River of Gods by Ian McDonald, Simon & Schuster, £12.99, ISBN 0743256700 Reviewed by Elizabeth Sourbut
IT is 2047 and Bharat, part of the former India, is a data-haven for advanced artificial intelligences, or aeais. As Bharat competes with neighbouring Awadh for access to the dwindling waters of the sacred Ganga river, the aeais struggle to survive. Sprawling, overpopulated, complex and colourful, this novel masterfully mirrors the land in which it is set. An excellent read.
