Cyteen (Cyteen, #1-3) in Queereaders

Dec 26, 2008 Sean rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi

For some reason this took me a very long time to read. I just kept losing focus, losing interest, losing the thread. I have been very stressed out lately, however, so I'm not sure it's the book's fault.

Cyteen is a semi-inhospitable world that has become the center of the Union, a far-future federation of human space colonists who have left Earth, the Alliance and the power-hungry Company behind. The main power on Cyteen is Reseune, a scientific facility that researches personality creation, meme For some reason this took me a very long time to read. I just kept losing focus, losing interest, losing the thread. I have been very stressed out lately, however, so I'm not sure it's the book's fault.

Cyteen is a semi-inhospitable world that has become the center of the Union, a far-future federation of human space colonists who have left Earth, the Alliance and the power-hungry Company behind. The main power on Cyteen is Reseune, a scientific facility that researches personality creation, meme propagation and cloning, and which creates azi, genetically engineered human clones who are programed from birth to hold certain values, follow certain scripts and fill certain positions in society. And the power in Reseune is the dynamic and charismatic Ariane Emory, a certified genius whose political and scientific clout has earned her enemies and friends across known space.

When Ariane Emory is murdered, therefore, the power vacuum is so severe that the ultimate project is set in motion at Reseune: Emory shall live on in the form of Ari, her clone, who will be taught not just to fill Emory's shoes but to be Emory in every sense of the word. Because some of Emory's theories and projects are too important to leave to anyone else...

The premise allows Cherryh's fascination with personal motivation, deep-core values and cultural norms to come to the fore. Ariane Emory was a terrible person--or at least a brilliant, driven, ruthless, extremely focused scientist and politician who put many things ahead of kindness, mercy and the individual well-being of others. In the opening sequences we watch Emory maneuver both in the government and at Reseune to get what she wants, manipulating every situation, every person around her, and crushing and even psychologically maiming anyone who stands in her way.

Then Emory is struck down, and we get to see Ari, her clone, grow up at Reseune, with her caretakers trying their hardest to apply all the pressures--even the most devastating--that the original Ari had to deal with as a child. At the same time, Ari slowly begins to learn the true history and motives of her "predecessor," and we gain a measure of sympathy even for the perpetrator of the horrific acts we witness at the beginning.

In the end I really liked this book. It did feel a bit dated in certain aspects, however. I was a bit puzzled by the author's handling of homosexuality, for instance. Several of the male characters have long-standing relationships with others of the same sex, but they are never referred to as gay or homosexual. Instead, code words are used--including, at one point, the word "misogynist/misogyny", which made me blink in horrified amusement. And it's not as if bisexuality is the norm, because heterosexuality is explicitly mentioned. Ah, well. Even if the homosexual characters are treated as an aberration, they at least get to have long-lasting love relationships. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2008 Eowyn rated it it was amazing

I've actually read this book several times. It may be my favorite Cherryh, and she's my favorite author. I love how she makes you feel so much for the characters. This book is, in my opinion, the culmination of the Union/Merchanter universe. I recommend starting with "Downbelow Station." ...more

Like · see review