Review - Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

Earth, 2144. Jack is an anti-patent scientist turned drug pirate, traversing the world in a submarine as a pharmaceutical Robin Hood, fabricating cheap scrips for poor people who can’t otherwise afford them. But her latest drug hack has left a trail of lethal overdoses. Hot on her trail, an unlikely pair: Eliasz, a brooding military agent, and his robotic partner.

Oh, but this is a cracking read! Biohackers on the run from the law, killer robots, and - best of all - patent law!

If you told me this was a new Cory Doctorow novel, I'd believe it in a heartbeat.

The book is full of lovely little riffs on modern Internet culture - and presents a plausible view of how the world may develop given a rapid rise in biotech.

At times monstrously dark, and by turns blisteringly funny, this is perfect pulp-fiction.

You can read a free excerpt at Boing Boing.