Cyteen

Cyteen, Books 1-3

De: C. J. Cherryh

Narrado por: Gabra Zackman, Jonathan Davis

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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

• 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)

Great Author, Solid Science Fiction

Where does Cyteen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Cyteen won multiple award when it came out because it explored the future of a humanity that could shape itself and how the limits of the universe, time, and distance would change humanity. It is a great and DEEP novel.

Having said this, I don't consider it her best work. The book lumbers through detail and the first third of the book has not real main character, until the woman who dies at the beginning starts to grow up. To me Cyteen is not as tightly written as Cherryh's later work. But Cyteen does a good job of exploring the effects of genetics, environmental control, and human evolutional limitations.

This book is not among my top 10 audio books, though it was an thought provoking book. I am glad I listened to it.

I love C. J. Cherryh books. I wish they had started with any of her other series like the Chanur and Foreigner series. I love her exploration of human/alien relations.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cyteen?

When you realize the Hindu religion may have been truly started with control of human genetics and rebuild of a life.

What about Gabra Zackman and Jonathan Davis ’s performance did you like?

I liked the use of the male voice in a dry archivist manner. Those passages were a more academic exposure to the books underlying theme. However, the author and original editors should have shortened and tightened these passages. BUT Jonathan's voice acting went well with the material.

Gabra did better with the women's voices. The main male character sounded too whiney in the voice she gave him. It portrayed him more as a childish whiner than as a troubled "special". But I liked her voice very much and would love to here it in other strong female lead sci fi. I loved her portrayal of the main female older self.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It was too slow in the first third and too long at 36 hours.

Any additional comments?

If you are not one to explore deep subjects, then avoid this book. If you want to hear thoughts on a very deep subject we are just starting into, this is a good listen, not a great one, but solid.

Excellent Representation of the Book

Would you listen to Cyteen again? Why?

I would absolutely listen to this again. I've read my hardcopy so many times that the binding is starting to wear out.

I love C. J. Cherryh's writing and Gabra Zackman and Jonathan Davis did an excellent job in splitting the narration of the piece and bringing it to life.

It's a very cerebral novel, so I have to be doing something that lets me focus on the story while my hands work, or driving, that sort of thing. This isn't Harry Potter - it's not a light read. It gets you thinking. If you were to go into it expecting light fare, you'll be disappointed. If you want a sociological, psychological, reflective novel that really gets your noodle baking, something to stretch your mind, this is the book for you.

What other book might you compare Cyteen to and why?

Cyteen, to me, falls into the class of books, like George Orwell's 1984. It's a book that can get you thinking, make you pause and reflect on your views of society. If you think about the book, and about yourself, you can start to dig in and understand what makes you YOU. It also helps you take a wider view of the world we live in, trying to understand the different sociological inputs that create your local blend of culture.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did want to listen to it all in one sitting, but it's so rich and in depth it was pleasurable to use it on my way into and out of work, something to definitively shift gears and get me focused elsewhere.

Any additional comments?

Highly, highly recommended, but remember - this isn't something light and trivial. If you're looking for that, go elsewhere.There's a reason that C. J. Cherryh has won the Hugo, and Locus Awards for Cyteen.

As good as, or better than, reading it.

I've read this book probably two dozen times, but the performance was even better.

Growing up clone girl

Even in a futuristic sci-fi world, the life of a preteen girl is boring. Even when she's a clone of a pedophile genius. I get that this is a multiple award winner, but I'm not a judge. A more accurate description of this book is the life of a rich spoiled young girl, with sprinkles of politics and cloning ethics mixed in. Most of the book is desperately boring, for 20+ hours. I won't be rereading this book anytime soon. Might even return it.

The best!

To me, this remains the best science fiction story ever. I read it when it first came out and it’s just as gripping decades later. An amazing mix of believable futuristic science, great characters, scary politics, and an essentially alien if completely human culture. A thrilling adventure and something of a human tragedy. I was really sorry that Dennis lost it in the end but Cherryh never goes for sappy endings.

Great reading—Zackman captured the variety of voices and their emotional implications. Well done!

Bildungsroman, murder mystery, and a mediation on individuality

A complicated and interesting world, with hidden motives across years. Union from the inside, instead of just as opponent to the Merchanters Alliance.

Incredible book. We'll thought out and intriguing.

A psych major's dream. Improving, not just the psychology of a single person, but the psychology of the whole human race.

This is a Heavy Book (lovely too)

Every now and again you read a story at the right time in your life. Stuff was going on around me, and this story gave me perspective. It's wonderful when SciFi can help and inspire in the non-fiction world.

I am avoiding talking about the plot or the characters, because I don't want to give anything away.

The world building that takes place in this novel is astounding. It fully fleshes out a universe where sustainable economic systems work... sometimes you run into stories where planets only have one theme or purposes, like in Star Trek TNG - Risa the pleasure planet full of vacation resorts. This book actually makes sense.

I wouldn't have thought a story full of psychologists would be worth while, but Cherryh does an outstanding job.

This novel is definitely worth finishing.

Sci-Fi at its best!

I'm generally not a reader of sci-fi, but murder and intrigue set 3 thousand years in the future caught my attention. The detail of the story is extraordinary. What a marvelous imagination this author has! I want to hear more, but this is the only one of Ms. Cherryh's books currently available.

Just didn't seem to get to a point

What did you like best about Cyteen? What did you like least?

The idea of the story was good, but it just
didn't seem to fill out. Characters came and
went with no particular significance

Would you ever listen to anything by C. J. Cherryh again?

Maybe

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Was Cyteen worth the listening time?

No