Skin 2.0 is a scifi short story, and tells the tale of a cyborg called Amy-341 who strives to escape her assigned role in life.

Although her body was designed for dancing, a manufacturing error has led to her being allocated to a dull manufacturing job. We follow Amy’s progress as she makes great sacrifices in an attempt to claim her rightful position on stage, always contending with a system that is designed to keep her down.

This story worked well for me. Rather than tread the familiar territory of exploring a robot’s gradual development of wants and desires, the author Alex Leu pulls us straight into his character’s driving need to climb the ladder that leads to Amy’s great dream of dancing on stage.

There are parallels drawn throughout the book between the system of mistreatment and injustice that holds Amy back, and the inequities facing humanity in the real world. These comparisons are skilfully drawn and not ladled on too thickly, and in my opinion they make this book well worth a look.