The House of the Scorpion
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Nancy Farmer |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
The House of the Scorpion is a 2002 science fiction novel for young adults authored by Nancy Farmer. Set in a futuristic world, the narrative unfolds in Opium, a narrow territory situated between Aztlán (the former Mexico) and the United States. The central character, Matteo Alacrán (Matt), is a clone of a formidable drug lord known as "El Patrón" (Spanish for "The Boss"). The plot delves into Matt’s quest for self-identity and independence.
Background
This novel began as a short story Farmer contributed to an anthology but expanded it after recognizing its personal resonance. The story partly reflects her experience assisting a Mexican immigrant, incorporating themes related to illegal immigration.
Farmer crafted the book with her dyslexic son in mind and chose to eliminate profanity before it was published. She also expressed a wish that the novel had been extended by approximately fifty pages.
The scorpion emblem was selected because El Patrón originates from Durango, Mexico, an area noted for its scorpion population. Several characters are modeled after individuals from Farmer’s own life, both past and present.
Plot
The setting is Opium, a slender strip of land lying between Mexico (now called Aztlán) and the United States, governed by Matteo Alacrán, or El Patrón, a drug lord who has lived for over 140 years. Opium contains multiple drug-producing farms, with the Alacrán estate being the largest poppy plantation and serving as the family headquarters.
Matt, El Patrón’s clone, spends his first six years living with Celia, a cook residing on the estate’s outskirts. When three children—Emilia, Steven, and María—discover him, Matt injures himself while trying to escape but receives care at El Patrón’s mansion. Initially shown kindness, Matt is later confined after Mr. Alacrán, El Patrón’s great-grandson, identifies him as a clone. El Patrón intervenes by granting Matt respect, his own living quarters, and protection from Tam Lin—a reformed terrorist who becomes a father figure.
Over seven years, Matt develops a close relationship and romantic feelings for María. Although aware of his status as a clone, he initially refuses to accept the harsh truth that clones are bred for organ donation and subjected to brain-damaging injections. He convinces himself that El Patrón’s mentorship indicates plans for him to inherit leadership.
During Steven and Emilia’s wedding, El Patrón suffers a severe heart attack. Amid the ensuing turmoil, Matt and María try to escape but are betrayed; María is returned to her convent while Matt is hospitalized. There, El Patrón reveals that Matt was created solely to serve as an organ donor. Celia discloses she has been administering arsenic doses to Matt—harmless to him but lethal to El Patrón—triggering the drug lord’s fatal heart attack. Before dying, El Patrón commands Tam Lin to kill Matt; instead, Tam Lin helps him flee toward Aztlán.
In Aztlán, Matt encounters the "Lost Boys," orphans controlled by the "Keepers," Marxist fanatics who exploit them as laborers on plankton farms while enjoying luxury themselves. Initially regarded as an aristocrat outcast, Matt leads an uprising against the Keepers.
After being imprisoned overnight and abandoned in the "Boneyard," Matt escapes with assistance from Ton-Ton and Fidelito. They help him locate María and her politically influential mother, Esperanza Mendoza. Esperanza seizes this chance to overthrow the Keepers’ dominance.
Returning to Opium during a nationwide lockdown, Matt finds the Alacrán family deceased and the estate empty except for servants like Celia. At El Patrón’s wake, guests—including Tam Lin—consume poisoned wine preserved by El Patrón to ensure his empire ends with him.
Assuming El Patrón’s identity, Matt takes control of Opium with intentions to reform and dismantle the existing regime.
Main characters
Matteo (Matt) Alacrán: As the main character and the newest clone of El Patrón, Matt is raised close to the Alacrán estate, constantly reminded that he is regarded no better than cattle. Motivated to demonstrate his superiority, he transforms from a boy under the care of Celia into a young man who understands his independence and value. Throughout the narrative, Matt navigates the tension between ambition and compassion, as well as ethical considerations. While he initially holds El Patrón in high esteem, he slowly uncovers the harshness and corruption behind his predecessor’s rule. With the support of relatives and allies, Matt ultimately aims to reform the drug-dominated region of Opium.
Matteo (El Patrón) Alacrán: The formidable drug lord governing Opium, El Patrón extends his lifespan by transplanting body parts from younger clones, surviving well past 140 years. He offers his clones a life of privilege through him, such as employing a music instructor to nurture Matt’s abilities. Although he shows affection toward Matt, El Patrón is tyrannical and merciless toward others, including family members. He manufactures eejits—mindless slave workers—to maintain his plantations and enterprises. Known for his brutality, El Patrón holds absolute control over land, wealth, and authority. After experiencing a heart attack related to Matt’s failure to provide a replacement heart, he resorts to poisoning his entire family to ensure the continuity of his empire.
Celia: Serving as Matt’s guardian and maternal figure, Celia combines fierce protectiveness with kindness. When she discovers that Matt’s heart is intended for El Patrón, she covertly administers small doses of arsenic, enough to weaken but not kill him. A diligent woman balancing labor with caregiving, she nurtures Matt’s understanding of love despite the adversities they face.
Tam Lin: Acting as bodyguard to both Matt and El Patrón, Tam Lin presents a hardened exterior marked by scars but genuinely cares for Matt—rescuing him from choking and helping him evade the fate of becoming a clone. He imparts survival skills to Matt while spending time at Celia’s home. Once a Scottish nationalist branded a terrorist after unintentionally causing the deaths of 20 children during an attack attempt, Tam Lin seeks atonement by allowing El Patrón to poison him alongside the Alacrán family.
Themes
The House of the Scorpion delves into themes of autonomy and self-identity while addressing moral questions related to human cloning.
Technology: Matt wrestles with his identity as El Patrón’s clone and what it means for his future prospects. Nancy Farmer, the author with a scientific background, recognizes both the advantages and potential dangers posed by modern technology—particularly cloning associated with drug lords and weapon development. Farmer has expressed that she refrains from condemning human cloning unless it involves harvesting organs but accepts animal cloning. Despite sharing El Patrón’s genetic makeup, Matt’s upbringing in a loving environment sets him apart. Abilities such as musical talent appear in both but only thrive with care—Matt’s skill was cultivated by Celia while El Patrón’s diminished due to neglect.
Coming of Age: Initially treated as property valued solely for his organs to sustain El Patrón’s life, Matt’s journey toward maturity involves asserting his humanity beyond being viewed as livestock. The story centers on his path to independence, self-respect, and meaning amid adversity.
Literary style
Although the novel engages with ethical dilemmas surrounding cloning, it is more accurately described as realistic fiction infused with elements of adventure rather than conventional science fiction, as noted in Roger Sutton’s review for The New York Times.
Reception
Roger Sutton, writing for The New York Times, drew parallels between the novel’s themes and those found in Pinocchio, emphasizing its exploration of non-human beings aspiring to attain humanity. He characterized the story as "a large, ambitious narrative." The book received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, commending Farmer for addressing profound and lasting questions. Similarly, Kirkus Reviews awarded it a starred review, labeling it "essential reading for science fiction enthusiasts."
The Lord of Opium
Farmer’s sequel, The Lord of Opium, published on September 3, 2013, draws significantly from her own childhood memories, making the writing process particularly demanding. The narrative picks up soon after the events of the initial novel and focuses on Matt’s reign over Opium. It delves into his internal conflict with wielding unchecked authority and the danger of mirroring El Patrón’s tyrannical behavior. Farmer highlighted her intention to center the story on Matt’s struggle with temptation and governance.
Awards
The House of the Scorpion earned the U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2002 and garnered several accolades such as a Newbery Honor and a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book distinction. It was also shortlisted for both the Locus Award and the Mythopoeic Award. Additional honors include:
- Northern California Book Award, 2002
- Buxtehuder Bulle, Germany, 2003
- ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2003
- IRA Young Adults' Choices, 2004
- Volunteer State Young Adult Book Award, 2004–05
- Nevada Young Reader's Award (Young Adult), 2005
- Senior Young Readers Choice Award, Pacific Northwest Library Association, 2005
- Sequoyah Young Adult Award, 2005
- Grand Canyon Reader Teen Award, 2005
- South Carolina Association of School Librarians Junior Book Award, 2005–06
- Young Hoosier Book Award Middle Grades, 2006
Further reading
- Kerr, R. (2010). "The Father, Son, and the Holy Clone: Revision of Biblical Genesis in 'The House of the Scorpion.'" The Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association, 43(1), 99.