“Beggars in Spain is one of the key SF works on genetic engineering, tackling some of the difficult questions of how society will deal with a class of genetically-superior "Haves" while the overwhelming majority of humanity remain unenhanced "Have-Nots."
A genetic enhancement that eliminates the need to sleep has the unexpected side effect of greater intelligence and immortality. The story is told from the point of view of the Leisha Camden, who, despite her best efforts, is unable to heal the rifts that form between her fellow Sleepless and the rest of society, the Sleepers.
Is the fear, anger, mistrust, and violence that springs up between the Sleepers and the Sleepless inevitable? What does it mean to be human? Sleeper and Sleepless must both wrestle with the meaning and interpretation of the phrase "all men are created equal" if democracy will survive. What do the superior owe to society? What does society owe to the strong? To the weak?
These questions are then raised to the next level when the Sleepless find their supremacy challenged by their own success in engineering Superbright children.”
Britt wrote this review Monday, December 10, 2007.
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