Dreamships Series by Melissa Scott

Dreamships is the story of a freelance space pilot and her crew, who are hired by a rich corporate owner to track down her crazy brother--who just may have created the first sentient Artificial Intelligence. Social texture and a tough, cyberpunk attitude make this an exceptionally intense read.

Scott returns to the world of her earlier novel, Dreamships, and, as in several of her novels, takes up the theme of artificial intelligence. Persephone is a planet racked by class struggle and economic and political upheaval. Celinde Fortune is an entertainer - an illusionist who makes good money but plays the Empire Theatre, a venue that also books socially controversial bands who attract bomb threats... moreScott returns to the world of her earlier novel, Dreamships, and, as in several of her novels, takes up the theme of artificial intelligence. Persephone is a planet racked by class struggle and economic and political upheaval. Celinde Fortune is an entertainer - an illusionist who makes good money but plays the Empire Theatre, a venue that also books socially controversial bands who attract bomb threats. When she combines two advanced computer chips in a new way in order to sophisticate her act, the resulting form of computer life seems awfully like a true artificial intelligence. And this is beyond controversial - it could get her killed. less