Just finished Kiln People by David Brin. This book caught my eye years ago but I was put off by the title, "Kil'n People" which I took to mean "killing people". However, one of David Langford's columns for SFX magazine put me straight, it's Kiln, and the book is about golems.

I recently stumbled across a review of the book by someone who I have work dealings with which clinched it. (That's an entertaining blog, by the way).

I think the book started promisingly but tailed off when the author tried to explain some of the technological aspect rather than leaving it as a mere premise for the story. Read Ian's review above which sums it up quite well.