Mary Modern by Camille DeAngelis

Posted on June 18, 2009 
Filed under Books, Fiction, Sci-Fi / Fantasy and tagged , , , , ,

mary modern Camille DeAngelis

Mary Modern, by Camille DeAngelis is a tale full of near future intrigue, romance, suspense, and heavy drama. Borrowing some inspiration from that other Mary…Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Camille DeAngelis has written a tale about the moral and ethical dangers of cloning, as well as what happens to the mind when in a deep state of sorrow and despair.

The book revolves around Lucy Morrigan, a genetics researcher at a Massachusetts University.  She lives a solitary life in a gigantic mansion filled with the memories of her family including the basement lab of her father, who was also involved in the study of genetics and bioengineering.  When she meets fellow professor Gray, they fall for each other, and he moves into the stuffy old house with her. Their relationship blossoms, and is near perfect until  Lucy learns that due to some physical complications, she will be unable to conceive a child. She is truly wrecked by her grief.

As Lucy mourns the loss of her ability to have children, she is overcome by inspiration.  After casting aside the legal and ethical dilemmas she faces,   Lucy decides that she will use the DNA of her grandmother (which is taken from a blood stain on an old apron) and engineer a clone which will be implanted in her womb.  All of the necessary equipment is in the basement lab.  She gets to work and creates the embryo, implanting it herself.

As time passes, her belly becomes huge and impossible to bear, so she has the growing fetus removed (with the help of a trusted but morally opposed colleague) and places it into a big mechanical womb/incubator which was created by her father.  What emerges is a 22 year old (the age she was when she spilled her blood on the apron)  exact replica of Lucy’s grandmother, Mary.

Mary’s memories from 1929 are fully intact, and while she takes some time getting used to her new surroundings (even though she is still living in the house where she last existed) she is soon a very vibrant and likeable character.  Of course, this tale of morally questionable science could not be told without a huge road block.  Mary misses her husband from the past, and becomes adamant that Lucy owes it to her to clone him as well.  In the meantime, Mary and Gray begin to develop feelings for one another, further complicating things for Lucy.  And Mary.  And Gray.

Then there is the matter of the insane preacher, who discovers the secret of how Mary came into existence, and threatens to turn Lucy in to authorities (cloning is strictly illegal, and Lucy’s genetics lab at the University is routinely inspected) unless Lucy creates a clone of Jesus Christ himself.

There is also a side story involving a man who wrote a book from the future, which comes into possession of the Morrigan family.  Exerpts from the book implying some sort of time bending or time travel are placed throughout the book, adding another element of excitement to the story.

Clearly, this novel requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief.  The science is not sound.  Even knowing that the novel is based in the future does not help the cause of buying that one could incubate a full grown human being in mere months from a single embryo.  Also, we must accept the theory that our genes contain a mechanism for storing our memories, in order to believe that Mary could emerge with all of her thoughts and emotions exactly as they had been in her previous life.  However, with the lovely almost old-fashioned prose, and the intriguing tale of morals versus the heart’s desire, Mary Modern is an enjoyable and fantastical tale, that remained in the back of my brain long after reaching the end.

My only complaints are these.  The main character of Lucy, who is at first a sympathetic character, quickly becomes very unlikable.  I wanted to feel for her and her dilemma, and I feel that the story would have been helped if I had been able to emotionally connect with her trials after creating Mary.  Lucy is egotistical, unapologetic, and almost amoral.  Her boyfriend Gray is far more relatable, and his affection for Mary conflicts heartbreakingly with his loyalty and love (although waning) for Lucy.

Also, the book jumps between points of view.  Sometimes we are reading from Lucy’s vantage point, sometimes Mary’s and sometimes Gray’s.  It gets a little confusing as you try to keep track of who is relating the story at any given point.  It also jumps back and forth through time a bit, furthering the frustration at times.

All in all, this story asks the reader to consider many things…who determines what one does with their own body, what is life exactly, and what are the limits of science when it comes to the sanctity of life?  It isn’t preachy, allows the reader to draw their own conclusions, and has a great twist in the end.  However, it is also a cautionary tale, just as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was, and will make you think twice next time you hear about the latest scientific breakthrough in bioengineering.

If you’re looking for a fairytale for modern times, I can think of few that will be as thought provoking and heart wrenching as Mary Modern.

xoxo

Natalina


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