- Azi (clone)
Azi are a fictional race of human clones developed by
science fiction andfantasy authorC. J. Cherryh . They appear in various books in Cherryh'sAlliance-Union universe . The word is used for both singular ("one Azi") and plural ("two Azi") references to members of the race.In the stories, the Azi are first developed by the Union side of the Alliance-Union conflict just prior to the "Company Wars" period in the early twenty-fourth century. Although derived from human
gene sequences, they are bothgenetically engineered and psychologically conditioned to occupy specificsocial position s, such assoldiers andfarmers .Because of these modifications, Azi are seen as an abomination by many on Earth, and this revulsion served as an exacerbating factor in the start of the Wars between Earth Company and Union forces. During the Company Wars, Union was able to produce large numbers of Azi soldiers and support personnel, plus use Azi to augment its
civilian population and thus stimulateeconomic growth . In large measure, the Azi were therefore responsible for Union forces winning awar of attrition against the Earth Company Fleet led by Conrad Mazian.To some degree, the Azi are also controversial in Union itself. As mentioned in Cherryh's book "
Cyteen ", there is on Union's home planet, Cyteen, an activeabolitionist party which regards them as beingslaves and therefore seeks to emancipate them, but it seems marginal.Azi characters are featured in the following Cherryh books:
*"Cyteen " (1988)
*"Downbelow Station " (1981)
*"Forty Thousand in Gehenna " (1983)
*"Port Eternity " (1982)
*"Serpent's Reach " (1980)
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