Operatives from an advanced alien culture struggle to survive in medieval Italy, in the SF sequel to the astonishing Quietus.
Operatives from an alien culture struggle to survive in medieval Italy, in the SF sequel to the astonishing Quietus.
The transdimensional empire, the Unity, has dissolved, its ruling powers forced into exile - but empires don't die easily. The living planarship Ways and Means has come to medieval Earth and ended the Black Death, but it keeps its intentions to itself. Someone is trying to kill its agent Osia, who is suffering through her own exile. Spy-turned-anthropologist Meloku becomes a target, too, when she catches Ways and Means concealing the extent of its meddling. While they fight to survive, Fiametta - an Italian soldier, mercenary, and heretical preacher - raises an army and a religious revolt, aiming to split Europe in half.
File Under: Science Fiction [ Last Throes | The Saviour | Let It Burn | Crisis of Faith ]
Praise for
Quietus“In this ambitious and intelligent novel, Palmgren takes the staples of science fiction – post-apocalypse, first contact, interventionism – and integrates them seamlessly, breathing new life into familiar forms. A truly outstanding debut.”
– NYT bestselling author Una McCormack
“A cast of well-drawn characters and a narrative that is initially tightly focused but rapidly expands to encompass the stars draw the reader into this ambitious tale of intrigue, conspiracy and adventure. Quietus has the trappings of space opera but plays around with so much more; it’s an impressive debut that marks the author as one to watch.”
– Ian Whates, author of Pelquin’s Comet
“Palmgren’s debut immerses the reader in the rat-infested, plague-ravaged streets of 14th-century Europe then flips the narrative to a dizzying scale as the characters uncover layer upon layer of deception, examining what it is to be human along the way. A fine piece of SF and WTF.”
– Susan Murray, author of The Waterborne Blade
“This was something rather interesting. I really enjoy the chances it takes.” 5/5*
– Bradley Horner’s Book Reviews
