First published 2007
A breakthrough in physics changes everything for Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins. A young scientist has created a star drive that can reach the galaxy's core, and suddenly the impossible becomes possible. Hutch has hung up her pilot wings, but this discovery pulls her back into space for one more mission. The deadly Omega clouds have threatened humanity for years, their origins a mystery that has cost lives and ships. Now, with technology that can take them farther than ever before, Hutch faces a choice between the safety of retirement and the chance to solve the puzzle that has haunted her career. The journey will push her ship and crew to the edge of known space, where the answers she seeks may be more dangerous than the questions. In the vast emptiness between stars, Hutch must confront not only the lethal phenomena that have claimed so many vessels, but also what it means to risk everything for knowledge that could save or doom humanity.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, mystery, space-opera
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, space-travel
Setting: Galaxy, Omega Clouds
Period: Future
373 pages · Hardcover · Ace Hardcover