In a future Bangkok, the world struggles under the collapse of the global petroleum economy and the rise of bioterrorism. Genetic engineered plagues, designed by international calorie companies to monopolize the food supply, have devastated natural ecosystems. Emiko, a "New Person" or windup girl, is an artificial being created for servitude who seeks refuge in this sweltering city. The narrative follows Anderson Lake, a corporate spy searching for a secret seed bank, and Jaidee Rojjanasukchai, a dedicated officer of the Environment Ministry fighting off illegal biological imports. These characters collide as political instability threatens the kingdom's isolationist policies.
Readers of grimy, high-density science fiction find here a detailed study of post-expansion economics and biological warfare. Those interested in resource scarcity and genetic sovereignty read this to understand how corporate patents might dictate human survival in a zero-carbon era. The book provides a technical look at a world powered by springs, kinetic energy, and labor animals rather than fossil fuels. You walk away with a cynical perspective on corporate ethics and a vivid picture of a society rebuilt on the ruins of biotechnology.
Outward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2009
- Language
- EN
