He, She and It

He, She and It is a 1991 cyberpunk novel set in mid-21st century post-apocalyptic North America. The story follows a woman in a free town who becomes involved with a cyborg created to defend her community from corporate raiders, while a parallel narrative explores the creation of a golem in 17th century Prague. The novel takes place in a world where massive corporations called "multis" control most resources and maintain luxurious environmental domes for their citizens. Outside these enclaves lies the "Glop," a lawless wasteland where most of the population struggles to survive, while a few independent "free towns" maintain their autonomy by trading technology with the multis. Through its dual storylines and speculative elements, He, She and It explores questions about artificial life, human identity, environmental destruction, and the nature of consciousness. The novel won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 1993.

Readers appreciate the detailed worldbuilding and complex exploration of relationships between humans and artificial beings. The parallel storylines - one set in a futuristic world and one following Jewish folklore - draw frequent mentions in reviews. Many note the book's themes remain relevant decades after publication, particularly regarding corporate power and environmental decline. Common praise focuses on the character development, especially the AI character Yod, and the feminist perspective on technology and society. Multiple readers mention the strength of the romance elements. Main criticisms include a slow beginning, dense technological descriptions, and occasional pacing issues in the historical storyline. Some readers found the political commentary heavy-handed. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (250+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "The parallel stories work brilliantly together, though it takes patience to get through the first few chapters. Once it picks up, the narrative becomes completely engrossing." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 The book won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1993, joining an elite group of sci-fi classics like "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Fahrenheit 451" 🔹 Author Marge Piercy drew inspiration for the 17th-century Prague storyline from the historical legend of the Golem, a clay creature brought to life to protect the Jewish community 🔹 The novel was originally published under the title "Body of Glass" in the UK, reflecting its themes of artificial consciousness and physical embodiment 🔹 The book's environmental dystopia was partially influenced by Piercy's own activism in the 1970s environmental movement and her concerns about corporate exploitation 🔹 The concept of "free towns" in the novel parallels real-world autonomous communities and eco-villages, which began emerging in the 1960s as alternatives to mainstream society