Beggars in Spain, Nancy Kress (4.0)
A unique and interesting speculative fiction story having to do with ‘otherness’, this story posits what would happen if we were able to alter a baby’s genes so that it didn’t have to sleep. It looks at both the type of parent who would want this and the culture of the kids that are ‘sleepless’. This idea of otherness is pertinent given our current social issues, though flipped as the ‘others’ have an assumed advantage. Would those few who are perceived to have an advantage be persecuted as immigrants of our day? The author mentions in the forward that she came up with the idea based on her jealousy of those who can function on less sleep – what would happen if you needed no sleep? Do you become more efficient, smarter? I enjoyed her exploration of both the subtle and major changes. While this book has gotten many awards, the next in the series is even more lauded. I look forward to it
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