In the future, the United States of America has been dissolved. Now, the country, renamed The Corporate States, is run by powerful corporations and is split up into an extremely divided class system. Paxco provides almost all of the jobs and livelihood for the people of the former state of New York due to the invention of Replicas. Replica technology allows for people who have died to be brought back to life with their memory data downloaded into the new body.
Nadia Lake is a sixteen year old who comes from a high ranking Executive family. She is engaged to Nathan "Nate" Hayes, the heir to the Paxco corporation in order to help raise the status of her family. Though they both come from the highest, most privileged class, they must deal with the harsh scrutiny of the press and strict expectation of personal behavior.
During the reception of a wedding, Nate is murdered. A day later, he is resurrected using the Replica technology. Having lost a week's worth of memory, he has no idea what happened that night. Nadia is taken in for questioning; despite not knowing who killed Nate or why, she is forced to spy on Nate to help lead them to Kurt Bishop, the main suspect (and Nate's secret boyfriend). Together, Nate and Nadia must attempt to unravel who killed the original Nathan Hayes while inadvertently discovering some sinister state Secrets.
Replica is a 2013 YA science fiction novel by Jenna Black. It is the first book in this Named After First Installment trilogy and was followed by Resistance and Revolution.
Not to be confused with Marilyn Kaye's Replica series or the Replica series by Lauren Oliver.
Tropes that appear:
- Abusive Parents: Nate's father. He's fairly neglectful of his son, usually choosing to ignore or invalidate him. Also there's the whole allowing Nate's death when he found out about Paxco's plans for Thea.
- Aerith and Bob: Many of the characters have fairly normal names (Nadia, Nate, Kurt) while others are unusual (Cherry, Jewel, Esmeralda). Also, people from the Basement go by their street names which tend to be odd.
- A Fate Worse Than Death: Many of Dirk Mosely's possible punishments for criminals or uncooperative individuals end this way. Riker's Island is not shown but is made out to be an ominous place. Also having Thea dissect and research your body. You're still alive when she starts.
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: Thea, the sentient super computer that creates the Replica technology. She lies and willing kills humans for "research." She is not interested in making fair negotiations with Nate and Nadia and only seems to care about the Chairman.
- Alpha Bitch: Jewel Howard.
- Arranged Marriage: Between Nate and Nadia. Though they are best friends, Nate has no real sex/romantic interest in Nadia and she is entering the marriage to help her family.
- Back from the Dead: Nate. Replica technology can bring back anyone (in the Executive class) and store their backup memory files. The process is incredibly controversial.
- Body Backup Drive/Brain Uploading: How the Replica technology works. When someone dies of an unnatural cause (accident, murder etc.) a replacement body has the individual's stored memories downloaded into it.
- The Beard: Nadia for Nate. They've been best friends since childhood and are engaged in an arranged marriage.
- Black Market: There is quite a thriving one. Many Executives, including Nadia's sister Gerri, participate in buying, selling and shipping goods. Gerri is able to obtain a pair of earrings for Nadia than record and transmit conversations.
- The Casanova: Nate pretends to be one to cover up his relationship with Kurt.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Dirk Mosely likes this, however, he also knows one must be prudent when using torture.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Nate's father who mostly ignores his son, does not care about hurting protestors, and he's trying to find a way to live forever.
- Cure Your Gays: Homosexuality is acceptable amongst the Employees and inhabitants of the Basement. It is considered unacceptable for the Executive class and Executives who identify as such are sent to a "reform camp."
- Dances and Balls: Some of the most common social gatherings for the Executive class. Not so much for Employees or Basement residents.
- The Dragon: Dirk Mosely is one for The Chairman.
- Extreme Doormat: Nadia starts out as one before growing a spine.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": The Chairman.
- Faking the Dead: Thea. The Chairman does not put in the code for her self destruction, merely "play dead."
- Fantastic Caste System: In the Corporate states of America, there are 3 classes: Executive (the richest, most powerful group), Employees (varying levels of middle class; tend to be workers), and the Basement (poor, under-educated and usually involved with illicit and criminal activities).
- Fantastic Racism: Many people are against the Replicas. Once Nate is resurrected, he runs into quite a few protests.
- First-Episode Resurrection: Nate is killed and resurrected fairly early on.
- Girl Posse: Cherry and Blair for Jewel. Neither of them say much besides laughing at Nadia.
- He Knows Too Much: Why Dirk Mosely is killed by the Chairman. He knew too much about Thea finding immortality that if he were (very likely) arrested, he would have squealed.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Alphabetical Theme Naming-style, all start with R: Replica, Resistance and Revolution.
- Idiot Ball: Dirk Mosely, who is portrayed as fairly smart and detail-oriented (he is Paxco's Chief of Security) does not even bother checking Nadia for any electronics when taking her to the Fortress to torture and kill her. This leads to her to transmitting valuable information through her earrings AND a hidden tracking device allowing for Nate to find her.
- Immortality Seeker: The Chairman.
- Incompatible Orientation: Between Nate and Nadia; Nate has very little interest in women.
- In-Series Nickname: The Basement is often called Debasement.
- The Internet Is for Porn: Despite the best effort of Executive society to shield young women from sex, the internet provides more than enough...information on the subject.
- The Ingenue: Invoked with Nadia; all the Executive women are expected to be pure and innocent.
- La Résistance: Part of the reason for Kurt's disappearance. A rebellion group made up of Basement denizens and some Employees are planning on overturning Paxco somehow.
- Manipulative Bastard: Dirk Mosely who will bully, threaten, and manipulative anyone if he can get closer to what he wants.
- The Mole: Twofold with Dante. He is an obvious mole hired by Dirk Mosely to act as a servant in Nadia's home and spy on her. He is also infiltrating Paxco and its security for the Rebellion.
- Moral Myopia: The Head of Paxco's Security, Dirk Mosely. His threats and psychical violence against Nadia is all considered within the means of protecting Paxco.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Nadia; she is trying to protect Nate and Kurt from Dirk Mosely and for awhile playing dumb is all she can do.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Angel of Mercy. Basement residents tend to use only their street name.
- Only One Name: No one from the Basement has a surname. As children, they are called by their first name until they earn their street name.
- Open Secret: That a large chunk of the Executive class participates in the black market. However, it is still illegal, which is why Dirk Mosely threatens to arrest Nadia's sister Gerri if Nadia does not spy on Nate.
- Organic Technology: Thea, the master computer, has organs.
- Platonic Life-Partners: Nate and Nadia.
- Resurrective Immortality: The ultimate goal of the Chairman and Thea. By dissecting humans, Thea hope to find how to transplant the mind of a person into a new body. Essentially, only memories are put in the new Replica, which results with a similar person who may make different choices than the original. The Chairman wants to find a way to live a normal life and then have himself transplanted into a younger body once his original is too old,
- The Scapegoat: Kurt Bishop. Nate found out that his father had some nefarious plans with Thea. He is killed shortly thereafter and resurrected with no memory of what happened. Kurt fled the scene and disappeared, becoming Paxco's scapegoat for Nate's murder.
- Sequel Hook: At the end of Replica: It is revealed that the Chairman lied and did not destroy Thea.
- Spoiled Brat: Jewel Howard. It seems that most Executive offspring are purposefully raised this way.
- Spy Catsuit: Nadia wears one as a disguise when going with Nate and Dante to meet Kurt.
- The Spymaster: Dirk Mosely, chief of Paxco's security.
- Straight Gay: Nate.
- The Theme Park Version: In universe, Angel's and other similar clubs/bars are the theme park version for the actual Basement. Many tourists from both the Employee and Executive classes go to these clubs in order to experience the "safe" version of the Basement.
- Token Minority: Chloe. She is a daughter from one of the few black Executive families.
- Torture Always Works: Subverted. Dirk Mosely enjoys using torture, but knows one must be sparing because people can and will say anything to make it stop.
- Transparent Closet: Nate's father has known for a long time about his boyfriend Kurt. He doesn't care as long as Nate keeps it on the down low.
- Tracking Device: Dirk Mosely gives one to Nadia to track Nate as he looks for his boyfriend. Later, Dante puts one on Nadia (because he and the Resistance don't trust her) which allows Nate to find her at the Fortress.
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Petal, the underage pickpocket who offers Nate sex. Nate notes that many children from the Basement start off with crime quite early.
- Would Hurt a Child: Dirk Mosely, who threatens Nadia's niece and nephew if she does not consent to spying on Nate.
- Would Hit a Girl: Dirk punches Nadia (who is sixteen at the time) in the stomach.
