beyond this horizon by robert a heinlein

The son is the climax of generations of genetic engineering and selective breeding, and is a genetically perfect human. In the second half of the book his genetically engineered son is born. He is almost but not quite the perfect human.

Hamilton Felix is the product of generations of genetic engineering.

Major themes in the novel are reincarnation, the immortality of the soul, and telepathy. However, when one of these synthesists seeks him out, inquiring when he plans to continue his line, he finds himself drawn into an adventure which not only gives him purpose but convinces him that his society is worth saving after all. As such, he finds his life-and the society he lives in-to be enjoyable but meaningless. However, he lacks eidetic memory, which disqualifies him for what many consider to be humanity's most important occupation: that of an 'encyclopedic synthesist', one who analyzes the sum total of human knowledge for untapped potential. Felix is the penultimate step in a 'star line' designed to breed for the highest-quality human characteristics.

The story's protagonist, Hamilton Felix (surname first), is the archetypal superman/übermensch. The government invests heavily in scientific research, but this has the side effect of further increasing productivity a decade or more later, so long-term projects with no expected economic return are favored above anything but medical research, on the theory that longer lifespans will consume more surplus. Many people use lower-quality goods as status symbols. The chief economic problem is in fact using up the economic surplus: many high-quality goods actually cost less than those of lower quality. The world has become an economic utopia the 'economic dividend' is so high that work has become optional due to Post scarcity. Dueling and the carrying of arms is a socially accepted way of maintaining civility in public a man can wear distinctive clothing to show his unwillingness to duel, but this results in an inferior social status. The novel depicts a world where genetic selection for increased health, longevity, and intelligence has become so widespread that the unmodified 'control group/control naturals' are a carefully managed and protected minority.

Beyond this horizon by robert a heinlein