Cyteen: The Betrayal

This book was especially gripping because the Union and Resune had appeared as a shadowy inhuman enemy in the Earth/Alliance/Union books where the merchanters alliance formed as a defense to being ground between the two powers of Earth and Union. Coming out of a vacumn that was only slightly touched by 'Forty Thousand in Gehenna' the Cyteen books suddenly brought to life an all too human Union, that has found a different way to survival in the stars. In the betrayal, Ariane Emory's planned clone is brought to life after the assasination of the brilliant but somewhat twisted scientist that had a major part in the eugenics that keeps Union alive. The small Ari is but a minor character in this book, featuring Justin Warrick and his 'brother' the clone Grant. More interestingly, Justin Warrick suffered at the hands of Ariane Emory and you see his own struggle not to let the past poison his life, the child, or the suspicions of others destroy his own too fragile family. It is a fast change from 'Union the Evil Ghost' to a fast dip into the world of Cyteen and a feeling of kinship with the beleagured people that struggle for survival there. A world not of evil, but like others, a mixture of people trying to survive. Better, this book was rapidly sequaled by parts 2 and 3, the rebirth, and the vindication.