Review: Bacigalupi P, “The Windup Girl”, Science Fiction, (Orbit: 2009)
Link : Amazon, Goodreads. Price:£5.95
Genetically engineered crops and plagues have wiped out the greater portion of the world’s agriculture, ending the era of great nations and open borders as humanity struggles to survive the latest pestilence. Anderson Lake is a company man trying to discover the secrets of Thailand’s success, one of the few relatively civilised nations remaining. Jaidee is an incorruptible head of the White Shirts, protecting the nation from potentially toxic illegal imports. Hock Seng is a “yellow card”, a once wealthy Chinese refugee from a violent uprising that murdered his family. Their lives will be turned upside-down by of Emiko, a “windup girl”, an android, a sex-slave, and the person who may be about to start a revolution.
(more…)