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'''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.
==Plot==
'''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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ariane also wrote an extensive computer program to interact with her clone and give her more information based on her psych results.
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.
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.
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.
The novel delves into the psychological nature of its characters' sexuality and personality traits, and poses the question of Nature VS Nuture.
[[category:1988 books]]
[[Category:Science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Hugo Award winning works]]
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