Spin State

August 25, 2003
Despite incorporating nearly every well-worn SF theme, Moriarty still manages fresh insights into humanity—and posthumanity—in this highly atmospheric debut, a hefty far-future exploration of AI, human cloning, class conflict and plain old-fashioned murder. Major Catherine Li and her fellow UN Peacekeepers battle hive-minded Syndicate genetic constructs for domination of planets settled through FTL (faster than light) migrations enabled by mysterious crystals, quantum-level anomalies of unimagined substance mined only on Compson's World. Resembling the Victorian British empire, the UN's vast interstellar commercial empire runs on the blood and sweat of a few thousand pitifully exploited miners like Li's father, who died so she could remake herself and escape the miners' fate. Now wired into "streamspace" with an AI lover who interacts with her through both male and female hosts, Li is tapped to investigate the murder of physicist Hannah Sharifi, her cloned twin who hoped to share the crystals' power. Based on the short, dangerous life of miners as well as the heady scientific stuff of quantum physics, the book can be heavy slogging for the uninitiated. Moriarty effectively postulates the Faustian price of enhancing humanity with silicon, of playing God through genetic manipulation. Beneath this complex tale ominously simmers Orwell's question: If all animals are to be equal, what can prevent some from making themselves more equal than the others? (Oct. 7)Forecast:With a blurb from Stephen Baxter, electronic promotion that includes a special e-newsletter campaign and an author whose background includes stints as a horse trainer, ranch hand and environmental lawyer, this should attract more than usual attention for a first novel.

September 15, 2003
When a prominent theoretical physicist perishes in a mine fire on Compson's World, the UN Peacekeepers dispatch Maj. Catherine Li to retrieve a set of missing data critical to the next step in interstellar travel. In a universe populated by artificial intelligences, genetic constructs, clones, and other forms of enhanced intelligent life, Li has spent most of her time passing for the human she once was-after numerous upgrades to her mind erased much of her early life. Now she must confront her past in a world of black-market technology and interstellar intrigue. Moriarty's debut novel combines a vivid future world of high technology and low politics with sharply drawn characters and a taut storyline. A solid addition to most collections, especially where hard sf is popular.

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