The Folded Sky - (White Space) by Elizabeth Bear (Paperback)

About the Book

"Information doesn't want to be free. Information wants to vanish without a trace. Sunya Song's job is to stop that from happening. She's an archinformist: a specialist historian whose job usually involves sitting at a console at her university job near the Galactic Core, sorting ancient documents and restoring corrupted files. But now, the research opportunity of a lifetime has sent her--along with her teenage children and alien wife--halfway across the galaxy to preserve the data and aid in the retrieval of the archaeological find of the century: an ancient alien artificial intelligence called Baomind"--

Book Synopsis

Dr. Sunya Song embarks on an interstellar journey across the Milky Way to connect with the artificial intelligence known as Baomind, a moon-sized entity that holds the key to humanity's survival amidst cosmic challenges and unforeseen threats in Hugo Award-winning author Elizabeth Bear's next epic science fiction novel.

Information doesn't want to be free. Information wants to vanish without a trace.

Sunya Song's job is to stop that from happening.

She's an archinformist: a specialist historian whose job usually involves sitting at a console at her university job near the Galactic Core, sorting ancient documents and restoring corrupted files.

But now, the research opportunity of a lifetime has sent her--along with her teenage children and alien wife--halfway across the galaxy to preserve the data and aid in the retrieval of the archaeological find of the century: an ancient alien artificial intelligence called Baomind. As vast as a stellar system, the Baomind orbits a dying red giant, and the star's time has nearly ended.

The isolated research station and its small fleet of ships come under attack by fanatic Freeport pirates who believe that artificial intelligence is an abomination that must be destroyed, putting the lives of Sunya and her family at risk.

Tens of thousands of lightyears from home, isolated from all help, Sunya is the only one who can save them all.

Review Quotes

* "The latest entry in Bear's "White Space" showcases her smart and introspective command of space opera. Well-developed characters highlight not only the big ideas of artificial intelligence, xenophobia, and data preservation but family dynamics and scientific rivalries."-- "--Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW"

* "Anyone who enjoys space opera, exploration of characters, and political speculation will love this outstanding novel...Amid a space opera resurgence, Bear's novel sets the bar high."-- "Publishers Weekly, starred review for Ancestral Night"

"Elizabeth Bear's White Space series is the sociopolitical science fiction I've always wanted: profoundly interested in how people negotiate ethics and interdependence through a frame of future emotional and governmental technologies. Brilliant, humane, and compelling."--Arkady Martine, Hugo Award-winning author of A Memory Called Empire

"Offers plenty of big, bold, fascinating ideas...Impressive at the core."-- "Kirkus Reviews for Ancestral Night"

"Spectacularly smart space opera... Bear proves her mastery of the space opera genre yet again."-- "Publishers Weekly, Starred Review for Machine"

About the Author

Elizabeth Bear won the John W. Campbell award for Best New Writer in 2005 and has since published fifteen novels and numerous short stories. She writes in both the science fiction and fantasy genres and has won critical acclaim in both. She has won the Hugo Award more than once. She lives in Massachusetts. Visit her on X @Matociquala.