Mechanists are one of the two main factions within the novel "
Schismatrix" and the collection of short stories also based in the same universe (collected in "
Schismatrix Plus"), all written by
Bruce Sterling.
Mechanists use
cybernetics and
artificial intelligences to
augument themselves (both in quality and quantity of life). They hold the economic advantage over their rivals, the
Shapers, having access to great wealth from their superior mining techniques and speed of travel and communications.
Things aren't so black and white however - the
Mechanists have a vast variety of differing factions within their philosophies, with a wide variety of people. Everything from simple
borg-style mechanical replacement, to more complex things, like one group who spend their entire lives in
exoskeletal structures.
See: Shapers,
Schismatrix,
Bruce Sterling,
cyberpunk