Book - Fleet of Knives

The action-packed follow-up to 2018’s critically acclaimed Embers of War from the award-winning author Gareth L Powell, Fleet of Knives is published on Tuesday 19th February by Titan Books...

Fleet of Knives is the second book in the thrilling and intelligent space opera series from BSFA award-winning author Powell. Following on from the action of Embers of War, Fleet of Knives is a stunning followup in a series that will delight fans of Iain M. Banks, Ann Leckie, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Peter F. Hamilton.

The former warship Trouble Dog and her crew of misfits is called upon by the House of Reclamation to investigate a distress call from the human starship the Lucy's Ghost. Her crew abandon their crippled ship and seek refuge abroad an abandoned, slower-than-light generation ship launched ten thousand years before by an alien race. However, the enormous ship contains deadly secrets of its own.

Recovered war criminal, Ona Sudak, faces a firing squad for her actions in the Archipelago War. But, at the last moment, she is smuggled out of her high security prison. The Marble Armada has called for her to accompany its ships as observer and liaison, as it spreads itself across the human Generality, enforcing the peace at all costs. The alien ships will not tolerate resistance, and all dissenters are met with overwhelming and implacable force. Then her 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.

Gareth L. Powell 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.

Image - Titan Books