My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
It could happen. Even though human cloning is illegal, the means to do it are already here, and we're already tinkering with genetics to enhance crops, animals, and our environment. When the day comes that you face a copy of yourself and it becomes your own worst enemy, then this book is for you.
This is a pretty short, breezy, tongue-in-cheek read. Even though I believe a human clone will be possible in my lifetime, I'm doubtful of the scenarios laid out in the book--they range from having to face a baby you to an entire clone army. But as a science fiction fan and an aspiring writer, the book becomes a goldmine of possibilities. The greatest joy in in asking "what if..." and exploring all the possible ways a person can be modified genetically.
The actual mechanics of genetics and cloning are glossed over. Enough information to understand the basic terms, and it's perfect for a layman's overview. Then, the book gets into classifying the possible types of genetic modifications and applications. The last third goes into the possible scenarios in which a clone becomes your adversary. It's all pretty brisk and broad--there are probably other books you should seek out if you want to know the full science of it. For a bit of humor and a lot of speculation, the book is pretty awesome though.
It's the writers' voices I find most appealing--they make the content lively, easy to comprehend, and consistently amusing. Parts of the book made me laugh pretty heartily. It's as though the writers play off of the absurdity of the different scenarios, but they do so without being condescending or overly-sarcastic. It's just witty, and it's fun.
Chances are this book could help you fight an actual clone someday, but it's best read for a few good laughs and as possible brainstorming fodder.
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