The Quiet War - by Paul McAuley (Paperback)

About the Book

Although the colonists' attempt to win independence is defeated in the quiet war, and Earth's Three Powers takes full control of their city states, the spread and divergence from the norm of new kinds of humanity continues. As tensions increase and Earth's control of the colonies is stretched to breaking point, there's talk of a second war.

Book Synopsis

Twenty-third century Earth has been ravaged by climate change, and is now dominated by a few powerful families, with millions of people in prison and millions more labouring to rebuild ruined ecosystems.

Meanwhile on Jupiter and Saturn, live the Outers. They have built a wild variety of scientific utopias crammed with exuberant creations of the genetic arts. Now they want to colonise Earth and drive human evolution in a new direction.

On Earth, some want to launch a pre-emptive strike against the Outers while others wish to exploit the talents of the gene wizards.

It is clear that the fragile detente between the two branches of humanity is breaking down and they may be heading towards war . . .

About the Author

Paul McAuley's first novel won the PHILIP K. DICK AWARD and he has gone on to win almost all of the major awards in the field. For many years a research biologist, he now writes full-time. He lives in London.