Cyteen

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Cyteen is the title of a science fiction novel by the American writer CJ Cherryh . An alternative German title is "Geklont". Just like the English original (published in 1988), the German edition (1990) was published in three parts by some publishers:

  1. Cyteen: The Betrayal (original Cyteen: The Betrayal)
  2. Cyteen: The Rebirth (original Cyteen: The Rebirth)
  3. Cyteen: The Vindication (original Cyteen: The Vindication)

The novel takes place in the Allianz-Union universe devised by Cherryh. Chronologically it plays after Pell's star (English title: Downbelow Station ) and parallel to the first half of Forty Thousand in Gehenna (English title: Forty Thousand in Gehenna ).

In Cyteen, Cherryh addresses the use of genetic engineering to produce test-tube people and the psychological manipulation of people. At the same time, the novel can be read as a psychological thriller .

Plot of the novel

After the development of interstellar space travel, the earth set up space stations in some 10–100 star systems and exercises colonial rule over the company (based on the companies that monopolized trade in the British Empire ). There are also ground stations on some suitable planets. Some distant space stations have formed a political union under the leadership of the planet Cyteen , and achieved independence from Earth by military means. Some of the political ideals of this union are modeled on those of the USA ; for example, the union is originally formed from 13 stations (the US was formed from 13 colonies).

The scientific achievements are on the one hand space flight at faster than light speed, on the other hand genetic engineering and direct intervention in the human psyche. In the Union, the latter two developments are used, to bring in test-tube people, called azi, with selected genetic properties and to condition them with the help of so-called ligaments and the help of chemical and physical stimulation of the brain. Azis do not have any autonomy rights; Like slaves, they have no rights and, because of their conditioning, never act contrary to the wishes of their owners. Even people who grew up normally can be changed in their nature by means of psychological manipulations.

The novel is set on the planet Cyteen after the Earth-Union conflict has ended. The main setting is Reseune, one of the autonomous cities of Cyteen, where the ingenious scientist Ariane Emory developed the creation of the Azis on an industrial scale. For this reason, Reseune is the most economically and politically important part of the Union, and Ariane Emory is one of the most influential and most hated people in the Union.

The core plot of the novel begins after the violent death of Ariane Emory. The Reseune administration then tries to regain its genius through a clone. Since a person is not shaped purely genetically, but also by his environment, the psychologists Reseunes construct a childhood that is closely related to the original environment for the 'second' Ariane. The novel follows her growth and shows the world both from her and from the point of view of others. Political and psychological manipulations characterize the handling of the main characters in the novel.

Prices

Hugo Award 1989

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