SOLVED. Sci fi/fantasy book for adults about a different world where they live in a biodome of some sort. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Angel]

Ok, so I read this book probably... In 2010 or so? I've tried looking for it, but I'm not really certain what keywords to use, because the plot was so weird and different. I couldn't really even guess what year it was published, but I'm fairly certain I purchased it at a thrift store, so it wasn't new at the time I read it, by any means.

The book is probably geared toward adults? It is set on another planet, where the "people" live in a biodome or something. There is a pervading belief that they cannot survive outside of the dome, where the whole planet is like a desert: all sandy, nothing grows, there's no water, etc.

I don't remember a lot about the society inside the dome, but I do remember they seem to be quite technologically advanced. And, they don't die. When their body is destroyed or aged out, they simply get a new body. There's some consciousness-transfer procedure having to do with being inside tubes? And they get to pick their new bodies. It can look like whatever they want it to, basically. Some members of the species frequently flip back and forth between male and female bodies.

The story follows a main character who is usually in a female-presenting body, though she recounts times when she has chosen all sorts of different bodies, and even dies at least once to illustrate the process. She is from a younger generation who all seem pretty bored with their existences, as nothing really poses any risk in a world without death.

SPOILERS AHEAD -- I'm about to tell you the end of the book

So, I don't remember exactly what she does, but this character gets herself in a bit of trouble. I think perhaps she was trying to make changes to their society. But anyway, she gets in trouble with the governing body, and gets herself exiled from the life-sustaining biodome. They give her a little ship of some sort, and some kind of rations, and send her out into the desert. I want to say that the resilience from death is not retained outside the dome, but I'm not certain.

So she goes out to the desert, experiences a night of rain, and flowers suddenly bloom. This leads her to conclude that with some water, she could actually grow things in this supposedly inhospitable barren wasteland. So she figures out an irrigation system and gets that working. I don't remember how, exactly, but she remains in contact with some of the other younger people inside the dome. When they see what she's been able to accomplish, they start abandoning their dome society in favor of her little colony. And that's basically the end if the story. Her best friend takes a pleasing form and joins her in her colony and they fall in love. And she's managed to disrupt the entire dystopian society.

I don't remember if the author is a man or woman, for certain, but I believe it was written by a woman. I would love any help you guys can give me with this. I've been trying to remember it for several years; shortly after I read it, I lent it to a friend who didn't return it.

Thanks!

[SBC]

Hi Angel, This one has come up a few times in this group and it is a great book! Sorry I can’t link from this device but it is Tanith Lee’s Don’t bite the sun and Drinking Sapphire Wine, also published as an omnibus Biting the sun

[Andy]

Link for SBC's suggestion Don't Bite the Sun / Drinking Sapphire Wine

[Angel]

Thank you so much!