SOLVED. 'Witch' loses finger, grows back two and is unaware her group are being sent faulty DNA [s]

[Rob]

I recall a scene or two from a book...

Although I am fairly sure that it was a Sci-Fi book, one of the characters is described as a witch. I don't think she can actually do magic. Despite the fact that the witches are insular, she somehow gets involved with the central group of characters. I forget what the main storyline was but I suspect it was a visit to some alien craft or planet. A bit like Rama or the Ringworld, perhaps. Somehow during the story one of her fingers is chopped off. She is distraught (I think the witches prize physical perfection or something, it may be a bit post-apocalyptic and radiation mutants are frowned upon) but somehow (by using the alien technology they find???) she grows back not just her original finger but an extra one. One of the other characters convinces her that this is a good thing because she will be able to claim to the other witches that she has magic powerful enough to grow an extra finger.

At the end of the story (I think) it is revealed that the witches have been using donated DNA (or sperm?) to reproduce (there are no male witches) and that whoever has been sending it to them has purposefully been sending them material from short men. As a result the witches have been getting smaller over time.

What's that book then? I will have read this a fair while ago, maybe twenty or twenty five years.

[M]

The bit about the women becoming smaller makes me think of John Varley's trilogy, Titan, Wizard and Demon. The setting is an environment out in the far solar system (IIRC).

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Titan is the click for M's suggestion for the first book. You can see some of the other covers, even though this click doesn't have a cover shown.

[Rob]

This sounds like the answer.

Solved. Thanks.

[David]

The scene above is actually from Wizard, the second book in the trilogy.

Here is a quote:
"I wouldn't worry too much about your standing in the community," he said.
"How do you mean?"
"Your new finger. There must be tremendous labra in growing one back."
She stared at her hand for a moment, then grinned wickedly.
"You know, I think you're right."