Cyteen

Cyteen, Books 1-3

By: C. J. Cherryh

Narrated by: 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.

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)

OMG, I was so excited to see a C.J. Cherryh book!

What did you love best about Cyteen?

It's hard to say what I like best about this wonderful book. I had already read it, but was as swept up in the incredible tension of the psychological drama as I was when I read it. Cherryh is my absolute favorite SciFi author and I've read about 3/4 of her books. This one is one of my all time favorites. It blends bioengineering and psych management with wonderful characters, drama, political intrigue into an un-put-downable story.

Now all Audible needs to do is add Regenesis and all of the Foreigner series and I will be in seventh heaven.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved Arianne Emory and Justin Warrick best. Their complex relationship makes for great drama. The politics and ethical issues of bioengineering are fascinating and the behind the scenes power struggles are superbly wrought.

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

I've listened to Gabra Zackman before and it was when I did a search for books she's narrated that I found Cyteen. She's a superb narrator. I'm sure I've also listened to Jonathan Davis' narrations, but I don't remember. He played a minor role in this one, only reading the introductions to each chapter.

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

Yes! It made my heart pound and touched me both.

Any additional comments?

Please, please, Audible: give us more Cherryh!

An Alternative Universe's Alternative Universe

One of the joys of sci-fi is the ability to imagine and inhabit other universes and ways to live. It's something that the best writers do with intriguing stories and imagination.
This book is a departure in one important way. It's analog, not digital.
By that , I not only mean the dated technology of "tapes" and paper printouts. I mean the whole idea of creating a future built on the manipulation of minds and creating artificial humans- not from mechanical robots and supercomputers, but from biology and psychology. The interesting thing is that the development of digital technologies that has defined the era after this book was written is only one way it could have gone.
Imagine a world where biology and medical advances came at the same rate as digital advances came in our own world. A world where the actions of the mind are as well understood as the actions of electronic circuits are in our time.
That's Cyteen.
Granted, you could also look upon these advances as a new form of slavery, and that subtext animates this work. Where does advancement become control, and when does safety equate to subjugation.
A very interesting story, well worth exploring and thinking about.
Bravo!

Great book & narrator. Wish they'd do the sequel!

I loved this book with it's unique premise of what if human behavior could be programmed from birth and the character of Ari. The narrator has a great voice that really gave the book depth. I wish there was an audiobook for the sequel, Regenesis. I read that on Kindle but I really missed Gabra Zachman's performance!

Because even written by a women, sci-fi isn’t free from child date rape.

Would it have made the story one iota worse if he had been 18? Would it have made the story one iota worse if it had been consensual?

surprisingly good to listen to.

Much better the second time round to listen to. When the plots made more sense.