8 /10 1 Votes
Language English Originally published February 2004 Genre Science Fiction Publication type Magazine | 4/5 Goodreads Publication date February 2004 Country United States of America | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Published in Fantasy & Science Fiction Nominations Hugo Award for Best Novelette, Nebula Award for Best Novelette Similar Paolo Bacigalupi books, Other books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The People of Sand and Slag" is a science fiction novelette published in 2004 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2005 Hugo Award for Best Novelette, the 2006 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 2005 Locus Poll.
On October 30, 2012, "The Drabblecast" podcast presented an audio dramatization by Norm Sherman, David Robison, Naomi Mercer and Mike Boris.
Plot summary
The story follows three genetically modified humans who work as guards for a large mining conglomeration in a far future Montana. It begins with the three of them being called out to track down an intruder on their employer's property. When they finally corner it they realize it is nothing more than a dog. Fascinated by the fact that it could still survive in their day and age they decide to keep it as a pet, and then constantly struggle to keep it fed, clean, healthy and alive.