Scott Westerfeld
Evolution's Darling

A space opera involving sentient machines, mysterious assassins, and a universe shattering secret, Evolution's Darling begins with the birth of Darling — an astronavigational control unit and companion to the captain's lonely daughter. Together they mature and explore the universe until the day they realize they are no longer just friends. On that day, when artificial fibers merge with human physiology, Darling achieves sentience and begins his life.

Two hundred years and an artificial body later, Darling is off in search of a dead artist, a living artwork, and the forces behind a mystery that spans the universe. Accompanied by a woman who now lives to serve her alien gods as their assassin, Darling will confront the Maker and perhaps answer the question, "Does a copy have a soul?"

Scott Westerfeld is a composer, new media designer, and writer. He lives in New York City. He is the author of Polymorph and Fine Prey. He has also ghostwritten a bestselling legal thriller.