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About this listen

Humanity's super-intelligent AI gods brutally punish breaches in reality, as one young scientist discovers, in this intense and brilliant space opera.

Autistic scientist Yasira Shien has developed a radical new energy drive that could change the future of humanity. But when she activates it, reality warps, destroying the space station and everyone aboard. The AI gods who rule the galaxy declare her work heretical, and Yasira is abducted by their agents. Instead of simply executing her, they offer mercy - if she'll help them hunt down a bigger target: her own mysterious, vanished mentor.

With her homeworld's fate in the balance, Yasira must choose who to trust: the gods and their ruthless post-human angels, or the rebel scientist whose unorthodox mathematics could turn her world inside out.

©2019 Ada Hoffmann (P)2019 Recorded Books Fiction Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Interstellar

Critic reviews

"Hoffmann confidently layers morality and disability rights into a breezily told adventure that bursts with sheer fun.... This beautifully smart, uncynical space opera will charm fans of Charles Stross and Lois McMaster Bujold." (Publishers Weekly)
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I am fulfilled with this book. It got all aspects I can think of that matters to me, just right.
Even the mix of science and religion, which usually I abhor, it is well fit and executed and logical. The inclusion of diversity was seamless, sensible, caring. I could relate to the main character in several aspects, being autistic myself.

In love with the story and how everything fits together

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I was really enjoying this story for about two-thirds. Then it started to drag and meander and I found it hard to follow. But I won’t give up on it. The concept is very cool.

Started to drag towards the end

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So cosmic horror meets space opera and things get complicated.

This was a pleasant surprise and I’m going to go off and buy book 2.

Cool combination..

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it's not often I cant wait to finish a book so I can get to the ratings bit to comment. the narrator is not my taste but tells the story well. well done Nancy. the story itself. Wow. having read thousands of books I can normally predict the plot 9 out of 10 times. Not this one. Because it's so original I had no idea where it was going to end up. So impressed

an author with her own original ideas

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Really enjoyed this, it was a great listen and really captured the mind-bending horror of the novel.

Excellent audio adaptation!

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