From Publishers Weekly
The inventive and solidly enjoyable fourth novel set in the bubble world of Virga (after 2008's
Queen of Candesce) takes place far from the artificial suns that light the central regions. As entire towns fall victim to a mysterious threat, perhaps from outside, a religious movement begins insisting that the world is eternal, not created. The Eternists confiscate books, censor the news and force through a referendum subjecting science to popular vote, while sun lighter Hayden Griffin, familiar from previous books, teams up with local historian Leal to investigate the attacks. They find an expedition killed by rain, meet up with groups officially deemed mythical and fend off political threats and outside forces that aren't what they seem. Schroeder paints his unique world with deft touches while keeping the story moving briskly.
(Aug.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“I loved it. It never slowed down. The background is fascinating and the characters held my attention. It reminded me a little of The Integral Trees, with technology a little more advanced.”
--Larry Niven, author of The Juggler of Worlds, on Sun of Suns
“Schroeder…is proving to be one of our most ingenious devisers of exotic, fantastic settings as well as a spinner of ripping yarns….Schroeder’s world-building, storytelling, and character-drawing chops seem strong enough to give even Known Space a run for its money."
--Locus on Queen of Candesce
“[The] world-building continues to be impeccable, and the story’s timing is a fantastic tour de force of his creation. The politics and structure of Virga continue to be a fine backdrop to some of the most entertaining space opera out there.”
--Booklist on Pirate Sun
--This text refers to the
Kindle Edition
edition.