SOLVED. Adult Sci-Fi novel. Doctor/ scientist clones his wife (or loved one) who dies in a car crash. Read in 1980s. [s]

[Ben]

"Parthenogenesis" is a word I learned probably in the early to mid 1980s from this novel - it means cloning. As far as I can remember, the story involves a man (a doctor, or scientist of some kind) who loses his wife (or loved one) in an accident (I'm fairly sure it was a car crash), then tries to regenerate her. I suppose it qualifies as science fiction on that basis.

The only other thing I can remember clearly is that the beginning of one chapter, maybe a third of the way, through started with a phrase like "There was no doubt about it: the embryo had died". (Naturally he went on to try again, and probably succeeded - that important detail has slipped my memory.)

[SamSpayedPI]

Actually, "parthenogenesis" is naturally-occurring asexual reproduction: an egg develops into an embryo without requiring fertilization. It occurs in some plants; several insects; and a few species (each) of lizards, snakes, birds and sharks.

(I've no idea what the book is; sorry! Maybe Creator by Jeremy Leven? It was made into a movie in 1985.)

[Rosa]

How helpful!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Ben, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Ben]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Ben, are you still looking for this or did you find it?"

I'm fairly sure SamSpayedPI's suggestion of Creator is correct - although I asked for confirmation at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and have received no answer to my question.

[SamSpayedPI]

It's available at the Internet Archive. You need to be a member to borrow books, but membership is free; you only need to give them an e-mail address.

It does include the word parthenogenesis. I don't see the phrase "There was no doubt about it: the embryo had died" but there is some discussion of a dead embryo towards the beginning of the book ("Here is why the embryo died. Because nature takes some perverse delight in torturing me.").

[Ben]

Fantastic - many thanks - I borrowed it for an hour, skimmed through and found many images I recall, if not the exact words I mentioned. So, this is SOLVED - now I just need to (re)purchase a copy of the book to read at leisure.

[SamSpayedPI]

You're welcome -- glad you found your book!