daxxh
2/15/2014
Where the Late Sweet Bird Sang – Kate Wilhelm
2014 WoGF Challenge
4.0 Stars
The Earth's civilization is collapsing. A very rich family decides to build a research facility to insure the future existence of the human race. They build a lab to clone themselves and stock it with equipment and materials to keep their little colony supplied with energy and food.
Infertility and problems with viable clones at the fifth generation require that fertile members of the colony reproduce. The fertile women are known as breeders and are kept isolated from the rest of the colony.
Individuality is a frightening concept to the clones. They banish those who do not play by the group rules. Clones of the same line born at the same time live as a group, doing nothing without their "sisters" and "brothers." As supplies dwindle, they must explore the ruins of the past to scavenge what they can. This requires clones being separate from their siblings, which causes a sort of insanity. One clone, Molly, learns to covet the solitude that comes with not constantly being around others. She is banished from the group, as is one another of the first exploration team, Ben. Molly has a son and when he is discovered, the colony doesn't quite know how to deal with him. As older clones realize what Molly's son Mark realizes – that the clones are unable to innovate or discover new things, Mark takes some of the breeders and establishes his own colony, free of clones.
Examining the consequences of always conforming versus individuality, this book is highly recommended.