History Literature / HouseOfTheScorpion

* CloningBlues: This forms the backbone of the plot, as Matt struggles to find his place in a world where law and culture are hostile towards clones.

* ChildProdigy: Matt is talented in a number of fields, but especially at music. One subtle hint that is given that Matt is not like El Patrón is that Matt is talented with music, whereas El Patrón is not.

* 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: the entire world has suffered ecological devastation.

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

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Creator/NancyFarmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the 22nd century]], 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 Patrón. 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 Patrón, but is mistreated by the residents (save a few of the characters, such as the bodyguard Tam Lin, and El Patrón) [[Main/WhatMeasureIsANonHuman for the simple reason that he is a clone.]]

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Creator/NancyFarmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the 22nd century]], 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 Patrón. 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 Patrón, but is mistreated by the residents (save a few of the characters, such as the bodyguard Tam Lin, and El Patrón) for the simple reason that he is a clone; most clones have their self-awareness and intelligence blunted by mandated drug use.

While living in El Patrón's mansion, Matt gradually learns more about the history of Opium, and also the history of people he lives with. His experiences in Opium instill in him the desire to make it a better place once he becomes the new ruler. However, when circumstances [[TheReveal lead Matt to discover]] that he was never meant to inherit El Patrón's position, he escapes Opium with the help of Tam Lin and discovers that the world outside is no different than the one he had left behind.

* DrugsAreBad: The nation of Opium was said to be founded when powerful drug dealers made a deal with U.S. and Mexican leaders, offering to secure their borders and not traffic drugs into their country. In return, they demanded to be left alone to traffic narcotics to the rest of the world. What this system does to the rest of the world is hinted at, but never really described. Later in the novel, [[spoiler: Ton Ton leads to the arrest of a few Keepers by accusing them of illegally taking opium products. When they object to this, Esperanza orders them to a drug test, after which they are led away by the authorities]].

* {{Hypocrite}}: The Keepers despise "aristocrats" and constantly preach about TheNeedsOfTheMany over individual needs, but Matt points out they don't live up to their own standards. Then Ton Ton reveals the Keepers secretly revel in luxuries denied to the orphans.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: In order to atone for his past, [[spoiler: Tam Lin decides that his redemption is attained in death]].

* BastardBastard: [[TheBully Tom]] was conceived from an affair between Felicia and MacGregor. Matt notes they have [[LikeFatherLikeSon similar looks and personalities]].

* BrokenPedestal: [[spoiler: El Patrón for Matt when he attempts to kill him for a heart transplant. Tam Lin as well when he betrays Matt, though it's quickly {{rebuilt|Pedestal}} when Tam Lin was actually protecting him and Celia]].

* CrapSackWorld: The U.S.'s economy has deteriorated such that El Patrón mentions that he catches illegals crossing not only into the United States, but ''into Aztlán'' as well. Meanwhile, Aztlán, seems to be under a quasi-communist government with people known as Keepers, and the only ones of who we see are extremely corrupt drug-runners who use orphans and kids as labor, feeding them with plankton - ''not'' fit for human consumption. Not much is said about the rest of the world, but a country running opium everywhere on the planet except the U.S. and Aztlán, that is protected by said countries and is unchecked by their (or anybody's) drug authorities probably isn't doing it much good.

* FantasticSlur: "Eejit" and "clone" have similar connotations to "retard"; outside of Aztlán they're called "zombies". The Lost Boys also use "crot" as a PrecisionFStrike.

* IdiotSavant: Ton-Ton of the Lost Boys stutters, has trouble with social cues and is regarded as stupid by his peers, but he has a way with machines and may have PhotographicMemory, or something close to it.

--> Someone I loved tried to kill me
* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Alacrán family has a large number of members with questionable morals.

* DysfunctionJunction: The entire Alacrán family has its share of problems: to name a few, Matt is a clone and despised by the whole family. Felicia is a drunk pianist prone to nervous breakdowns, her son Tom is a bullying monster, and Mr. Alacrán, her husband, doesn't even ''like'' her. Benito is a {{Jerkass}}, and he and his wife despise each other, but they're forced to be together anyway because El Patrón wants it. His wife ends up getting drunk during the wedding to cope with her husband. The only well-meaning people in the whole mess are Matt, Celia and El Viejo.

* IdiotSavant: Ton Ton of the Lost Boys stutters and is regarded as stupid by his peers, but has a way with machines.

* OddFriendship: Despite their vastly different occupations, Daft Donald and Mr. Ortega are on amicable terms outside of their duties. They communicate by means of laptops to get around their respective disabilities.

[[quoteright:317:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TheHouseoftheScorpion_4586.jpg]]

->"Here's the dirty little secret. No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human. That's because there isn't any difference. The idea of clones being inferior is a filthy lie."

* Hypocrite: The Keepers despise "aristocrats" and constantly preach about the NeedsOfTheMany over individual needs, but Matt points out they don't live up to their own standards. Then Ton Ton reveals the Keepers secretly revel in luxuries denied to the orphans.

** When he was a boy, El Patrón was the only survivor when his whole family got killed

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Creator/NancyFarmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the 22nd century]], 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 Patrón. 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 Patrón, but is mistreated by the residents (save a few of the characters, such as the bodyguard Tam Lin, and El Patrón) for the simple reason that he is a clone; most of clones have their self-awareness and intelligence blunted by mandated drug use.

** Matt's destiny is [[spoiler: to act as an organ donor in order to keep El Patron alive]].

* AristocratsAreEvil: The Keepers hate "aristocrats" like Matt, as they feel that the goals of the collective are more important than the individual. It also applies to most of El Patron's family, and the [=MacGregors=] being portrayed as evil. El Patron's portrayal borders on this at times, but he is usually portrayed sympathetically.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Matt has the same fingerprints as El Patron [[spoiler: which allows him to bypass biometric security systems in Opium.]] In RealLife, no two people (not even identical twins) have the same fingerprints.

* ChildProdigy: Matt is talented in a number of fields, but especially at music. One subtle hint that is given that Matt is not like El Patron is that Matt is talented with music, whereas El Patron is not.

* 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 Aztlán'' as well. Meanwhile, Aztlán, seems to be under a quasi-communist government with people known as Keepers, and the only ones of who we see are extremely corrupt drug-runners who use orphans and kids as labor, feeding them with plankton - ''not'' fit for human consumption. Not much is said about the rest of the world, but a country running opium everywhere on the planet except the U.S. and Aztlán, that is protected by said countries and is unchecked by their (or anybody's) drug authorities probably isn't doing it much good.

* DysfunctionJunction: The entire Alacrán family has its share of problems: to name a few, Matt is a clone and despised by the whole family. Felicia is a drunk pianist prone to nervous breakdowns, her son Tom is a bullying monster, and Mr. Alacrán, her husband, doesn't even ''like'' her. Benito is a {{Jerkass}}, and he and his wife despise each other, but they're forced to be together anyway because El Patron wants it. His wife ends up getting drunk during the wedding to cope with her husband. The only well-meaning people in the whole mess are Matt, Celia and El Viejo.

* EvilOldFolks: El Patron is described as "evil" several times, and his ruthlessness shows at times, but manages to avoid this trope since at first, he is the only person besides Celia, Tam Lin, and Maria who is nice to Matt when he came to the big house, and treats him like a son, until the point where [[spoiler: he needs his organs]]. El Patron is said to had to live by his wits when he was little, which is likely a contributing factor towards his nature.
* 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 Aztlán, which, while having a decent economy, is still poor.

* FauxAffablyEvil: El Patron is one of the only people nice to Matt during his time at the Alacrán house, and maintains his grandfatherly demeanor even after it's revealed that [[spoiler:he uses clones such as Matt to replace his failing organs]].

* FreudianExcuse: El Patron's childhood. He was the only surviving child of a ''large'' family, had to beg his landlord for food, and pretty much only had money when it was given to him via charity.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: El Patron was born into a impoverished Mexican family, but by the time of the novel, he is one of the most powerful drug lords on the planet.

* GovernmentDrugEnforcement: By law, clones must be given drugs at birth to stunt their intelligence, making them just a step above vegetables. Matt avoided this simply because of El Patron's influence.

* ImmortalityImmorality: They may not have been planning on ''immortality'' as such, but [[spoiler: El Patron and [=MacGregor=] ]] use some thoroughly immoral technologies to extend their lifespans.

* ModernStasis: [[spoiler:El Patron keeps many aspects of life in Opium in early 21st century/late 20th century stasis, right down to what Matt sees on TV.]]

* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: El Patron is in his early 100s.

* ScatterbrainedSenior: El Patron's cognitive capacities diminish towards the end of his life, leading him to make use of [[spoiler: fetal brain implants from his clones]] to ward off the effects of age.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: The reason Matt isn't brain-dead like the other clones is because El Patron has so much money and power, he can break any law he wants.

** When he was a boy, El Patron was the only survivor when his whole family got killed
** Of El Patron's security staff, [[spoiler: only Daft Donald lives after Tam Lin had saved him from the wine poisoning]].

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The novel is set the 22nd century in the sequel, but the technology in Opium has been [[spoiler: repressed to standards used a century ago from their time, save a few exceptions such as El Patron's security system, hospital, and personal transport]]. The rest of the world possesses decidedly futuristic technology: holographic displays and anti-gravitational technology is fairly widespread.

* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: This is one of the central themes in the novel. Clones are declared non-human by international law and must have their cognitive functions destroyed with drugs to justify [[spoiler:harvesting them for organs]]. Matt escapes this treatment only because El Patron has enough [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney power]] to break this law without consequence. This way of thinking is commonplace within their society to the extent that Maria is shocked when she is told that Matt is and always has been human.

* YouAreNotAlone: Recalling that he has the support of his family and friends, Matt sets about the imposing task of [[spoiler: reverting all of the changes El Patron had imposed upon Opium at the novel's end]].

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Creator/NancyFarmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the 22nd century]], 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, such as the bodyguard Tam Lin, 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.

While living in El Patron's mansion, Matt gradually learns more about the history of Opium, and also the history of people he lives with. His experiences in Opium instill in him the desire to make it a better place once he becomes the new ruler. However, when circumstances [[TheReveal lead Matt to discover]] that he was never meant to inherit El Patron's position, he escapes Opium with the help of Tam Lin and discovers that the world outside is no different than the one he had left behind.

* 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, and the only ones of who we see are extremely corrupt drug-runners who use orphans and kids as labor, feeding them with plankton - ''not'' fit for human consumption. 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.

* EvilOldFolks: El Patron. El Patron is described as "evil" several times, and his ruthlessness shows at times, but manages to avoid this trope since at first, he is the only person besides Celia, Tam Lin, and Maria who is nice to Matt when he came to the big house, and treats him like a son, until the point where [[spoiler: he needs his organs]]. El Patron is said to had to live by his wits when he was little, which is likely a contributing factor towards his nature.
* 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, which, while having a decent economy, is still poor.

* SoleSurvivor: Of El Patron's security staff, [[spoiler: only Daft Donald lives after Tam Lin had saved him from the wine poisoning]].

''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 novel by Nancy Farmer. It takes place [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the 22nd century]], 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, such as the bodyguard Tam Lin, 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.