History Literature / HouseOfTheScorpion

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Nancy Farmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the near future]], where a thin strip of land between the [[FallenStatesOfAmerica now-impoverished United States]] and Aztlán (formerly Mexico) forms the country of Opium. The story's focus is on boy named Matt, who is a clone of drug lord and ruler of Opium, Matteo Alacrán, the latter of which is more commonly known as El Patron. As a young boy, he lives with Celia, his caregiver, in a little cottage in the middle of the poppy fields. Later, he moves in with El Patron, but is mistreated by the residents (save a few of the characters and El Patron) for the simple reason that he is a clone; most of clones have their self-awareness and intelligence blunted by mandated drug use.

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The novel appears to be set in an unspecified point in the future; while technology in Opium has been repressed to standards used a century ago from their time, the rest of the world possesses decidedly futuristic technology: holographic displays and anti-gravitational technology is fairly widespread.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Tam [[TheMentor Lin]] knowingly drinks poisoned wine in order to atone for accidentally killing twenty schoolkids in a botched terrorist attack.]] The sequel mentions that [[spoiler:El Patron ordered him too, and due too his chip implants, he was forced to obey.]]

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Tam [[TheMentor Lin]] knowingly drinks poisoned wine in order to atone for accidentally killing twenty schoolkids in a botched terrorist attack.]]
** [[spoiler: The sequel mentions that El Patron ordered him too, and due too his chip implants, he was forced to obey.]]

* AndIMustScream: Eejits programmed for total control can only comply with orders they are told; if they aren't instructed to eat or drink, they'll literally go about their tasks and get hungrier and thirstier until death.

* ShoutOut: As a child, Matt reads a Spanish version of ''Literature/TheTaleOfPeterRabbit''.

* [[spoiler: ModernStasis: El Patron keeps many aspects of life in Opium in early 21st century stasis, right down to what Matt sees on TV.]]

* TheMessiah: Maria, a devout follower of the teachings of St. Francis, aspires to be this trope.

* AndIMustScream: Eejits can only comply with orders they are told; if they aren't instructed to eat or drink, they'll literally go about their tasks and get hungrier and thirstier until death.

* GaiasLament: By the time the events in the novel occur, the natural environment has deteriorated significantly such that The Rio Grande's pollution is described as a "witches brew of chemicals" by Tam Lin and the Gulf of California is drained. The sequel, ''The Lord of Opium'', is expected to expand on this: the entire world has suffered ecological devastation.

* CrapSackWorld: The U.S.'s economy has deteriorated such that El Patron mentions that he catches illegals crossing not only into the United States, but ''into Aztlan'' as well. Meanwhile, Aztlan, seems to be under a quasi-communist government with people known as Keepers who use orphaned children for labor. Not much is said about the rest of the world, but a country running opium everywhere on the planet except the U.S. and Aztlan, that is protected by said countries and is unchecked by their (or anybody's) drug authorities probably isn't doing it much good.
** Somewhat lessed when you remember that the Keepers that we see were increadbly corrupt and one character commets that if Maria wants to take care of Lepers they would have to import some; it appears that Aztlan, at the minimum, has a decent healthcare system.

* FallenStatesOfAmerica: El Patron mentions that he catches illegals coming both ways, implying that the United States has become the equivalent of a third world country, where conditions are poor enough for people to try and immigrate into Aztlan.
** Of course seeing as Aztlan has a decent economy it seems that it's just the out of work people from both sides trying their luck in another country.

The sequel, titled ''The Lord of Opium'', [[http://www.nancyfarmerwebsite.com/4/post/2012/07/karoshi.html is to be released September 3, 2013]].

** Somewhat lessed when you remember that the Keepers that we see were increadbly corrupt and one character commets that if Maria wants to take care of Lepers they would have to import some. So at least Aztlan has a decent healthcare system.

* GaiasLament: By the time the events in the novel occur, the natural environment has deteriorated significantly such that The Rio Grande's pollution is described as a "witches brew of chemicals" by Tam Lin and the Gulf of California is drained.
** The sequel, ''The Lord of Opium'' expands on this, stating the entire world is devastated ecologically.

* SquatsInAName: Tam Lin. Why is he named "Literature/TamLin"? Probably just because.

** The sequel reveals the book to be set in the 22nd century.

The sequel, titled ''The Lord of Opium'', [[http://www.nancyfarmerwebsite.com/4/post/2012/07/karoshi.html is to be released in Fall 2013]].

* FallenStatesOfAmerica: El Patron mentions that he catches illegals coming both ways, implying that the United States has become the equivalent of a third world country, where conditions are poor enough for people to try and immigrate into Aztlan.

!This series provides examples of:

!!House of the Scorpion contains examples of:

* TheFuture: The novel appears to be set in an unspecified point in the future; while technology in Opium has been repressed to standards used a century ago from their time, the rest of the world possesses decidedly futuristic technology: holographic displays and anti-gravitational technology is fairly widespread.

* Foreshadowing: The book constantly, yet subtly, does this leading all the way up until TheReveal of [[spoiler: what clones are used for, including Matt]].

* PeopleFarms: Shown in the beginning of the novel, where clones are born [[spoiler:[[WalkingTransplant for organs]]]].

* WalkingTransplant: Matt's sole raison d'etre is to [[spoiler:provide El Patron with backup organs]].