Beggars in Spain (1993)
By Nancy Kress
Genetic discrimination; Genetic engineering; Science fiction; Speciation
The first novel in a science fiction trilogy explores both the potential positives and negatives of human genetic modification.
In 2008, Roger Camden takes advantage of new genetic modifications available to prospective parents to craft the “perfect” child. In addition to physical and intellectual modifications, Camden orders a breakthrough genemod: sleeplessness. Leisha is born without the need to sleep, increasing her intellectual efficacy as she can work through hours normally devoted to rest. In addition to intellectual endowments, the Sleepless boast mild temperaments and delayed aging processes. As their population grows, however, the schism between Sleepers and their advanced counterparts widens; Sleepers exhibit jealousy, distrust and fear of the Sleepless. The Sleepless band together, finding amongst themselves understanding that their families cannot provide, yet as the conflict with Sleepers grows – one which threatens the Sleepless minority – the Sleepless divide into those willing to integrate in a heterogenous society, and those who believe in protective isolation. Leisha, a virtuoso legal mind, believes that retreat will only perpetuate fear in Sleepers, yet the majority of Sleepless gather under the leadership of Tony Indivino and Jennifer Shafiri in Sanctuary. When Tony dies, and Jennifer is framed for murder by a Sleeper, the community decides to sever ties and moves Sanctuary into orbit around the Earth, with emissaries returning only to conduct business transactions. Leisha remains on Earth, an outcast from both societies. The Sleepless regard the Sleepers as “beggars”, unable to give society as much as they take because of their lesser abilities. In time, however, the Sleepless on Sanctuary become the beggars to their newly crafted Super Sleepless children, originally engineered to maintain the Sleepless advantage over “ordinary” humans.
Genetic modifications serve society here as an alternative to eugenic projects, creating a “superior” species through engineering rather than selective breeding. Genemods are not universally reviled; while Leisha’s beauty and general intellect offer her an advantage over her peers, it is her sleeplessness which evokes fear and envy from even those closest to her. Tony equates the persecution of the 21st-century Sleepless to attacks on 14th-century Jews, though the legally definable position of racial or religious groups offers them legislative recourse unavailable to the Sleepless. Their evolutionary fitness is the ultimate threat to Sleepers, as the Sleepless population signifies the potential eradication of the Sleepers. By the late 21st-century, the Sleepless population catalyzes a shift in social strata; American society is supported by the civil service of the so-called donkeys and the economic genius of the Sleepless, while 80% of the population are “Livers”, Sleepers who act like an aristocratic, non-contributing social class. Livers are now comfortable in their role as “beggars”, adapting their behavior to leech off the other social classes in order to survive. While Sleepless excel because of their increased productivity, Sanctuary creates unreasonable pressure for full member productivity; those whose individual achievements cannot match the rest – typically because of debilitating injury – are euthanized. This conflict between individuality and social equality leads to the destruction of Santuary once the Super Sleepless population emerges as the next stage of genetically engineered evolution.
The first chapter of this novel consists of the award-winning short story "Beggars in Spain," which is also published in Kress's collection Beaker's Dozen.
– Natalie Champ