What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
UNSOLVED: One specific book
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young adult sci fi novel about an escaped clone
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Justin
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Jan 30, 2008 08:33AM
I remember this book as being somewhat reminiscent of "The Island" and no, it is not the movie "Clonus" I am thinking of. In this novel the clones knew they were clones and what their ultimate purpose was (organ harvesting). Please help me out. I've tried googling but as you may guess, there is tons of clone stuff out there!
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Justin, could it be House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer? Here's the plot summary from Amazon: Fields of white opium poppies stretch away over the hills, and uniformed workers bend over the rows, harvesting the juice. This is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menial tasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared because he belongs to El Patron. He grows up in the family's mansion, alternately caged and despised as an animal and pampered and educated as El Patron's favorite. Gradually he realizes the fate that is in store for him, and with the help of Tam Lin, his bluff and kind Scottish bodyguard, he escapes to Aztlan. There he and other "lost children" are trapped in a more subtle kind of slavery before Matt can return to Opium to take his rightful place and transform his country.What do you think?
Maybe, because of the organ harvesting, probably not, because there were no escapes in this book, but it could be Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but, as Cassiel said, it might be Never Let Me Go. You should check it out and see.
It wasn't HotS although I will probably read that book! It wasn't NLMG. Though, now I want to read it also. NLMG is to serious to be the answer. I read the book I am trying to remember in 1984 or 1985 when I was in primary school. It was right along side books like My Robot Friend by Alfred Sloate. Thanks for the great suggestions! At least I have two new books "to-read".
Possibilities, though I think I've missed the mark:Taylor Five (99% sure this is wrong)
The Kiln Books (not really YA)
the Replica series, starting with Amy Number Seven (not really about organ harvesting)
OMG! I think I read this about two or three years ago and I can't remember the name either.I remember that it disturbed me because they knew they were clones. They were clones of a select few rich people who could afford their care expenses. They were in an isolated location and there weren't all that many clones living there. One of the clones finds out what exactly happens when they are taken away, he sees his friend dead on an operating table with the organs removed.
Let me know if this is the one and in the meanwhile I'll think about it and see if I can remember the title or author.
PS: I sent this book to my BIL, he's looking into it for us. He's better at remembering titles than I am.
This sounds like "House of Scorpions" by Nancy Farmer. Should be required reading, IMO
Well, the movies Clonus and the Island were in fact based on a book, I believe by Brian Aldiss. There also a similar theme in some of Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan series, where rich people illegally grow clones so they can be young again.
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umm..it sounds vaguely like Sharp North by Patrick Cave. this is a summery "Mira lives quietly in a small rural community in Scotland - until one day she witnesses a stranger running for her life through the forest. Shot and killed in front of her, the body is soon removed, the only clue to the death a spot of blood and a crumpled piece of paper. Mira discovers a list of names on the paper, including her own, and the word 'Watcher' beside one of her contemporaries in the village. Suddenly Mira feels threatened and, increasingly paranoid about the motives of those around her, she plans her escape from the community she's known all her life. Heading towards the capital, she soon discovers an urban nightmare she'd never suspected. A city led by ruling families, where the families are kept in power through their reliance on 'spares' - or clones. Mira herself is a clone of Clarissa, the daughter of one of the governors. Clarissa's brother spots Mira on the streets and is intrigued by her. As he discovers the truth behind his family situation, he determines to help her escape. She is too dangerous to be left 'at large' and is being pursued. Together they head for France, where they know a third 'spare' is being brought up.
I think the name of the book is "The Experiment" by John Darnton. It is a great book. First read it about ten years ago...have read several times since. Actually just read it this past summer as I plan on using it in my Genetics course next year for required reading for ethics...The overall plot is that the clones are raised on an island off of south eastern US coast. The clones are raised in "ideal" environment. They get regular injections, are educated, etc. Occasionally it is found that one of them has an illness and they disappear or have a surgery and go back to their utopian lives. Two males and a female get wise to the strangeness of the situation and start investigating. One is murdered. The girl is found to be sick on a regular checkup and disappears. The boy finds out that she is dead and escapes the island on an airplane and goes to mainland US. He finds his match who is romantically involved with the girl clone from the island's match on the mainland....
Anywho... that is the book...great read.
Jackie wrote: "OMG! I think I read this about two or three years ago and I can't remember the name either.I remember that it disturbed me because they knew they were clones. They were clones of a select few r..."
I took that out when i was 9 i think - just been trying to find it now - i'm 12 at the mo - ARRRRGGGHHHH. hardest book to remember like ever.....
All I remember is it's to twins leaping over a fifty foot fortressed wall - LEAPING - just slightly brushing the top - it described the blonde haired blue eyed twins to be desperate to escape - i sent it back to the library but now i really want it back - so does my mum - she calls them chimera's - if that helps
Izzy
And then there is Cyteen by CJ Cherryh. Not YA, doesn't really match the plot, but another great clone book so I thought I'd bring it up.
Not quite a clone, but could it be "Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card? Bean escapes from a scientist who has manipulated the genetic code, making a new type of human. He is the only one to escape...the rest are killed when the scientist is found out.Although not YA, Tess Gerritsen wrote a novel called "Harvest" and they were taking orphan children from Russia and "adopting them out", but really were harvesting their organs for rich persons.
Jackie wrote: "OMG! I think I read this about two or three years ago and I can't remember the name either.I remember that it disturbed me because they knew they were clones. They were clones of a select few r..."
THAT is definitely House of the Scorpion.
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No. Still looking for this book after all these years. I appreciate the help.
You know, it sounds like a movie that was made. The film was about three friends, all in one place, a town... Two are female and one is male. I think they made a love triangle out of them? One is dying and later they find out they are simply clones. Or maybe they always knew and only the watcher finds out later... Clones designed to give their organs away when the real them gets sick.... Does that sound right or no?
Mod
Never Let Me Go is the movie I was talking about!
Unwind is not cloning, it is retro-active abortion before 18th bday and the organs are harvested.
im searchin for that french movie too...
For the links:Subject Seven
Ender's Shadow
The House of the Scorpion
Cyteen
The Experiment
Sharp North
Shade's Children
Suggested authors:
Andre Norton
Brian Aldiss
Also - this is too new but thought I'd share it since it's similar and a good read. Replication: The Jason Experiment
Also too new but the new book
by Lauren Oliver sounds similar and like a good new read.
Sounds like a really interesting premise, so thanks for all the book suggestions to add to my ever-growing TBR mountain!:D
These all sound great and I'm keen to dig in. House of the Scorpion doesn't sound right but the plot matches. I think I read this book in elementary school. But maybe middle.
Another thing I remember is that a person helped his own clone escape.
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Lobstergirl wrote: "Avi, are you Justin? Someone named Justin started this thread."I suspect they are - if you click to the profile, it's the same last name.
I have a feeling Beta is too recent since it was read in the 80s.
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No response in years. Moving to Abandoned.
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No response.
Yeah that’s me. A lot of these seem close but no cigar.
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Just adding this because in searching for a book I had read years ago I came across this thread - the book I was looking for and eventually found was Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski, but more specifically the second book in the series “The Clones”. There’s also a singular book that combines the first two books in the series called “Devastation”.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
The Clones (other topics)Clone Catcher (other topics)
Never Let Me Go (other topics)
Clone Catcher (other topics)
The Gifts Of Asti, And Other Stories Of Science Fiction (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gloria Skurzynski (other topics)Andre Norton (other topics)
Brian W. Aldiss (other topics)
Neal Shusterman (other topics)
