Description
Book SynopsisThe year is 2454. Humanity has engineered a hard-won
golden age, forged in the aftermath of a bitter conflict that wiped both religion and nation state from the planet. Now seven factions or 'hives' co-govern the world, their rule fuelled by benign censorship, oracular statistical analytics and technological abundance. But this is a fragile Utopia – and someone is
intent on pushing it to breaking point. Convicted for his
crimes, celebrated for his talents, Mycroft Canner is the indentured instrument – and confidant – of some of the world's
most powerful figures. When he is asked to investigate a bizarre theft, he finds himself on the trail of a conspiracy that could shatter the tranquil world order the Hives have maintained for three centuries. But Mycroft has his
own secrets. He is concealing a much greater threat to the seven Hives, a
wild card no degree of statistical analysis could have prophesied. This threat takes the unlikely form of a
thirteen-year-old called Bridger.
For how will a world that has banished God deal with a child who can perform miracles?Trade ReviewMore intricate, more plausible, more significant than any debut I can recall -- Cory Doctorow
The kind of science fiction that makes me excited all over again about what science fiction can do -- Jo Walton
Thought-provoking, disturbing, occasionally perverted, and always entertaining. Worldbuilding at its richest * Kirkus Reviews *
Incredibly ambitious and groundbreaking... Palmer writes gloriously lush prose stuffed with asides, allusions and nods to the reader' * Guardian *
Admirable in its scope and attention to detail... A book thats quirky and makes you think' * Concatenation *
A powerful, beautifully written novel... It is a mystery, historic document, social commentary and futuristic science fiction all combined to make an excellent novel' * Concatenation *
