Book Review – The Echo Wife
Author – Sarah Gailey
Pages – 369 pages
Genre – Science fiction
My Rating – 4 out of 5 stars
What is this book about?
The Echo Wife was a sci-fi novel. It is the story of a scientist who discovers and masters the technique of cloning. She doesn’t create robotic clones but uses your DNA to create your duplicate. Apart from the DNA, they also use brain mapping and conditioning to make sure that the clone has similar habits, actions, and posture as the host. It is a long and tedious process that costs a fortune and there is a constant struggle between the scientist and the investors for funding.
After winning the Neufrmann award, the protagonist is sponsored by the organization and the funding problem is somehow over. But new problems have emerged in the life of Evelyn, our protagonist. Her marriage is in danger, then she finds out something about her trusted assistant, and then she begins to plan something with her clone which her husband has made. Above it all, this new clone is pregnant which makes it illegal. Evelyn’s research and her marriage, both are dangling on the verge of destruction. What will she do?
Book Review
The title of the book makes it feel like some contemporary melodrama instead of a science fiction book. The story is much more science-oriented than the marriage drama the title makes us believe. Along with the elements of the science of cloning, this story presents us with an insight into human emotions and reasoning. It raises some important questions about the ethical research through the clone. Despite being a creature created from the DNA of a person, with traits similar to them, conditioned to be like them, the clones are not treated as humans but as mere tools. This illusion breaks when the programming Nathan does upon Evelyn’s clone turns out to be a bit faulty.
The main characters of the book are surprisingly all women. The male characters have been shown in a negative light. Be it Nathan, Seyed, or Evelyn’s father. Somehow it brings out the psychological aversion from men. There are a few characters in the book, and the story surprisingly remains contained to the places that are convenient to the protagonist. She is never found out by anyone else while she digs around dead bodies and buries them.
Characters and the Writing Style
A lot of things don’t rationalize in the story, but the story makes it somehow clear that it is not going to be rational. The message about human emotions and the impact of others’ actions upon them have been explored by the author. Despite the glaring faults in the plot, the story continues and expresses it all beautifully. The writing style is captivating. The blurry fog around the characters makes them a part of this world and yet lets them escape it. This book is equally psychological and scientific in its approach.
The author has explained the process of cloning and its working along with the conditioning process they used to follow to ensure proper cloning. It contains information about the workings of DNA and several other acids and tissues that work together to form us. The story subtly implies the importance of memory in our lives. It shows how a clone who knows nothing thinks that they know everything due to the memory and brain that is developed with the memories and actions of the original person. It blew my mind to read the implications of this book.
Conclusion of the book review
Overall, I loved reading this book. I could point out a lot of illogical course of actions and events in the story yet I won’t change anything in this book. It is scientific, sentimental, psychological, philosophical, and irrational, all of it together and in bits. I would give this book 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Recommendation
I will highly recommend this book to the sci-fi geeks who want to read something related to medical science or the human body. I was unable to understand a few processes explained by the author, but it does not pose any threat of misunderstanding on my part. So even if you lack the in-depth knowledge of the working of tissues and cells and brain tissues, you will understand the story just fine. So anyone with any bit of interest in cloning and medical science-based fiction can pick this book, they are sure to thoroughly enjoy it.
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