A fast-moving space adventure featuring mysterious aliens, a journey to a de-populated planet, a mad run from space cops, a ship captain in trouble, and her AI (Artificially Intelligent) companion/ship's computer.

Winner of both the Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel of the year and the British Science Fiction Association Award for best novel of the year - the only book ever to win both prestigious British awards.

1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award
1990 BSFA Award
SF Masterworks #115