Liquorice root and Cyteen: Difference between pages

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'''Liquorice''' (Br.) or '''licorice''' (Am.), also called ''liquorice root'', is a kind of candy that is actually the root of the [[liquorice]] plant. A stick of liquorice can be either very thin (with a [[diameter]] of only two millimetres) or very thick (with a diameter of a centimetre). Although the sticks look like plain [[wooden]] sticks, they can actually be chewed on. Liquorice can be a great aid to those who decide to quit [[smoking]]. It used to be very popular among [[Dutch]] children, but it is quite rare nowadays.

'''Cyteen''' (1988) is a [[Hugo award]] winning [[novel]] by author [[C. J. Cherryh]], and at its heart is a realistic exploration of the myriad problems inherent in human [[cloning]]. It also fleshes out the various aspects of the [[nature versus nurture]] argument concerning human development.

===Taste===

==Plot==

Liquorice can either have a [[salty]] or a [[sweet]] taste. The thin sticks are usually quite salty and sometimes taste like [[zalmiak]], whereas the thick sticks are usually quite sweet, with a salty undertone.

'''Spoilers may follow:'''

''Cyteen'' is a novel that takes place in Cherryh's Union-Alliance universe. Founded in 2201 by a group of dissident scientists and engineers that were sponsored by financial interests on the Planet Mariner, the Cyteen system includes the Planet Cyteen and Cyteen Inner and Outer Stations. Cyteen declared its independence from the Earth Company in 2300 CE and now serves as the capital of Union. It is located at Lalande 46650, but is more easily referenced in current star catalogues as BD+01 4774.

===How to consume===

Cyteen matters because it is the center of all research and development concerning cloned human beings who are the result of incubation, who grow at a normal rate, but instead of being socialized and educated like normal human beings, they are subjected to extension conditioning via "tape" technology. These clones are all referred to as "azi."

====Eating====

A powerful scientist by the name of Ariane Emory runs Cyteen, along with her uncles Denis and Giraud Nye. She rules the place with an iron fist, and as a result a lot of people really dislike her, or just want her out of the way so they can make a grab for power. '''If somebody can fill in here with the whole political situation, please do so, I have never been able to follow this particular aspect of the plot very well despite rereading.''' But Ariane makes the mistake of relocating a scientist by the name of Jordan to a distant part of the planet. Jordan's son Justin, who is also his clone, tries to use his body to bargain with Ariane, but he's very young and hopelessly outclassed. She uses him sexually and subjects him to pornographic tapes, which apparently awakens his latent homosexual tendencies. Jordan also prefers men; Ariane taunts Justin by asking him if he's afraid of women like his father. But Justin has a top-grade azi companion by the name of Grant, to whom he turns for companionship and solace. Ariane had also wanted to relocate Grant, but Justin tried to sneak him out of Cyteen. His attempt failed but Ariane lets Grant stay in Cyteen with Justin.

There are several ways to eat liquorice. One way is to simply start chewing the stick until it's gone. Another way is to bite off a bit and chew on that bit only. Sucking on the stick is also an option, if one desires to keep the stick intact for a longer while, while still being able to taste it.

The taping Ariane used on him left him badly damaged psychologically but when the Nyes try to get him to seek treatment, he refuses. Instead, he continues the work he was doing, and essentially lives the life of a hostage to ensure that Justin doesn't try to cause further trouble.

====Drinking====

Ariane gets murdered and Justin immediately falls under suspicion, worsening his psychological state. Her uncles discover that she was dying of cancer that set in because her rejuvenation treatments were beginning to lose effectiveness. People can get rejuvenation and stay apparently youthful and vigorous well past the age of 100, but for reasons still undiscovered, the effectiveness fades at a different rate for each person.

Liquorice can also be used as a [[tea]] flavour. It can be drank either pure (the tea tastes like liquorice root) or in a mixed flavour.

Before she died, she had laid the groundwork to set up a system to clone herself and raise the clone with a childhood simulating her own as closely as possible.

===How to keep it===

Her uncles knew about this and put it into effect even though they weren't sure if Ariane's clone would be enough like her to continue to stay in power in Cyteen. They can hold on for a whole, but ultimately, they need Ariane back. They find a female scientist in her 60s who can simulate the attitudes and approaches of Ariane's mother, and begin the process.

The best way to keep liqourice fresh is to keep it in a small [[paper]] bag. Keeping it in bags composed of other substances, such as [[plastic]], will eventually lead to [[fungus]] growing on the sticks. It is sometimes recommended to place the bitten-off end in a cup filled with a little bit of water, to keep it from drying out. However, when the bitten-off end is dry, it can still be consumed without any problems.

Ariane also wrote an extensive computer program to interact with her clone and give her more information based on her psych results.

===Where to get it===

So the young clone, nicknamed "Ari" begins her life. Her major childhood life events are duly simulated. Ariane had the companionship of two azi named Florian and Catlin. Because of the tapes, azi personalities can be more easily duplicated, so Florian II and Catlin II are most likely near-perfect copies of the first two. She gets their companionship at the right time.

It is very hard to obtain liquorice. Supermarkets or other common retailers do not sell it. It is usually found in old-fashioned [[candy stores]].

Against the wishes of her uncles, Ari also tends to seek out Justin to talk to him. This rattles Justin, but she won't stay away from him. However, as she grows up, he begins to realize she is nicer than the original Ariane was.

===See also===

Ultimately, Ari takes over command of Cyteen at a younger age, but she had the help of Ariane's computer program. She is a kinder person because her uncles refused to duplicate the incestuous sexual abuse the first Ariane had to tolerate until she moved out.

* [[Liquorice]]

The novel delves into the psychological nature of its characters' sexuality and personality traits, and poses the question of Nature VS Nuture.

{{merge}}[[Licorice candy]]

[[category:1988 books]]

[[Category:Science fiction novels]]

[[Category:Hugo Award winning works]]