{"product_id":"machine","title":"Machine","description":"Review\n\nThis is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read in 2019 so far and I look forward to see how Bear develops the characters and her impressively rich universe. ― POPULAR SCIENCE\n\nMachine is a fascinating, compelling, and ultimately satisfying space opera in a vast, complex, weird, and interesting universe ― Locusmag.com\n\nBear has a striking command of tension and character, and a deep interest in ethics and human behaviour ― Locusmag.com\n\nElizabeth Bear is just as comfortable writing steampunk and fantasy as she is hard science fiction, and Ancestral Night, first half of a duology, brims with heady concepts and sleek far-future hardware. There is a mordant wit at work. ― FINANCIAL TIMES\n\nAwesome, awe-inspiring space opera. Fittingly, it shifts from weighty themes to lighter humour with dexterity, grace and crackling dialogue ― Daily Mail\n\nBear has constructed a fascinating, absorbing universe populated with compelling and intelligent characters who conform to neither clichés nor stereotypes. It's sci-fi of the top order. ― popmatters.com\n\nProduct Description\n\nMeet Doctor Jens.\n\nShe hasn't had a decent cup of coffee in fifteen years.\n\nThe first part of her job involves jumping out of perfectly good space-ships. The second part requires developing emergency treatments for sick aliens of species she's never seen before.\n\nShe loves it.\n\nBut her latest emergency is also proving a mystery:\n\nTwo ships, one ancient and one new, locked in a dangerous embrace.\nA mysterious crew suffering from an even more mysterious ailment.\nA shipmind trapped in an inadequate body, much of her memory pared away.\nA murderous virus from out of time.\n\nUnfortunately, Dr. Jens can't resist a mystery. Which is why she's about to discover that everything she's dedicated her life to . . . is a lie.\n\nPraise for Elizabeth Bear\n\n'Like the best of speculative fiction, Bear has created a fascinating and complete universe\nthat blends high-tech gadgetry with Old World adventure and political collusion' Publishers Weekly\n\n'This is certainly the best science fiction novel I've read in 2019 so far and I look forward to see how Bear develops the characters and her impressively rich universe' (POPULAR SCIENCE)\n\n'Elizabeth Bear is just as comfortable writing steampunk and fantasy as she is hard science fiction, and Ancestral Night, first half of a duology, brims with heady concepts and sleek far-future hardware. There is a mordant wit at work' (FINANCIAL TIMES)\n\n'Awesome, awe-inspiring space opera. Fittingly, it shifts from weighty themes to lighter humour with dexterity, grace and crackling dialogue' (Daily Mail)\n\n'Bear has constructed a fascinating, absorbing universe populated with compelling and intelligent characters who conform to neither clichés nor stereotypes. It's sci-fi of the top order' (popmatters.com)\n\nAbout the Author\n\nElizabeth Bear was born on the same day as Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, but in a different year. This, coupled with a childhood tendency toward reading the dictionary, doomed her early to penury, intransigence and the writing of speculative fiction.\n\nShe is a recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and a Locus Award, and has been nominated for the BSFA, Philip K. Dick and Lambda awards. She lives in southern New England with a presumptuous cat and her hobbies include archery, guitar and the indiscriminate slaughter of defenseless houseplants.","brand":"Orion Publishing Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40594190696533,"sku":"9781473208773N","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2481\/5790\/products\/81c41c75-4d5a-4e7a-9b0e-ef384f8f3e1a.jpg?v=1682330723","url":"https:\/\/smeikalbooks.co.uk\/en-us\/products\/machine","provider":"smeikalbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}