NATURAL HISTORY – Justina Robson

Advances in genetic engineering have created the Forged, human/machine hybrids that carry out tasks too mundane or too dangerous for the UnEvolved, as non-Forged humans are called. Soon after a Forged explorer, Voyager Lonestar Isol, returns from a 15-year trip with a material which seems to do what ever the owner imagines. This material, nicknamed “The Stuff”, quickly changes the balance of power between the Forged and UnEvolved, which may even lead to war…

Fans of the sweeping, politically and psychologically aware space opera of Iain M. Banks and Ken MacLeod will be intrigued by Robson’s setting and the new slant she takes on universal questions.

Philip K. Dick Award 2006 – Finalist
John W Campbell Award 2004 – Runner up (2nd place)