Justina Robson. An engaging read, with some surprising character sympathies.
What will happen as mechanical, electronic, and genetic enhancements to the human body and mind become more common? What kind of class and power struggles will arise? Natural History asks these questions on an earth of the future where “unenhanced” humans who have created the “forged,” sterile, genetically manipulated, and physically and mentally enhanced servants. Slavery and justice are commented upon in a couple of political speeches, but I was disturbed by the idea that humanity, after all we’ve been through, would intentionally create a permanent, semi-human underclass.