Gardens of the Sun

The Quiet War is over. The city states of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn have fallen to the Three Powers Alliance of Greater Brazil, the European Union and the Pacific Community. A century of enlightenment, rational utopianism and exploration of new ways of being human has fallen dark. Outers are herded into prison camps and forced to collaborate in the systematic plundering of their great archives of scientific and technical knowledge, while Earth's forces loot their cities, settlements and ships, and plan a final solution to the 'Outer problem'.

But Earth's victory is fragile, and riven by vicious internal politics. While seeking out and trying to anatomise the strange gardens abandoned in place by Avernus, the Outers' greatest genius, the gene wizard Sri Hong-Owen is embroiled in the plots and counterplots of the family that employs her. The diplomat Loc Ifrahim soon discovers that profiting from victory isn't as easy as he thought.

Short-listed for John W Campbell Award 2010 (UK)

“An impressively realised tale of competing ideologies that tackles pertinent questions. This is big, clever science fiction-- FOCUS”

THE QUIET WAR is a deft fusion of modern-as-tomorrow hard SF space opera, slam-bang thriller (with cutting-edge science and some breathlessly cool action sequences) and a superbly intelligent and timely examination of society sliding over the brink into war. Heroes and villains aplenty populate this teeming, multifaceted novel, and in Macy Minnot - a small fish caught up in the flow of massive, world-shaking events - McAuley gives us his most engaging and likable heroine to date. Great book! - Alastair Reynolds

Paul J McAuley won the Philip K Dick Award for his first novel and has gone on to win the Arthur C Clarke, British Fantasy, Sidewise and John W Campbell Awards. He gave up his position as a research biologist to write full-time. He lives in London.

The Quiet War is over. The city states of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn have fallen to the Three Powers Alliance of Greater Brazil, the European Union and the Pacific Community. A century of enlightenment, rational utopianism and exploration of new ways of being human has fallen dark. Outers are herded into prison camps and forced to collaborate in the systematic plundering of their great archives of scientific and technical knowledge, while Earth's forces loot their cities, settlements and ships, and plan a final solution to the 'Outer problem'.But Earth's victory is fragile, and riven by vicious internal politics. While seeking out and trying to anatomise the strange gardens abandoned in place by Avernus, the Outers' greatest genius, the gene wizard Sri Hong-Owen is embroiled in the plots and counterplots of the family that employs her. The diplomat Loc Ifrahim soon discovers that profiting from victory isn't as easy as he thought.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.