First published 1989
Ben Takent works as a private investigator on a scorching, dust-covered world at the galaxy's rim. The heat beats down relentlessly as he considers a new case that sounds routine enough. Someone has been stealing valuable pieces from an ancient archaeological site in the desert, where researchers have been excavating artifacts that are ten thousand years old. Takent takes the job with little enthusiasm, expecting another straightforward theft investigation. But as he digs deeper into the mystery, the stolen artifacts begin revealing something extraordinary. They point toward the existence of an ancient alien spacecraft buried somewhere in the desert. What started as a simple case of theft suddenly becomes something far more dangerous. The stakes climb rapidly as Takent realizes he's stumbled onto a discovery that could change everything. Someone is willing to steal and possibly kill to control access to this alien technology. Takent must navigate the treacherous politics of archaeological discovery while staying one step ahead of whoever wants the spacecraft's secrets for themselves.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, archaeology, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: mystery, treasure-hunt
Setting: Desert, Galaxy's Rim
Period: 10,000 Years Ago
186 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ace Books