Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh

The book is a complex tale of political intrigue, identity, and psychological manipulation set in a distant future where humanity has colonized space. At the heart of the story is a brilliant young scientist who is a clone of a powerful political leader, raised to replicate her predecessor's talents and maintain her faction's dominance. As the clone grows up in a controlled environment designed to shape her into a replica of the original, she begins to question her identity and the motives of those who created her. The narrative explores themes of nature versus nurture, the ethics of cloning, and the struggle for power within the labyrinthine structures of a spacefaring civilization's government and scientific community.

The 7831st greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 57

Since this book was first published in 1988, there is a penalty of 22.4%. The age adjusted score is 44.23.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.