One hundred and fifty years from now, Africa has become the world’s dominant technological and economic power. Crime, war, disease and poverty have been practically eliminated. The Moon and Mars are settled, and colonies stretch all the way out to the edge of the solar system. And Ocular, the largest scientific instrument in history, is about to make an epochal discovery…

Geoffrey Akinya wants only one thing: to be left in peace, so that he can continue his long-running studies into the elephants of the Amboseli basin. But Geoffrey’s family, which controls the vast Akinya business empire, has other plans for him. After the death of his grandmother Eunice—the erstwhile space explorer and entrepreneur—something awkward has come to light on the Moon, so Geoffrey is dispatched there to ensure the family name remains untarnished.

But the secrets Eunice died with are about to be revealed—secrets that could change everything...or tear this near utopia apart.

Review

Always a terrific adventure Telegraph Alastair Reynolds is a name to watch. Shades of Banks and Gibson with gigatons of originality Guardian A mastersinger of the space opera The Times Reynolds has a galaxy-sized imagination allied to a real story-telling ability Bernard Cornwell

About the Author

Alastair Reynolds was born in Barry, South Wales. He spent several years in Holland working for ESA he returned to Wales. He studied at Newcastle and St Andrews Universities and has a Ph.D. in astronomy.