
A collection of five stories, including a previously unpublished novella, set in the universe of the author's novels The Quiet War and Gardens of the Sun. Only available as an e-publication. After the end of the Quiet War, the victorious forces from Earth have taken control of the cities and settlements of the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. In 'Making History' and 'Karyl's War', the victors and the defeated discover that defining the end of the war isn't easy. In 'Incomers', a young visitor from Earth learns of an unexpected reconciliation. In 'Second Skin', a spy attempting to kidnap a valuable gene wizard discovers that he isn't quite what he thought he was. And in 'Reef', the discovery of a fast-evolving ecosystem of vacuum organisms in a planetoid in the Kuiper Belt has far-reaching implications for the spread of life throughout the Solar System.
Author

Since about 2000, book jackets have given his name as just Paul McAuley. A biologist by training, UK science fiction author McAuley writes mostly hard science fiction, dealing with themes such as biotechnology, alternate history/alternate reality, and space travel. McAuley has also used biotechnology and nanotechnology themes in near-future settings. Since 2001, he has produced several SF-based techno-thrillers such as The Secret of Life, Whole Wide World, and White Devils. Four Hundred Billion Stars, his first novel, won the Philip K. Dick Award in 1988. Fairyland won the 1996 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 1997 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best SF Novel.