TheArthurC.Clarkeaward-winningauthorofChildrenofTimebringsusthesecondnovelinanextraordinaryspaceoperatrilogyabouthumanityonthebrinkofextinction,andhowoneman’sdiscoverywillsaveordestroyusall.Aftereightyyearsoffragilepeace,theArchitectsareback,wreakinghavocastheyconsumeentireplanets.Inthepast,Originatorartefacts-vestigesofalong-vanishedcivilization-couldsaveaworldfromannihilation.Thistime,theArchitectshavediscoveredawaytocircumventtheseprotectiverelics.Suddenly,noplanetissafe.Facingimpendingextinction,theHumanColoniesareinturmoil.WhilesomebelieveaunifiedfrontistheonlywaytostoptheArchitects,othersinsisthumanityshouldfightalone.Andtherearethosewhowouldseektobenefitfromthefracturedpoliticsofwar-evenastheArchitectsloomevercloser.Idris,whohasspentdecadesrunningfromthehorrorsofhispast,findshimselfthrustbackontothebattlefront.AsanIntermediary,hecouldbeoneofthefewtoturnthetideofwar.Withahandfulofallies,hesearchesforaweaponthatcouldpushbacktheArchitectsandsavethegalaxy.Buttodoso,hemustreturntothenightmarishunspace,wherehismindwasbrokenandremade.WhatIdrisdiscoverstherewillchangeeverything.
