Reddit mentions of Dark Light

Ken MacLeod's "Engines of Light" trilogy is not well-known but it's dense in ideas, and full of memorable characters, wonder and humor.

The series plays with the possibilities suggested by emergent consciousness, gender roles, politics, skepticism, and the occasional nod to Lovecraft. "Engines of Light" is fun because it's smart, the plot(s) are compelling, and in true SF fashion the social and personal developments result from the science fact and speculation underlying MacLeod's premise.

Summaries and reviews:

• Cosmonaut Keep
  
• Dark light
  
• Engine City
  
  These books aren't thousand-page monsters, but the story's scope and ideas are huge.