In the near future aliens contact humanity, offering access to 15 worlds previously inhabited by other advancing civilizations. Those worlds have exotic flora and fauna and the civilizations left behind sometimes powerful artifacts. Chloe works for a small firm in London investigating the “outbreaks” caused by these alien materials. Fahad and his little sister Rana are at the epicenter of a major developing outbreak and on the run from the government, a crime family and a tech entrepreneur. On a separate world, at about the same time, detective Vic Gayle investigated homicides in the midst of gang fights around drugs and artifacts.
Vic and Chloe are the two narrators, alternating time and worlds. The chapter headings include the date and location so there is no confusion. Chloe and Vic have histories and personalities, but the book is busy so I wouldn’t call the characters well-developed. There is a bit of mystery, a bit of action, rivalries, friendships... quite a bit packed into a book of reasonable length. The story concludes but with the tantalizing possibility of more books set in the same universe. It was quite enjoyable.
By Paul McAuley
3 stars
In the near future aliens contact humanity, offering access to 15 worlds previously inhabited by other advancing civilizations. Those worlds have exotic flora and fauna and the civilizations left behind sometimes powerful artifacts. Chloe works for a small firm in London investigating the “outbreaks” caused by these alien materials. Fahad and his little sister Rana are at the epicenter of a major developing outbreak and on the run from the government, a crime family and a tech entrepreneur. On a separate world, at about the same time, detective Vic Gayle investigated homicides in the midst of gang fights around drugs and artifacts.
Vic and Chloe are the two narrators, alternating time and worlds. The chapter headings include the date and location so there is no confusion. Chloe and Vic have histories and personalities, but the book is busy so I wouldn’t call the characters well-developed. There is a bit of mystery, a bit of action, rivalries, friendships... quite a bit packed into a book of reasonable length. The story concludes but with the tantalizing possibility of more books set in the same universe. It was quite enjoyable.