Cyteen: Cyteen, Books 1-3
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Cyteen: Cyteen, Books 1-3 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

C. J. Cherryh (Author), Gabra Zackman (Narrator), Jonathan Davis (Narrator),
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
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The saga of two young friends trapped in an endless nightmare of suspicion and surveillance, of cyber-programmed servants and a ruling class with century-long lives - and the enigmatic woman who dominates them all. Narrators Jonathan Davis and Gabra Zackman skillfully split up this sweeping sci-fi epic that is "at once a psychological novel, a murder mystery, and an examination of power on a grand scale." (Locus)

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  1. Listening Length
    36 hours and 47 minutes
  2. Author
    C. J. Cherryh
  3. Narrator
    Gabra Zackman, see all
  4. Audible release date
    March 13, 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B007JQNCPI
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 36 hours and 47 minutes
Author C. J. Cherryh
Narrator Gabra Zackman, Jonathan Davis
Audible.com Release Date March 13, 2012
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B007JQNCPI
Best Sellers Rank #53,029 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,152 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#3,331 in Space Operas

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
118 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

MFY
5.0 out of 5 stars Expanding across the Universe.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2005
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This is the first book I've read from Ms. Cherryh and deeply impacted me.

She creates an astounding backdrop Universe full of intricacies, depicting Humankind's expansion 300 years from now.

In this Universe three human potencies compete for supremacy: Old Earth, Alliance and the Union. The story focuses on what's going on planet Cyteen, the heart of the Union, in the aftermath of the Merchant's War.

The explosive political situation conducts to the murder of Ariane Emory a powerful charismatic state leader. In our days that will mean: end of the question. In Cyteen there is yet another chance: a clone of the murdered personality may be developed. But...will Ary 2 be as brilliant and decisive as her predecessor? Will she survive to adulthood in Cyteen's crushing environment?

The storyline is very interesting with extremely well developed main characters, whose lives are followed for more than twenty years.

The core of the novel however is the description of Cyteen's Universe (as happens with Asimov's "Foundation" or Herbert's "Dune" series). Genetics science is overdeveloped enabling creation of Citizen's replicas and the Azi, bred from human stock but educated thru "tapes" to fulfill specific needs (military, scientific or just plain workforce).

Azi psychology is depicted in detail by Ms. Cherryh and their interaction with "standard" humans is full of complex subtleties.

A thought provoking novel that will be enjoyed by sci-fi fans!

Reviewed by Max Yofre.
16 people found this helpful
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Adman
5.0 out of 5 stars Science fiction to the cyteenth power
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2020
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Everything she has touched has turned into gold – or rather, in C.J. Cherryh’s case, stars of her Alliance – Union fictional universe. Cyteen is as good as 700 pages of science fiction can get and builds slowly on characters and actions, the “Cherryh way” which would definitely get thumbs up by long novel masters of the past. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky would have loved it.

Machiavellianism in cold and manipulative behaviors. Sincere love. Naiveté. Coming of age. A strange slave society of clones called “Azi” (an acronym for Artificial Zygote Insemination). A hostile, toxic planet. Hostile, toxic extremist groups. “Specials”, Einstein – level geniuses.

A novel full of wonders and full of ideas which has stood the test of time well and got a ton of science fiction awards, when science fiction awards used to reward science fiction. Not a very easy read, not by a country mile, but once you have graduated from SF 101, you will definitely enjoy this novel which takes science fiction to the cyteenth power.
16 people found this helpful
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Annette Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the book...just wish it was available on Kindle.
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
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Some of Cherryh's best work. She is a master of mixing politics, intrigue, action and science in a myriad of environments. It's a travesty that the publisher doesn't release it digitally.
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Solipso
4.0 out of 5 stars A slow read, with powerful moments.
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2012
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CYTEEN is not a fast-paced science fiction adventure. But to have won the 1989 Hugo Award, it must have impressed somebody besides me.

Progressing on a distant planet in the 25th century, the story has a background theme of psychology, genetics, and psychogenesis (the developmental growth of a person's mind into that person's cloned body). Politics and family infighting are interesting, and these reminded of Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER, but action sequences are rare, and a great deal of the narrative immerses readers into mundane activity and expositions of technical psychology. Therefore my rating of only four stars.

The best part is the main character, Ariane Emory. You may think she is nothing special at the beginning, but later on she and her friends stimulate the plot with vitality. Generally all of the many characters are diverse and colorfully emphasized. Indeed an entire social class draws our attention. These are the azi, a word derived from their A-to-Z classifications, based on genetically engineered specializations.

Gravity is more artistically valuable than levity, and no reader can doubt that CYTEEN is imbued with the former. If you get tough and forge ahead through the slow passages, Cherryh immerses you into a credible, futuristic society. And you will surely be aroused by the final pages.
4 people found this helpful
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Robert C. Monsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Slavery has its advantages
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2013
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Cyteen is the story of a group of people who create people. These created people (called azi in the story) are controlled by psychological manipulation throughout their lives, using drugs and indoctrination tapes. These tapes can modify the belief system of the azi's mind, making them completely loyal to an individual, called their Supervisor. They can also teach skills quickly. The creation of these azi gives tenuous political control of the world Cyteen and the Union of space stations to the people who design these azi.

The next step, one that has not been successfully accomplished when the story begins, is to replicate people, make them live again by creating clones with the same genetic makeup and psychological stresses that the original had. Cyteen is mainly about this next step, and how it plays out. There are rewarding intertwined plots about the repressive society these people live in; about family and its importance; about love and hate; about political manipulation and control; and many other subjects, all swirling around the central plot line.

Cyteen teaches you about the world in stages, but does not give a gentle introduction to this world; it abruptly throws you into a world that uses unfamiliar terms and definitions. Part of the fun is learning the lay of the land, from the point of view of the characters.
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Iván Alberto
2.0 out of 5 stars No me gusto el diseño físico de la edicion
Reviewed in Mexico on November 15, 2020
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Las dos estrellas son por el formato no por la historia. Tengo un a algunos años leyendo mayoritariamente versión kindle. Compré este en edición impresa ante la imposibilidad de encontrar en kindle. Tengo que decir que es incómodo de leer. Muy grande, y a la vez la parte es muy flexible. Eso hace que sea difícil acomodarme en mi sillón o en mi cama para leer. Una vez termine la historia actualizare en base a la misma
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Raynald H Lemelin
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy
Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2020
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Solid service. Book is in very good condition. No complains. I would purchase a book from this company again.
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pamela
5.0 out of 5 stars very clever
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2017
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Very clever. The best portrayal of power games I have ever read.
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Oliver Von Spreckelsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Auch beim zweiten Lesen immer noch ein besonderes Buch!
Reviewed in Germany on November 25, 2011
Verified Purchase
Wenn jemand viel Action sucht oder Unmengen an Plot, dann ist er bei diesem Buch an der falschen Adresse.

Dafür bietet es aber so unglaublich viel mehr.

Wortgefechte auf allerhöchstem Niveau, Persönlichkeitsstudien, Intrigen und eine treffende Analyse über Macht und Gentechnik. Auch nach 20 Jahren hat dieser Roman nichts von seiner Aktualität verloren.

Cyteen ist der Hauptplanet der Union. In der Union gibt es zwei politische Richtungen - Expansionisten, die weitere Systeme besiedeln wollen und Zentralisten, die Cyteen zu ihrem Planeten machen wollen. Beide brauchen sie Klone, da die normale Bevölkerung sich nicht schnell genug vermehrt. Aber es gibt auch andere, die den Einsatz von Klonen als Todsünde verteufeln und mit allen Mitteln dagegen vorgehen.

Cyteen ist auch der Sitz der ReseuneLabs, der Firma, die Klone gebärt und trainiert. Ariane Emory ist die Vorsitzende von ReseuneLab, sie ist ein Genie, eine "Spezielle", sie ist so weit der Wissenschaft voraus, dass ohne sie ReseuneLabs nicht existieren könnte. Jordan Warrick ist auch ein "Spezieller" und er war ihr Liebhaber, bis sie sich zerstritten. Diese Spaltung setzt eine verheerende Entwicklung in Gang, die die Mitarbeiter von ReseuneLabs vor eine neue Aufgabe stellt:

Kann man eine Persönlichkeit klonen?
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Delboystride
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Prepare for a hard read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2015
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Great book, but you really have to stay with it. I really have enjoyed the Down below series of books .
2 people found this helpful
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