SOLVED. Adult Sci-Fi book (possibly omnibus of short stories) about the development of technology that allows humans to control artificial limbs and eventually full robots / avatars through a neural link

[Brett]

Originally read in English around 2003 (early 20s for me). I remember nothing of physical properties of the book or artwork except that it was a paperback. I believe it was 300-500 pages. I don't remember if it was new or where I originally acquired it. It was adult sci-fi.

The chapters or short stories in the book span decades -- possibly centuries -- though it starts in the "not so distant future." Each part features a different character, with little if any interaction among them. A focus was the development of neural interface technology. I think the technology was originally created to interface with artificial limbs, but the book walks through the evolution of that into humans eventually taking full control of robots and uploading themselves into artificial avatars. I believe at some point it involves space travel or aliens.

IIRC, the antagonist is trying to limit the technology somehow...perhaps by holding all of whatever special material is needed for it to work.

An early scene in the book I remember involves a sort of underground betting scheme on robot fights in an arena. One of the characters controls a robot fighter from a tent or vehicle nearby, and specifically discusses how human operators don't have the mental capacity to directly control robots with more than four limbs. I think they talk about "locking" extra limbs in place to reduce the mental burden. I believe the operator is killed while connected to the robot.

Similar books that it's not:

I, Robot
Altered Carbon
Cloud Atlas
Battle Angel Alita
Stories of Ibis
Accelerando

[Brett]

This was found! It's a short story "Sonnie's Edge" from the book "A Second Chance at Eden" by Peter F Hamilton.