'Gripping and skilfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson's own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate and lethal as today's headlines' Alastair Reynolds

Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson makes a triumphant return to science fiction with this unforgettable vision of humanity's future in the chilling emptiness of space.

The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having travelled light years from home to bring one thousand sleeping souls to safety among the stars.

Some of the sleepers, however, will never wake - and a profound and sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel. Its skeleton crew are forced to make decisions that will have repercussions for all of humanity's settlements - from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet of Bloodroot, to other far flung systems and indeed Earth itself.


'A gripping space opera with characters fighting for their lives aboard a dying starship. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to see what Thompson does next' Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries

'Simultaneously brutally grounded and wildly imaginative' Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time

'Perfectly balances inspired universe building with both high-octane action and emotional depth' Big Issue

'Readers looking for a smart sci-fi mystery should snap this up' Publishers Weekly

'First-rate space opera from one of the genre's most exciting voices' Gareth L. Powell

'Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant' Dave Hutchinson

About the Author
Tade Thompson is the author of Rosewater, which was the winner of the 2019 Arthur C. Clarke Award, the inaugural winner of the Nommo Award and a John W. Campbell finalist. His Shirley Jackson Award-shortlisted novella The Murders of Molly Southbourne has recently been optioned for screen adaptation. Born in London to Yoruba parents, he lives and works on the south coast of England where he battles an addiction to books.

Reviews

Gripping and skillfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson's own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate and lethal as today's headlines. Whatever he does next, it's bound to be interesting

-- Alastair Reynolds
Readers looking for a smart sci-fi mystery should snap this up -- Publishers Weekly

A first-rate space opera from one of the genre's most exciting voices

-- Gareth L. Powell
A fascinating hybrid of taut murder mystery and a vividly-imagined, expansive science fiction future that will linger long in my mind -- Stark Holburn
Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant -- Dave Hutchinson



Book Information
ISBN 9780356514321
Author Tade Thompson
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Orbit
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 280g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 126mm * 30mm