Cyteen

Cyteen

Cyteen paperback cover
Author	C. J. Cherryh
Cover artist	Keith Birdsong
Language	English
Genre	Science Fiction
Publisher	Warner Books
Publication date	May 1988
Publication place	United States
Pages	680 (Hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-446-51428-4

Cyteen (1988) is a Hugo award-winning science fiction novel by author C. J. Cherryh taking place in Cherryh's Alliance-Union universe.

Plot introduction

The murder of brilliant researcher Ariane Emory has staggering consequences for her Union constituency and for all of Reseune, as well as for her closest family and friends. As the news generates a shockwave across Union and Alliance space, Emory's family and colleagues implement the last stages of her final experiment -- the creation of her true successor, Ari Emory II.

Plot summary

Cyteen takes place in Cherryh's Alliance-Union universe. Founded in 2201 by a group of dissident scientists and engineers backed by financial interests on Mariner Station, 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, referenced in current star catalogues as BD+01 4774.

The planet's atmosphere is moderately toxic to humans, necessitating enclaves, or semi-encapsulated city-states, which influences Union's political outlook. Cyteen is seen as the antithesis of Earth; the heart of Union is the research city Reseune, the center of all research and development concerning human cloning, which Earth refuses to use. Clones are incubated in "womb-tanks". Cloned humans, or "Azi", grow at a normal rate, but unlike regular humans, they are socialized and educated via conditioning training, called "tape" technology, often involving sedation, effectively teaching the subject subconsciously. This technology is not limited to Azi; it is used by normal humans as well, though to a lesser extent.

Ariane Emory runs Reseune, with the support of her department directors, Denys and Giraud Nye. Emory's heavy-handed management has fostered a strong dislike both within Reseune and in Union.

There are a number of political factions in Union's government, the main ones being the Centrists and the Expansionists. The Expansionists, led by Ariane, believe in enlarging Union, through exploration, building new stations and continued cloning. Her political enemies prefer to consolidate. The Centrists want to halt expanding and instead improve the existing stations and planets within Union.

The government of Union consists of a Council of Nine and the Senate. Ariane is one of the Nine, representing Science (as almost every administrator of Reseune has done). Other branches include the military and the state.

The government gives acknowledged geniuses "Special" status. An example is Estelle Bok, the inventor of the equation that led to faster-than-light travel, called jump. Specials are deemed national treasures and are tightly protected.

Ariane and Jordan, a co-worker she often clashes with, are both Specials. Jordan has also created a clone of himself, named Justin. Justin is friends with Grant, an Azi made from the modified genome of another Special. Because Grant is a unique genome, and experimental, he remains the property of Reseune.

Ariane uses Grant's status to manipulate Justin and begins an "Intervention" on Justin, using Deep Tape and sedatives while having sex with him. When Jordan learns of this, he is furious, and goes to see Ariane. Ariane is found murdered later that day, and it is later revealed that she had the early stages of cancer.

Prior to her death, Ariane had cloned herself and arranged for the clone to relive her life as closely as possible, down to her hormone levels and including the gift of two bodyguard Azi, Florian and Caitlin. Ariane also created a computer program to help guide her replacement to adulthood. The clone calls herself Ari in order to distinguish herself from the original.

Ari eventually repairs the botched "Intervention" on Justin to make him stop having tape-flash, which is like déjà vu, but much stronger. She also comes to terms with the fact that she is different from her predecessor, though it is hard to know where Ariane's memories stop and Ari's start. The book ends with her wresting back control of Reseune.

Note: With the exception of the last paragraph, this summary is all from the first third of the story (originally published as the first of a three volume trilogy.) The last paragraph very briefly summarizes the next two thirds of the story.

Characters in Cyteen

• Ariane Emory I - Director of Reseune
• Ariane Emory II - Clone and Personal Replicate of Ariane Emory I
  • Both Arianes are referred to most frequently as "Ari"
• Denys Nye - Reseune Administrator after death of Ariane Emory I
• Giraud Nye - Denys Nye's brother; acting Councillor of Science after death of Ariane Emory I
• Grant - Azi (alpha-class) that has grown up with Justin Warrick and been 'socialized'. He and Justin work together as tape designers.
• Jordan Warrick - Reseune tape designer, specializing in educational tapes
• Justin Warrick - Son and Personal Replicate of Jordan Warrick. Tape designer.

Awards and nominations

• 1989 – Hugo Award for Best Novel: winner
• 1989 – SF Chronicle Award, Best Novel: winner
• 1989 – British Science Fiction Association Award, Best SF Novel: nomination
• 1989 – Locus Award, Best SF Novel: position 1
• 1998 – Locus Award, All-Time Best SF Novel before 1990: position 38

Other editions

At one point, the novel was broken into parts and published in a 3-volume edition:

• Cyteen: The Betrayal
• Cyteen: The Rebirth
• Cyteen: The Vindication

Cherryh has stated that she disapproves of this edition and has written, "There was a paperbound publication that split the novel into three parts, but this has ended: the current and, by my wishes, all future publications, will have Cyteen as one unified book." [1]

Cover artwork

File:CherryhCyteenBetrayalPBCover.jpg

File:CherryhCyteenRebirthPBCover.jpg

File:CherryhCyteenVindicationPBCover.jpg

References

• C. J. Cherryh. Cyteen. Warner Books 1995. ISBN 0-446-67127-4.