The Dreaming Void (Void, #1)

by Peter F. Hamilton

Araminta was horrified that she was crying, her hands seemed to flap about in front of her face of their own volition. ‘Wow!’ Cressida put her arm around Araminta’s shoulder, rocking her playfully. ‘How do you take bad news?’

‘Hello, Oscar,’ Paula Myo said. ‘Holy shit!’

‘Ah, I see. I’m not being deliberately enigmatic. Though perhaps I am guilty of overdramatizing. But you are very precious to us, Oscar. I’m hoping to impress you.’

‘We see the bad in everyone.’ ‘Is that a song title?’