R.B. Kelly

A decent SF thriller with a similar premise to Bladerunner (the film). Set about 100 years in the future, Danae is barely getting by as a waitress in a cafe in a collapsing megacity. The world is suffering from climate change and ecological collapse, and although the worst effects have been avoided, most people live in various megacities. Some years previously, artificial humans were created to be immune to diseases; they rebelled and were hunted down. Danae's father dies, and her life takes a massive downward turn when she is evicted from her home because of a collapse. She falls in with a young man who has an epileptic sister whose drugs are in short supply. The story follows their growing attraction set against the underworld of Créo, a deadly plague, and Danae discovers who she really is. I liked the world-building, and the constant rain reminded me of Bladerunner, although Créo is a whole lot darker and dingier than future LA. The decay of the city is highlighted by the constant battle against mould and algae, the homeless, the refugees and the frequent riots. The tensions between humans and artificial humans is handled well; the death squads of humans who 'deal' with artificial humans by random checks is - unpleasant. Recommended.… (mer)