Beggars in Spain

By: Nancy Kress

Narrated by: Theo Moffett

This Hugo and Nebula Award winning story is a modern day science fiction classic.

This coming of age tale follows Leisha Camden. She is the first person genetically altered before birth so that she does not need to sleep. Her rich industrialist father pays for the procedure so that his daughter will have a competitive edge over others. It's soon discovered that Leisha's mother is also carrying a "normal" child. As Leisha grows older she finds others who've had the non-sleep genetic alteration. Compared to their age mates, the non-sleep children, who have not had I.Q. genetic manipulation, are more intelligent, better at problem-solving, and more joyous than non-engineered children. And no negative side effects reported so far.

©1991 Nancy Kress (P)2005 AudioText

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award Winner, Best Novella, 1992

• Nebula Award Winner, Best Novella, 1991

"Fine fare for Sci-Fi fans." (Booklist)

Lessons in Sci-fi

Beggars in Spain is a great Sci-fi story that hits the head of the human hatred nail. A must read for the Sci-Fan.

My first Nancy Kress story...

...and I really enjoyed it. I know she is very thorough about her science and assumptions. I really enjoyed the hard science while keeping the humanity element throughout.

Award-Winning Sci Fi

The narrator is quite good, but the muscial & sound-effect interludes can be distracting. The novella is excellent and thought-provoking.

Read first time in 1992

This novel was the first for me to learn about the up and coming Internet. When at me 22 years, the sleepless factor resonated an urge to identify with those adolescents that were thrust upon each other in such a hearty manner that offered an avenue to understand that Yagiism.

The Yagiism didn't matter much to me. I guess its because, Nance Kress is such the wordsmith that she can write on many levels to attract all interested readers.

I began to adore the concept of 'the dragon' more through her writings than with any other other author.