ISBN 0330351826

Pan Macmillan

512 pages

Published

8th October 1999

With the success of The first part of the Night’s Dawn Trilogy  Peter was persuaded to re-issue some of his earlier short stories in which had been set in the same universe as the trilogy.

The short stories are all set before the trilogy. Each story is a snapshot into the formative years of the Confederation. As well as being excellent examples of short fiction the stories offer facinating insights social and technological changes that are the accepted norms of the Nights Dawn Era.

Sonnie's Edge
The popular sport of 'beastie-baiting' involves contests to the death between
artificial monsters controlled through human affinity bonds. Sonnie's team is
particularly succesful . . . but then her monster, 'Khanivore', has one special advantage.

A Second Chance At Eden
Eden is a bitek habitat which orbits Jupiter. Mining the fusion fuel on which
Earth is dependant, it is a mini-nation of radical politics - and even more radical technology. Then its creator is murdered in full view of the whole population. But nobody can identify the perpetrator - or the motive.

New Days Old Times
Settlers came to the planet Nyvan hoping for a lifestyle free from
Earthbound hatreds. Alas, environments may change, but not human nature.

Candy Buds
The crime-lord Laurus rules Kariwak with an iron fist, jealously guarding
control of the bitek trade. But when an astonishing new substance appears
on the streets, virtual reality takes on an entirely new dimension.

Deathday
On a desolate planet, a man wages an obsessive campaign of retribution against
the last survivor of an alien race. But vengeance can cut both ways.

The Lives And Loves Of Tiarella Rosa
A passion that spans two generations of women . . . and endures beyond.

Escape Route
The starship LADY MACBETH encounters a long-abandoned alien spacecraft, with its escape route still intact - but leading where? If the crew claims salvage rights, the technology inside could make them wealthy enough to buy planets.

But first they need to make sure it's as empty as it seems . .
.