The Cruel Stars, by John Birmingham

Humanity has taken itself far beyond evolution in the far future, where a neural network links most people; sophisticated AI knows all; and gene modification incorporating animal traits is as common as tattoos, The rich can achieve immortality by downloading into a new body when theirs wears out and mega corporations with their own royal dynasties rule the galaxy. Generations ago some humans rebelled against the excessive interference with nature. They lost the Great War but formed their own Human Republic in exile, allowing only ‘pure’ humans to live. Now the Republic is back, using their own technology against their enemies and aiming to ‘liberate’ the few pure humans who remain among them. It will be up to a diverse bunch of individuals to fight for their version of humanity against the invading ‘space Nazis’ known as the Sturm. It takes a while for Birmingham to introduce the disparate people who will form the Resistance and it gets a bit confusing keeping track of so many characters and storylines. Eventually it becomes clear that there are five main resistors to lead the charge as their stories converge. Birmingham never paints in black and white. The society our heroes are defending has many flaws and although the Sturm’s methods and ideology make them the clear villains, they do perhaps have a point. The first of a purported trilogy, the story is fast paced and entertaining. Roll on number two.