Eerily relevant to 2021

I just finish this book days after US citizens broke into the Capitol the United States of America. This book is eerie in its similarities to what we faced on January 6, 2021, just with a nanotech-CRISPR slant. I admit to being stunned when I heard the copyright on this book was 1994. Would recommend.

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Oh what a tangled web we weave...

Nancy Kress' Beggars and Choosers is the middle offering in her Beggars trilogy. This story take place in the early 22nd century. The US has evolved to a deprecating state with 80% of the population as 'Livers' who are basically on the government dole. The 'donkeys' are the gene-mod'd group that maintains the crumbling conditions. While the original Sleepless are in the background developing technology, the select 'Supers' continue to play the disruptive angle. The tale is relayed from the perspectives of three characters, a Liver named Billy, a donkey (Diana) who is on the trail of Miranda Scharifi who is believed to be up to no good, and the Lucid Dreamer, Drew Arlene. Billy provides a view into Liver life. Diana experiences the tension and resentment of the Livers as she goes undercover to find Miranda. Drew has a falling out with the Supers and ends up a prisoner of a Liver insurgency group that opposes any and all gene-mods. Miranda and her Supers have cooked up a big surprise for everyone.

Kress captures the essence of a hyperpolarized society of the haves and have-nots as well as the Rube Goldberg accommodations in an attempt to preserve the appearance of 'democracy' and 'equitable' distribution of goods and services. Ironically, while she has crafted a well organized timeline for this development, her vision is coming into view about 100 years sooner and without the need for genetic engineering. The philosophical discussions of being human relative to genetic heritage make for riveting listening.

The choice of multiple narrators was wide given the unique and distinct perspectives offered. Pacing is brisk and while there is little in the way of real action scenes, the listening is quick.

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Highly recommend

Like most great Science Fiction the author was very forward thinking. At the conclusion of the novel I was surprised to hear how long ago it was written because the subjects are so timely.

None

Voice better then book 1st. They should do man for all male & vice versa.

A lot of wrong

So, it is the future. In this future you have genetically modified and pure stock humans. The modified humans " do all the work" and the unmodified are all lazy good for nothings who live off the backs of the hard working modified. Add to this now a black southern family that are so stereotyped Southern Black it hurts. They speak in clipped english, insert their own verbs and nouns, skipping pronouns, adjectives and adverbs. They shun knowledge and covet ignorance, putting down intelligent female members of the family and discouraging going to school and learning. This girl is acting too much like a modified, wanting more and being smart. Not to my taste. The male narrator does not do a good job either. Whether it is the narrator or the source material I cannot tell.

Narration and plot are both winners

The characters and differing view points were are very believable. Some imaginative "whatifs" were fun to see play out. I will be searching for more by the author Nancy Kress!

Spoiler alert

So how does the main character get killed off with no mention of the rest of her people finding out and no memorial service or funeral? If it hadn't been two shots to the head, I could hope she somehow was saved. And I must have missed the explanation of the plan and why dude betrayed his woman. Unhappy with the gaps but maybe the next book will elaborate.

Not that great again but still good

Yet not that outstanding as Beggars In Spain which ideas and storytelling perspective I really enjoyed, this book could still be considered a good read worth it, in general.

I find it quite difficult to get accustomed to Drew's voice but other's performance is roughly how I imagined.

Pretty good

Excellent except for Drew's voice actor. I found his voice grating. I hope Lizzie is in the next book.

Great Suff

This wasn't as good as Beggars in Spain. ..but only because Spain was my glimps of this alternate "Gene Mod" reality. Future really. Chooser's is an excellent stand alone. Highly recommended.