What if you could pick any person from history and, through the computerized infusion of their DNA, receive their personality - their soul, for a better word - to share your body? When a young scientist named Tsering's wife - Chime - died, he developed techology that transferred her DNA (which, as it turns out contains not only the genetic structure of a person, but their personality as well) into a computer program that implanted onto his retina, created the first "blended" person. They call themselves Chimera. Thus began the company Nucore. They enlist the aid of their friend Leda Hubbard to find Cleopatra's tomb for their friend Gretchen, who hopes to use Cleopatra's legendary charm to save her marriage. However, it seems unscrupulous forces may be at work - maybe even within Nucore itself . . .

While the technology itself, being utilized pretty much during the present day, requires a pretty hefty suspension of disbelief, the story unfolds at a rapid-fire pace, covering not only the ethics of the procedure itself, but also touching on the topics of female genital mutilation, the general treatment of women by fundamentalist Islamics, unscrupulous medical procedures and so forth. It is continued in the book Cleopatra 7.2, which I am reading right now and cannot wait to see how it concludes.

The cover art really drew me to this book, as I have not read much before a very human trait which often gets left behind in science fiction works. I highly recommend this book-entertaining, engaging and full of plot twists that keep your interest.

Another well researched and lovely book by E. A. Scarborough. I was completely impressed by this, reading her books is always a joy, but this one goes to the top of the list along with Healer's War, and the Songkiller Trilogy as being my favorites by her.
Fantastic characters you can sympathise with, I really liked the main character's father Duke. He reminds me a bit of my own dad.
The story flowed, with puns and verbal plays throughout, but also moments of darkness. Whimsical, thoughtful, wonderful.
I would recommend reading the anthology, Past Lives, Present Tense first, but it's not truly necessary. It just gives more information about Chimera.
Thank you E. A. Scarborough, for another wonderful book!!!