Silk's origin

David Stockhoff · 11 Oct 2011, 15:08 · from 2011-October.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:08:58 -0400
Subject: (urth) Silk's origin
In-Reply-To: <D68FAB30D7F440BB9095BD357CAB55A4@Rover>
References: <CAM3O41KTbA6w=DGP0=PKOWeYCJqCnnzQHpMmR2DQn=qn9H8dRA at mail.gmail.com><4E9373A2.1050707 at gmail.com>
	<4E939403.8080007 at verizon.net><4E93B5F8.3020306 at gmail.com>
	<4E94487E.10501 at verizon.net>
	<D68FAB30D7F440BB9095BD357CAB55A4@Rover>
Message-ID: <4E945C0A.2020104 at verizon.net>

On 10/11/2011 10:30 AM, Gerry Quinn wrote:
> *From:* David Stockhoff <mailto:dstockhoff at verizon.net>
> > Which leads me to another angle. Is there a classic SF model from which
> >
> we could derive rules of cloning "behavior"? For example, Asimov's Mule
> >
> is a genetic mutation giving rise to super-telepathic powers; therefore
> >
> he is a precursor to Typhon that we can "observe" in action. Has some
> >
> author already worked out this cloning business?
> Gene Wolfe, maybe, in Fifth Head of Cerberus?
> In 5HoC, clones are essentially identical, irrespective of the 
> surrogate mother. In fact, cloning is banned on civilised planets 
> because of this ?anti-evolutionary? characteristic.
> In BotLS, of course, embryos are (or have been) routinely engineered, 
> and presumably this could be done just as well with clones.
> - Gerry Quinn
That's a possibility. I don't recall it, but if that's how it works in 
FHoC, I'll accept it. (Sorry, James!)

OTOH, the engineers could just as well work artificial variation into 
the procedure. Might Typhon have had some reason (political, 
psychological) to ensure that none of his clones would look like him? If 
one escaped before the Whorl was launched ....


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