About the Book
This book is a fix-up, built around two stories originally written for the Isaac's Universe project, substantially modified and with new materal written to expand it out to novel length.
From the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award–winning Grandmaster, a new novel of classic science fiction adventure
Mystery, discovery, and wonder on a cosmic scale are the core of Anderson’s
latest novel. Lissa, a human Earth woman, and her partner, “Karl,” a
giant alien academic who resembles Tyrannosaurs — are interstellar
archaeologists investigating the remote and uncharted planet Jonna.
There, they seem to have hit the jackpot. For on that distant world
they’ve discovered an immense artifact that may have been left by the
mysterious beings called the Forerunners. This race predated all the
known cultures in the starfaring galaxy and vanished long before any
other intelligent species had taken to the stars.
But Lissa and
Karl aren’t the first to have made the discovery on Jonna. On the
far-off world the archaeologists cross paths with the two freebooters
whose plans for motives towards the arcane object are not purely
scientific. Their discovery may be the best preserved relic of the
ancient beings yet found. Other artifacts from the Forerunners — once
reverse engineers — have revolutionized entire fields of technology,
reaping huge financial rewards. If the same holds true for this newest
discovery, Lissa realizes, only she and Karl stand between the seemingly friendly freebooters and what could be the treasure of a lifetime.
