Shards of Earth (The Final Architecture, #1)

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Vulture’s file held only its most recent flight plan and a crew manifest with images and biometrics, mostly so local authorities could identify any bodies after bar fights.

Idris, who sometimes felt he was built entirely out of competing vulnerabilities, valued them in other people.

What they saw looked like something from a children’s story, where a gem merchant had planted his stock and found it growing in the morning.

Kris had seen business deals concluded over wrestling matches, impenetrable puzzles and even dance-offs.

She had faced up to that horrifying cutlery drawer and outlined the drop-off the Vulture God wanted to make.

What’s the point of making better people, if they’re still sad and afraid and lonely?’

for a moment Havaer thought they were just going to throw him down the chasm. His career might not have survived that.

‘Evidently,’ Trine agreed. ‘But, now, let us step over here and speak of matters utterly innocent and unconnected with subterfuge.’

Which means maybe I’m not the right man for the job anymore.

Perhaps Essiel society threw up outliers like Aklu to fill a pro-active void that would otherwise remain empty, and was occasionally useful?