Slant

Slant (/) is a science fiction novel by the award winning writer Greg Bear.

With nano machines taking care of the human race, from food to both physically and psychologically health, we seem to have it made. There's even a small free heaven for the freaks that for some reason would rather live without. But this isn't Clarke – this is Greg Bear, so of cause something ... interesting will happen.

Probably the most interesting thing Bear introduces in this book is the Therapied – people who, for some reason or another, can't cope with the stress of modern life, and there for are injected with nano machines that will monitor and regulate their brain chemistry. Basicly this means that nobody will ever have to be unhappy. Some, naturals, stay un-threapied, to keep their edge, be it for business or art, but most don't. Very few has done any independent thinking for good while. Now what if a virus, that disables nano machines would get loose? What would happen if all these people suddenly lost their crotches? Bear tells a wonderful story. Interesting characters, sinister plots, very interesting world(s) and cool technology. One of his best.