First published 2019
Bandicut and Li-Jared arrive at Li-Jared's homeworld to find it teetering on the edge of interplanetary war. The time-tides from Karellia's defenses have unleashed the Mindaru AI from the deep past into the present. These malicious artificial intelligences now threaten the galaxy. Bandicut and Li-Jared must broker peace between Karellia and its neighboring world to break the Mindaru threat. Meanwhile, back on Shipworld, Ik and Julie Stone risk everything a second time. They travel to a planet near the galactic core, a billion years in the past, to stop the Mindaru at their source. Antares, the humanoid who loves Bandicut, may hold the key to their success. Bria the gokat and Amaduse, Shipworld's most influential librarian, also play crucial roles. In the galaxy's early history, the Mindaru perform hideous experiments on an innocent species. Their plan for these altered creatures carries consequences even the deadly AI cannot foresee. Time runs short across multiple fronts as heroes fight to save the galaxy.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, time-travel
Setting: Karellia, Shipworld, Galactic Core
Period: Present, Distant Past
442 pages · Hardcover · Starstream Publications / Book View Cafe