Passengers to Sentience — Peter Salisbury

Humans never do invent suspended animation, faster than light ships or safe travel down worm-holes. So what does a history lesson on how humans really did colonise the galaxy have in common with the holiday of a life time, the girl of your dreams and a bunch of ruthless, sociopathic miners? Data detective Ben tries to find the answers, if only he can first discover where his mind went. Will he find out not only where he is but who he is, or will he end his days on a desiccated desert world, dodging lethal sandstorms and deadly machinery, where it seems his work-mates' favourite amusement is to put him in mortal danger? Perhaps the solution will be more alien than he ever expected.