While drifting in space, lost, due to navigational failure, a mineral scout discovers God. When word gets out, academics from the studiums across Orion scramble to gain the Entity's favour. However, not all the sentients of Orion hold this 'god' in awe - some, like the philosophers of Scolar and the Transhuman's of Extropy are deeply suspicious.

Onto the grand stage of inter-planetary academic politics, intellectual conceit and dubious theology walks Baronessa Mira Fedor. Her planet has been torn apart by the invasion of a race of giant tardigrades. Only the Orion League of Sentient Species can lend aid, but OLOSS are preoccupied with communicating with god. Mira, together with the larrikin, misogynist Jo-Jo Rasterovich, is left to her own resources to find help. In doing so she unmasks a galaxy-size intrigue.

But will she live long enough to tell anyone. . . ?

* Featured on www.orbitbooks.co.uk and in the Orbit ezine. * Review copies mailed to the genre press and key websites.

About the Author
Marianne de Pierres is the author of the acclaimed Parrish Plessis and Sentients of Orion science fiction series. The Parrish Plessis series has been translated into eight languages and adapted into a Role Playing Game. Marianne is an active supporter of genre fiction and has mentored many writers. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband, three sons and three galahs.

Reviews
DARK SPACE lacks focus, but the colourful characters and sense of scale suggest that the series could develop into something special * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *
Dark Space is a rich and vigorous adventure and a promising first instalment * THE AUSTRALIAN *
A complex and exciting novel, almost devoid of cheap sentiment and comfortable vindication. It's not a cheerful read, but it is a very rewarding one . . . de Pierre s' willingness to display the imperfections of her characters is a large part of the appeal of Dark Space; she deftly handles the aspects of bringing characters to life that elude so many space opera writers, simply by making them genuinely human - with all the contradictory drives and motives that implies . . . While a deeply political book, Dark Space is also a very engaging one - the fine characterisation and subtle writing make for a novel which is both exciting and thought-provoking at once . . . It's always a joy to find intelligent and exciting space opera; to find it being written by a woman unafraid to bring her own perspective to a traditionally masculine genre, doubly so. * SCALPEL MAGAZINE *
Dark Space is an exciting adventure with plenty going on to keep you turning the pages. The story is primed to enter uncharted territory at the end of Book One. Marianne has a knack for creating compelling characters in complex realities-the Parish Pless * AUREALIS *


Awards
Short-listed for Australian Science Fiction Awards 2008.



Book Information
ISBN 9781841494289
Author Marianne de Pierres
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Orbit
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 272g
Dimensions(mm) 184mm * 143mm * 30mm