The difficulties I have searching for science fiction that truly interests me have been mentioned before, and after yet another false start where I read a book I ultimately did not want to write about, I was fortunate to find Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons. A plot with cloning at its center had the potential to be a difficult read, but at least I would get an exciting adventure.
The Situation: Constance 'Con' D'Arcy cannot even call herself a struggling musician. At least, not anymore. Not after the accident. When her band's van crashed, killing two of the members and putting a third in a coma, Con's entire life changed, and it went beyond the scars she can now trace on her knee. While she is still not entirely okay with the idea of cloning, something that is now possible in the year 2038, the accident led to her accepting a gift she received years ago, something that is usually only available to the extremely wealthy. If Con gets into another accident, or something else tragic happens to her, her clone will wake up in a lab, with all of Con's most recent memories already downloaded. Though she continues to keep the appointments to keep those memories updated, she feels conflicted every time. And it does not help that the 'gift' came from her aunt, who happens to be the woman who discovered the entire process.
The Problem: When Con wakes up in the Palingenesis lab, the company that does the cloning, she immediately knows something went wrong during her most recent appointment to update her memories. Then she learns the horrifying truth: the original Constance D'Arcy has died, and the woman who is now waking up is her clone. Another problem is that the new Con does not have the memories from the last 18 months. Con's original is dead, and the new Con has no idea what her life was like during the last year and half. Finding food, shelter, and money are only the beginning of Con's adventure. If she is to find out what happened, she has to make deals and out-maneuver a host of untrustworthy characters, many of which also want the new Con dead.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the not-so-distant future of 2040. The action of the book is mostly split between Washington, D.C, where Con lives, and the state of Virginia, where cloning has been outlawed. When the process for cloning was first realized, it was used only for the military. Once the process became available to the public, only the very wealthy could afford the convenience of being revived after a tragic death, therefore extending their life after theirs was cut short. The common arguments we have against cloning today are presented, along with a few nightmare scenarios that show up in the book, due to its setting in a future where clones walk around like we do now. Unsurprisingly, most of the issues are the result of corruption, greed, fear, and lack of forethought.
My Verdict: Simply placing this book under the category of science fiction does not do it enough justice. It is also part murder mystery, as well as suspense thriller, and Con's adventure leaves little room for boredom. The clues come fast, but they often bring more questions than they do answers, right to the very end when things are resolved, as well as unresolved. Technically, the reader gets two main characters, the original Con, and the clone of Con that must solve her own murder. As for all of the issues surrounding cloning, Fitzsimmons does not shy away from the questions, but instead confronts the points brought up by both sides head on. For those that want a fast-paced adventure, as well as a look at the conflict cloning can bring should it go mainstream, this is the book for you.
Favorite Moment: Mentioning my favorite moment would be a major spoiler. The book has many twist and turns, and even hinting at one of the smaller ones would not feel right. I will say that I appreciate the quote from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at the beginning of the third part. That felt more than appropriate.
Favorite Character: Peter Lee is the assistant to one of the former leaders of Palingenesis, the company that does the cloning. He is unassuming and nice, but capable of more than you would think. He helps Con a great deal and remains someone she can actually trust.
Recommended Reading: Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty also deals with the potential future of cloning and what it could mean for mankind. I also recommend the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman for a picture of the world if humans could live forever.
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