Gravity Dreams [jhc]

Xeelee Sequence #14

by Stephen Baxter, David A. Hardy (Illustrator)

(One of 100 Jacketed Hardcover Novella signed by Stephen Baxter & David A. Hardy) Gravity Dreams is a notable new chapter in Stephen Baxters Xeelee future history, accompanied here by a new Introduction from the author and Raft, the short story that twenty years ago began the tale so compellingly continued here. A million years from now, humankind is in full retreat before the onslaught of the Xeelee, enigmatic aliens whose influence pervades the entire cosmos. Once rulers of the galaxy, our descendants must abandon planet after planet as their implacable foes seal off those worlds fromthe light of their parent stars. The Second Coalition is organising desperate evacuations, and frantically looking for exotic weapons fromthe far past to combat the Xeelee.Yet in this age of panic and decline, an unlikely groupinga high-ranking Coalition officer, an aged savant, a teenage boy, and a dealer in antiquities of extraordinary kindsstrives to carry out the strangest of rescues, keeping alive the dimming flames of altruism and hope.

Genres: Science Fiction

101 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2011

About the author

Stephen Baxter is a trained engineer with degrees from Cambridge (mathematics) and Southampton Universities (doctorate in aeroengineering research). Baxter is the winner of the British Science Fiction Award and the Locus Award, as well as being a nominee for an Arthur C. Clarke Award, most recently for Manifold: Time. His novel Voyage won the Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History Novel of the Year; he also won the John W. Campbell Award and the Philip K. Dick Award for his novel The Time Ships. He is currently working on his next novel, a collaboration with Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Mr. Baxter lives in Prestwood, England.

Reviews

[José Monico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one consists of a novella, and a short story. The former is set as sequel to the entire Xeelee Sequence (XS) series. Which I have yet to get into. How fitting that this would be my first taste. The short story is a non-canon reading, but does share it's name with the 'first' novel in the bigger XS series.

Huzzah for a signed first edition!