Klara and the Sun

About the book

Klara is an Artificial Friend, a solar-powered solar-observing android waiting in a storefront to be chosen by a child. She is eventually purchased as a companion for Josie, a young girl suffering from a chronic, life-threatening illness caused by a genetic "lifting" procedure intended to enhance her intelligence. From her limited perspective, Klara treats the Sun as a literal deity with the biological power to heal. As Josie’s health fails, Klara attempts to broker a divine bargain with the light, while Josie’s mother prepares a darker contingency plan involving Klara’s own mechanical consciousness.

This novel suits readers interested in the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence and the definition of a human soul. It attracts those who prefer quiet, observational science fiction over action-heavy space opera. Readers walk away with a specific perspective on how technology mirrors human devotion and the way parents project their grief onto machines. The story provides a stark look at social stratification through genetic modification and the disposable nature of artificial life once its service ends.

Details

Published

2021

Language

EN