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A review by teachinsci
A Borrowed Man by Gene Wolfe
4.0
A Borrowed Man is a sci-fi mystery book. The book is set in a future where the population of earth has reduced to about a billion. The sci-fi part comes in immediately with the narrator- a reclone of an early twenty-first century mystery author. A woman checks him out from the library, where he lives, seeking his help in solving a mystery surrounding the death of her father and brother... a mystery that the one of the reclone's novel may hold the secret to. There are other sci-fi elements like self driving and flying vehicles & robomaids and a further element that is an integral part of the mystery, though most of this sort could have occurred at any time.
The story was well done overall, but got a little confusing at points as the mystery is revealed. One thing that confused me was why the reclones would be full sized people (with all the attendant difficulties) while other genetic and behavioral could be made. One change that seemed somewhat for the author's convenience was that the reclone would think in a colloquial manner but speak in a formal way. At least that is what he (the reclone) said... oddly (since he was dictating the story supposedly) this did not show and was only occasionally mentioned.
I did like the resolution as it was much more believable than the MegaHappy ending some authors prefer. It was as satisfying an ending as one could desire.
All in all, given the characterizations and story, I would read other books by this author and am actually looking some up to purchase add future reads.
Full disclosure: I received an uncorrected proof copy of this book as a winner of a Goodreads First Read giveaway. No review was requested or required, but it seems appropriate.
The story was well done overall, but got a little confusing at points as the mystery is revealed. One thing that confused me was why the reclones would be full sized people (with all the attendant difficulties) while other genetic and behavioral could be made. One change that seemed somewhat for the author's convenience was that the reclone would think in a colloquial manner but speak in a formal way. At least that is what he (the reclone) said... oddly (since he was dictating the story supposedly) this did not show and was only occasionally mentioned.
I did like the resolution as it was much more believable than the MegaHappy ending some authors prefer. It was as satisfying an ending as one could desire.
All in all, given the characterizations and story, I would read other books by this author and am actually looking some up to purchase add future reads.
Full disclosure: I received an uncorrected proof copy of this book as a winner of a Goodreads First Read giveaway. No review was requested or required, but it seems appropriate.