by Ian McDonald
First published 2013
Eighty thousand Shian aliens have made Belfast their home, trading advanced technology for a place to settle. The extraterrestrials blend into the city's daily rhythms, adding another layer to its existing Protestant-Catholic divisions. When brutal murders shock both human and alien communities, Andy Gillespie finds himself the prime suspect. A Loyalist with a criminal past, Andy must track down the real killers to save himself. His investigation forces him to seek allies across every boundary that splits the city. Protestant, Catholic, and extraterrestrial contacts all become potential sources of help as Andy navigates Belfast's complex web of loyalties. The search reveals how little fundamental human nature changes, even when faced with beings from another world. McDonald examines a community learning to coexist with the alien Shian, dealing with everything from communication barriers to unexpected cultural exchanges.
Genres: science-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Belfast
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
286 pages · Kindle Edition · Open Road Media Sci-Fi Fantasy