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Far from the Light of Heaven

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What to expect

'Gripping and skilfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson's own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate and lethal as today's headlines' Alastair Reynolds

Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson makes a triumphant return to science fiction with this unforgettable vision of humanity's future in the chilling emptiness of space.

The colony ship Ragtime docks in the Lagos system, having travelled light years from home to bring one thousand sleeping souls to safety among the stars.

Some of the sleepers, however, will never wake - and a profound and sinister mystery unfolds aboard the gigantic vessel. Its skeleton crew are forced to make decisions that will have repercussions for all of humanity's settlements - from the scheming politicians of Lagos station, to the colony planet of Bloodroot, to other far flung systems and indeed Earth itself.


'A gripping space opera with characters fighting for their lives aboard a dying starship. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait to see what Thompson does next' Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries

'Simultaneously brutally grounded and wildly imaginative' Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time

'Perfectly balances inspired universe building with both high-octane action and emotional depth' Big Issue

'Readers looking for a smart sci-fi mystery should snap this up' Publishers Weekly

'First-rate space opera from one of the genre's most exciting voices' Gareth L. Powell

'Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant' Dave Hutchinson

Critics Review

Gripping and skillfully told, with an economy and freshness of approach that is all Tade Thompson's own. The setting is interstellar, but it feels as real, immediate and lethal as today's headlines. Whatever he does next, it's bound to be interesting
Alastair Reynolds
Readers looking for a smart sci-fi mystery should snap this up
Publishers Weekly
A first-rate space opera from one of the genre's most exciting voices
Gareth L. Powell
A fascinating hybrid of taut murder mystery and a vividly-imagined, expansive science fiction future that will linger long in my mind
Stark Holburn
Tade Thompson is a writer of enormous heart and talent. Just brilliant
Dave Hutchinson
Author Tade Thompson
Narrator Clifford Samuel
Duration 9 hours and 3 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781405545990
Format Audiobook
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Genre Science fiction: space opera
Availability AU, GB, IE

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