World Engines: Destroyer

A hard-SF cli-fi saga set against the background of the birth of the solar system. Filled to the brim with big ideas and breathtaking worldbuilding. In the year 2570, a sleeper will wake. In the mid-21st century, the Kernel, a strange object on a five-hundred-year orbit, is detected coming from high above the plane of the solar system. Could it be an alien artifact? Reid Malenfant, an elderly shuttle pilot and frustrated would-be asteroid miner, decides to go take a look anyway. But his ex-wife, Emma Stoney, sets up a trust fund to search for him the next time the Kernel returns. By 2570, Earth is transformed. A mere billion people are supported by advanced technology on a world that is almost indistinguishable from the natural, with recovered forests, oceans, and ice caps. It is not an age for expansion; there are only small science bases beyond the Earth. But this is a world you would want to live in: a Star Trek without the stars. After 500 years, the Kernel returns, and a descendant of Stoney, who Malenfant will call Emma II, mounts a mission to see what became of Malenfant. She finds him still alive, cryo-preserved. His culture-shock encounter with a conservative future is entertaining. But the Kernel itself turns out to be attached to a kind of wormhole, through which Malenfant and Emma II, exploring further, plummet back in time, across five billion years.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2020
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

In the year 2570, a sleeper will awaken, heralding a new era of humanity. Set against the backdrop of the birth of the solar system, this hard-SF cli-fi saga is brimming with big ideas and breathtaking worldbuilding.

In the mid-21st century, a mysterious object known as the Kernel is detected on a five-hundred-year orbit above the solar system. Speculation abounds as to its origin, with some suggesting it could be an alien artefact. However, in the midst of climate-change crises, there is little appetite for space exploration stunts. Nevertheless, Reid Malenfant, an elderly shuttle pilot and frustrated would-be asteroid miner, decides to embark on a solo mission to investigate the Kernel. His disappearance is soon forgotten, but his ex-wife, Emma Stoney, establishes a trust fund to search for him the next time the Kernel returns.

By 2570, Earth has undergone a remarkable transformation. A mere billion people are supported by advanced technology on a world that is almost indistinguishable from the natural, with recovered forests, oceans, and ice caps. It is not an age for expansion, but rather a time of consolidation and scientific advancement. However, this is a world that one would undoubtedly want to live in: a Star Trek without the stars.

After 500 years, the Kernel returns, and a descendant of Stoney, known as Emma II, mounts a mission to find out what happened to Malenfant. She discovers him still alive, cryo-preserved, in a state of suspended animation. His culture-shock encounter with a conservative future is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

But the Kernel itself turns out to be attached to a kind of wormhole, through which Malenfant and Emma II, exploring further, plummet back in time, across five billion years. As they journey through the ages, they witness the evolution of life on Earth, from the earliest microorganisms to the rise of intelligent species.

Readers are blown away by "World Engines: Destroyer." The book quickly becomes epic in a massive yet thoroughly believable way, precisely because the story is grounded in all of these well-realized characters. Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, sums it up perfectly: "The book quickly becomes epic in a massive, yet thoroughly believable way, precisely because the story is grounded in all of these well-realized characters."

In conclusion, "World Engines: Destroyer" is a must-read for anyone who loves science fiction, adventure, and the wonders of the universe. With its captivating plot, well-developed characters, and breathtaking worldbuilding, this book transports readers to a future that is both familiar and utterly unique. Prepare to be amazed as you journey through time and witness the birth and evolution of the solar system.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 132 x 198 x 50 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473223196