From Publishers Weekly

In this semi - sequel to last year's Harvest of Stars , Anderson, winner of seven Hugos and three Nebulas, gets back on track. Where its predecessor was disjointed, unbalanced and clogged with capitalist-libertarian preaching, this novel offers suspense, vivid writing and appealing characters wrestling with a big philosophical problem: Is a peaceful, stable life under the benign rule of superintelligent machines a utopia--or comfortable slavery? To explore this question, Anderson traces two converging plot lines. In one, Dagny Beynac--a descendant of Anson Guthrie, founder of the vastly powerful Fireball Enterprises--devotes her life to preserving peace on the Moon, in the process becoming the progenitor of a new race of genetically engineered "Lunarians." Centuries after her death, the solar system is governed by the "cybercosm," a network of machine intelligences--but a secret preserved since Dagny Beynac's time could threaten the cybercosm's hegemony. Ian Kenmuir, a space pilot in the service of the Lunarians, and Aleka Kame, a human ally of the genetically engineered "metamorphs" of Earth, race against time, their own consciences and the deadly pursuit of the cybercosm's agent Venator to bring the secret to light. Though Anderson's politics still color the tale, Kenmuir and Kame are never so certain of themselves or the answers as were Guthrie and others in Harvest , and the result is an engrossing story that leaves the reader wondering about the human need for fresh horizons, adventure and danger.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As human governments labor to construct a habitat in space that will enable Earth's population to exploit the mineral resources of its moon, a small group of Lunarians, genetically altered for survival in low gravity, search the past to find a way to preserve their way of life and their independence. Spanning 500 years, Anderson's latest novel offers a tale of dynastic intrigue and high adventure as two distinct visions of human destiny struggle for ascendancy. Combining complex, believable characters with a skillfully orchestrated plot, the author of Harvest of Stars (Tor Bks., 1993) continues to demonstrate his storytelling excellence. Recommended for most libraries.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.