Queen of Angels (novel)

Lore & Background

Queen of Angels describes our world just prior to the binary millennium (2048 AD) through several parallel tales. Nanotechnology has transformed American society, particularly in psychology and psychiatry, creating new social stratification through 'nano-therapy.' Individuals are 'therapied' into well-integrated personalities, with 'high naturals' and 'untherapied' forming other classes. The central plot involves famous writer Emmanuel Goldsmith, who commits a series of murders, a rare crime in the therapied age. Detective Mary Choy, a high natural and transform, is assigned to the case. Another storyline follows Richard Fettle, an untherapied writer and friend of the murderer. A third plot concerns Dr. Martin Burke, a psychotherapist who uses a virtual reality technique to enter patients' minds, and is given the chance to explore Goldsmith's dangerous mind. The fourth plotline involves an AI robot space probe that discovers life in the Alpha Centauri system and achieves self-awareness, as does its twin on Earth. The novel also features 'Citizen Oversight,' a quasi-governmental agency that collects data on citizens and can track individuals, with information requests governed by the 'Raphkind Amendment.'

Reader's Guide

Queen of Angels is significant for its prescient exploration of nanotechnology's social and psychological impacts, written just before the first website in 1991. It anticipates issues of data surveillance through Citizen Oversight, a fictional agency that collects medical, financial, and legal data, and uses facial recognition. The novel's treatment of mental therapy as a tool for social stratification raises questions about conformity and individuality. Its parallel narratives—detective work, psychological exploration, and AI self-awareness—interweave to examine the nature of consciousness and the soul. The sequel, Slant, written after the World Wide Web, shifts to a shared virtual reality network, reflecting the author's adaptation to technological change. The novel's nomination for major awards underscores its impact within the science fiction genre.

Did You Know?

• The novel is set in 2047, just before the binary millennium of 2048.
• Citizen Oversight is a quasi-governmental agency that collects data on citizens, including from video cameras with facial recognition.
• The sequel is titled "/" (also known as Slant).