Lords of Uncreation (The Final Architecture, #3)

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Olli didn’t like feeling humbled. She resented the implication that there were things in the universe she couldn’t just throw her weight and her Scorpion at, and make them get out of her way. But right then she confessed herself beat and settled in for a good long spell of humility.

Of course that was impossible, but Olli wasn’t entirely sure she’d been using the word correctly in her life to date.

Because once you start doing terrible things because you had no choice, then next time round you do terrible things because you want to, and the precedent is set. This is a terrible thing we are doing through choice.’

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