Kil'n People by David Brin

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Kil'n People by David Brin

pub: Orbit. 610 page paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 1-84149-152-7.

Check out website: www.orbitbooks.co.uk

Despite the prolific doorstep size of his books, David Brin's stories do catch you when you start to read them. He takes a basic premise and expands it, not forgetting to be carried away by some of the humour of the situation.

In this future reality, the development of the short-term clone copied from the human original is an on-going concern. Don't want to go to work today or have something better off doing? No problem. Draw up you kiln, have a slab of human shaped clay put in and a copy/clone/ditto can be rolled off...literally.

The abilities of your clay clones depends entirely on the quality of the material you use.

For household chores, you use a cheap green one. More important tasks are given to the grays. If you're really really rich, then there's ebony or platinum that are top notch.

None of them last more than a day and the memories can be returned to the host providing the head's intact. The experiences of several lifetimes can then be used to fill up your life.

This doesn't mean to say such a life is perfect. If the copy is imperfect then you're likely to produce a 'Frankie' (do I have to tell you what that's short for?) who tends to be more independent and wants to spend time at the beach than cleaning out the toilet. If you want to be reckless or enjoy a perversion, modifications can be made to the clone body to do whatever you want.

Stop waving your hands saying you want to be there. This is all part of the story even if it sounds like the American version of laziness.

Albert Morris is a private detective or ditective when he sends his clay copies out on a case, usually for copyright violations. His dittoes gets involved in a conspiracy by a few individuals who intend to prolong the lives of their clay counterparts.

Ultimately, the story follows the lives of the original and his two copies across the chapters as they work independently of each other.

It is to Brin's credit that you end up feeling sympathy towards each of the duplicates. They know they're not going to last, even resigned to the fact, but are also prepared to keep going to complete their task. Probably the biggest hope they have is having their memories reunited with their original.

Although enjoyable, I couldn't help but feel that towards the end of Section 3 that Brin was missing the beats in letting the reader know what exactly happened. Up until that point, the descriptive detail allowed this to be easily followed. When everyone was nearly together and we should have been able to see clearly from three different perspectives, it wasn't as sharp as it could have been.

The introduction of Morris' girl-friend, Clara, to tie-up loose ends was also a long time coming. We were forever hearing how together she was and is when she arrives but side-lining such a character until the end felt like a bad play, especially when a ditto of her could easily have entered the story earlier.

That aside, this book is certainly worth spending sometime looking out for a read. One can only hope Brin does a sequel at some time for another look at this reality.

GF Willmetts

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