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A review by burritapal_1
Kiln People by David Brin
adventurous
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
<Spoiler>
In this novel the author has created a future where humans can make copies of themselves called Dittos. They can do these so that they can release their organic cells to do whatever they care to. They're Dittos can do chores that we all hate to do. For an example a green doodle can be created to tackle that pile of dishes in the sink and then scrub toilets. Maybe clean the whole house while they're at it and vacuum. I would love this myself. There are ebony Dittos who are created for super intelligent work, who are buffered in the brain cells in some way to concentrate more organic intelligence in Ditto brains. There are gray Dittos who can do the mundane part of detective work of the protagonist Albert Morris. Things like stakeouts, or the dangerous work of chasing villains.
In this novel the author has created a future where humans can make copies of themselves called Dittos. They can do these so that they can release their organic cells to do whatever they care to. They're Dittos can do chores that we all hate to do. For an example a green doodle can be created to tackle that pile of dishes in the sink and then scrub toilets. Maybe clean the whole house while they're at it and vacuum. I would love this myself. There are ebony Dittos who are created for super intelligent work, who are buffered in the brain cells in some way to concentrate more organic intelligence in Ditto brains. There are gray Dittos who can do the mundane part of detective work of the protagonist Albert Morris. Things like stakeouts, or the dangerous work of chasing villains.
A favorite part of mine is where one of Albert's dittos, a gray, is hired to be a spy in the Universal Kilns factory. Universal Kilns is where the clay bodies used to make Dittos are created. He's equipped with a prion bomb, though he doesn't realize it.
He supposedly was healed of numerous wounds that happened to him in the nightclub that Queen Irene owned. In reality, while he was anesthetized, the bomb was planted in him.
So at the last second he was informed by another of his Dittos that he had to get out of the factory or he would kill actual organic workers. He ran outside and saw a forklift Golem and threw himself under its legs.
"ignoring our shouts, he searched frantically, then found what he was looking for - a place to die without hurting anybody.
Well, anybody except that poor forklift driver who never understood why a stranger suddenly wanted to burrow up his gloaca. And that was just the fellow's first Rude surprise. The giant dit worker let out a bellow, then began expanding to several times his former size, like a distended balloon... like some cartoon character blowing too hard on his own thumb. I thought the Unlucky forklift was about to explode! Then we'd all be finished. Me for sure. Everyone in the factory. Universal Kilns. Maybe every Ditto in the city?
...
Lucky for us, the hapless forklift stopped expanding at the last moment. Like a surprised blowfish, he stared about with goggle eyes, as if thinking, this was never in my contract. Then the Soul glow extinguished. The clay body shuddered, hardened, and went still."
This book lagged a bit for me. I expected some more dirty scenes, like what people did with their Dittos or did those they rented. Nah it was pretty tame. Cool idea though.