Cyteen

Cyteen, Books 1-3

By: C. J. Cherryh

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Jonathan Davis

Length: 36 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The saga of two young friends trapped in an endless nightmare of suspicion and surveillance, of cyber-programmed servants and a ruling class with century-long lives - and the enigmatic woman who dominates them all. Narrators Jonathan Davis and Gabra Zackman skillfully split up this sweeping sci-fi epic that is "at once a psychological novel, a murder mystery, and an examination of power on a grand scale." (Locus)

©1988 C.J. Cherryh (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1989

“Strongly recommended…. A future as detailed as that of Herbert’s Dune, with dozens of complex characters…. all the paranoid tension of a spy thriller.” (Newsday)

“A massive, multifaceted novel that tackles a variety of ethical, social, and political issues…. Cherryh’s worldbuilding is ambitious and her main characterizations are well-individualized…. Ultimately fascinating in concept and detail. Decidedly a major work.” (Booklist)

A psychological masterpiece

Although the story hinges on many ideas which have been debunked in psychology over the years since its publication. The story told here is truly genius and is a great look into what could be possible with a society which embraces genetic and psychological engineering. I believe people with formal education in psychology will have more fun with this book than those without. But its a great work regardless of who you are.

Send in the clones

C J Cherryh’s Cyteen is a long tale set in her Alliance-Union universe. A research facility within Union is focused on genetically engineering humans where most are tank grown and function as quasi-autonomous slaves with selected skills that are ‘tape’ learned. The most highly intelligent receive the ‘special’ designation and become essentially untouchable. Politics are complex and Machiavellian. The head of the research facility is murdered and the leadership embarks on a project to clone her, creating a parental replicate. Beyond genetics, they attempt to recapitulate her upbringing resulting in a nature/nurture exercise. This proceeds through her childhood culminating in her murdering the ad-ministration and taking over the facility resulting in a successful experiment.

Cherryh goes to great lengths to highlight the perceived limitations of genetics to determine all out-comes. This creates a number of scenarios where traumatic and other less than desirable childhood experiences are replicated. At the same time, the bulk of the population is subjected to ‘tape’ learning which is a sophisticated version of mind control or brainwashing. While the overall concepts are well executed, the overall storyline is overly detailed and excessive.

The narration is reasonable, while character distinction is good, histrionic sections are a bit overdone. Pacing is on the slower side.

Claustrophobic, never-ending psychodrama

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend it; it's just so absorbing. You really get sucked into the claustrophobic, byzantine world of these hyper-intelligent, machiavellian manipulators.

What other book might you compare Cyteen to and why?

Strangely, it's a little bit like a sci-fi version of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Have you listened to any of Gabra Zackman and Jonathan Davis ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to the others, but they did a great job with this one.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me tense and nervous. But in an enjoyable way.

need to be edited down, waayyy down!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you enjoy internal angst discussed in every conceivable fashion, with little action and endless discussion, this book is for you!

What was most disappointing about C. J. Cherryh’s story?

Length, repetition, lack of forward movement. I was actually able to skip the second half of the first 2 of 5 parts and still pick up on the story, never having that nagging feeling that I missed something important.

Which scene was your favorite?

I'm sure there was one...

After thinking about it, the only one I came up with is a spoiler, and it gets ruined later.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom.

Any additional comments?

Seriously, if you like exploring feelings and don't really need an interesting plot to go with it, you'd like it. The narrator does a good job with the various voices.

5th chapter and bored...

Terrible job setting the story up, at the 5th chapter all I hear is a boring drone...
a male and female narrator... but not used for male/female characters.
Just tired of waiting for the point, 5th chapter of listening to the antagonist drone on is enough.
But hey... its just one opinion.

Dont waste credits on this boring book

Would you try another book from C. J. Cherryh and/or Gabra Zackman and Jonathan Davis ?

No

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No, I just finished listening to it. Like a fool I thought that it might get better, that the characters might develop and hope beyond hope that it might have a twist at the end that made the suffering worth while. The characters was neurotic and self centered. It's like all the worst qualities of humanity is condenced into this book....

More Soap Opera then Space Opera

I found this a very disappointing book. An interesting future world is outlined but then very little is done with it. Thought provoking ideas are brought up but then not developed. What we do get is a lot of wining by the main characters that goes on and on for much of the book. We are then given an ending that doesn’t make much sense. Only good thing I can say is that the reader did a good performance.

Confusing story of politics

What disappointed you about Cyteen?

If politics isn't your thing, then this book is probably not for you. Although it has a scifi twist to it, it's really more about the politics and power plays of families in control of things. I find that pretty boring myself. However, the characters lack any values that make me interested in them and the plot leaves dangling loose ends all over everywhere.

Perhaps the most boring book ever written.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I can't imagine anyone enjoying it.

What could C. J. Cherryh have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Never written it.

What three words best describe Gabra Zackman and Jonathan Davis ’s voice?

They are fine but there is nothing in here to perform with.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disbelief. I only got through to half way into the second part and still next to nothing had happened. It just goes on and on and on. Just constant conversation in a few rooms between a few dull, unlikable characters. Maybe something will happen eventually but I can't take it anymore and I have to stop listening. This is a first for me.

Spoiled by slow, boring reader

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Have the woman reading speed up by a factor of fifty and stop trying to make every damn word have an impact.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Honestly, I won't know until I grab it in paperback and get a chance to read it.

How could the performance have been better?

Have I would think literally ANYONE else do the reading. She was way too slow, every word was drawn out like she was reading from some stage drama, and her "s" whistled so badly it pierced by brain! Maybe it's me, but I've never had an issue with all the other readers I've heard from these audiobooks.

Any additional comments?

Nope.