary thriller Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee was a winner of the 2017 Westchester Fiction Award and a finalist for the 2018-2019 Missouri Gateway award. Her short fiction has appeared in Dark Matter Magazine, Apex Magazine, and others.
Thompson practiced law for seven years, including five years in the US Navy JAGC, and now works as a law librarian. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and completed the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television’s Professional Program in Screenwriting.
Precious Children
Mary G. Thompson
“It is impossible to look away from Mary Thompson.”
—Carolyn Ives Gilman, author of Dark Orbit
A wealthy family trying to cheat death is overmatched—by a stubborn teenager hiding in a body that looks just like their son. In this taut tale of genetics and entitlement, nature vs. nurture yields no clear winner.
Precious Children
by Mary G. Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-61696-465-8 (print); 978-1-61696-466-5 (digital)
Published: 1 September 2026
Available Format(s): trade paperback, digital
A wealthy family trying to cheat death is overmatched—by a stubborn teenager hiding in a body that looks just like their son. In this taut tale of genetics and entitlement, nature vs. nurture goes horrifically wrong.
Dina Blake’s fourteen-year-old son, Geoff, has just died for the second time. But everything will be okay. The Blake family’s wealth has bought them thousands of clones of each of their children. These children are farmed out to loving families, but with the caveat that the bodies are always available to the Blakes.
After Geoff dies, the Blakes upload their son’s memories into Nathan, who is unwilling but unable to stay with the family who loved him.
Dina’s younger daughter, Di, is terrified because she knows something her parents don’t—the memory transfer doesn’t always go as planned. The Geoff who’s been living with them since his first death isn’t the person her mother thinks he is, and the families of the bodies the Blakes steal aren’t all innocent.
When Geoff returns to life in Nathan’s body, he has to contend with Nathan’s frustrating desire to live and his unexpected ability to fight for his life. For some children to live, others must die. Dina must decide how far she’ll go to protect her children, and Geoff must find out if, and who, he’s willing to kill.
Praise for One Level Down
“Brilliant and beautiful. One Level Down is a perfectly executed gem of a book.”
—Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop
“A simulation scenario that digs deeper than the Matrix movies ever did.”
—Peter Watts, author of The Freeze Frame Revolution
“It is impossible to look away from Mary Thompson’s provocative story of simulations, power imbalance, and whether kindness can overcome cruelty in the end.”
—Carolyn Ives Gilman, author of Dark Orbit
“A captivating read that you’ll be tempted to tear through in one long sitting.”
—David Ebenbach, author of How to Mars
“Riveting.”
—James Patrick Kelly, author of Burn
“A brilliantly told mind-bender you won’t soon forget.”
—Elly Bangs, author of Unity
Mary G. Thompson is the author of the sci-fi novella One Level Down (Tachyon, 2025), as well as The Word, Flicker and Mist, and other novels for children and young adults. Her contemporary thriller Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee was a winner of the 2017 Westchester Fiction Award and a finalist for the 2018-2019 Missouri Gateway award. Her short fiction has appeared in Dark Matter Magazine, Apex Magazine, and others.
Thompson practiced law for seven years, including five years in the US Navy JAGC, and now works as a law librarian. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and completed the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television’s Professional Program in Screenwriting.
Thompson lives in Washington, DC.
http://marygthompson.com