The Mirror Man

April 20, 2020
Gilmartin explores the nature of selfhood in this bracing sci-fi debut. Jeremiah Adams agrees to participate in a radical experiment conducted by his employer, ViGen pharmaceuticals, for a cool $10 million. He’ll take a “twelve-month sabbatical from his own life” and be replaced by a clone of himself. Through hidden cameras, Jeremiah will observe the clone interacting with his family, friends, and coworkers and report on whether the clone’s behavior differs from what his own would be in any given situation. Jeremiah dutifully reports his findings to data analyst Brent Higgins, whom he soon befriends, but hides his concerns that his dog and his ailing mother appear to suspect that the clone is not him. Then Jeremiah’s mother dies, and dark secrets about the true purpose of the experiment surface. As Jeremiah and his clone’s personalities diverge more and more, Jeremiah determines to save what’s left of his shattered life. Gilmartin raises the stakes with a mysterious subplot about ViGen’s miracle drug, Meld, but leaves several threads frustratingly unresolved. Though Jeremiah’s reports occasionally become repetitive, the philosophical and psychological issues are well-developed and the climactic finale is thrilling. Gilmartin’s thought-provoking tale is well worth a look. Agent: Will Roberts, The Gernert Company.

May 1, 2020

Jeremiah Adams feels like a lucky man when he's offered ten million dollars by his employer, ViGen Pharmaceuticals, to be cloned. The clone will assume one year of Jeremiah's life with his wife Diana and son Parker, while he spends it in a secure apartment, viewing everything from a monitor for four hours a day with his assigned colleague, Brent Higgins. Jeremiah is supposed to report any differences he observes between himself and the clone, including when his dog, Louie, fails to recognize him. Instead, he uses the knowledge of the dog as insurance while he investigates what Dr. Charles Scott, the lead scientist, is hiding about the project and its wonder drug, the Meld. As he and Brent uncover more lies, the people in Jeremiah's real life are put at risk, leaving him to wonder if the money is worth all the sacrifice, and if his real life will resemble anything close to normal by the time he gets out. VERDICT This is a cloning story that reads like a thriller, making it accessible to fans of sf and corporate espionage.--Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT

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