The Clones (The Virtual War Chronologs, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Gloria Skurzynski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002 | Series: Virtual War Chronologs (Book 2)

Clones are supposed to be identical...
aren't they?

Corgan, hero of the Virtual War, has been living a blissful, if placid, life on the Isles of Hiva, his reward for winning the War with Sharla and Brig. But what he doesn't know is that Brig died soon after the War, and yet is not truly gone. Sharla had saved some of Brig's DNA and has created clone-twins with it. Corgan's world is disrupted when Sharla brings one of the clone-twins, Seabrig, to him to raise on the island, while she keeps the other, Brigand, with her in the Domed City. However, when circumstances force Sharla to bring Brigand to the island, they find that while the boys may look identical, their temperaments are not. Brigand is haughty, willful, power hungry, and despises Corgan because of his relationship with Sharla. And, as a result of the cloning process, both boys are growing at an astonishing rate. In what may or may not have been an accident with his clone-twin, Seabrig is badly injured and must be airlifted from the island to receive medical treatment in the Domed City. This leaves Corgan alone with an increasingly dangerous and unstable Brigand, who is now his size, and looking to get rid of Corgan once and for all.

A gripping sequel to Virtual War that could be ripped straight from the headlines -- in eighty years....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Having won the titular conflict in Virtual War for the Pacific Island of Hiva, Corgan lives an idyllic life in the only undomed patch of land on the planet. However, Sharla shows up with the cloned babies of Brig, who are growing at a whirlwind rate one of whom wants to kill Corgan in The Clones, Book 2 of the Virtual War Chronologs by Gloria Skurzynski. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A sequel to Virtual War (S & S, 1997). Corgan, 15, lives on Nuku Hiva, his reward for helping to win the early 21st-century's Virtual War. Sharla, his war partner and the girl he loves, comes to visit, smuggling in a baby boy, Seabrig, for him to raise in secret. She has cloned four replicas of the deceased strategist who was their third partner, but the ruling council of one of the domed cities where most of Earth's remaining population lives has given her permission to save only one. Sharla returns to the island six months later with a second clone, Brigand, when the twins are approximately eight years old due to their altered growth rate. He and Corgan instantly dislike one another, and, after they have all traveled to the domed city, Brigand, now a teen, raises an army to kill Corgan and overthrow the council. Corgan escapes to another city, where an attractive new training partner awaits him. The story deteriorates into soap opera when jealousy and anger take over the plot. Corgan's treatment of eight-year-old Brigand is horrendous, and the stereotypical depiction of females reaches comic-book levels. Readers who liked the first book will want to read this one, but they'll have to wait for the third book in the series for answers as nothing is resolved here.
Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 163 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689842635
• ISBN-13: 978-0689842634
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,888,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, September 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Clones (The Virtual War Chronologs, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I thought that I had every good book our high school library had to offer, but as I was scanning the shelves those bright, bold letters poppped out at me, THE CLONES , it immidiatly piqued my interest and when I started to read it I couldn't
put it down. The mystery, the action, the romance. This is a very good book and I highly recommend it for anyone who even slightly likes science fiction. my only complaint is that the ending is a cliffhanger. Monday morning I am going back to my library to find the third book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Brigand or Seabrig-- Which will survive?, November 4, 2002

By 

Lu Ann Staheli "allstars" (Spanish Fork, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Clones (The Virtual War Chronologs, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Second in a planned series, the author takes us to the Island of Hiva, where battle hero Corgan now lives. His friend and former companion Sharla comes to the island with a surprise-the cloned baby of their friend Brig, who died soon after the war. As a result of Sharla's genetic research, cloned twin infants are growing at a whirlwind rate, maturing years in a matter of weeks. Despite their identical features, Corgan soon realizes their dispositions are quite different. When Seabrig, the twin he is raising, loses a hand in a swimming accident, Corgan can't overcome the terrible feeling that Sharla's twin, Brigand, did it on purpose. Whatever the outcome Brigand desired, it seems to have backfired when he is left on the island with Corgan, whom he sees as a rival for Sharla's affection.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome back, Corgan and Sharla, July 10, 2002

By 

Dave Anderson (Ogden UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Clones (The Virtual War Chronologs, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I met Corgan, Sharla and Brig in the Virtual War. As a grandparent and teacher I always look for good science fiction. The Clones can be read as a stand alone since Gloria Skurzynski fills in the backstory. Good fast moving tale that took me back to the doomed city. Gave my copy to my grandson.