First published 2001
On the planet Cyteen, two young friends find themselves caught in a web of surveillance and suspicion that threatens to destroy everything they know. The toxic atmosphere forces humans into enclosed city-states, while the mysterious woman who controls the cloning research facility Reseune holds power over their lives. Cyteen declared independence from Earth a century ago and now serves as the capital of Union, a civilization built on cloned workers called azi. These artificial humans are conditioned from birth through computer-controlled tapes that shape their minds and abilities. The friends must navigate a world where programmable servants obey every command, where a centuries-old ruling class maintains control through advanced technology, and where the line between natural and artificial humanity blurs. As they struggle against the nightmare of constant observation, they discover that survival means understanding the true nature of the society that created them.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, speculative-fiction, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Cyteen, Union
Period: 21st-century
Library Binding · Bt Bound