What do you think?
Rate this book
The Duplicate
When David finds a mysterious machine that can copy living things, he thinks his problems are over. By duplicating himself, he can visit his grandmother and keep his date with Angela. While the other David is in school, the real one can spend the day at the beach. The possibilities are endless... and terrifying.
What begins as the solution to David's problems soon turns into a nightmarish struggle for identity. Then events take a horrifying turn that neither of the two Davids can control and that may have deadly consequences.
What begins as the solution to David's problems soon turns into a nightmarish struggle for identity. Then events take a horrifying turn that neither of the two Davids can control and that may have deadly consequences.
154 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
7 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
William Sleator
49 books324 followersWilliam Warner Sleator III was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland on February 13, 1945, and moved to St. Louis, MO when he was three. He graduated from University City High School in 1963, from Harvard in 1967 with BAs in music and English.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 7, 2019
A delightful little horror book about a boy who finds a duplication device washed up on a beach and ends up creating a duplicate of himself. But the duplicate has a mind of his own! Perfect little horror story for beginners in the genre. Definitely recommend 👍
June 13, 2011
Ever wish there were more than one of you? To sit in on that boring meeting, do the grocery shopping or clean the yard? Be careful what you wish for! Remember when Homer tried cloning himself with the magic hammock on The Simpsons? Didn't work out too well for him either :)
16-year-old David cannot resist the temptation to clone himself when he discovers a machine designed to duplicate organic matter. The results are not what he imagined; in fact, David is soon fighting for his life.
I really enjoyed this! It has tons of appeal factor for younger and/or reluctant readers and those wanting to get their feet wet in the sci-fi genre. It's got great momentum and the pages just turn themselves. It's fun, a little scary, and without getting too heavy-handed raises some important questions about the pros and cons of human cloning.
And if you really want to get metaphysical about it, there's room to consider whether clones even have a soul and what does that mean if they don't? Sure to raise some great discussions among the 12-15 crowd.
16-year-old David cannot resist the temptation to clone himself when he discovers a machine designed to duplicate organic matter. The results are not what he imagined; in fact, David is soon fighting for his life.
I really enjoyed this! It has tons of appeal factor for younger and/or reluctant readers and those wanting to get their feet wet in the sci-fi genre. It's got great momentum and the pages just turn themselves. It's fun, a little scary, and without getting too heavy-handed raises some important questions about the pros and cons of human cloning.
And if you really want to get metaphysical about it, there's room to consider whether clones even have a soul and what does that mean if they don't? Sure to raise some great discussions among the 12-15 crowd.
August 13, 2008
All of William Sleator's books are good science fiction for young people, even though most of them take overdone subjects for yet another ride. Sleator somehow does it differently and in a more character-oriented fashion.
In this one, the main character finds a mysterious machine and clones himself. We're then swept up in an amazing tale of what happens when there are two of this kid coexisting, how they get along, and how they can tell which one of them is the original since they both think they are. Who has to go to school? Who gets to go on the date? Cloning yourself and receiving a complacent human slave is the fantasy. This is the reality. OooOoo!
In this one, the main character finds a mysterious machine and clones himself. We're then swept up in an amazing tale of what happens when there are two of this kid coexisting, how they get along, and how they can tell which one of them is the original since they both think they are. Who has to go to school? Who gets to go on the date? Cloning yourself and receiving a complacent human slave is the fantasy. This is the reality. OooOoo!
August 29, 2013
Ever since my partner got a new library job four months ago, he brings home stacks books he thinks I'll like several times a week. Sometimes the selection is slightly biased by his own preferences, which means that I've read more science fiction in the past four months than I think I've read in the whole rest of my life. But the main characteristic the books have in common is that they are typically children's or young adult mysteries from the 1970s, 80s, or 90s, which he knows I love to read and think about.
A few weeks ago my partner came home with William Sleator's The Duplicate. I started reading it a few days ago, and I was quickly drawn into the story of a teenage boy who clones himself so his clone can do his chores for him--I KNOW, right? We've all read that story before. And obviously, problems ensue as it turns out the clone has thoughts and desires of his own. But as I continued reading, I couldn't believe how well-done the story was. Just about every page, I had to newly consider: Who is telling the truth? How would an individual get along with his duplicate? Are the problems arising for the protagonist simple misunderstandings, or is something more sinister going on? How well does a person know his own self?
The book was so good that for the first 90 or so pages I almost couldn't deal with the mental dissonance. I had been expecting a typical 1980s middle grade sci-fi novel, and, I swear, the first half of The Duplicate almost reads like Kafka. It's really, really good!
As the book goes on, it continues to be good, suspenseful, and creepy, though the story bogs down a little towards the end as Sleator tries to position the tale for resolution. Overall, Sleator's technical writing skills, story pacing, characterization, and setting are quite solid. My main complaint about the book involves a scene near the end, when--small spoiler--the protagonist waits for a needlessly long time before interceding to stop a date rape situation which could have easily been stopped, and the book fails to indicate that there's anything at all problematic about the boy enabling date rape. I can't imagine, even in 1988, that that scene wasn't problematic, and I don't know what kind of message Sleator thought he was sending to teenagers by writing it. I don't even think that scene would be published today, as it is written in the book. It's the kind of thing that nearly spoils a whole story, you know?
So, to sum up--I was very impressed by The Duplicate's sci-fi thriller aspects, but irritated by the author's apparent lack of critical thoughts about portraying date rape situations. And if I ever come across a device with the words Spee-Dee-Dupe printed on it washed up on the beach, I'm going to hack it apart with an axe.
A few weeks ago my partner came home with William Sleator's The Duplicate. I started reading it a few days ago, and I was quickly drawn into the story of a teenage boy who clones himself so his clone can do his chores for him--I KNOW, right? We've all read that story before. And obviously, problems ensue as it turns out the clone has thoughts and desires of his own. But as I continued reading, I couldn't believe how well-done the story was. Just about every page, I had to newly consider: Who is telling the truth? How would an individual get along with his duplicate? Are the problems arising for the protagonist simple misunderstandings, or is something more sinister going on? How well does a person know his own self?
The book was so good that for the first 90 or so pages I almost couldn't deal with the mental dissonance. I had been expecting a typical 1980s middle grade sci-fi novel, and, I swear, the first half of The Duplicate almost reads like Kafka. It's really, really good!
As the book goes on, it continues to be good, suspenseful, and creepy, though the story bogs down a little towards the end as Sleator tries to position the tale for resolution. Overall, Sleator's technical writing skills, story pacing, characterization, and setting are quite solid. My main complaint about the book involves a scene near the end, when--small spoiler--the protagonist waits for a needlessly long time before interceding to stop a date rape situation which could have easily been stopped, and the book fails to indicate that there's anything at all problematic about the boy enabling date rape. I can't imagine, even in 1988, that that scene wasn't problematic, and I don't know what kind of message Sleator thought he was sending to teenagers by writing it. I don't even think that scene would be published today, as it is written in the book. It's the kind of thing that nearly spoils a whole story, you know?
So, to sum up--I was very impressed by The Duplicate's sci-fi thriller aspects, but irritated by the author's apparent lack of critical thoughts about portraying date rape situations. And if I ever come across a device with the words Spee-Dee-Dupe printed on it washed up on the beach, I'm going to hack it apart with an axe.
Read
April 29, 2019I liked this book. I would rate this book 8/10 stars. I liked this book because it was a very interesting concept. My favorite part was at the start when he found the machine that made the duplicate of himself. I thought it was funny how the duplicate was trying to argue that he wasn't the duplicate. I would have been angry if he was trying to argue with me. I also liked when one of them went to grandmas house and the other went to the girl's house. when they were about to get caught it made me feel very excited. I also made me feel anxious. I thought this was a good book overall.
January 6, 2016
This is exactly as you'd expect, and it gets right to it in the first chapter where the main character finds a "Spee-Dee-Dupe" and catches on right away. I tend to enjoy stories about people duplicating themselves (e.g. the movies Multiplicity and The Prestige), and this one didn't disappoint. It's kind of amazing how low a level of trust you can have with your own self.
The main character turned too suspicious too quickly for my taste and I didn't know where that came from, but to be honest the story moves into action so soon I didn't get a very clear picture of the main character's personality. Bonus points to Sleator for including yet another Interstellar Pig reference, this time as a movie: "the lichen seemed so real" :)
I have to say Sleator had some real talent as a writer and is worth reading in place of certain other horror or sensational series aimed at youth. His stories make you think about what the ideas really mean and what you would do in place of the characters, who are believable and all too human.
The main character turned too suspicious too quickly for my taste and I didn't know where that came from, but to be honest the story moves into action so soon I didn't get a very clear picture of the main character's personality. Bonus points to Sleator for including yet another Interstellar Pig reference, this time as a movie: "the lichen seemed so real" :)
I have to say Sleator had some real talent as a writer and is worth reading in place of certain other horror or sensational series aimed at youth. His stories make you think about what the ideas really mean and what you would do in place of the characters, who are believable and all too human.
December 30, 2009
Not really a scifi book. More of a horror book. A boy duplicates himself with a Spee-dee-dupe machine he finds washed up on the beach. The story starts to get interesting as he competes with his double for a girl. However, the book takes drastic turn just before the climax and then ends. This is a young adult novel so I shouldn't have expected much. However, since it had a scifi sticker on the side from the library, I would hope to get something other than a magic duplication box washing up on shore.
June 14, 2010
The wise person does not read William Sleator novels before going to bed. Well, maybe Oddballs, but that is not his usual fare - and nor is it the book in question here. Anyways. This was a disturbing book with an interesting premise. Nothing, really, to distinguish it from other Sleator books. I've been trying to find some sinister twist in the ending, but either I'm tired or just not seeing it. A decent book, quick to read, but not as good as House of Stairs.
May 19, 2010
Not Sleator's best work, but far from his worst. It's a fast paced little YA book about what happens when a teenager clones himself with a mysterious duplicator. If you've read Scientific Progress Goes "Boink" you get the premise, but this takes it to a darker place, with a little room for the expected evil twin shennanigans.
May 14, 2012
This book was interesting! I feel that everyone at one time or another everyone imagines what it would be like to have a clone. In this book, the reader sees the limitless possibilities that could take place if you had the power to have a clone. While the reader sees all the cool stuff that would take place if there could be two of them, the reader also sees the drawbacks of having multiples of themselves. I would recommend this book for any student. It was a fun and interesting read!
July 16, 2010
Going into this knowing there would be plot holes and character problems...it was a fun read. Four stars because Sleator presented a compelling, surprising predicament for his main character.
March 23, 2018
The Duplicate is a book by William Sleator. David finds a mysterious machine that can copy living things, he thinks his problems are over. Now he can be in two places at once, at his grandmother's and out on a date. I liked this book because it was interesting at times, but at other times the book got boring.
The author used a first person point of view when telling this story. I think it was effective because if it was in the third person it would have probably get confusing with all the duplicates. “Duplicate A does not run outside. I lie there listening to the bump and scrape of the ladder as he drags it laboriously up the steps”(125). I like this example because, I think that if this was in the third person, it might have been a little confusing, or hard to understand.I also think that the author using first person was good, is because I makes it easier for the reader to understand all of the originals thoughts, and if it was in, third person it would have been hard to keep tracker of all three duplicates personalities, because they are all so different.
I did not like the resolution because I found it very predictable. I think it was ineffective because I could pretty much guess what was going to happen. The author should have put a twist or he should have had a little bit of a different resolution. “ But before I reach him he stumbles backward, over the edge.(149)” This made me feel kind of mutual because I'm mean it didn’t make me like the book anymore, but it didn’t make me hate it. Although I was pretty sure that the original was the one who was going to survive. I did like that the author used a plot twist at the end to keep things interesting. “Until the phone rings”(154). I thought this was very effective to keep the story from becoming burnt out.
I liked the book because it had some interesting parts, like when there turns out to be more than one duplicate. It was also interesting at the end of the book when there was a plot twist, but it was a cliffhanger which was kind of annoying because I wanted to find out what happened after that. I did not like the book at the beginning because, like most books it was kind of boring to build up the suspense, it also had some boring parts during it. Although when the parts of the book were not boring they were rather quite interesting, to see how the 2 duplicates seemed to handle the problem of there being 2 of the same person. I would have liked it if the book continued on a little bit after it states,” then the phone rang…” People who liked this book might also like books such as The Spirit House, or any other mystery style books. There aren't any movies, books, or TV shows that are similar to this book. Overall I would give this book a rating of 3.5 because it wasn't great but it wasn't bad, although it was pretty predictable.
The author used a first person point of view when telling this story. I think it was effective because if it was in the third person it would have probably get confusing with all the duplicates. “Duplicate A does not run outside. I lie there listening to the bump and scrape of the ladder as he drags it laboriously up the steps”(125). I like this example because, I think that if this was in the third person, it might have been a little confusing, or hard to understand.I also think that the author using first person was good, is because I makes it easier for the reader to understand all of the originals thoughts, and if it was in, third person it would have been hard to keep tracker of all three duplicates personalities, because they are all so different.
I did not like the resolution because I found it very predictable. I think it was ineffective because I could pretty much guess what was going to happen. The author should have put a twist or he should have had a little bit of a different resolution. “ But before I reach him he stumbles backward, over the edge.(149)” This made me feel kind of mutual because I'm mean it didn’t make me like the book anymore, but it didn’t make me hate it. Although I was pretty sure that the original was the one who was going to survive. I did like that the author used a plot twist at the end to keep things interesting. “Until the phone rings”(154). I thought this was very effective to keep the story from becoming burnt out.
I liked the book because it had some interesting parts, like when there turns out to be more than one duplicate. It was also interesting at the end of the book when there was a plot twist, but it was a cliffhanger which was kind of annoying because I wanted to find out what happened after that. I did not like the book at the beginning because, like most books it was kind of boring to build up the suspense, it also had some boring parts during it. Although when the parts of the book were not boring they were rather quite interesting, to see how the 2 duplicates seemed to handle the problem of there being 2 of the same person. I would have liked it if the book continued on a little bit after it states,” then the phone rang…” People who liked this book might also like books such as The Spirit House, or any other mystery style books. There aren't any movies, books, or TV shows that are similar to this book. Overall I would give this book a rating of 3.5 because it wasn't great but it wasn't bad, although it was pretty predictable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2025
This was not as good as Singularity (which I just read as well and was enthralled by), but Sleator does a great job of really getting at what all these sci-fi tropes (duplication, time travel) would really be like for the actual people. In this case it is teenagers, but his vision of how people react and the reality of the situation could be easily described similarly to adults. For this it gets at 3.25.
These teens act like teenagers and while they like to rebel a bit, there seems to be a bit of respect for authority (parents, etc). Some YA books just have them ignore the authority of their parents and never even consider them as someone who could help them, in this case, as in Singularity, it probably wouldn’t done any good (and might have caused more harm due to the evil Duplicate B).
So David is walking along the beach when he finds a duplicator for living things. After watching it dupe a seagull and trying it with his fish, he decides that was enough testing (5 minutes, no time to see any lasting effects) because he has a hot date that is being interfered by his Grandma’s birthday party.
Unfortunately the duplicate gets to go to the date….
As time goes on, they realize the difficulty in having two trying to play as one person (made especially difficult since his mom is WFH). They find a creepy abandoned tower that has been left alone because a boy was murdered in it to hide out in.
There is some mistrust between the duplicate and David as he feels they are keeping the truth from him, but little did he know how much. One day he gets convinced to switch from going to school by the duplicate. So he goes to the tower only to find another, creepy duplicate. Note: this day he noticed the duplicate fish has marks and seemed to have killed the original fish. It was also going crazy and possibly dying/self-destructing
So now there are three and they now realize there are either time limits/ or there can only be one. (David tells a bit of untruth about which fish was died while faking a mark on himself). Unfortunately Angela, the girl he has been seeing, gets caught up in the middle of the chaos of them trying to kill the others. David made it seem like he was not far from death so he could get the last hand. With the help of a misdirection from Angela, they take down the evil duplicate. The original duplicate was already knocked off by the evil one.
The ending was a nice wrap up, though I’m not sure what the phone ring was for the last line. Also- nice call-out to Interstellar Pig!
These teens act like teenagers and while they like to rebel a bit, there seems to be a bit of respect for authority (parents, etc). Some YA books just have them ignore the authority of their parents and never even consider them as someone who could help them, in this case, as in Singularity, it probably wouldn’t done any good (and might have caused more harm due to the evil Duplicate B).
So David is walking along the beach when he finds a duplicator for living things. After watching it dupe a seagull and trying it with his fish, he decides that was enough testing (5 minutes, no time to see any lasting effects) because he has a hot date that is being interfered by his Grandma’s birthday party.
Unfortunately the duplicate gets to go to the date….
As time goes on, they realize the difficulty in having two trying to play as one person (made especially difficult since his mom is WFH). They find a creepy abandoned tower that has been left alone because a boy was murdered in it to hide out in.
There is some mistrust between the duplicate and David as he feels they are keeping the truth from him, but little did he know how much. One day he gets convinced to switch from going to school by the duplicate. So he goes to the tower only to find another, creepy duplicate. Note: this day he noticed the duplicate fish has marks and seemed to have killed the original fish. It was also going crazy and possibly dying/self-destructing
So now there are three and they now realize there are either time limits/ or there can only be one. (David tells a bit of untruth about which fish was died while faking a mark on himself). Unfortunately Angela, the girl he has been seeing, gets caught up in the middle of the chaos of them trying to kill the others. David made it seem like he was not far from death so he could get the last hand. With the help of a misdirection from Angela, they take down the evil duplicate. The original duplicate was already knocked off by the evil one.
The ending was a nice wrap up, though I’m not sure what the phone ring was for the last line. Also- nice call-out to Interstellar Pig!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2020
I guess it is normal when a book is reviewed by a lot of people that some will love it completely, and some will dislike it completely. But what interested me in reading the reviews was the ones who thought the book was slow and boring until the last two chapters where it got exciting. I found practically the opposite was true and it was the ending that disappointed me.
I felt the story started out as a sort of psychological sci-fi story: setting up the premise and gradually building the suspense as the story develops. If you allow the main premise that the Spee-Dee-Dupe machine could clone people, I think most of the interaction between David and his clone early on is believable. Now he clones himself to be in two places at once because Angela will not be home so he can call and say he can't make it. If it were me, I would have just gone to Angela's house and left a note! But then we would not have a sci-fi story, would we?
Anyway, I thought the writing was good and mainly plausible through most of it, but the final two chapters to me seemed unbelievable and rather abrupt. What starts out more psychological turns into an action thriller, but I am not convinced Angela would act the way she does, and David writing notes to communicate in order to keep from making noise seems weird to me. (I am trying to stay vague so as not to give away anything important.) And then the cliffhanger feel of the last sentence almost appears to be setting up a sequel, though I don't know if there ever was one.
But even though that ending disappointed me, some reviewers thought that was the best part of this book, so if the premise sounds interesting to you, I would recommend that you give the book a try and decide for yourself.
I felt the story started out as a sort of psychological sci-fi story: setting up the premise and gradually building the suspense as the story develops. If you allow the main premise that the Spee-Dee-Dupe machine could clone people, I think most of the interaction between David and his clone early on is believable. Now he clones himself to be in two places at once because Angela will not be home so he can call and say he can't make it. If it were me, I would have just gone to Angela's house and left a note! But then we would not have a sci-fi story, would we?
Anyway, I thought the writing was good and mainly plausible through most of it, but the final two chapters to me seemed unbelievable and rather abrupt. What starts out more psychological turns into an action thriller, but I am not convinced Angela would act the way she does, and David writing notes to communicate in order to keep from making noise seems weird to me. (I am trying to stay vague so as not to give away anything important.) And then the cliffhanger feel of the last sentence almost appears to be setting up a sequel, though I don't know if there ever was one.
But even though that ending disappointed me, some reviewers thought that was the best part of this book, so if the premise sounds interesting to you, I would recommend that you give the book a try and decide for yourself.
June 18, 2023
I read this some years ago, but I still remember it vividly, which I think is a strong indicator of a compelling story. Not to say it wasn't without its faults, though some of those "faults" have to do with my discomfort reading about a particularly flawed main character (I hadn't read a lot at the time, so this was a bizarre revelation to me; protagonists could be imperfect?!).
In ensuring I had the correct book, despite recognising the cover, I read a few other reviews and noticed that others don't consider this sci-fi but magic, as the duplicator's "just" a magic box. I think it's sci-fi based on it's a mechanical device vs. a definitely not-mechanical object like a rock or a wooden wand. I'm open to correction, of course, but it definitely felt sci-fi to me.
The main reason I like this book is it feels like a cautionary tale against cloning (despite the fact real life clones in this fashion would be distinctly different due to age difference... or actually be twins/triplets/etc. from birth) and presuming oneself will have the advantage in such a situation. It's fairly applicable in real life, actually; it could be you and someone else both believe yourselves to be the leader of a project, and without an external authority to say otherwise, both of you would have to compete in some fashion to determine who is REALLY the leader.
Recommended as "Baby's First Sci-Fi/Horror" for certain!
In ensuring I had the correct book, despite recognising the cover, I read a few other reviews and noticed that others don't consider this sci-fi but magic, as the duplicator's "just" a magic box. I think it's sci-fi based on it's a mechanical device vs. a definitely not-mechanical object like a rock or a wooden wand. I'm open to correction, of course, but it definitely felt sci-fi to me.
The main reason I like this book is it feels like a cautionary tale against cloning (despite the fact real life clones in this fashion would be distinctly different due to age difference... or actually be twins/triplets/etc. from birth) and presuming oneself will have the advantage in such a situation. It's fairly applicable in real life, actually; it could be you and someone else both believe yourselves to be the leader of a project, and without an external authority to say otherwise, both of you would have to compete in some fashion to determine who is REALLY the leader.
Recommended as "Baby's First Sci-Fi/Horror" for certain!
March 4, 2017
Like most of William Sleator's work, this story tackles an interesting sci-fi concept and then makes it slightly terrifying. Here there main character discovers a device that makes copies of living things, and tries it on himself. Hooray! He can be in two places at once! Except, of course, he is only actually one of those two people. Interesting conflicts ensue, and the story gets very dark very quickly. Would would you do if you found out that your double was trying to kill you?
The characterization wasn't amazing, but still a fascinating read.
The characterization wasn't amazing, but still a fascinating read.
June 4, 2020
I originally read this book in middle school and really enjoyed it. I decided to take a trip down memory lane for the nostalgia and purchased it. The story focuses on David and a machine he finds that can make duplicates of living organisms. When he duplicates himself, things go awry. Surprisingly dark for a YA read, this book brings up themes of what makes one human, morality, and young passion. 4/5 stars (for the plot twist and the nostalgia).
September 15, 2019
This was my first William Sleator book 12 years ago, and to this day I still remember it. Sleator has that strange and wonderful power to create worlds that make you think, and make even the craziest and bizarre ideas feel real.
April 25, 2025
It's an absolute wonder how none of Sleator's works got optioned for tween horror episodic television.
This is a good intro to the genre - not the best, but good for the teen reader. Slightly too quick paced for me (and murder-y), but should pose some interesting moral dilemmas for new readers.
This is a good intro to the genre - not the best, but good for the teen reader. Slightly too quick paced for me (and murder-y), but should pose some interesting moral dilemmas for new readers.
July 1, 2020
Read this multiple times as a middle schooler. And read it in 2020 to my middle schooler, who liked it a lot.
September 16, 2024
For school
December 26, 2024
2.5⭐
Some books aren't meant to be revisited. Especially if the first time you read it was over 20 years ago lol
Some books aren't meant to be revisited. Especially if the first time you read it was over 20 years ago lol
October 17, 2025
this is a good for horror for younger readers. the plot can also work as a goosebumps book
July 16, 2014
David's got a problem: he committed himself to be in two places at once. He'd really love to ditch the boring obligation and go out with a girl, but there aren't two Davids, so he's stuck. Unless. . . . When David successfully tests a found duplication machine and finds he now has two goldfish, he gets up his nerve to test it on himself and suddenly both Davids insist they're the original. He'd thought cloning himself would enable him to be the one freed of responsibility, but his clone wants to have fun too, and he's stuck trying to figure out how they can keep from being discovered by their loved ones and how to share the memories of their experiences so no one suspects what's really going on. But soon, David starts to wonder if the pressures of dealing with this split existence are getting to him and his clone. Could the other David be plotting against him?
It's such a simple premise, and an overused one in science fiction, but Sleator does a good job imagining and executing what it might be like to have two of you and the very basic problems that would cause. Plus, the question of who's "the original" and the nature of experience in transforming a person is examined. The degradation of cloned creatures and subsequent warping seemed a little convenient, but that's how the plot built up into a thriller, so I guess it makes sense that the machine wasn't exactly perfect.
It's such a simple premise, and an overused one in science fiction, but Sleator does a good job imagining and executing what it might be like to have two of you and the very basic problems that would cause. Plus, the question of who's "the original" and the nature of experience in transforming a person is examined. The degradation of cloned creatures and subsequent warping seemed a little convenient, but that's how the plot built up into a thriller, so I guess it makes sense that the machine wasn't exactly perfect.
February 9, 2011
Book talk 1: It seemed harmless enough. After all couldn’t everyone use a duplicate of themselves so they could be two places at once? There’s so many interesting things to do and then there’s all the required junk it would be nice to have a little help. David thought so too until his duplicate showed a mind of his own and plans of his own.
Book talk 2: Suppose you could duplicate yourself. Think about it. You could go to the beach or stay in bed and send your duplicate to school. It seems a harmless enough idea. After all couldn’t everyone use a duplicate of themselves so they could be two places at once? There’s so many interesting things to do and then there’s all the required junk it would be nice to have a little help. David thought so too until his duplicate showed a mind of his own and plans of his own.
I got confused at times between the original and the duplicates and keeping the issue of the marks straight required concentration. But the suspense of how to deal with the duplicates and then accomplishing it was riveting.
Book talk 2: Suppose you could duplicate yourself. Think about it. You could go to the beach or stay in bed and send your duplicate to school. It seems a harmless enough idea. After all couldn’t everyone use a duplicate of themselves so they could be two places at once? There’s so many interesting things to do and then there’s all the required junk it would be nice to have a little help. David thought so too until his duplicate showed a mind of his own and plans of his own.
I got confused at times between the original and the duplicates and keeping the issue of the marks straight required concentration. But the suspense of how to deal with the duplicates and then accomplishing it was riveting.
April 7, 2014
I fished this out of the book sale when it was pulled from the library shelves for not circulating enough. The cover art was creepy enough for me to say 'no wonder this is here' and enough to make me want to read it. I was expecting a funny story about a boy who clones himself and the clone doing unexpected things in a really goofy way. I was pleasantly surprised when the clone actually thought that HE was the original... and then the plot thickens when you don't know which is the real and the duplicate, and one is trying to kill the other. Lots of honest-to-God questions confronted regarding 'what if there was a clone of me?' and handled in such an expert manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and wish so much that it would have checked out more.
May 23, 2014
William Sleator is great, but The Duplicate tells a tale as old as time. Pretty much every story about having an exact double of yourself ends up with them being crazy and causing all kind of problems.
I was kind of hoping for the plot to go the direction of the duplicate being an asshole and this making the original realize that he personally is actually a manipulative, lying dick, and trying to be a better person once he comes face to face, literally, with all his shortcomings. But that didn't happen. I'm sure that book exists somewhere though.
I was kind of hoping for the plot to go the direction of the duplicate being an asshole and this making the original realize that he personally is actually a manipulative, lying dick, and trying to be a better person once he comes face to face, literally, with all his shortcomings. But that didn't happen. I'm sure that book exists somewhere though.
October 9, 2012
William Sleator was one of my favorite sci fi authors as a kid, so I decided to revisit all of the books that I loved of his. While written for an audience of 12-16 year olds, his books are easy to plow through in a day or so, during life breaks, but as an adult, I can still see the appeal. Sleator has a writing style where speaking of aliens and magic and real life all wrapped up in one paragraph isn't totally ridiculous (eh hem, Twilight).
April 25, 2012
I think this book would be very interesting to children. The books storyline is one that everyone wished they could live. Most people woudl love to duplicate themselves so that they can get more then one thing done at a time, I know i do. The book also teaches a lesson about how sometimes what you think would be good is not always good in the end, usually it gets complicated. I would recommend this book to any reader!
April 14, 2013
I read this book back in middle school. It was on a long list of books we could use for a book report. Many, many Classic and books I had been made to read year after year.
This was my first real non-Classic book and the one that opened my eyes to Science Fiction and other books I would forever enjoy! I remember my book report was almost as long as the book, not my best grade, but I was told apparently I was passionate about this book and that was what the teacher liked to see.
This was my first real non-Classic book and the one that opened my eyes to Science Fiction and other books I would forever enjoy! I remember my book report was almost as long as the book, not my best grade, but I was told apparently I was passionate about this book and that was what the teacher liked to see.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews