Sweet Harmony

Harmony has grown worn out by long hours, by her own reflection, and by the ordinariness of her life. When she decides to treat herself to an upgrade of the nanites circulating in her blood, it feels like a small, sensible indulgence, since almost everyone she knows has done the same. A few taps in an app are enough to boost her mind, reshape her body, or brighten her smile.

For a while, the changes seem to work. Things begin to go Harmony's way, and she starts to feel like the person she has always hoped to be. The trouble comes when she stacks too many enhancements onto her body at once, and the consequences turn out to be far worse than anything she had imagined.

This self-contained novella by Claire North is set only a short distance into the future and imagines a world where self-improvement is sold like any other digital product. It suits readers who enjoy near-future dystopias that examine technology, vanity and consumer culture.