The Artificial Kid is a novel by Bruce Sterling. It was published in 1980.

Synopsis

Shallow seas, coral-atoll continents, flying islands -- this is the world of Reverie, the Artificial Kid its most notorious video star, a professional combat artist who tapes his acts of violence for sale to an avid public.

But the Kid's affluent lifestyle is less predictable than he imagines -- especially when he has to flee from the Cabal with Moses Moses, newly emerged from seven hundred years of suspended animation. Then the mysterious forces that come into play have drastic effects -- both on him and on the lovely Saint Anne Twiceborn.