What happens when a character investigates her/his own murder? How exactly could that happen? In this book, FitzSimmons explores exactly that situation. He presents a dystopic vision of human cloning in which this “new” advance is used as an excuse to denigrate human life. By so doing, he advances the notion that progress in extending our science should correlate with progress in deepening our humanity. While doing so, this work of science fiction develops into an ever-building – and page-turning – mystery.
The scenario is straightforward enough, if a bit strange. In the future, human cloning advances alongside societal conflict about the advance. Cloning, originally developed for military purposes, is now offered commercially as a deluxe extravagance only for the rich. But Constance, as the niece of the founder, is given hers free of charge. Eighteen months after saving (“downloading”) her consciousness to her inert clone, the clone is awakened. Seemingly, the world has changed, and Constance’s clone is imbedded into an unfolding, action-filled, and mysterious drama that extends far deeper than one clone.
FitzSimmons divides this book into four parts. The first two parts are intriguing enough, but he completely lost me in the third part. It’s a bit unbelievable. In this third section, he extends begins to overturn the security of the book’s former narrative. The entire drama of human cloning is reexamined and re-understood. Frankly, it seems too theoretical and not grounded in enough action. I work in scientific research, but his depiction of having a scientist seek to control everything through theory is not grounded in reality. Its hypothetical nature also makes for weaker fiction.
Still, this book interested me. It makes the case that human understanding is at least as important as scientific understanding – a theme that history seems to support. Unlike a lot of science fiction, it does not neglect humanism. Those who, like me, prefer their science fiction mingling with an examination of human nature will find a home in this book. I hope I’m never put in a situation where I have to investigate my own murder; at least, I now have some initial sketch about how I should proceed and can anticipate some potential pitfalls!
Constance
By Matthew FitzSimmons
Copyright (c) 2021
Thomas & Mercer
ASIN B08Q7GGMNG
Page Count: 352
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
www.amazon.com