"Blood Music" was first published as a short story (1983) and then expanded to a novel (1985). It has also been credited as the first account of nanotechnology in science fiction. More certainly, the short story is the first in science fiction to describe microscopic medical machines and to treat DNA as a computational system capable of being reprogrammed; that is, expanded and modified. In later works, beginning with "Queen of Angels" and continuing with its sequel, "Slant", Bear gives a detailed description of a near-future nanotechnological society. The historical sequence continues with "Heads", which may contain the first description of a so-called "quantum logic computer", as well as "Moving Mars". The sequence also charts the historical development of self-awareness in AIs. Its continuing character Jill was inspired in part by Robert A. Heinlein's self-aware computer Mycroft HOLMES (High-Optional, Logical, Multi-Evaluating Supervisor) in "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress".