Sunday, June 14, 2015

Flight of the Kikayon, by Kary English

originally appeared in the Grantville Gazette in July of 2013

Kary English is a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

This story is a rare treat in the 2015 Hugo Voters packet.

Lydia is the wife of the man who perfected clones as backup/substitute mothers for wealthy women too busy to care for their own children, who don't want to be seen to be leaving their children to the care of servants. Since they are vat-grown clones of the women themselves, the substitution isn't obvious. Since Lydia's husband Donnie got the clones ruled non-people, and neural implants keep them bonded to and under the control of their originals, there are no worker complaints. The clones are physically identical, but deferential and obedient.

And this did not go where I expected it to go. Lydia, Donnie, Cara (the clone), and their situation all prove to be far more interesting than I expected. I'll be looking for more by Kary English in the future.

Recommended.

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