Instant New York Times bestseller

“Breathes new life into the classic first encounter narrative. . . . Paolini makes the experiences of his well-shaded explorers vivid and gripping through smart worldbuilding and believable stakes. James S.A. Corey fans will be especially riveted.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This pulse-pounding science-fiction novel pits human curiosity and technology against alien tech deep in the cosmos. . . . An excellent starting point for the series as a whole.”—Library Journal

“Paolini understands that in the best character-driven science-fiction stories, the alien tech is never as interesting as the human relationships. Tense and gripping.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Mounting tension, danger, and uncertainty. . . . Shows Paolini’s range as a storyteller.”—Booklist

Praise for Christopher Paolini and the Fractalverse series:

“Vibrant world building…. A large cast of interesting and relatable characters…. Sincere emotional depth. Highly recommended for fans of James A. Corey’s The Expanse series and for fantasy fans willing to try space opera.”—Booklist, starred review

“A powerful piece of SF, with intelligent writing and big ideas.”—Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time

“Fans of all kinds, one can be sure, will come to question, and stay to explore.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Dazzles with otherworldly delights—and unearthly nightmares.”—Newsweek

“An authentic work of great talent.”—New York Times Book Review

“Paolini is a spellbinding fantasy writer.”—The Boston Globe

“A breathtaking and unheard of success.”—USA Today

“Christopher Paolini is a true rarity.”—The Washington Post

“Christopher Paolini make[s] literary magic.”—People