Perseus Spur: The Rampart Worlds: Book 1: Bk. 1 (Rampart Worlds S.) - Hardcover

A major new science fiction series from bestselling author Julian May.

Helmut Icicle had a quiet life. His home was on the freesoil planet of Kedge-Lockaby, and his work on its lazy shores, were he took divers on holocam trips around the reefs. But then comes the day when a giant sea-toad eats his house and swamps him in a galactic conspiracy.
Terrified, confused, but not totally lacking in wit, Helmut has to navigate through murderous political intrigue, attempts on his life, and the threat to human civilization...

A major new series – The Rampart Worlds – starts in majestic style with Perseus Spur, which delivers what readers have come to expect from Julian: galactic scope, high adventure, humour and complex political intrigue in a finely worked balance.

I was living in pleasant anonymity under the name of Helmut Icicle, taking smartass sport-divers out on holocam trips around the reefs of Kedge-Lockaby. K-L's a freesoil planet way out in the boondocks. That's why I like it: as a Throwaway, it makes life easier if no one asks nosy questions. Plus, it's fourteen thousand light years away from civilization: from Rampart Starcorp, from the HQ of the Interstellar Commerce Secretariat (where I used to work), and best of all, my father.

So one minute there I was, subbing around Brillig Reef watching the piscoids finning through the underwater forests, making enough of a living to afford a little rotgut Danaen whiskey now and again; the next thing I know, some giant sea-toad has eaten my house and I'm caught up in a galactic conspiracy!

From gently coaxing an ageing submersible around the shores of K-L to piloting a state-of-the -art Javelin starship in order to execute a perfect hyperspatial microleap out in the comet zone may seem like a big jump: but when it looks as if the future course of human civilization is under threat, it's a hell of a motivator.

I had a lot of scores to settle: not least finding out who had tried to kill me by death by sea-toad. That's not a nice way to go...

A major new science fiction series – The Rampart Worlds – starts in majestic style with 'Perseus Spur', which delivers everything readers have come to expect from worldwide bestseller Julian May: galactic scope, high adventure, humour, and complex political intrigue in a finely worked balance.

'You have to admire Julian May for the scope of her work'
SFX

'A certain crowd-pleaser'
KIRKUS REVIEWS

'Julian May has irrevocably placed herself among the greats'
ASIMOV'S SF MAGAZINE

'A writer of exceptional perception and power'
JEAN AUEL, author of 'The Clan of the Cave Bear'