"The Windup Girl" is a science fiction novel set in a future where biotechnology and climate change have drastically altered society. The story takes place in Bangkok, where genetically modified organisms and bioengineered humans, known as windup girls, exist alongside a struggling population facing food shortages and corporate control. The narrative follows several characters, including Anderson Lake, a corporate agent, and Emiko, a windup girl seeking her identity. The novel explores themes of exploitation, survival, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering, highlighting the complex relationships between humans and their creations in a dystopian world.