Cyteen
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Science fiction literature |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | C. J. Cherryh |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Cyteen (1988) is a science fiction novel authored by American writer C. J. Cherryh, set within her Alliance-Union universe. The narrative revolves around the assassination of a distinguished Union politician and scientist, an event that triggers profound political and societal repercussions. The book earned the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1989.
Its follow-up, Regenesis, was released by DAW Books in January 2009.
Background
Established in 2201 by rebellious scientists and engineers, the Cyteen star system comprises the planet Cyteen along with its Inner and Outer Stations. Declaring its independence from Earth in 2300 CE, Cyteen became the Union’s capital, situated at Lalande 46650 (BD+01 4774).
Due to Cyteen’s somewhat toxic atmosphere, life is confined to semi-encapsulated habitats, which shapes the distinctive political environment of Union. At the core of Union lies the Reseune research complex, which spearheads all human cloning advancements. The cloned "azi" population is instrumental in Union’s expansion—a practice rejected by both Earth and Union’s primary rival, the Alliance.
Azi are developed in vitro within "womb-tanks," while citizen ("CIT") infants can also be cloned to replace deceased children when necessary. Azi receive rigorous education from birth through "tape," a computer-controlled blend of conditioning and biofeedback, creating psychological differences from CITs. CITs possess greater adaptability to uncertainty, whereas azi excel in focused concentration.
An azi’s training regimen is termed a "." Crafting effective psychsets is a demanding process; improperly designed tapes may result in emotional instability among azi.
Plot summary
Ariane Emory belongs to a group of fourteen "Specials," recognized as geniuses by Union authorities. Beyond her cloning research, she directs Reseune, an institution founded by her parents with backing from Giraud and Denys Nye.
Emory holds a seat on the Council of Nine, Union’s highest governing body. Two factions vie for control: the Expansionists, led by Emory, who push for Union’s development via exploration, new stations, and cloning; and the Centrists, headed by Mikhail Corain, who prioritize existing infrastructure. The Expansionists maintain power through "," which prolongs life—Emory herself is 120 years old and has served as Councillor for Science for fifty years.
Her adversary Jordan Warrick, another Special, created a clone named Justin. Justin was raised alongside Grant, an experimental azi derived from a Special’s geneset by Emory. Upon joining Emory’s team, Justin is coerced into submission through traumatic experiences involving Grant, causing him severe psychological harm. Jordan uncovers this abuse and confronts Emory; shortly afterward she is found dead under suspicious circumstances—Jordan is accused but denies responsibility, confessing only to shield Justin and Grant. Due to his Special status, Jordan faces exile instead of imprisonment. It later becomes clear that Emory was terminally ill with cancer and her was deteriorating.
Emory’s final initiative sought to clone a talented young chemist to replicate his abilities. A previous attempt involving Estelle Bok’s clone failed, attributed to differing social conditions. Emory planned to clone herself as well, intending for her successor to relive her life precisely—including hormone cycles and companions Florian and Catlin—guided by an advanced computer system. Following her death and ensuing unrest at Reseune and Union, this project was immediately set in motion.
Ari, Emory’s clone, is nurtured by Jane Strassen—a leading Reseune scientist closely resembling Emory’s mother Olga—and guarded by replicated protectors Florian and Catlin. At age seven, Jane is reassigned off-world to simulate Olga’s death; Denys Nye assumes guardianship of Ari. Thanks to enhanced technology, knowledge transfer, and improved upbringing methods, Ari surpasses her predecessor both intellectually and socially.
Approaching nine years old, the Centrists attempt to exploit a scandal involving Emory’s abandonment of a secret colony on Gehenna to seize power. To prevent damaging information from surfacing, Ari is legally acknowledged as Emory’s clone and heir. Denys reveals the depth of manipulation orchestrated in Ari’s life.
Justin receives warnings to avoid Ari amid doubts about his allegiance; nevertheless, they frequently encounter one another. Ari values his expertise and assigns both him and Grant to her department upon reaching adulthood. When Ari makes an advance toward Justin at sixteen, his intense reaction exposes lingering trauma from Emory’s prior abuse—an "intervention" designed to free him from Jordan’s influence but left incomplete due to Emory’s death. Ari endeavors to heal this psychological damage.
Ari struggles with merging her own identity with Emory’s memories and embraces the original’s covert mission—disclosed by Base One, her guiding computer—to reform Union society to avert collapse.
After Emory’s passing, Giraud Nye assumed her seat on the Council; his subsequent death sparks political instability alongside terrorist group Paxers manipulating Jordan. An assassination attempt on Ari is thwarted thanks to Justin’s alertness and intervention by Florian and Catlin. The breach indicates involvement from senior Reseune personnel; Ari suspects Denys Nye. When Denys attempts another attack by offering his resignation as bait, Florian and Catlin kill him—an outcome Ari regrets deeply.
Characters
- Ariane Emory I – Leader of Reseune
- Ariane Emory II – Clone derived from Emory I
- Florian and Catlin – Azi bodyguards assigned to Emory I; both were terminated following her death and subsequently duplicated to serve Emory II
- Denys Nye – Took over as Reseune Administrator after Emory I's passing; responsible for overseeing young Emory II after Jane Strassen's exit
- Giraud Nye – Brother to Denys Nye, chief of Reseune Security, and appointed Councillor of Science succeeding Emory I
- Jordan Warrick – Specialist in designing educational tapes at Reseune
- Paul – Azi partner and lover of Jordan Warrick; guardian of Justin and Grant
- Justin Warrick – Clone offspring of Jordan Warrick
- Grant – Azi created by Emory I using genetic material from another Special; raised alongside Justin as a "brother" and later became his lover
- Jane Strassen – Scientist at Reseune; acted as a surrogate mother to Emory II until she reached seven years old
- Yanni Schwartz – Scientist affiliated with Reseune; served as mentor and superior to Justin Warrick before his transfer; succeeded Denys Nye as Reseune Administrator
- Petros Ivanov – Medical doctor at Reseune
- Amy Carnath, Maddy Strassen, Stasi Ramirez, Tommy Carnath, Sam Whitely – Childhood companions of Emory II; covertly inducted into her inner circle
- Ollie – Azi assistant and romantic partner to Jane Strassen
- Seely – Azi aide supporting Denys Nye
- Abban – Azi assistant working under Giraud Nye
- Nelly – Azi nursemaid caring for young Emory II
- Mikhail Corain – Citizens' Councillor and moderate leader within the Centrist Party
- Leonid Gorodin – Admiral and Councillor of Defense
- Vladislaw Khalid – Successor to Gorodin as Councillor of Defense; adversary of Reseune and rival to Corain
- Catherine Lao – Councillor of Information and advocate for Reseune
Awards and nominations
- 1989 – Hugo Award for Best Novel: recipient
- 1989 – SF Chronicle Award for Best Novel: recipient
- 1989 – British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: nominee
- 1989 – Locus Award, Best Science Fiction Novel: recipient
- 1998 – Locus Award ranking for All-Time Best Science Fiction Novel prior to 1990: placed 38th
Other editions
In 1989, the novel was issued as a trilogy consisting of:
- Cyteen: The Betrayal
- Cyteen: The Rebirth
- Cyteen: The Vindication
Cherryh expressed disapproval of this division, emphasizing that all subsequent editions should present Cyteen as a single, cohesive volume.
Sources
- C. J. Cherryh. Cyteen. Warner Books 1995. ISBN 0-446-67127-4.
External links
- Cyteen at Worlds Without End
- ISFDB title page
- Cyteen (Warner, 1988) at Internet Archive (registration required)