Diabolic, The

When Sidonia, a senator’s daughter, is summoned to the Imperial Court by the Emperor, Nemesis, her genetically engineered semi-human body guard, must protect her and so poses as Sidonia and goes to Court herself. As Nemesis attempts to survive the many ruthless people and events at Court, she undertakes her own journey of self-discovery and learns she may be more human than she realized. This compelling sci-fi/dystopian novel for grades 9-12 is suitable for individual or small group study and raises issues of relationships, loyalty, the ethics of science, the effects of genetic engineering, DNA manipulation, and the role of power and control in society.