Autonomous

Loved The Terraformers, so picked up Autonomous. I liked the former more, but it was such a high bar that Autonomous was still excellent. Different, though related themes. Terraformers is environmental where Autonomous is health care / pharmaceutical, but both tell deeply compelling future narratives about attempts to create survival and thriving in the face of terrible, dystopian, and yet believable futures. Appreciate wrestling with parallels between human freedoms and post-human freedoms, with both taking place in the context of capitalism that is recognizable today... On to Newitz's next work.

There's some scientific explanation but it's needed for the story, so it's well done. You also get to emotionally bond with the characters, which is rare in the 'harder' sci-fi. Very enjoyable.

Good book, though the ending felt like it came out of nowhere, kinda like Neal Stephenson does/did.