The Terraformers

by Annalee Newitz

Verdance had paid to build this planet, including its biological labor force. Everything here—other than rocks, water, and the magnetic field—was part of Verdance’s proprietary ecosystem development kit. And that meant every life form was legally the company’s property, including Destry and Whistle.

So, people as property, even thousands of years in the future. So much for evolution.

Jaguar made a snorting noise. “You mean Verdance’s slaved H. sapiens?”

way to hang a lampshade on it

You cannot measure a person’s intentions, but you can measure their contributions.

One may celebrate the ancestors without approving of everything they’ve done.

How could city planners build like this, planting whole neighborhoods without ever once considering how people would get around if they weren’t in a private land vehicle?

How indeed.

Based on their confused expressions, though, it seemed likely they were built as heirloom bovines, their cognitive abilities deliberately damaged. They couldn’t possibly consent to having their milk harvested.

It's pretty clear this book was written by a vegan who doesn't know anything about animals and what they can actually want and consent to.

A government’s job is to recognize people, to help them make their own agreements with each other—and if you do your job well, those people become your political allies.