Fleet of Knives: An Embers of War novel - Softcover

Powell, Gareth L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1785655213 ISBN 13: 9781785655210

Publisher: Titan Books, 2019

Synopsis

From award-winning author Gareth L. Powell, the second book in the critically acclaimed Embers of War space opera series.

The former warship Trouble Dog and her crew follow a distress call from the human starship Lucy's Ghost, whose crew have sought refuge aboard an abandoned generation ship launched ten thousand years before by an alien race. However, the enormous vessel contains deadly secrets of its own.

The Marble Armada calls for recovered war criminal Ona Sudak to accompany its ships as it spreads itself across the Human Generality, enforcing the peace with overwhelming and implacable force. Then Sudak's vessel intercepts messages from the House of Reclamation and decides the Trouble Dog has a capacity for violence which cannot be allowed to endure.

As the Trouble Dog and her crew fight to save the crew of the Lucy's Ghost, the ship finds herself caught between chaotic alien monsters on one side, and on the other, destruction at the hands of the Marble Armada.

About this title

About the Author

Gareth is the author of five science-fiction novels and two short story collections. His third novel, Ack-Ack Macaque, book one in the Macaque Trilogy, was the winner of the 2013 BSFA novel award. He lives in Bristol, UK. Find him on Twitter @garethlpowell.

Review

"Amid almost nonstop action, with a jarring Joss Whedon-esque momentum, Powell delves into the characters as well as the themes with authority, putting himself in a league with Iain Banks and Ann Leckie." - Booklist (on Fleet of Knives)

Praise for Embers of War:

“An explosive finale with strong series potential.” – Publishers Weekly

“Deep and juicy in the details... a morality play within a space opera, with literary-style character exploration in thriller-style structure and pacing.” – New York Journal of Books

“Powell has a good line in striking images and pulpy set-pieces, while the final third of the novel builds to a satisfyingly large-scale climax, and sets up a status quo that hints at some promising directions for the rest of the saga.” – SFX 

“This is a true space opera, full of suspense, and mystery, and stuff blowing up real good—but it’s the humanity of Powell’s vision that truly makes it something special.” – Barnes & Noble 

“Vivid and sharp, and at times grittily poetic.” – Locus Magazine

“Embers of War is a thoroughly exciting pageturner, full of characters and personalities I couldn’t get enough of, and it sets up the next novel in the series beautifully.” – For Winter Nights

“A space odyssey you are sure to fall in love with.” – FangirlNation Magazine

“This is space opera the way it was meant to be: epic in scope, with plenty of exciting action and a cast of larger-than-life characters featuring, at its core, one of the most intriguing characters to appear in science fiction in many a long year — a self-aware spaceship that once was a warship, and must learn again how to wage war. Wonderful stuff.” – Winnipeg Free Press

“Don’t read Embers of War because you like Clarke, or Banks. Read it because you enjoy reading pace-y complex space adventures. Or space battles. Or sentient ships and impressive world building. Or well written characters. Or dogs. Or read it because you like Gareth L Powell’s other work. Or for Nod, if nothing else. But do read it, because before long blurbs will be comparing new and upcoming works with Gareth L Powell.” – SFFWorld

“I think my favorite bit was how it was written. They was just a...I’m not even sure how to describe it, a higher quality of style, in the way it was written. There was an eloquence that I don’t always find in books, yet I found within these pages, that I appreciated and admired. I would have enjoyed the book for the writing alone (but lucky for me, the story was pretty fantastic, too).” – Erlebnisse

“A first-rate author of space opera and alternate history.” – SFRevue

“Gareth L. Powell’s work has lost none of its engaging action, but has gained depth and nuance.” – Hugo Award Book Club

“This book delivers.” – Jaine Fenn

“This is an excellently paced adventure that swells with energy and force, upping the stakes at every turn of the page. It also manages to consider some heady and relevant questions as it jumps in and out of hyperspace.” – BookPage

“A fantastic space opera with tight prose, fast pacing, and unforgettable characters.” – Looking Glass Reads

“Embers of War was one of our favorite reads of 2018...and the sequel lives up to its predecessor, and then some" Barnes & Noble Bookseller's Picks for February

“this sequel delivers big-stakes space opera told on an intimate scale...the brisk pacing and sense of adventure make Fleet of Knives a fun and fulfilling read in the best space-opera tradition.” - Barnes & Noble Review

“the sequel lives up to its predecessor, and then some” - Barnes & Noble Weekly Round-Up

“Powell’s epic space opera series is one of the best of its kind. There are loads of drama, space chases, and characters we can connect with on an emotional level. Fleet of Knives is a story you won’t be able to put down” - Reviews and Robots

 “the strong narrative arc, the pacing and engaging prose all add up to one heck of an adventure novel” - Hugo Award Book Club

“The descriptions are impeccable, the character development intriguing and the plot is immensely entertaining” 5* - Fangirl Nation

“epic space opera at its finest and most imaginative” - Rising Shadow

“The sequel to Gareth L. Powell’s British Science Fiction Award-winning Embers of War does everything right, crafting an adventure for its crew of ragtag, haunted heroes that is bigger and more mysterious than that which came before” - Barnes & Noble Best SFF of 2019

Edition details

• Publisher: Titan Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1785655213
• ISBN 13: 9781785655210
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416