AEG clones

Dave Tallman · 22 Dec 2008, 12:16 · from 2008-December.txt.gz

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From: davetallman at msn.com (Dave Tallman)
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:16:35 -0700
Subject: (urth) AEG clones
In-Reply-To: <002101c963bb$a0bf5e20$34ce4a0c@rclackey>
References: <002101c963bb$a0bf5e20$34ce4a0c@rclackey>
Message-ID: <494F8523.8050405 at gmail.com>

Roy C. Lackey wrote:
> >/ Clone theory: 1) F, 2) T, 3) T, 4) T. More trues than falses this way,
> />/ but why not keep it simple and take the actions of his clone for his own?
> />/
> />/ Loden dress theory: 1) T, 2) T, 3) F, 4) F. In this one, he had been
> />/ caught in an admission he didn't want to make (#2). He covered for it
> />/ clumsily, perhaps because he was flustered.
> /
> The only point you have marked true for both these scenarios is that Cassie
> was wearing a green dress when Reis first saw her.
Let's try the other, then.
Mistaken Reis: 1) T, 2) F, 3) T, 4) F. He simply forgot about the brown 
dress, or omitted it because it didn't fit his "green goddess" 
compliment. This leaves lie #4 without any good reason, when he could 
have admitted his mistake instead.

> One of the problems with this clone theory is that there should be some sort
> of coordination among clones in order to avoid tripping each other up and
> exposing themselves. That in turn necessitates one individual as the prime
> individual who benefits from the coordinated actions of the others.
> Otherwise, each individual will have his own agenda, which will lead to
> conflicts. Reis was a megalomaniac. As such, he could never tolerate rivals
> of equal knowledge, powers and resources. Part of his stated ego trip was
> that he and he alone would possess the most desirable woman in the world. If
> only one guy gets the girl . . . things are bound to get ugly.
>   
That's not a problem with time-traveling copies. Since it's the same 
person there's no conflict of interest, and the memories of the older 
one can keep the coordination on track.

Another hint in favor of the duplicate theory is Sharon's question on p. 
237. "Is Rosenquist tied in with him [William S. Reis]?" It seems pretty 
clueless to be asking this so late in the game, unless there is 
something more Sharon knows. Cassie brushes her off. What if Sharon was 
going to tell her that she had evidence they were not the same person?

By the way: Rian could be a clone, but he can't have been aged to look 
like Bill. What prep school would allow a fat, middle-aged-looking man 
to be a starting quarterback (p. 277)? Bill couldn't be lying about this 
because he expects Cassie to meet Rian at the wedding (p. 276). It would 
risk their relationship to tell an outrageous lie that would soon be 
exposed.

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