Crucible of Time: Part Two of the "Out of Time" Sequence (The Chaos Chronicles)

A galaxy in peril...

The story begun in The Reefs of Time continues. The time-tides caused by Karellia's defenses have brought the malicious Mindaru AI out of the deep past into the present, threatening Bandicut and Li-Jared, who have arrived at the backwater planet—Li-Jared's homeworld—to find it on the brink of interplanetary war. Somehow they must forge a peace between Karellia and its neighboring world if the Mindaru threat is to be broken.

Back on Shipworld, Ik and Julie Stone risk their lives a second time to stop the Mindaru at their source: a planet near the galactic core, a billion years in the past. Can Antares, the beautiful humanoid who also loves Bandicut, help them? What of Bria the gokat? And Amaduse, the most influential librarian in Shipworld?

And in the deep time of the galaxy's early history, by the light of a million suns, the Mindaru do hideous things to an innocent species. The Mindaru plan for the altered creatures bears momentous possibilities even the deadly AI cannot predict.

Time is critical. Time is elastic. And time is running out.

Conclusion of the unmissable two-part "Out of Time" sequence begun in The Reefs of Time, from Jeffrey A. Carver, Nebula-nominated author of Eternity's End.

PRAISE FOR THE REEFS OF TIME / CRUCIBLE OF TIME:

"Classic science fiction with engaging characters and richly imagined worlds!" —Greg Bear; author of The Unfinished Land and The War Dogs Trilogy

"Jeffrey A. Carver's remarkable long-awaited duology The Reefs of Time / Crucible of Time is a welcome addition to The Chaos Chronicles, certifying his continuing mastery of action and adventure at the boundaries of space opera and hard SF." —Steve Miller, co-author of The Liaden Universe

"Rich, dignified prose wedded to excellent and imaginative storytelling on the grandest scale. If you've grown weary of the hasty, hyperkinetic stories and styles that typify so many other independently-published novels, come home to Jeffrey Carver's timeless and triumphant The Reefs of Time." —Charles E. Gannon, author of the Caine Riordan world

"Mind-blowing in its complexity... I settled in to enjoy a wild ride." —Ann Tonsor Zeddies, author of Riders of Leviathan and Steel Helix

"Underpins its stunning science fiction and character-driven narrative with a strong theme of 'coming home'... As narratives intertwine at separate ends of the timescale, Carver's talent for weaving incredible technology and worldbuilding with meaningful character moments is a standout." —Terence MacManus, Aurealis Magazine

PRAISE FOR THE CHAOS CHRONICLES:

"Carver does his usual outstanding job of juggling multiple viewpoints and plot threads while casting his protagonists' adventures against a sweeping, intergalactic backdrop. Yet Bandicut's story is ultimately a very human one about determination, seat-of-the-pants ingenuity, and courage in the face of overwhelming danger." —Booklist

"Another splendid adventure, with intriguing puzzles, first-rate problem-solving, and an impressive array of alien characters, motives, and methods." —Kirkus (starred review)

"Reveals an alien encounter brushing hard against a soul, and takes us from there to the far reaches of the cosmos, all with the sure touch of a writer who knows his science. Jeff Carver has done it again!" —David Brin

"Remarkably expansive vision." —Analog

JEFFREY A. CARVER was a Nebula Award finalist for his novel Eternity's End. He also authored Battlestar Galactica, a novelization of the critically acclaimed television miniseries. His novels combine thought-provoking characters with engaging storytelling, and range from the adventures of the Star Rigger universe (Star Rigger's Way, Dragons in the Stars, and others) to the ongoing, character-driven hard SF of The Chaos Chronicles-which begins with Neptune Crossing and continues with Strange Attractors, The Infinite Sea, Sunborn, and in 2019 The Reefs of Time and its conclusion, Crucible of Time. A native of Huron, Ohio, Carver lives with his family in the Boston area. He has taught writing in a variety of settings, from educational television to conferences for young writers to MIT, as well as his own workshops. He has created a free web site for aspiring authors of all ages at www.writesf.com. Learn more about the author and his work, follow his blog, sign up for his occasional newsletter, and see all of his books at www.starrigger.net.