Customer Reviews

Channeling Cleopatra

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The cover art really drew me to this book, as I have not read much before by this author. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a very enjoyable read; a suspenseful science fiction novel filled with espionage and action. The idea of cloning from ancient DNA is not new (Jurassic Park, need I say more) but the idea of "blending" personalities inherent in DNA was a new twist, handled very well. The archaeological aspects in Alexandria were also well described and made for some vibrant settings.

One of the highlights of this novel was the way Scarborough develops her characters into unique individuals that are easy to associate with, both good and evil. The protagonist and antagonist(s) are people that truly act out according to their personal beliefs and values-a very human trait which often gets left behind in science fiction works. I highly recommend this book-entertaining, engaging and full of plot twists that keep your interest.

Another well researched and lovely book by E. A. Scarborough. I was completely impressed by this, reading her books is always a joy, but this one goes to the top of the list along with Healer's War, and the Songkiller Trilogy as being my favorites by her.
Fantastic characters you can sympathise with, I really liked the main character's father Duke. He reminds me a bit of my own dad.
The story flowed, with puns and verbal plays throughout, but also moments of darkness. Whimsical, thoughtful, wonderful.
I would recommend reading the anthology, Past Lives, Present Tense first, but it's not truly necessary. It just gives more information about Chimera.
Thank you E. A. Scarborough, for another wonderful book!!!

What if you could pick any person from history and, through the computerized infusion of their DNA, receive their personality - their soul, for a better word - to share your body? When a young scientist named Tsering's wife - Chime - died, he developed techology that transferred her DNA (which, as it turns out contains not only the genetic structure of a person, but their personality as well) into a computer program that implanted onto his retina, created the first "blended" person. They call themselves Chimera. Thus began the company Nucore. They enlist the aid of their friend Leda Hubbard to find Cleopatra's tomb for their friend Gretchen, who hopes to use Cleopatra's legendary charm to save her marriage. However, it seems unscrupulous forces may be at work - maybe even within Nucore itself . . .

While the technology itself, being utilized pretty much during the present day, requires a pretty hefty suspension of disbelief, the story unfolds at a rapid-fire pace, covering not only the ethics of the procedure itself, but also touching on the topics of female genital mutilation, the general treatment of women by fundamentalist Islamics, unscrupulous medical procedures and so forth. It is continued in the book Cleopatra 7.2, which I am reading right now and cannot wait to see how it concludes.

I'm not sure which one you'd call it. In a distant future, Nucor Technologies has invented a 'personality transplant.' Donees are implanted with the personalities of famous and infamous people from the past.

Naturally, many women want Cleopatra.

Forensic scientist and closet anthropologist Leda Hubbard and her father Duke, an ex-cop with a lot of ex-wives, are hired by Nucor to find Cleopatra. She discovers quickly enough that this isn't the safe assignment she'd expected. Many people want a transplant without Nucor's controls.

Scarborough is always fascinating whether she's writing Medieval, current day, or futuristic fantasy. She's created a world and a cast of characters that I can't fail to cheer for. The novel takes some interesting twists that leave you laughing--and thinking about what makes up a person.

I think the plotline is interesting, but the characters seemed really flat. And the interaction between them was stilted and unrealistic. The "bad guys" barely get walk-on roles, and it's hard to really dislike someone you see so little of.
There are lots of opportunities for interesting byplay between Leda and her father, between Duke and Gretchen, between Gabriella and her aunts, between Pete and Leda, but they get treated like scenery, moved around to forward the plot, but never fleshed out in except in the most backhanded sense. It mentions Gabriella's work with the oppressed/abused women offhandedly, but never lets us know how badly they are treated or give the reader any first hand knowledge of the problem. Leda and Gabriella's first meeting was such a poorly written scene, it was painful. And the foreshadowing was about a subtle as a Mack truck.
I found it hard to feel any empathy for the characters because there was so little "character" to them. But the plot line had so much potential! It annoyed me to see it wasted this way.

but i thoroughly enjoyed this book...if you enjoy egyptology, mythology, archeology, mystery, drama, science fiction, comedy, metaphysics, genetics, then read this book...it's a fun beach read or escape from the kids' read...it was quick to tie up loose ends and character traits and motivation was quickly explained...slightly predictable...but like i said, i'm no novelist and wouldn't begin to criticize the author's method...i read this book in 2 days...very enjoyable and would like to see it develop into a movie...kinda like indiana jones / invasion of the body snatchers hybrid...

Scarborough's forte lies in creating books with intriguing plots, believable main characters, and lots of humor. This book is no exception. The idea of genetically-stored memory that can be downloaded into someone else's personality is an updated version of an old SF plot device, but the author takes the concept and makes it her own. The main character, Leda Hubbard, a forensic anthropologist and wannabe Egyptologist is a classic Scarborough heroine--an ordinary woman, competent and a little dissatisfied with her life. The other characters range from the delightful (Duke, Leda's macho philandering father) to the repulsive (Mr. Rasmussen, the true villain). Some of the characterizations are a little thin, and the plot could have been fleshed out in spots, but there are enough wonderful moments to make this book a rewarding read. Duke's fate alone is worth the price of the book. As with Scarborough's "Fairy Godmother" books, everyone gets their just desserts at the end, and there is an element of "they all lived happily ever after." Perhaps a bit pat, but that's part of the pleasure.

To tell the truth it was the cover that caught my attention as I was browsing though the new books at the local library. I then sat down to blow through the first few chapters to figure out if the book was worth checking out. Well needless to say, I sat there in the libary till closing time!

Leda Hubbard has been obsessed with being a Egyptologist and joining a dig. The navy being the only way Leda can get her PHD, which she finally gets in forensic anthropology, but still can't find a dig that will take her, Until she recieves a mysterious invatation to work with a man named Chimera. Not one to look the gift horse in the mouth Leda heads of to Egypt.

Our heroine, Leda, is one for always getting in trouble, for the right reasons of course. But in the end, her reward is something beyound anything she ever imagined as a young woman dreaming of Egypt.

This is a book that is definately worth the reading time!!

Ever since Leda Hubbard was a young girl, she wanted to be an Egyptologist and join an important dig there. She enlisted in the navy to obtain her education because she couldn't afford to pay for it any other way. By the time she left the military, Leda had a Ph.D. in forensic anthropology. She was adjusting to the idea that she would never fulfill her dram when she receives a mysterious ticket to attend the International Conference of Egyptologists.

At the conference, she meets a friend Chimera who recruits her to work for a corporation who is sponsoring a dig in Egypt. The company, led by Chimera, found a way to incorporate the genetic and cellular memory of a dead person using their DNA, into a living person. In essence, two people would inhabit one body. Leda's job is to find out where famous people are buried in Alexandria so the company's rich clients can buy the cellular memory of the person they wish to coexist with. For Leda, problems arise when the wrong people want to get their hands on the technology and use it for their own ends.

CHANNELING CLEOPATRA is a bright, sometimes humorous, often dark, but always innovative speculative fiction. The heroine is feisty, bright and sparkling so that readers can't help but like her and root for her when she lands in trouble, which is quite frequent. Elizabeth Ann Scarborough is always a treat to read but with this novel, she takes readers where nobody has gone before.

Harriet Klausner

Didn't like the book much, the author tried to be too girlish with her main character, and the technology was too easily believed by the other characters. Read about 1/3 and skimmed through the rest to see how it ended.