Sci-fi, post-apocalyptic of sorts novel in which scavengers in a ruined city survive on the remnants of biotech they gather. There's a giant flying bear that pretty much rules over things, and the main character turns up a strange squid-plant-like organism that tries to decide if its people. Book ponders and plods a bit, seems to take itself perhaps a touch too seriously. Pushes some fun, cool ideas into the background and focuses too long on rather superficial examinations of personhood. Otherwise well-written, though.