Melissa Scott's 'Dreamships' is a sci-fi novel set in a dystopian class-ridden society where humans and AIs coexist, blurring the lines of humanity. The plot revolves around Reverdy Jian and her team piloting a starship to an asylum planet, uncovering mysteries and sparking social unrest. The book delves deep into the themes of artificial intelligence, societal structure, and individual struggles, all set in a richly detailed futuristic world created by Scott.

Characters:

The characters are realistic and complex, featuring diversity and relatable struggles, without fitting into typical hero or villain archetypes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive and detailed, emphasizing world-building and character development over quick-paced plot progression.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Reverdy Jian and her team's exploration of societal implications of AI, leading them into a web of crime and political intrigue.

Setting:

The setting features a dystopian society on planet Persephone, characterized by a complex underground city and significant social stratifications.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, emphasizing character and world-building, which may not appeal to those seeking rapid plot movement.

Notes:

The main character is Reverdy Jian, a starship pilot.

The story is set in a future society that explores complex themes of AI and humanity.

Persephone, the main planet in the book, has extreme temperatures, forcing most people to live underground.

Scott crafts a rich political and social world, where a corporate cartel governs an offworld government.

The culture in the story reflects a mixed Asian background, contrasting with many Western-centric sci-fi narratives.

Characters are portrayed with depth, struggling with real problems and conflicts, making them relatable.

The book emphasizes the impact of true AI on society, exploring ethical dilemmas and social justice issues.

Melissa Scott includes a variety of sexual and gender identities, adding to the richness of her storytelling.

Readers may find the pacing slower, focusing more on character development than on action-driven plots.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of classism, political tensions, and ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence.

From The Publisher:

A thought-provoking examination of the possibility of artificial intelligence. Reverdy Jian, a freelance "dreamspace" pilot based on Persephone (an arid world so hot the population lives underground), and her partners Imre Vaughn and "Red" take on a job flying a custom-made ship for the secretive Meredalia Mitexi. They're to search for Mitexi's lost brother Venya - an almost legendary designer of the near-sentient computer "constructs" that help human pilots navigate dreamspace - who vanished soon after his claim to have created a true artificial intelligence was suppressed by his corporate employer, Kagami Ltd. Aboard Mitexi's ship, Reverdy works with Manfred, Venya's custom construct, and she grows ever more convinced that Manfred might be sentient. When Reverdy learns that Mitexi plans to turn Manfred over to Kagami on their return, she decides she must protect the construct, though she risks her career and maybe her life.

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Dreamships

Melissa Scott

Book 1 in the series:Dreamships